Kids
Disney theme park: Hong Kong opposition raise queries
MUMBAI: Disney has not yet opened its theme park in Hong Kong but already that country’s legislators have started asking awkward questions. Hong Kong Disneyland is due to open on 12 September 2005.
The lawmakers are questioning the Hong Kong government’s decision to give Hong Kong Disneyland a 20-year option to buy an adjacent site for expansion. Their stance is that other theme parks ought to be given a chance to get the land. The commissioner for Tourism Eva Cheng said that the government would like to hold talks with Disneyland soon about exercising the option.
Last year Financial Secretary Henry Tang had said that the government approached three other US theme park companies about coming to Hong Kong — Six Flags, Universal and Warner Bros. Disney is understadably nervous. After all it might never have agreed to open its park on Lantau Island if it had known that there was the chance that a competitor might set up shop next door. Disney’s first-bid rights on the site last until 2019, and can be extended longer if the park draws in more then 8 million people.
Opposition lawmaker Sin Chung-kai was quoted in media reports saying, “From Hong Kong’s standpoint, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Disneyland. Other than Disneyland there are many other theme parks popular in the world”
The 125-hectare (310-acre) Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint venture between Disney and the Hong Kong government. However local taxpayers are footing most of its US$3.5 billion (euro2.6 million) price tag. Critics have therefore questioned whether Hong Kong got a good deal.
The government will test the park and its transportation infrastructure ahead of the scheduled opening by inviting tour operators and Hong Kong residents to visit.
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.
