Kids
Nick US to continue causing pranks with Hi Jinks
MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has announced that its channel Nick at Nite’s hidden-camera series, Hi-Jinks, returns for more laughs and pranks for kids of all ages on 11 July.
Each week features a celebrity prank segment in which famous faces use their talents to dupe unsuspecting targets, from ages 7 to 27, no one is safe. Actors Ted McGinley Hope & Faith, John Schneider Smallville, Alfonso Ribeiro Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Corbin Bernsen L.A. Law and Bo Bice American Idol are among the celebrities who have conspired with parents to prank kids.
Each half an hour episode features several pranks taking place everywhere from homes, malls and even schools across the country. Grammy Award-winner Patti Labelle, Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon, boxing champ Evander Holyfield, NBA All-Star Chris Webber and The View’s Meredith Vieira were among the celebrities who conspired with parents to prank kids in past episodes.
In the first episode, viewers will find out what breaks loose when John Schneider tries a hazardous stunt, Dukes-style. Also featured are pranks involving an overzealous crossing guard, an ice cream machine that goes haywire, a Panda bear that steals candy and a messy experience at a salad bar.
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.
