Kids
Mouse all over the Mart
CANNES: Remarkable! How a year can make such a difference to a network. If there is one media powerhouse that seems to be here, there and everywhere at Mipcom 2005 it is Disney. Right from the main Palais and splashed across the frontal facades of the main hotels facing the waterfront, the Little Big Mouse can be seen almost anywhere you look. |
And it‘s not as if Disney is doing the Mickey on the delegates attending the mart. It‘s been a stellar year on the television front for the media powerhouse. And all of that great news has been principally on the back of three monster global hits – Desperate Housewives, Lost and Grey‘s Anatomy. ABC is currently the number one network in the US and has shown double digit ratings growth in all demographics. Not surprisingly, a huge amount of business for BVITV has been coming in from the “emerging markets” (maybe its time they did away with that nomenclature) India, China, Russia and Central Europe. As regards properties that are expected to make a splash when they hit Indian shores BVITV-AP senior vice president and managing director Steve Macallister mentioned Grey‘s Anatomy (the medical drama is second biggest new show in the US) and Commander In Chief (revolves around the US president). In the kids category, there is Little Einstein, O Ban Star Racer (part of the Jetix block) and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. A notable feature at Mipcom is that Disney has made the mart the launch pad for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The education oriented CGI animated series will premiere on Disney channels worldwide in the second quarter of 2006 and will be available for debut on terrestrial outlets in September 2006. And in keeping with the general gung ho feel within BVITV, the market has seen a number of announcements being made. Some of the notable ones of interest to Asia include the local production for India of Extreme Makeover and the sale of Home Improvement in the Russian territory. Meanwhile, BVITV-Asia Pacific announced today that it had completed a deal with Korea‘s largest multi-program provider Orion Cinema Network, to acquire Asian distribution rights for OCN‘s first TV miniseries production, COMA. The show is expected to start broadcasting in Korea in November on OCN‘s movie channel. Among other announcements made today was the production licencing agreement for the reality series I Wanna Be A Soap Star with Ukranian commercial broadcaster Inter TV. |
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.
