Kids
9 Story Ent unveils 2009 production slate
MUMBAI: Production and distribution company 9 Story Entertainment has announced its 2009 slate that includes a new animated pre-school series, Wibbly Pig and the live-action kids‘ series Survive This. The company will also deliver new episodes of Best Ed, the award winning Peep and the Big Wide World and the popular Max and Ruby series. “Our production line-up for 2009 mirrors the growth of 9 Story‘s development and acquisitions this past year. We are firmly committed to these exciting projects and look forward to bringing more properties, like these, from development to production,” says 9 Story Entertainment CEO Vince Commisso. Survive This features eight 14 to 16 year-olds who head to the wilderness to survive on their own for three weeks with no food, shelter, Internet or video games. Best known for his hit TV series Survivorman, Les Stroud serves as their mentor and survivor skill judge. The series is commissioned for YTV Canada and will premiere in April 2009. Wibbly Pig is a new animated series co-produced with Wish Films (UK). Wibbly Pig features a funny, inquisitive and engaging character that turns the simplest of daily tasks and activities into a comedy routine. Based on Mick Inkpen‘s multi-award winning books, Wibbly Pig is set for fall 2009 delivery. 9 Story Entertainment, who co-distributes the series with BBC Worldwide, has secured broadcast agreements with Canada‘s TVO and Knowledge Network. Best Ed is a 9 Story original production for Teletoon in Canada and Cartoon Network UK. Best Ed revolves around the unlikely friendship of the always helpful Ed, a dog, and his squirrel pal Buddy. Scheduled for completion by April 2009, the series has been pre-sold to Cartoon Network for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Korea, and ABC (Australia). Peep and the Big Wide World will return for a fourth season with six new episodes for TVO, Knowledge and SRC. Max and Ruby will also return for a fourth season with 12 episodes.
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.
