Kids
Mickey Mouse hooks Spider-Man for $4 bn
MUMBAI: In one of those rare acquisitions at the time of global economic woes, Walt Disney has announced it is buying the comic publishing giant Marvel Entertainment in a $4 billion deal that will add characters like Spider-man, Iron Man and the X Men into the Mickey Mouse family.
Marvel‘s characters have been turned into several blockbuster movies in the last few years. Disney hopes to combine these strong global brand characters with its “creative skills, global entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximises the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories.”Disney will have access to 5,000 Marvel characters, several of whom were co-created by the comic book legend Stan Lee, which will help it to extend its appeal to young men who appreciate Marvel‘s superheroes. Disney‘s franchises like ‘Hannah Montana‘ and the Jonas Brothers have won young women audiences.
“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney`s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” said Disney president Robert Iger.
As per the deal, Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash, plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own. The transaction will be subject to approval by Marvel‘s shareholders.
Commenting on the deal Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter said, “Disney is the perfect home for Marvel`s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses. This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney‘s tremendous global organisation and infrastructure around the world.”
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.
