MAM
Cartoon Network’s Toon Cricket ran to packed house
MUMBAI: Cartoon network’s annual fare Toon Cricket with 30,000 plus attendees turned out to be a good example of pester power.
Like a classic fairy tale, the cricket match was a battle between good and evil. With a good amount of cheering and clapping in the backdrop, Fred Flintstone’s ‘Save The World Team’ won the Toon Cup by a crucial two runs, defeating the ‘Rule The World Team’ led by the crafty Mojo Jojo. The cartoon dog charecter that had inspired Hollywood last year, Scooby-Doo of the ‘Save The World Team’ bagged the ‘Toon of the match’ title for contributing 10 important runs.
The Cartoon Network event, presented by Cadbury’s Chocki and Bournvita and co-sponsored by Nissin Top Ramen, Rasna Juc-Up, Laughing Cow Cheese, Cheetos, and McDonald’s, had lined up quite a few surprises for the brat pack. In midst of the event was a staged fight between Mojo Jojo who invaded the pitch after losing the match and drove every player back to pavilion. In typical Cartoon Network style, the Powerpuff Girls came to the rescue of the cartoon characters and chased him away.
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
