Kids
Cartoon Network peps it with Barbie feature
MUMBAI: Barbie doll’s first-ever musical feature film, Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper, will debut on Cartoon Network in the ‘cartoon theatre’ section on 21 November at 12 pm.
The repeat follows at 5 pm on the same day. The movie is dubbed in Hindi and a special repeat telecast on 27 December.
The movie, Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper teaches girls about hope, self-discovery and the strength of friendship and love. The film is based on the classic tale by Mark Twain. It has received a modern-day makeover and is played out through the amazing technology of CGI animation, says a company release.
The story revolves around how two girls, identical in looks and born at the same time, but in two extreme households – one as a rich princess and the other as a struggling pauper a simple village girl.
The common thread in both their stories is on how they dream of doing something big in their lives, of living their lives the way they want. But they are also aware of the responsibilities that rest on their shoulders and are confident of fulfilling their duties and achieving their dreams, says the release.
An intersting aspect of this animated film is the first time inclusion of seven songs in a Barbie movie.
As a promotion special edition, Mattel has introduced innovative new products to bring the movie to life. The toy maker has introduced the Princess Anneliese and Erika dolls, who are touted as the two lyrical maidens. They not sing solo but also complement each other in pitch-perfect harmony for a duet of I’m Just Like You, You’re Just Like Me, just as they do in the movie, informs the release.
This is Barbie’s fourth leap into the entertainment spotlight. Her previous three movies include Barbie in the Nutcracker, Barbie as Rapunzel and Barbie of Swan Lake.
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.
