Kids
CBeebies introduces new friends at bedtime
MUMBAI: CBeebies is refreshing its early evening schedule for summer and reintroducing some familiar friends to help children settle down for bedtime.
From 30 May, siblings Charlie And Lola are welcomed back to the CBeebies line-up alongside Lucy and her menagerie of exotic animal friends at 64 Zoo Lane.
These programmes will be followed by the soothing adventures of Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy in In The Night Garden and, as always, the familiar comfort of The Bedtime Story in the final slot of the day.
First broadcast on CBeebies in 2005, Charlie And Lola is based on the award-winning books by Lauren Child and follows the everyday cartoon adventures of inquisitive little sister Lola and her ever-patient brother Charlie.
And 64 Zoo Lane takes viewers on an adventurous tour of the globe as seven-year-old Lucy catches up with the animated antics of her myriad animal friends including Herbert the Warthog, Georgina the Giraffe and Isobel the Flamingo.
CBeebies controller Kay Benbow said, “We are always looking at ways to keep our schedule fresh and interesting for our young viewers without causing too much disruption to routines.
“We know that the bedtime hour is an important part of families‘ evening routines and we‘re sure that children will be delighted to settle down with some familiar friends as they prepare for bedtime.”
Fans of current bedtime show Waybuloo will still be able to catch up with the Piplings every weekday at 11.15 am, 3.10 pm, and weekends at 1 pm on CBeebies.
Parents and children can catch up with their favourite programmes at any time through the CBeebies iPlayer at bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbeebies.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
