Kids
Disney animators return to hand-drawn animation
MUMBAI: While the Pixar division was making money and winning awards by using computer animation, animators at Disney concentrated on the drawing board.
Disney‘s The Princess and the Frog is a return to the technique that made Disney synonymous with animation: hand drawing, one frame at a time.
It‘s a worthy cause and an honorable film, the first full-length Disney cartoon with an African-American heroine. When first announced in 2007, the project was called The Frog Princess and the heroine was a chambermaid in 1920s New Orleans.
Bowing to public pressure, both the title and the character were changed. Tiana is now an emancipated young black woman who is saving her money to open a restaurant, while her affluent white friend Charlotte is constantly wishing that someday her prince might arrive.
A self-sufficient heroine is a timely reversal of the Disney formula, yet it leaves us with little sense that this is happening in the segregated South of eight decades ago.
This colourfully rendered New Orleans is racially harmonious, a place where jazz and voodoo fills the air and every day is Mardi Gras.
When a prince named Naveen (Bruno Campos) of indeterminate ethnicity arrives in town for the big festival, a local sorcerer named Dr. Facilier (Keith David) turns him into a frog.
It‘s not clear why, but it has something to do with an imposter Naveen who tries to swindle Charlotte‘s family out of their fortune. Meanwhile, the real Naveen, who is now a talking amphibian, meets Tiana and begs her to set him free with a kiss. Instead, the kiss turns Tiana into a frog, too.
As the two changelings journey to seek the help of a voodoo priestess (Jenifer Lewis), the spoiled Naveen and the feisty Tiana show insufficient heart or humor to sustain our interest. (It doesn‘t help that the voice actors are relative unknowns.)
To borrow an image from this slow, unimaginative movie, The Princess and the Frog is like jazz played by an alligator.
Kids
Sony YAY! launches ‘House of Masti’ to celebrate 20 years of Shin chan
Comedian Kiku Sharda joins the fun with a special rap track as the mischievous icon returns to Indian TV.
MUMBAI: Shin chan is back and this time, he’s bringing the whole house of masti with him! Sony YAY!, India’s leading kids’ entertainment channel, has unveiled ‘House of Masti’, a specially curated programming block to mark 20 years of the iconic animated series Shin chan on Indian television. The campaign transforms the beloved character’s mischievous world into a fresh, high-energy viewing experience. It features new episodes, fan-favourite moments, and themed programming stunts, all designed to stand out from regular broadcasts.
Adding extra sparkle to the celebration, popular comedian Kiku Sharda has joined the campaign. He anchors the integration with a lively rap track titled ‘Shin chan ka YAY! Dhamaal’, infusing contemporary music and humour into the beloved series.
Sony YAY! business head of kids and animation Ambesh Tiwari said, “Over the past 20 years, Shin chan has built a strong and enduring connection with audiences in India. With ‘House of Masti’, we are celebrating this milestone through a differentiated, campaign-led experience. Kiku Sharda and the rap track add a fun, high-energy layer that will resonate with today’s kids and families.”
Starting 27 April, viewers can enjoy the World Television Premiere of Shin chan along with new episodes and an exciting lineup of blockbuster movies on Sony YAY!.
By blending nostalgia with fresh, engaging content, Sony YAY! is ensuring that the cheeky, laughter-filled adventures of Shin chan continue to entertain and connect with new generations across the country.
In a world full of serious cartoons, Shin chan remains delightfully naughty and with ‘House of Masti’, Sony YAY! is making sure his brand of chaos stays as fresh and fun as ever. Get ready for some serious masti!
