Kids
‘Dora The Explorer’ wins ‘Toy of the Year’ award at American International Toy Fair
MUMBAI: Dora the Explorer won her second T.O.T.Y (Toy of the Year) Award as “Most Popular Property” of the Year by the Toy Industry Association.
As the star of Nickelodeon’s popular preschool series, Dora the Explorer, Dora also received the “Best Girl Toy” award at the TIA gala, which every year celebrates the most innovative toys.
Dora continued her winning streak, claiming the “Property of the Year” prize for the second year in a row. The honour is reserved for the licensor with the brand or property that generated the most interest and excitement throughout the toy industry. By focusing on licensed product that delivers to girls high quality play experiences consistent with the show’s values, Dora has resonated with both girls and their parents.
Dora’s Talking Kitchen, a best-selling Fisher-Price product in 2005, took the honours for “Girl Toy of the Year”, awarded to the best toy developed for girls of any age. The kitchen enjoyed tremendous success at retail as it conveyed the same emphasis on bilingual skills, combined with fun and adventure, as the popular Nick Jr. program.
“We’re thrilled that Dora the Explorer continues to be associated with some of the most innovative and creative toys on the market. Dora is part of the lives of millions of kids around the world and we’re proud of our products that are both educational and fun,” said Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products president Leigh Anne Brodsky.
In addition to the toy honours, Dora the Explorer has also recently been bestowed with other awards that recognise the importance of the series for today’s preschoolers including a 2006 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program.
“The Toy Industry Association is excited to honour Dora the Explorer for the second consecutive year at the T.O.T.Y awards. Dora provides kids with incredibly creative playthings and it’s a pleasure to present her with both the ‘Property of the Year’ and ‘Best Girl Toy’ awards in our industry’s own version of the Oscars,” said Toy Industry Association president Tom Conley.
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.
