Kids
BBC Magazines to launch first pre-school weekly
MUMBAI: BBC Magazines in the UK is set to expand the pre-school sector with CBeebies Weekly magazine next month.
CBeebies Weekly magazine’s content has been created to enhance a child’s experience of the CBeebies programming week. Featuring all the familiar CBeebies characters and presenters from the UK’s number one digital channel for children under 5, the magazine will encompass the CBeebies trusted philosophy of learning through play.
Following extensive research with parents and children, CBeebies Weekly has been designed to focus on encouraging parent and child interaction.
Activities have been created to promote a sense of achievement for both and every issue has a pull out reward chart which children will be encouraged to use in tandem with the stickers that come free with every issue. The magazine also includes a child friendly TV guide that creates anticipation and excitement about the programmes, as well as encouraging active viewing in young children.
BBC Children’s department controller Richard Deverell says, “We believe that CBeebies Weekly will enable us to develop a deeper relationship with our viewers. It will enhance a child’s enjoyment of CBeebies, encouraging real interaction between the child and the programmes, as well as helping parents to get the most out of the learning potential of CBeebies whilst still having lots of fun.”
BBC Magazines Pre-school publisher, Pauline Cooke says, “Our research has shown that parents extend their trust of the CBeebies channel to the magazine in terms of quality and educational value. CBeebies Weekly will be at the heart of our portfolio of strong character branded pre-school magazines and will enable us to create a magazine that for the first time truly reflects a child’s week.”
“As with all our pre-school magazines, we have a designated Educational Editor, to ensure that the content of the magazine actively reflects and promotes the developmental needs of pre-school children, and is underpinned by the six areas of learning in the Foundation Stage’s Early Learning Goals,” said Cooke.
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.
