Kids
Nickelodeon Asia premieres its first Asian show
Localise content or perish. Nickelodeon Asia seems to be following on the dictum with yesterday’s unveiling of the first show it has produced specifically for Asian audiences – Gruff’s Groove Box.
Gruff’s Groove Box debuts on Indian television on 5 November. Launched as a four-episode Nickelodeon Special, it will be aired for half an hour every Monday and Wednesday at 6.00 pm and on Saturday at 5.30 pm.
The kid-centric style Gruff’s Groove Box programme features an interactive claymation dog who will play his and children’s favourite music video, read mails that the show receives from kids and will also interview celebrities.
Nickelodeon Australia’s brainchild Gruff was pick up by Nick Asia and adapted to suit the taste of Asians. Gruff, a Blue Heeler (a cattle dog native to Australia) also has back-up of his in-house band, Kitty Litter, and will be broadcasting from his own studio, the Kennel Club.
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.
