Kids
Cartoon Network to increase viewer cachet with Pokemon
MUMBAI: Its time for pokéaction! The summer is well and truly on and to give kids a welcome break from the heat Cartoon Network has announced that it will air the critically acclaimed cult series Pokemon.
It will start from 12 May and will air from Monday – Friday at 8 am and 5 pm. Through this programme initiative the channel is looking to spice up is Toonami band. To add a local flavour the series will be available in English and Hindi languages.
In Pokemon, kids are permitted to become Pokemon trainers – and the best of them may some day become Pokemon masters. That’s the dream of Ash Ketchum, the young hero who embarks on his journey with a secret that gives him an edge, His special love for these Pokemon creatures helps him beat incredible odds and makes seemingly impossible things happen! Pokemon are a unique group of creatures, and are evolved cross hybrids of different animals.
Created by Satoshi Tajiri, the show has emerged as one of the most popular cartoon series on television and has taken the kids world by storm. The series has been a big draw among young viewers’ aged 6 – 17, and has consistently enjoyed high ratings in many countries including Japan and the US. In the US, the show obtained higher ratings than the Today Show and Good Morning America Show, in their morning time slots.
Pokemon quickly became a phenomenon and has generated numerous extensions, including movies, video games, comics, merchandise, trading cards, etc. The series has been converted into four successful features with the fifth movie scheduled for released in July 2003. Interestingly, when the first movie released worldwide in 1999, the opening weekend take was US$ 31.4 million, beating Titanic’s opening of US$ 28.64 million.
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.
