Kids
Brown Johnson to head animation at Nick, MTVN Kids & Family Group
MUMBAI: Brown Johnson – formerly EVP, creative director, Nickelodeon Preschool and GM of Noggin, and the driving force behind Nick Jr‘s “play to learn” philosophy and signature animated hits Blue‘s Clues and Dora the Explorer – has been promoted to the newly created position of president, animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group.
The announcement was made by Cyma Zarghami, president, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group, to whom Johnson will continue to report.
Johnson will be based in both Nickelodeon‘s New York City headquarters and the Nick Animation Studio in Burbank, California.
In this newly created position, Johnson will spearhead development and production for all animated programming across Nickelodeon, while continuing to oversee development and production for all preschool programming. Nickelodeon‘s top-rated live action series and TV movie development and production will continue to be led by EVP Marjorie Cohn, who also will continue to report to Zarghami.
“Brown has been an innovator from the moment she joined our company and has a great track record for spotting great, creative properties that resonate in the pop culture,” Zarghami said.
“She takes on our storied animation group at a time when exciting new programmes are on the horizon, and international production and distribution are ramping up in very exciting ways. This marks a great day for the present and future of Nickelodeon,” added Zarghami.
Johnson, a 20-year Nickelodeon veteran, has been the driving force behind Nick Jr and its groundbreaking preschool properties, including Blue‘s Clues, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, The Backyardigans and Yo Gabba Gabba!, among many others.
In her new role, Johnson will also oversee the development and production of all animated programming on Nickelodeon, which will include more than 225 new episodes of Nicktoon series in 2008. In addition to supervising the creative direction of contemporary classics such as SpongeBob Squarepants, The Fairly OddParents and Nick‘s latest hit Back At The Barnyard, Johnson will also shepherd upcoming Nicktoon series The Mighty B starring Amy Poehler and The Penguins of Madagascar in partnership with DreamWorks SKG.
Additionally, she will supervise creative executive teams on both the East and West Coasts, managing the creative direction and coordination efforts between series production, on-air promotions, marketing and consumer products.
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.
