Kids
CBeebies unveils plans for new season
MUMBAI: BBC Children‘s director Joe Godwin has announced his first set of new seasonal programmes.
Taking centre stage in the new season of CBeebies is Zingzillas, a band of highly-talented primates who with the help of a stellar cast of musicians from around the world and across the range of musical genres, encourage children to discover and make all kinds of music. Developed and produced by the in-house CBeebies Production department, this major new show will get under-sixes across the nation tapping their feet and making music Zingzilla-style.
Other highlights include Mighty Mites, a new series which inspires children to get off the sofa to try a range of activities, from circus skills to skiing and kite-flying to tree-planting. Presented by CBeebies‘ favourite Sarah-Jane Honeywell, each programme will see two children go on an adventure to try an activity for the first time while children at home are encouraged to join in the action too.
Mister Maker is back with a new series which sees him packing up his crafts box and taking his artistic talents on the road in Mister Maker Comes To Town. Revving up his “maker-mobile”, the making maestro will be visiting “mini-makers” in the north west and finding amazing new ways to inspire young children to enjoy art and crafts at home.
There’s a new band of heroes splashing onto CBeebies screens later in the year as The Octonauts take children on a series of exciting underwater adventures. Based on the thrilling books by Meomi, The Octonauts rescue sea animals, explore underwater worlds and transport children to a world they don’t normally visit deep under the ocean.
The UK‘s children take centre stage in Same Smile as presenter Nisha Anil cycles across the UK with her group of three cuddly pandas to visit children and discover that we are all the same, but different. A collaboration involving BBC teams from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London, Same Smile opens a window on the world of young children, celebrating the diversity of their lives.
New girl in town Rosie is on a mission to teach children the importance of friendship in Everything’s Rosie. A 21st century rag doll, Rosie lives in a magical playhouse and is armed with an infectious sense of adventure. Rosie and her colourful band of pals are on a journey of discovery, embracing everyday conundrums.
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.
