Kids
Animax to launch in India 5 July
MUMBAI: SPE Networks Asia today announced plans to launch the highly successful anime channel, Animax, in India on 5 July.
The dedicated Animax South Asia feed follows the successful Animax Asia rollout that began with Taiwan on New Year’s Day, Hong Kong on 12 January, and the South East Asia service on 19 January. Animax, which is completely devoted to popular animation from Japan – anime – launched first in Japan. India will therefore mark the fifth Animax operation in Asia.
Customized for India and dubbed in Hindi and English, will be a general entertainment channel that targets kids and young adults as well.
The One Alliance will distribute Animax across India, and SET India will represent Animax in advertising sales.
The programming timeblocks on the India-specific service will have four prime time blocks:
Kids Hour Weekdays from 3-7pm, dubbed in Hindi, for children in primary school
Youth Hour Weekdays from 7-9pm, dubbed in English, for teenagers and kids in secondary school
Mega Zone Weekdays from 9-11pm, dubbed in English, featuring blockbuster anime series which appeals to a wide demographic
Weekend Anime ensuring the weekends are just as exciting as weekdays, with some of the hottest anime programs, also dubbed in English, premiering on weekends.
Animax will feature some of the hottest and world’s most popular Japanese animation series from Japan’s top anime studios and producers, including the story of the world’s most-loved anime character, AstroBoy; Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, whose original movie Ghost in the Shell inspired the Wachowski Brothers blockbuster Matrix Trilogy; Samurai X, one of the most popular anime in the world; and Arjuna, a story about a young archer girl, which was inspired by the tale of Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers in the Hindu epic Mahabaratha.
“India is a youthful market. 43% of India’s 1 billion population is under age 20. Animax will tap into this big, vibrant, and entertainment-hungry market,” Todd Miller, managing director of SPE Networks Asia, which operates AXN Asia and Animax Asia. “The themes that can be found in most anime stories transcend language, culture and origin. The unique programming on Animax will resonate with India’s youth,” Miller is quoted as saying in an official release.
SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta was quoted as saying: “The arrival of Animax strengthens The One Alliance’s position as India’s leading bouquet. The One Alliance is well-positioned to provide top-rated television viewing experiences for viewers of all ages across all programming genres.”
The One Alliance is a joint venture between Sony Entertainment Television India and Discovery Communications India.
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.
