Kids
Playhouse Disney launches broadband service in the US
MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Disney has announced that Disney Online and Disney Channel are teaming for a new broadband subscription product called Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online.
This is available for an annual subscription fee of $49.95. Parents can log on to www.preschooltime.com to subscribe to the product or to access a free trial.
Hosted by the character Bear from the show Bear in the Big Blue House, Preschool Time Online was developed in conjunction with educational experts to provide learning and fun while helping preschoolers develop important kindergarten readiness skills. It offers a range of interactive activities such as puzzles and games.
Key features include:
Popular characters from Playhouse Disney series including JoJo’s Circus, Higglytown Heroes, Stanley, plus Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse and Pals, among others.
A sequence of well-rounded interactive activities including puzzles and games that level difficulty based on a child’s performance.
A focus on development of kindergarten readiness skills including letter and number recognition and color and shape identification. For example, a child can learn about numbers with JoJo by popping balloons that are labeled with the number three.
Themes such as “bravery” or “sharing” that are incorporated throughout each sequenced set of activities.
New updates every two weeks that provide a constant source of new, fun learning activities.
Parents’ Corner area where adults can manage multiple children’s profiles and track their child’s activity.
“Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online allows children to learn through a fun setting where they get to interact with their favorite characters, in a dynamic environment that regularly offers new activities,” said Disney Online EVP & MD Ken Goldstein. “The increase in broadband use in the home has allowed us to offer an experience that combines rich graphics, video content and character voices to capture kids’ imaginations and deliver personalized learning that grows with each individual child.”
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.
