Karachi Frames 2026 celebrates Pakistan’s animation talent

KARACHI: Karachi Frames 2026 brought together leading animation studios, industry professionals, emerging artists and creative enthusiasts for a celebration of Pakistan’s growing animation and digital creative industry.

Held at the NED Auditorium and the Centre of Excellence in Gaming & Animation (CEGA), Karachi, the event was organised by CEGA, with the support of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Ignite National Technology Fund, while HUM Network Limited (HNL) served as the lead management and media partner.

The event commenced with keynote addresses from CEGA representatives and HUM Network leadership followed by an address from the guest of honour, Tufail Jokhio, Vice Chancellor of the NED University of Engineering and Technology and the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, Syed Bilal Qasim, Project Director, CEGA remarked: “We envisioned CEGA as much more than a conventional training centre, institute, or classroom. Our goal has always been to build a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers Pakistan’s animation industry to grow beyond anything we have previously imagined. Our ambition goes far beyond training individuals or incubating 200 startups. We are building a national animation ecosystem that will create opportunities, encourage innovation, and shape the future of Pakistan’s creative industry. We invite everyone to become part of this journey.”

Addressing the gathering, Duraid Qureshi, CEO, HNL stated: “As a business graduate and entrepreneur, what particularly interests me is the enormous potential of the global animation industry, which is valued at approximately $350 billion, while Pakistan’s contribution remains below $100 million. With a population of 240 million, including nearly 150 million young people under the age of 25, we have a massive audience consuming animation, graphics, and digital content. Yet our participation in creating that content remains remarkably limited. We need to shift our focus from consumption to creation. Pakistan has the talent, the youth, and the technological access to become a meaningful contributor to the global animation and digital creative economy. The opportunity lies in how effectively we channel our time, creativity, and technology toward building something valuable. He concluded by announcing plans to launch a dedicated animation channel under the HUM Network umbrella, featuring original animated content inspired by local characters, everyday life, and the cultural heritage of Pakistan.

Sultana Siddiqui, Chairperson, HNL, emphasising the importance of discipline, dedication, and valuing opportunities, said: “We often take things for granted when they are offered free of cost, but true success requires commitment, honesty, punctuality, and hard work. The day you learn to value time and remain firm in your principles, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals. I urge young people to make the most of this training opportunity, develop their skills, and make Pakistan proud. We have countless stories waiting to be told—stories of our scientists, mothers, heroes, culture, and traditions. Use your creativity to bring these stories to life and showcase Pakistan’s identity to the world.”

Tufail Jokhio, Vice Chancellor of the NED University of Engineering and Technology and the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi said “Pakistan needs to shift its focus toward strengthening industries that generate exports and foreign exchange, rather than relying heavily on taxation and overseas remittances. The IT sector, particularly gaming and animation, holds tremendous potential to contribute to economic growth and reduce our dependence on institutions like the IMF.

Gaming and animation should not be viewed merely as sources of entertainment. These technologies have applications across various disciplines, including engineering. We must expand their use beyond entertainment, explore their wider potential, and develop an industry that contributes meaningfully to Pakistan’s economy.”

A major highlight of Karachi Frames 2026 was the Frame Talks series, featuring prominent voices from the animation industry. Kamran Khan, Head of Productions – Animation & AI at SOC Films, delivered an insightful session titled “The State of Animation: Where Pakistan Stands,” exploring the industry’s current landscape and its future prospects.

The discussion “Founders Unfiltered: Building Pakistan’s Animation Industry for the World” brought together Anas Hussain of MIKU Animation, Mirsub Fazlani of Innovative Pixels and Amyn of Sharp Image. Moderated by Shehzar Abro of Pirani Productions, the session explored the realities of establishing animation studios in Pakistan, securing international projects and building a globally competitive creative industry.

One of the event’s most engaging conversations revolved around the growing influence of artificial intelligence in creative production. The debate, titled “AI vs. Non-AI: Tool, Threat, or the Future of Animation?”, featured industry professionals discussing the opportunities, challenges and ethical considerations associated with AI-driven animation.

The Studio Pulse segment offered participants a closer look at the creative processes and achievements of leading Pakistani animation studios, including Sharp Image, Innovative Pixels, Pirani Productions and MIKU Animation. Meanwhile, Framemakers: The Artists Behind the Frame celebrated individual creative journeys and the artistic talent contributing to Pakistan’s animation landscape.

Another important session, “Building Production-Ready Talent Pipelines for International Studios,” focused on equipping aspiring animators with the skills, professional portfolios and production expertise required to meet international industry standards. Representatives from Innovative Pixels, Pirani Productions and Beenco Labs shared perspectives on preparing local talent for global opportunities.

Beyond the panel discussions, Karachi Frames 2026 featured a range of interactive activities and creative showcases. The Gallery Unframed displayed character art, digital creations, collectibles and creative exhibits, while Frame Check offered aspiring artists opportunities to receive portfolio reviews and professional guidance from established animation studios.

The celebrations continued at the CEGA Centre with The Aniverse, an animation showcase featuring selected short films spanning 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics and experimental storytelling.

The top three jury-selected entries from The Aniverse were recognised, with their work selected for exposure through HUM Network.

The event also celebrated the winners of BrandCanvas, a creative competition organised by CEGA to showcase innovative storytelling and artistic expression across two categories — CEGA Ad Film and Desi Anime Memes — with a combined prize pool of Rs125,000.