Kids
CBeebies fixes lineup for the year
MUMBAI: BBC has announced that Michael Carrington, controller of kids broadcaster CBeebies, has unveilled Autumn 2008 schedule packed with new home-grown programmes, showcasing shows for 0–6-year-olds made in the UK.
Kicking off the new schedule, from today 1 September, sees the return of the pre-school show In The Night Garden to CBeebies Bedtime Hour at 6.20 pm with 20 new episodes.
Carrington says, “As promised earlier this year, we‘re delighted to be able to welcome back In The Night Garden to CBeebies Bedtime Hour with a raft of new episodes.”
Comedy is present with the puppet series, Nuzzle and Scratch, starring two incompetent alpacas who work at a job agency for animals.
Following the international success of Lazytown, CBeebies has the new UK series Lazytown Extra. This is a magazine show featuring favourite Lazytown characters guaranteed to be non-stop fun.
Comic legend Lenny Henry and actress Imelda Staunton lend their vocal talents to Big And Small, a vibrant puppet series celebrating the differences between two best friends offering fun-filled adventure injected with infectious humour and music.
Carrington adds, “Comedy takes centre stage on CBeebies this Autumn with a line-up of new, originated British content. Plus we‘re developing new formats like Lazytown Extra and bringing big names to the channel.”
Other shows for this season on CBeebies include Postman Pat SDS (Special Delivery Service). Postman Pat has been promoted and now has a whole range of vehicles and gadgets to help him deliver the mail on time!
Then a new CGI series takes Thomas The Tank Engine to the next level, called Chuggington. Meanwhile Little Big Cat accompanies the BBC One event Big Cat Live with CBeebies‘ Sidney Sloane travelling to Africa to meet the local children and provide regular updates.
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.
