Kids
PBS Kids to revamp animation on Go! block
MUMBAI: Concrete Pictures has been tapped by Us pubcaster PBS to refresh the entire graphics packaging for the Go! programming block on PBS Kids, a late afternoon block launched in October 2004 and designed entirely for early elementary school kids.
PBS Kids worked with the creative agency to develop the original packaging into a fully 3D environment in which a cast of children interacts with animated elements in different ways.
The complete branding package, which also includes a series of 12 live-action interstitials recently produced by Concrete Pictures, is the latest assignment in the company’s ongoing relationship with PBS Kids, and rolls out to PBS member stations in spring 2007, states an official release.
“We were looking to refresh the current PBS Kids Go! graphics but keep the same look and feel that early elementary school kids have come to love and enjoy,” said PBS Senior creative director John Ruppenthal. “By working with Concrete Pictures, we were able to accomplish this and offer kids a new environment that will still be familiar to them.”
The PBS Kids Go! package consists of IDs, character and customizable next-ons, system cues, promo buttons, lower thirds, backgrounds and transitions. The project involved a large live-action shoot with children shot against a green screen. In the end, the live-action elements were composited into a 3D CGI environment, which gave the kids a seemingly magic ability to manipulate their surroundings.
“Working with the kids was one of the best parts of this project,” said Concrete Pictures’ creative director Matt Hall. “They were terrific and took direction exceptionally well considering that green screen acting isn’t always the easiest to explain. We were also happy to work with the PBS Kids team again, as they are always open to our interpretations of their existing creative.”
The branding package incorporated Cinema 4D and Maya with compositing accomplished using After Effects, adds the release.
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.
