MAM
Anu Sikka joins Jio Studios as head of animationAnu Sikka joins Jio Studios as head of animation
Sikka moves from JioStar after over 20 years in kids’ content and programming
MUMBAI: Anu Sikka is giving her career another animated turn, moving to Jio Studios as head of animation after stepping down from her role as executive vice president at JioStar, according to sources.
Sikka joined JioStar in October 2024 and has now taken on the new role at Jio Studios, bringing more than two decades of experience across kids’ entertainment, programming and content development.
Before joining JioStar, Sikka spent over 15 years with Viacom18 Media, where she held a series of programming and kids’ entertainment roles. Her most recent position there was business unit head for the Kids cluster, a role she took up in November 2023.
Prior to that, she served as head of programming and television insights, OAP, at Nickelodeon India from January 2011 to November 2023.
Her Nickelodeon stint covered programming strategy as well as the launch of several channels, including Nickelodeon Sonic in 2011, Nick Jr in 2012 and Nick HD+. She was also involved in building the network’s original animation slate, including shows such as Motu Patlu, Shiva, Golmaal Jr, Chikoo aur Bunty and Bhoot Bandhus.
Sikka’s association with Viacom18 began in January 2006, when she joined as programming head for Nickelodeon India. In that role, she worked on programming strategy for Nick and the development of a wider kids-focused channel network in India.
Across her tenure, her work spanned channel launches, programming strategy and the development of locally produced animated content, giving her experience across both the creative and business sides of kids’ entertainment.
Her move to Jio Studios now brings that experience into the studio’s animation operations, as the sector continues to see greater focus on original characters, locally developed stories and content aimed at both domestic and wider audiences.
Sikka’s career move also marks a shift from the programming side of the television business towards a studio-focused animation role, closing one chapter that began with Nickelodeon in 2006 and opening another at Jio Studios.
