Nepal’s leading animation and visual effects company, Incessant Rain Studios, has announced its first original animated feature film, Lost in Mandala, marking a major milestone for the country’s creative technology industry. After spending nearly two decades delivering world-class VFX and animation services for Hollywood productions, the studio is now stepping into the global spotlight with its own intellectual property (IP).

Based in Kathmandu, the studio has contributed to more than 150 international film and television projects, including acclaimed titles such as House of the Dragon, John Wick: Chapter 4, and numerous other major productions. Its latest venture signals a strategic shift from being a service provider to becoming a creator of globally marketable stories.

lost-in-mandala-film

A Himalayan Fantasy with a Universal Message

Currently in development in Nepal, Lost in Mandala is an animated fantasy adventure inspired by the Himalayas’ rich spiritual traditions, mythology, and breathtaking landscapes.

The story follows a 12-year-old girl raised by Buddhist nuns in a remote Himalayan monastery. When she and her friends are transported into a mysterious parallel world, they embark on a life-changing adventure to defeat a dark force threatening both realities. Rather than relying solely on strength, the young heroine discovers that love, compassion, and courage are the true powers capable of restoring balance.

The film aims to blend Nepal’s cultural heritage with cutting-edge animation, introducing Himalayan stories to audiences around the world.

Hollywood Talent Behind Lost in Mandala

The screenplay has been written by acclaimed Hollywood writer Zak Stentz, known for his work on blockbuster productions including Thor, X-Men: First Class, and Netflix’s Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. The film is being produced by Deepa Chipalu Joshi, while Kiran Bhakta Joshi, co-founder and co-CEO of Incessant Rain Studios, serves as director.

Before returning to Nepal, Kiran Bhakta Joshi spent nearly 18 years at Walt Disney Studios, where he worked as a Visual Effects Supervisor on classics including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and contributed to the early development of Tangled and Frozen.

Institutional Investment for Nepal’s Creative Industry

In an important first for Nepal’s animation sector, NIMB Ace Capital will support the project by helping raise institutional investment. The partnership represents what is believed to be Nepal’s first major institutional investment in an original animated intellectual property, demonstrating growing confidence in the country’s creative economy.

During a recent investor presentation held at QFX Cinemas, the studio showcased the film’s creative vision and its international commercial potential.

According to Shivant Pandey, CEO of NIMB Ace Capital, original intellectual property has value far beyond a single film. “Characters, brands, and stories can become long-term global assets. Projects like Lost in Mandala have        the potential to inspire an entirely new creative industry in Nepal.”

Working on Global Blockbusters

Over the past decade and a half, Incessant Rain Studios has contributed to more than 150 international productions for studios including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Amazon Studios, and HBO.

Its portfolio includes work on internationally acclaimed productions such as:

• House of the Dragon
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
• The Meg
• Red Sparrow
• S.W.A.T.
• Da Vinci’s Demons
• Blood Drive

These projects have established Nepal as an emerging destination for high-end animation and visual effects services.

From Hollywood Outsourcing to Original Storytelling

Founded in 2008 after Kiran Bhakta Joshi returned to Nepal, Incessant Rain Studios began with just 20 employees. Despite years of power shortages and limited digital infrastructure, the studio earned international recognition by successfully delivering high-quality animation work for global clients.

Today, the company employs more than 200 artists and technical professionals, working across animation, visual effects, gaming, and immersive technologies while continuing to serve international productions.

In recent years, the studio has increasingly focused on developing original content rooted in Nepali culture. Its award-winning projects, including the animated short Mandala, documentary Moving Mountains: The Awakening, and Clay Bird, have demonstrated that stories created in Nepal can resonate with audiences worldwide.

Kiran Bhakta Joshi at Theatre

A New Chapter for Nepal’s Creative Economy

The launch of Lost in Mandala represents more than the production of a feature film. It reflects Nepal’s growing ambition to build globally competitive intellectual property instead of solely providing outsourced creative services. By combining international production standards with Himalayan mythology and Buddhist philosophy, Lost in Mandala movie seeks to position Nepal as an emerging destination for world-class animation and creative technology.

Why This Film Matters for Nepal

Nepal has produced several successful films over the years, but original animated feature films designed specifically for the global market remain extremely rare.

If successful, Lost in Mandala could become Nepal’s first internationally recognized animated franchise rooted in Himalayan mythology, opening new opportunities for:

• Animation
• Gaming
• Visual Effects (VFX)
• Virtual Production
• Merchandise Licensing
• Digital Content Exports

The project also demonstrates that Nepal can compete in the global creative economy by exporting original stories rather than only providing outsourced production services.

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