Kids
Disney to target tweeners with live action, local acquisitions
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MUMBAI: The tweener (10 – 14 years) audience segment is currently underserved by the kids’ channels in India. Or so feels Walt Disney Television International (India) director programming and production Nachiket Pantvaidya. In order to cater more to this segment and expand the overall kids market in India, the Disney Channel is planning to pump up its live action programming. And it is also looking at local acquisitions to support this strategy. |
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The channel is strong among pre-school and family audiences. “Our movies have family appeal. Besides, we have premium quality preschool content,” he says.  According to Pantvaidya, 84 per cent of kids are on GECs (general entertainment channels) while only 16 per cent of them were on kids channels. “Before the entry of the new kids channels in India, this percentage ratio of kids’ viewing was 90:10. There has been a shift in kids viewing because of the wide range of options that are today available to them. I feel that the 16 per cent number has the potential of touching 30 per cent or as high as even 40 per cent in two years’ time,” he says. Driving this growth will be live action programming, he adds. Disney Channel is also expanding its preschool band from 1 November by an additional nine hours. The channel will have nine hours of preschool programming on weekdays from 7 am – 3 pm and from 8 am – 10 am (two hours) on Saturdays and Sundays. That makes it 44 hours of preschool programming in a week. At present the Disney Channel has 35 hours of preschool programming in a week, which is aired on weekdays from 8 am – 3 pm. Cartoon Network and Pogo, on the other hand, have a combined offering of 11-12 hours a day of preschool content. Nick has a preschool block called Nick Jr. Toon Disney, Pantvaidya feels, has a potent mix with action programming like Spiderman and strong franchisees like Mickey Mouse. |
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.
