Kids
Turner appoints Eric Lee to lead its LBE business
MUMBAI: Turner Asia Pacific has appointed Eric Lee as director for Asia Pacific to lead its growing location-based entertainment (LBE) business for the region.
Lee is tasked with identifying opportunities to develop consumer-facing experiences such as water parks, theme parks, branded retail and entertainment spaces. These environments utilize Cartoon Network’s global kids’ IP such as The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, We Bare Bears and Adventure Time, as well as Turner’s other youth-focused brands including Tuzki, according to a company statement.
This is a new position for Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), Turner’s licensing and merchandising arm, and demonstrates its commitment to developing more LBE initiatives around the region. Lee’s appointment is a part of a wider strategy by Turner to become an even more consumer-centric and IP-focused company.
Turner Asia Pacific business development and overseas CNE senior vice president, Clément Schwebig was quoted in the statement as saying, “Eric is a talented and experienced individual who will straight away look to forge strategic relationships with local partners that will enable us to engage existing fans and win over new ones. LBE and the themed attraction business has huge potential for growth in Asia Pacific, and Cartoon Network’s world-famous franchises are well-loved by kids and families across the region.”
The appointment comes at a period of growth for both the industry and Turner’s extensive portfolio of IP.
Cartoon Network Amazone, the water park in Thailand that opened in 2014, is going from strength to strength and earlier this year, Turner opened a Tuzki-themed restaurant in Shanghai, China, and the first of a planned series of Cartoon Network retail stores in Seoul, Korea.
Meanwhile in Dubai, Cartoon Network is all set to open its own themed zone at IMG Worlds of Adventure. In a number of other Asian markets, LBE projects in the CNE pipeline include Family Entertainment Centers and Retail-Dining-Entertainment experiences.
Lee joins Turner from Rovio Entertainment in Europe, where he held the position of Director for Global LBE. There he worked with large-scale licensing deals and led innovative projects such as the first ever Angry Birds 4D film and Angry Birds VR experience. He has also held roles in Jack Rouse Associates and JBJ Associates and has worked on projects such as Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, Crayola Experience in the US, Sochi Theme Park in Russia, and Angry Birds parks in the UK, Russia and Qatar.
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.
