Kids
Comic hero Asterix is 50 years old
| MUMBAI: Comic hero Asterix is celebrating its fiftieth birthday this month. The character first appeared in the magazine Pilote on 12 October, 1959. | |||
Incidentally, the character also known as Astérix le Gaulois in France was invented by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo. Though Goscinny passed away in 1977 when he was 51, Albert Uderzo kept the stories running by writing as well as illustrating them.The series of stories follows the exploits of a village of ancient Gauls as they resist Roman occupation. They are aided by a magic potion, brewed by their druid, which gives them super human strength. Asterix, along with his friend Obelix have various adventures taking to various countries around the world, while some are set in and around their village. The Asterix series, one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world, has been translated into over 100 languages and its success has led to the adaptation of the stories into 11 films; eight animated, and three with live actors. A number of games and even a theme park near Paris have been based on Asterix. Till date, 325 million copies of the 33 Asterix books have been sold around the world making co-creators Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo France‘s bestselling authors abroad. As part of its 50th anniversary there will be a series of exhibitions and special events as well as a new album |
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.
