iWorld
French animation house Xilam goes direct to consumers with streaming app, India included
PARIS: Xilam Animation is taking on the streaming giants—or at least carving out its own small corner of the kids’ entertainment universe. The Oscar-nominated French animation group has launched Toon Box, a subscription-based, ad-free streaming app stuffed with over 1,000 pieces of content from its back catalogue, plus exclusive videos, activities, storybooks and games. It’s aimed at three-to-10-year-olds and rolled out today across 11 territories: the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Mexico, Brazil and Australia.
For now, Toon Box is iOS-only, with an Android version promised for next year. New subscribers get a free first month before choosing between a monthly subscription or an annual plan. Episodes can be downloaded for offline viewing, and Xilam pledges to refresh the app with new content monthly.
The app features some of Xilam’s most recognisable properties—Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig & Sharko, Where’s Chicky?, Mr Magoo, The Daltons, Lupin’s Tales and Paprika—series that have already built Xilam a substantial digital following of 125m subscribers across YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat globally.
Xilam chief executive and founder Marc du Pontavice calls the launch “a significant milestone” as the company goes direct to consumers for the first time. He’s pitching Toon Box as “an ad-free, safe and engaging environment” where families can access Xilam’s portfolio “in one convenient and trusted place”—a not-so-subtle dig at YouTube’s algorithmic chaos and dodgy advertising.
The inclusion of India in the initial rollout is notable. The country’s burgeoning middle class and smartphone penetration make it a prime hunting ground for streaming services, though convincing parents to pay for cartoons when free options abound is no small feat. Xilam is betting that its library of slapstick, dialogue-light animation—which travels well across language barriers—combined with a promise of child-safe content will be enough to prise open wallets.
Whether families will fork out for yet another subscription in an already crowded market remains the question. But with 125m fans already hooked on free Xilam content, du Pontavice reckons there’s a paying audience in there somewhere. Now comes the hard part: finding them.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils trailer for Tamil series Exam, streaming May 15
Dushara Vijayan, Aditi Balan headline scam thriller set in exam world
CHENNAI: Prime Video has dropped the official trailer of its upcoming Tamil Original series Exam, a high-stakes suspense drama set in the murky world of competitive entrance exams.
Backed by creative producers Pushkar and Gayatri under Wallwatcher Films, the seven-episode series is written and directed by National Award-winner A. Sarkunam. It stars Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan in lead roles, with Abbas playing a pivotal character.
Set in the fictional town of Thykara, the series follows Jhansi, played by Dushara Vijayan, as she attempts to expose a deep-rooted scam, aided by her mentor Jayachandran, played by Abbas. Standing in her way is DSP Maramalli, portrayed by Aditi Balan, setting up a tense face-off driven by ambition, pressure and moral choices.
The show will stream from May 15 on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories. It will be available in Tamil, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, along with subtitles in 15 languages.
Writer-director A. Sarkunam said the story aims to resonate across geographies and social strata, going beyond the scam to explore ambition, pressure and the consequences of personal choices. He added that the narrative unfolds through the intersecting journeys of Jhansi and Maramalli, building tension as their worlds collide.
Dushara Vijayan described Jhansi as a fierce and determined character, calling the role both demanding and rewarding, with the story capturing the difficult choices her character must make.
Aditi Balan said the series offers a hard-hitting look at the exam ecosystem, adding that her character is layered and shaped by both internal conflict and external pressures.
Abbas, marking his return to mainstream Tamil entertainment, said the series stands out for its layered storytelling and unpredictable twists, with his character adding depth to the central narrative.
With its mix of suspense, social commentary and character-driven storytelling, Exam is shaping up to be a tense watch as it dives into one of India’s most high-pressure systems.
