Full Breakdown
Studio Khara Teams with International Partners on “Baahubali: The Eternal War Part 1” Animated Sequence
6/25/2026, 9:24:01 PM
Core Production Collaboration
Studio Khara, the Japan-based animation house behind the “Evangelion” franchise, has joined the production of “Baahubali: The Eternal War Part 1” to create a dedicated animated sequence. The segment will be directed by Honma Akira, with Ito Noriko serving as character designer and Maeda Mahiro contributing as a key creative staff member. SlowCurve, a Japanese production firm, will oversee planning and coordination between the Japanese and international teams.
Background of the Baahubali Franchise
“Baahubali: The Beginning” (2015) and “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” (2017) were produced by Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni and S.S. Rajamouli through Hyderabad-based Arka Mediaworks. The two films were made on a combined budget of $70 million and earned $370 million worldwide, making “Baahubali 2” the third-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. The franchise was released in Telugu and Tamil, with multiple dubbed versions, and has been distributed across India, France, the United Kingdom and Japan.
Key Personnel and Companies
- Studio Khara leadership: Anno Hideaki (founder)
- Creative leads: Honma Akira (director), Ito Noriko (character designer), Maeda Mahiro (creative contributor)
- Animated feature team: Ishan Shukla (director), Scott Mosier (screenwriter), Sowmya Sharma (story co-creator)
- Voice talent: Prabhas (Amarendra Baahubali), Ramya Krishnan (Sivagami)
- Composer: M.M. Keeravani
- Production partners: Mihira Visual Labs, Aniventure, Zaratan Studios, Alcyde Studios, SlowCurve
Timeline of Development and Release
- 2015-2018: Release of “Baahubali: The Beginning” and “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.”
- 2026 (announcement): Studio Khara confirmed as animation partner for “Baahubali: The Eternal War Part 1.”
- 2026 (Annecy): Part 1 selected for the Work in Progress section of the Annecy Animation Festival; new footage to be screened.
Data & Statistics
- Combined production budget of the original Baahubali films: $70 million.
- Global box-office gross of the original films: $370 million.
- “Baahubali 2” ranks third among highest-grossing Indian films.
- Production involves four primary Indian producers, five Japanese collaborators, and additional partners including Mihira Visual Labs, Aniventure, Zaratan Studios, and Alcyde Studios.
Official Statements & Responses
Studio Khara’s involvement was announced as a partnership to produce a dedicated animated sequence for the new feature. SlowCurve is tasked with planning and production coordination across Japanese and international teams. The Annecy Animation Festival’s Work in Progress selection confirms the project’s progress, with a panel featuring director Ishan Shukla, art director Ajey Lele, co-writer Sowmya Sharma, animation director Antoine Charreyron, and CG supervisor Simon Brown.
What’s Next
New footage from “Baahubali: The Eternal War Part 1” will be screened at the Annecy Animation Festival’s Work in Progress section. The festival panel will discuss the collaborative process, potentially shaping further cross-cultural animation projects between Japan and India. Subsequent release dates for the two-part animated feature have not been disclosed.
