News Broadcasting
Cartoon Network to explore Indian talent for ‘Snaptoons’
MUMBAI: Kid’s channel Cartoon Network has announced a pan Asian initiative titled Snaptoons – Short New Asia Pacific Cartoons, by scouting for emerging talent across its key markets in Asia, is slated to kick off on 18 October.
The network is looking to invest in funding, backing and developing new and original ideas that lend itself to animation, is targeted at kids and must either have a universal or regional appeal. Thus, Cartoon Network is looking for poets, artists, amateurs, professionals, students, individual animators, animation studios, to send in their pitches and see their creations come to life.
This programme will identify scripts and shortlist 30-40 entries for what they call a ‘bible synopsis’ by the end of this year. From these pitches, ten will be green lit and each will be developed into full pilot episodes of 7-10 minutes each. The commissioned ten will have their world premiere on Cartoon Network across the Asia Pacific feeds. Depending on the response, these will be created into a feature film or full series episodes.
Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc (TENA) creative director Arnab Chaudhuri threw light on the concept of a ‘bible synopsis’ with reference to a half hour animated series Class of 3000. This will be launched next year wherein Outkast’s Andre Benjamin is the central character. Chaudhuri will be heading operations for Snaptoons in India.
Forseeing potential in the animation industry and expecting it to soar up to Rs 950 million by 2009, Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc (TENA) senior vice president and general manager Ian Diamond said, “Being the vanguards of original production, both live action and animation, it is our duty to raise the bar and create a platform for local animated productions.”
Diamond added, “It is our responsibility to provide a platform for Indian talent to rightfully take a place on the global animation stage. Snaptoons is a serious, ongoing initiative designed to connect, discover and nurture creative brilliance that exists throughout Asia and will showcase the enormous potential that abounds in the region. This initiative will forge a relationship between that talent and Cartoon Network’s extensive global production infrastructure to help develop the next generation of ground breaking animation.”
A similar project was conducted in the US titled ‘World Premiere Toons’ which identified the creators of the Power Puff Girls, Johhny Bravo and Dexter. “This approach has been extremely successful at a global level; toon icons such as The Powerpuff Girls, Courage The Cowardly Dog and many more, were born out of a similar campaign, and today, they are firmly entrenched in the animation hall of fame. This unique opportunity is an ongoing partnership between Cartoon Network and the local talent and I look forward to creating the next global Cartoon Network hit from this country,” says Diamond.
Chaudhuri added, “For the network and the brand the ‘Characters are King’ and now we are looking for the next generation of creators.”
The broad parameters that creators could keep in mind while developing the concept would be to ensure that their concept is kid related, is character driven with a good dose of comic action. Additionally, in terms of design and creative vision it should be fun, funny, fearless and importantly, should have the potential to be commissioned as full series and/ or a feature film.
The two channels from the Turner stable (Cartoon Network and Pogo) according to Diamond have clocked a 22 per cent growth in ad sales revenue and currently Cartoon Network secures a 30 per cent market share in the kids genre, while Pogo marked 23 per cent. Diamond sees India as having immense potential and it optimistic about India’s contribution to this new initiate.
For more information on the programme, the participants can visit the Snaptoons website on www.SNAPTOONS.org. The deadline for enteries is 31 December 2006.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
