Kids
Disney to triple investments in animation production
MUMBAI: With plans to increase long-form series from two to seven per year for Disney Channel, Disney XD and Playhouse Disney, EMEA, the Walt Disney company, will triple its investments in production of animation for television.
The surge in production will be driven by a team of 14 people who will be based in London and led by Marc Buhaj, the senior VP of original programming for Disney Channels EMEA. The plans are for two long-form series for Disney Channel, four for Disney XD and one for Playhouse Disney.
Averred Buhaj, “For The Walt Disney Company, it‘s about creating world-class animation that will appeal to kids and families both locally and internationally. Part of our ongoing strategy as a global company is to provide a local voice to the Disney brand in markets around the world.”
The series that are currently in development for Disney Channel are I‘m in Love with Rikki Doom, Tomax, The Amazing Things and Out of Step.
Earlier, the London-based team also co-produced the European short-form series The Secret Life of Suckers and Marvo the Wonder Chicken. It is currently into production of the animated comedy Rekkit Rabbit from Marathon.
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.
