Kids
Hit Entertainment signs first direct sale with Sri Lankan channel
MUMBAI: Children’s entertainment brand Hit Entertainment has done its first ever direct sale with Sri Lanka.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com this afternoon, Hit Entertainment brand director Asia Sheetal Merchant said, “We have sold the Barney series 4-9 to Sri Lankan broadcaster Art TV as well as the classic Jim Henson puppet animation series Fraggle Rock. Both these series and characters from this are very well known in Sri Lanka. I am delighted to have established this relationship with Art TV and we hope to build our relationship further moving forward into 2006.”
In January this year Hit Entertainment had launched its licensing business in India in conjunction with Licensing Plus – India (LPI) as its licensing partner. The first show was Bob The Builder.
Now Merchant says that Excel Video, which is Hit’s home entertainment partner in India, is launching its first ever direct to video special called Snowed Under for Bob the Builder and this will be available exclusively on video only for the time being as it has not been broadacast on Cartoon Network. It is a 50-minute special.
“Excel is launching the first VCD/DVDs of Barney in India and they will be launching 20 December with four titles including Let’s Play School, Rhyme Time Rhythm, Night Before Christmas and Sing & Dance with Barney. Sterling Publisher will also be launching the Barney books in December.”
Meanwhile, another popular character from the Hit stable Thomas is celebrating his 60th anniversary this year as the original books on which the television series is based were first launched in 1945! Excel video will be lauching the VCD/DVD and Eurokids will be launching books of this classic next year in India.
Talking about shows that are airing on Indian television, Merchant points out that Angelina Ballerina launched on Cartoon Network’s Half Ticket Express pre-school block last month. Angelina Ballerina can be seen at 11:30 am and at 1:30 pm from Monday to Friday and at 11:30 am on Saturdays.
“There are seven series in total currently on air on Half Ticket Express and Tiny TV on Cartoon Network and Pogo respectively. These include Bob the Builder, Oswald, Pingu, Kipper, Thomas, Barney and Angelina Ballerina,” points out Merchant.
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.
