Kids
US kids increasingly becoming glued to the TV
MUMBAI: Media-savvy children in the US are tuning into television programmes and are using increasingly sophisticated media at a younger age..
A report The US Kids Market, 6th Edition focusses on the trends in the three to 12 year-old population and was conducted by market research publisher Packaged Facts. The report reveals that watching television is a universal activity among 98 per cent of 4- to-6-year-olds.
More disturbingly the report indicates that a nightmarish scenario of the baby couch potato is becoming a reality. 89 per cent of zero to three year olds are tuning in. Further, two out of three kids in this tender age bracket have turned the TV on by themselves, while more than half can change channels with the remote.
The report also noted that these children spend as much time outside as they do using screen media, like TV, videos and DVDs, computers, and video games. These statistics, combined with the fact that 70 per cent of four to six year olds and 31 per cent of kids three and under have used a computer, help to explain why the influence of media on U.S. children, and children on parental buying decisions through pester power is growing.
The report shows that 41 per cent of parents agree that kids significantly influence brand purchasing, while 69 per cent agree that kids are over-exposed to materialism. Packaged Facts has stated that perhaps the most surprising finding was how kids have become adept at manipulating the technology and their parents.
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.
