Kids
CN integrates Perfetti’s Center Fruit in ‘Balla Bowl’
MUMBAI: Cartoon Network has partnered with Perfetti Van Melle to become the first cartoon channel in India to integrate a brand into an animated feature.
Balla Bowl, a cricket-themed co-production by Turner International and Animasia, will premiere on Cartoon Network on Sunday, 29 August at 12 noon.
The 90 minute movie tells the story of a motley bunch of kids with their own cricket dreams and problems, coming together as a team to emerge as glorious winners. Perfetti Van Melle‘s flagship candy brand ‘Center Fruit‘ has been innovatively integrated throughout the animation and features as the key sponsor of the cricket stadium and championship trophy.
Says Turner International India executive director – network ad sales Rohit Sarma, “Cartoon Network has been ahead of the curve in providing innovative solutions to our partners and has successfully delivered impactful brand campaigns for many years. For the first time in the Indian animation industry, Cartoon Network brings alive the concept of in-feature brand placement and we are extremely excited to deliver this innovation for Perfetti and Center Fruit with a seamless integration of the brand with Balla Bowl‘s storyline.”
Adds Perfetti Van Melle India MD Sameer Suneja, “We feel there‘s a perfect brand fit for Center Fruit. Center Fruit stands for mouth-watering taste, which has been brought out in a compelling way within the Balla Bowl movie, making this whole initiative a very fruitful association.”
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.
