MAM
MIPJUNIOR 2025 Reinvents Itself with Global Premiere of ‘Ki&Hi’
MUMBAI: The world of children’s entertainment is gearing up for a major reset this October as MIPJUNIOR returns with a sweeping new format and a showstopper world premiere to headline its reimagined edition. Timed just ahead of MIPCOM, the 2025 event promises a sharper, more creator-driven experience that blends deal-making with cultural momentum—turning the Palais des Festivals into a hub for the future of kids’ content.
At the center of this transformation is the global debut of Ki&Hi in the Panda Kingdom, a 52-episode anime comedy adapted from French YouTube creator Kevin Tran’s bestselling manga. Produced by Mediawan Kids & Family’s Method Animation (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir), Drawsome Studios, and Belvision, the series follows two endlessly squabbling brothers in a whimsical fantasy setting tailored to 6–10-year-olds. Its Canal+ launch later this year will mark one of the first times a true anime-style series has been developed natively for a young European audience.
Tran, who boasts a following of 5.6 million online, has already generated strong buzz for the project, blending digital creator energy with broadcast-scale ambition. For MIPJUNIOR, the premiere is more
than a debut—it’s a statement of intent.
“This is a makeover with a mission,” said Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM CANNES and MIPJUNIOR. “Kids’ content is driving wider media trends. We’re giving creators, platforms, and partners a space to unlock new models and spark fresh collaborations.”
The 2025 edition will debut the Gare Maritime as a networking and pitch arena, allowing creators and producers to connect directly with buyers, gaming companies, publishers, and brand studios from 60+ countries. With more than 900 delegates expected, MIPJUNIOR is positioning itself not just as a preview event, but as a launchpad for globally relevant IP.
For Julien Borde, President of Mediawan Kids & Family, Ki&Hi underscores the shift: “We’re filling a gap with something truly original. It’s an anime with a caring, authentic voice that reflects real sibling dynamics—funny, emotional, and age-appropriate.”
Programming across the two-day event will center on storytelling that travels—across borders, formats, and platforms. Sessions will spotlight the creator economy, hybrid production models, and the
growing influence of digital-native stars. The shift comes as broadcasters, streamers, and IP owners look for new ways to cut through in an attention-fragmented market.
But the heart of the event remains storytelling—refreshed, diverse, and platform-fluid. By turning Ki&Hi into a symbol of its new direction, MIPJUNIOR signals it’s no longer just about what kids watch, but how and where they engage. For those converging on Cannes, the message is clear: kids’ content isn’t just evolving. It’s accelerating.
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MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
