Kids
Nick marks presence at UN special session on children
Twelve children, one of them from India, met the UN secretary general in New York on 7 May as part of a Nickelodeon effort to support Say Yes for Children, a children’s rights initiative spearheaded by UNICEF.
During the 30 minute meeting, taped for broadcast by MTV Asia and Nick, the young people, hailing from Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Zambia, Hungary, Sweden, Kazakhstan, Russia, Spain, UK, Brazil and India, asked Kofi Annan questions on children’s rights and HIV/AIDS. The children later presented 95 million Say Yes for Children ballots submitted by young people worldwide to Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel and Nane Annan in a ceremony involving 370 young people from around the world. The ballots were presented officially to the UN secretary general at the opening of the United Nations Special Session on Children, which convened in New York on 8 May.
An Asian Youth Charter was also presented to the secretary general on the occasion. The charter is a compilation of ideas, views, issues and desires expressed by young people across Asia during the Speak Your Mind campaign, a joint pro-social initiative by UNICEF, MTV Asia and the Levi’s brand.
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.
