Kids
Disney stalwart Walker passes away at 89
MUMBAI: E. Cardon “Card” Walker, who led Disney for nearly a decade and a-half following the death of co-founder Roy O. Disney, passed away a few days ago at the age of 89.
Disney president and CEO Bob Iger said, “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Card Walker. Card was instrumental in keeping Disney strong and growing in the critical years that followed the passing of founders Walt and Roy Disney. There is little question that, were it not for Card Walker’s vision and leadership, Disney would not be what it is today.”
Walker rose through the ranks at Disney, starting in the mailroom in 1938 and eventually becoming executive VP and COO following the death of Walt Disney. Walker worked closely with Walt and Roy Disney on projects, such as It’s a Small World, Meet Mr. Lincoln, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins and the purchase and development of the 28,000 acres in Central Florida that became Walt Disney World.
In 1971, he was named president of the company, in 1976, he added the duties of chief executive officer and, in 1980, he was elected chairman of the board. Under his leadership, the company expanded with such major projects as the development of Epcot at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and the creation of the Disney Channel in the then-nascent cable industry.
Earlier in his career, Walker’s duties included work in the camera and story departments as unit manager on short subjects, after which he moved into advertising and sales, rising to become the company’s vice president of marketing. In 1960, he was elected to Disney’s board of directors and served on its three-man executive committee. He retired as CEO and chairman in 1983, but continued to serve as a consultant until 1990.
Disney former CEO Michael Eisner says, “Card was a predecessor of mine as CEO and I was privileged to consult with him throughout much of my tenure at the company. Thanks to his deep understanding of the company and its founders, talking to Card was the next best thing to talking to Walt himself. Card successfully steered this company through a challenging time of transition, establishing an incredibly strong base for success on which Disney continues to build.”
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.
