Kids
Disney Channel to launch in Russia
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Co has formed a joint venture with Media-One Holdings, which owns and operates 30 TV stations across Russia, to launch a free-to-air television channel in the country in 2009.
Apart from showcasing popular Disney shows like Hannah Montana” and “Wizards of Waverly Place dubbed in Russian, the channel will also be anchored by original Russian programming.
As a part of the deal, Disney, which holds a 49 per cent stake in the channel, will supply cash and programming along with expertise in content acquisition and marketing to kids and families.
Presently, the deal must receive regulatory approval from Russia, which requires foreign investors to have Russian partners.
According to Walt Disney International chairman Andy Bird, since the cable and satellite television audience is limited in Russia, the new channel will be broadcast over the airwaves for free in most of the country. However, in cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg the channel will be delivered by cable. Thus, the channel could reach approximately 75 per cent of Russian television viewers.
Earlier, Disney had formed a joint venture with Sony Pictures Releasing International to distribute films in Russia.
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.
