Kids
Kids broadcasters see moolah in home video
MUMBAI: The home entertainment market seems to be the next moolah generating pie for kids‘ broadcasters in India.
Cartoon Network is planning to venture into the home video market within two months, a space occupied only by Walt Disney. Nick is also readying its entry and will be tying up with Excel Home Entertainment to launch its top-rated properties like Dora and Spongebob into the home video market.
“We are currently in talks with major distributors and plan to enter the home video market in the next two months,” says Cartoon Network Enterprises VP – Asia Pacific Dulce Lim-Chen, while refusing to divulge further details.
Disney Channel is already active in this space with its various television series. It recently launched Disney Fairies, a new category to only cater to the home vide market. The first to role out under this category was Tinkerbell.
Kids broadcasters believe that with the emergence of more players in the home entertainment category and with an increase in kids‘ content, the home video segment is poised for growth.”It is not only a potential revenue stream for the content providers in the form of royalties, but also helps in enhancing engagement with the target group outside the television viewing hours,” says Viacom18 Media VP-consumer products Sandeep Dahiya.
Excel Home Video managing director MN Kapasi feels that kids TV content on home video is still an insignificant market, but it helps in the brand-building process of any kids‘ channel.
Cartoon Network is also exploring other revenue opportunities in India. Its consumer products division, Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), will be entering into publishing and console gaming.CNE has set up an in-house publishing division to extend Cartoon Network content into print form. “Until now we had been partnering with various publishers worldwide to develop stories on print that were based on our characters. But now that we see a lot of potential in this segment, we have decided to extend this content into print. As part of this new initiative, we will be launching 150 books by the year-end,” says Lim-Chen.
As part of its 2009 plan, CNE will also establish Gwen (female character from Ben 10) to build its merchandise portfolio.
“Apart from the new businesses, we will be further expanding our presence in India through promotional licensing, food and beverages and personal care products,” Lim-Chen says.
CNE is expecting a 25-35 per cent growth in its revenues from licensing and merchandising this year, adds Lim-Chen.
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.
