Kids
Nick ramps up Feb-schedule with two new shows & SpongeBob ‘Pakda Pakdi’ contest
MUMBAI: Nick India is in rejig mode and is set to make a lot of noise this February. Kicking off the month, the channel will launch two new acquired shows Tumoya Island and Meteor and The Mighty Monster Trucks on its pre- school block Nick Jr. from Monday to Friday at 9.30 am and 10.30 am respectively.
Tumoya Island narrates the fun between three friends Mafi, Buddy and Mekki, while Meteor…. tells the story of an aspiring astronaut truck and his adventures with his friends.
Close on the heels of the ‘Masti Dosti’ contest, Nick has yet another SpongeBob based initiative titled ‘Pakda Pakdi’ to be rolled out across the channel on 5 Feburary.
During the four week watch and win contest, kids will have to spot SpongeBob zooming across the screen on either a skateboard, a rope or a scooter during primetime (6-8 pm) from Monday to Friday and report it back to the channel.
The idea behind the contest, Nick India vice president and general manager Nina Elavia Jaipuria explains that the theme is centered around the fact that SpongeBob is fatigued after a whole year’s work and is planning a holiday get away to theme park Nick Central in Australia. Unfortunately, his best buddy Patrick refuses to let him go and it is here that the viewers get involved to help SpongeBob in his efforts to escape from Patrick only to be rewarded with a free trip for one lucky winner and his family to Nick Central. Thus the tagline “SpongeBob Pakro Australia Jao.”
What’s more, kids can also win television sets, discmans, mobile phones remote controlled cars and MP3 players everyday for spotting SpongeBob getting away from Patrick.
To promote the contest, Nick has adopted a 360 degree approach and has tied up for cross channel promotions with Sony, SAB, MAX, Zee, Zee Cinema and Sahara as well as regional channels like ETV Marathi or Zee Bangla.
Additionally, the campaign will be supported with a school contact programme which will be conducted across 350 schools in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata reaching out to almost 3, 00,000 kids. “We will distribute activity sheets, stickers, small quizzes to create a very comprehensive programme at schools. Nick will also have ‘meet and greet’ events with SpongeBob and Patrick in malls and multiplexes during the weekends when the footfalls are high,” says Jaipuria.
Members of the ‘Nicksters Club’ will also be intimated via direct mailers or post so as to reach out to every Nick fan giving them an opportunity to compete for the grand prize.
The contest has roped in four key sponsors including LIC as the main sponsors, co-presenting sponsors Maggi rice noodles Mania and associate sponsors Perfitti’s Big Babool and Tata Sky.
The SpongeBob themed initiative follows as a continues and concerted effort by the channel to build a bond between the character and kids, so as to make SpongeBob synonymous with Nick. At the same time this will drive kids to sample the show and up the presence of the channel in India.
By way of on-ground events Nick is going to bring other characters to Indian shores so kids can better relate to them. “In a similar manner, we will bring Dora The Explora for our juniors in India sometime later this year,” adds Jaipuria.
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.
