The Indian television network Animax India belonged to Sony Pictures Entertainment. Animax Asia ran it and broadcast it from Singapore, and Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. handled distribution. It first broadcast Hindi-dubbed anime, but later switched to English-dubbed anime that had been partially subbed, and finally switched entirely to subbed anime. On the same day as Japan, it was the only channel in India to broadcast anime. It has historically targeted the 7–14 and 15–25 age demographics, or those born between 1979 and 1989 and 1990 and 1997, respectively. Animax stopped broadcasting in India on regular Animax on April 18, 2017. Animax Asia HD was later made available as a live channel on Sony LIV, Sony Pictures Networks’ digital platform in India. The Animax Asia HD live channel was no longer accessible on Sony LIV as of 8 May 2020.
With Irfan Pathan serving as its brand ambassador, Animax launched operations in India and the rest of the Indian subcontinent on July 5, 2004. Animax Asia ran it and broadcast it from Singapore, and Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. handled distribution. It was the first animation channel to specifically target viewers between the ages of 15 and 25, and it was the only one in India to broadcast anime on the same day and during the same week as Japan. Animax India began with a 12-hour Hindi programme that catered to children and teenagers aged 7 to 14, and it had plans to release Hindi and English audio tracks. Animax changed its target audience to the group of people between the ages of 15 and 24, so as of August 15, 2006, it completely shut down its Hindi feed but kept its English one.
Live-action programming such as the TV series Tech Max, Game Max, Animax Press Play, Imagination, and Speak Out as well as films like Spider-Man 2, Kung Fu Hustle, and Hellboy began airing in 2007. Animax South Asia and Animax Asia merged on January 1st, 2008, but India had a separate feed. On May 4, 2010, Animax India and Singapore both adopted new logos. On April 6, 2009, Animax became the first channel to simultaneously air Tears to Tiara and other Korean entertainment programmes like Comedy Boot Camp, Live Power Music, and Pretty Boys & Girls. With the debut of Scare Tactics, Animax expanded their selection to include American reality shows. The annual Video Game Awards, presented by Spike TV, were also televised live by Animax.
Animax stopped dubbing anime after the release of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan and began airing them with Japanese audio and English subtitles. However, Animax continued to dub a few anime programmes, such as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’s second season. All of the programmes that were broadcast on AXN, Animax’s sister channel, were still simulcast. The first episodes of Chuck, Ghost Adventures, and Fear Itself were broadcast on AXN India. The channel stopped airing these programmes in 2012 and switched back to its previous logo, concentrating only on anime. Additionally, Animax was removed from all DTH listings in India because the channel was unable to pay carriage costs. With the addition of Animax on Tata Sky at LCN 686 in 2016, Animax once again entered the DTH networks.
On April 18, 2017, Animax stopped airing on regular television in India. Animax Asia HD is now a live channel on Sony LIV, Sony Pictures Networks’ digital platform in India. The Indian channels were kept separate from the other Animax channels when KC Global Media purchased the Animax Asia channels on January 7, 2020. The Animax India HD live channel’s availability on Sony LIV ended on May 8, 2020. To reach a wider audience, an Animax-branded Hindi feed block called “Animax Kool Kidz” was introduced on Sony Entertainment Television starting on December 5, 2004. Astro Boy, Cyborg 009, Daigunder, Fancy Lala, Princess Comet, Princess Sarah, Princess Tutu, Tales of Little Women, and UFO Baby were some of the shows that were featured during this block.