Kids
Aardman Animations creates HDTV show for kids
MUMBAI: Blackmagic Design has announced that its capture cards and Stop Motion Pro are being used by Aardman Animations for their latest TV production Timmy.
Timmy is a 10-minute, 52 episode animated series and has already been pre-bought by Disney Channels Worldwide including the US, and has also been pre-bought by CBeebies in the UK. Timmy is scheduled for television broadcast in 2009.
Timmy is based on sketches by Oscar Nick Park Wallace & Gromit in a Close Shave. It was introduced on the series Shaun the Sheep, now airing on Disney Channels around the world.
The DeckLink HD Extreme and Intensity Pro cards as used by Aardman, are the only HD capture cards to work with Stop Motion Pro. The Blackmagic Design and the Stop Motion Pro workflow have enabled the animators at Aardman to unlock new creative processes within the stop motion animation environment.
The biggest advantage, the company says, is that animators can now work in HD using uncompressed video while being able to get instant on-set feedback, such as onionskinning.
By using Blackmagic Design capture cards with an HD video camera and Stop Motion Pro, animators can now film claymation and other forms of stop motion animation at the highest quality uncompressed HD video possible.
Blackmagic Design GM Europe, Middle East and Africa Stuart Ashton says, “Blackmagic Design and Stop Motion Pro have breathed new life into stop motion animation, enabling the highest quality stop motion productions to be made. At any time, animators can play back the footage in the highest quality, even out to a dedicated monitor at the exact frames per second, and all in real time.”
Aardman head of production technology Ian Fleming says, “Filming stop motion animation with HD video cameras means the animators can see what they are filming in very high quality, this speeds up the animation process enormously. With the integration of Stop Motion Pro and Blackmagic technology, we are able to roll out a common standard of animation production across the company. Our animators can move between productions, using either digital SLR cameras or HD video cameras.”
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.
