Kids
Cartoon Network outdoor ads set off terror alert in Boston
MUMBAI: An outdoor campaign by Cartoon Network to promote the upcoming movie release of its late-night cult hit Aqua Teen Hunger Force triggered a police alert for a possible terrorist threat in the US city of Boston on Wednesday.
The scare spurred the Boston police to close highways, two bridges and a stretch of the Charles River before bomb squads determined the supposed bombs to be nothing more than electronic light boards (38 in all) depicting a Mooninite (one of the show’s alien characters) giving drivers the middle finger.
Two men who placed the objects have been charged, state officials said. Boston authorities are reportedly seeking damages to the tune of $ 500,000 as costs incurred in responding to the scare.
Following the ruckus, Cartoon Network’s parent company Turner Broadcasting released a statement: “We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger.
“We also directed the third-party marketing firm who posted the advertisements to take them down immediately.”
The apology didn’t satisfy incensed Congressman Ed Markey, who released a statement slamming the campaign: “Scaring an entire region, tying up the T and major roadways, and forcing first responders to spend 12 hours chasing down trinkets instead of terrorists is marketing run amok. It would be hard to dream up a more appalling publicity stunt. Whoever thought this up needs to find another job.”
That the “suspicious devices” had been in place for two to three weeks in Boston and in nine other cities — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Austin (Texas), San Francisco and Philadelphia — is the most curious aspect of this terror-filled tale.
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.
