Kids
Jim Henson company to debut animated shows at Mipcom
MUMBAI: The Jim Henson Company will debut next month two new CGI-animated series, Dinosaur Train and The Skrumps, at the television trade event Mipcom Jr. in Cannes, France.
The announcement was made by The Jim Henson Company president and COO Peter Schube.
Created for 3-6 year children, Dinosaur Train features a steam engine that carries all kinds of dinosaurs to the many prehistoric eras. The world of Dinosaur Train is seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-age Tyrannosaurus Rex. Rescued and hatched by a female Pteranodon, Buddy soon realises that he looks quite different from his siblings.
In response to Buddy’s enthusiasm to learn more about himself and other dinosaurs, mom takes her family for adventures on the Dinosaur Train. Kids will get on board with Buddy and his family to meet all kinds of dinosaurs and learn new fascinating facts about these incredible creatures.
Also debuting at the market for pre-sales is The Skrumps, a series based on characters created by artist John Chandler and made popular by his line of collectible figures and illustrated storybooks. The Skrumps, a uniquely colorful troupe of Skrumpland residents, is currently in active development for long-form direct-to-DVD production with a future television series also anticipated.
The characters are performed using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio. Several short videos, including a music video and several character video-blogs, were initially produced and distributed on Yahoo Kids! in January 2007 to launch the brand. The Skrumps were also featured in their first interactive game launched on Yahoo in March 2008.
Schube says, “Based on input from paleontologists, science educators, and early childhood education experts, Dinosaur Train has developed an ambitious, creative curriculum and harnesses children’s enthusiasm for and curiosity about dinosaurs, sparking children’s interest in life science and natural history.
“The innovative and irreverent quality of The Skrumps continues our legacy of creating families of engaging characters that audiences around the world will connect with and we are excited to launch this new property across all media including on-line content and television productions, as well as merchandising and licensing.”
The company‘s head of international sales Sam Ewing says, “The Skrumps and Dinosaur Train offer tremendous creativity and a level of quality that broadcasters associate with The Jim Henson Company, and we are extremely proud to present both series to the international television marketplace for the first time at Mipcom”.
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.
