Kids
Absence of fruits & veggie kid-targeted ads on US television; says study
MUMBAI:As medical practitioners grapple with the increasing occurrence of childhood obesity, a study conducted by non- profit organization called the Kaiser Family Foundation points the growing influence of television advertising in promoting junk food in the US. The study is titled ‘Food for Thought: Television Food Advertising to Children in the United States‘ and claims to be largest study ever conducted on children specific TV commercials. It combines content analysis of TV ads with detailed data about children‘s viewing habits to provide an estimate of the number and type of TV ads seen by children of various ages. According to an officiall announcement, of the 8,854 ads reviewed in the study, there were none for fruits or vegetables targeting children or teens. | |
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The findings suggest that children in the 8 -12 year old age bracket commonly referred to as ‘tweens‘ see the most food advertisements on TV – an average of 21 a day, or 7,600 a year. Following not too far behind are teenagers that see 17 a day, or about 6,000 a year, while 2-7 year olds kids see the fewest – 12 a day or 4,400 a year. The Kaiser Family Foundation vice president and director of the program for the study of entertainment media and health Vicky Rideout said, “Since tweens are at an age where they‘re just becoming independent consumers, understanding what type of advertising they are exposed to is especially important.” For each age group studied, food was the top product seen advertised. Thirty-two percent of all ads seen by 2-7 year olds were for food, while 25 per cent of ads seen by 8-12 year olds and 22 pr cent of ads seen by 13-17 year olds were for food. Of all genres on TV, shows specifically designed for children under 12 have the highest proportion of food advertising (50 per cent of all ad time). Iit was also found candy and snacks occupied a majority share with an alarming 34 per cent, cereal consisted of 28 per cent, 10 per cent for beverages, 10 per cent for fast food, 4 per cent for dairy products, 4 per cent for prepared food. |
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.
