Category: Kids

MUMBAI: With Christmas round the corner, Zapak Games, the merchandising arm of Zapak Digital Entertainment, has announced the introduction of two new toys varients – Zubber and Aquasand.  
 
The Zubber that moulds like dough hardens like rubber, comes in different colours and on mixing with a white coloured activator, hardens into rubber-like material.

Kids can make different shapes using the moulds in the pack like bugs, figurines, wrist bands, jewelry pieces et cetera ( different moulds come with different packs). This product is priced between Rs 299 to Rs 1499.

Aquasand is a magic sand that never gets wet. It can be used with accompanying moulds to create underwater sculptors, shapes using the squeezer bottles filled with Aquasand.

The Aquasand range comes in different SKU’s like Light up Kingdom, Theme refills, Gift box etc.

Aquasand is available for Rs 399 for basic packs and for Rs 1299 for Light up Kingdom. Other price points are Rs 999 for Theme gift box and Rs 599 for Theme Refills.

MUMBAI: Nickelodeon has given its accent to 26 new episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants. This brings the total number of episodes to 178. 
 
Said Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids & Family Group president of animation Brown Johnson,”After a decade on our air, SpongeBob has emerged as one of the most beloved and popular characters in television history.

“Audiences of all ages have fallen in love with this show and we‘re delighted to be serving up additional original episodes to our viewers for many years.”

The new episodes will feature the voices of Tom Kenny as SpongeBob, Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward, Clancy Brown as Krabs and Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks.

SpongeBob is telecast in 171 markets in 26 languages and is the most widely-distributed property from the MTV Networks‘ stable.

MUMBAI: In a bid to drive in more audiences during Christmas, Cartoon Network and Pogo will launch a special movie block from 21 to 25 December at 12 noon.

Christened Cartoon Network Popcorn:X‘Mas Xtreme, the block will be featured in the 12 noon block.

The movie line-up in the block includes Tom & Jerry and live-action movie- Ben 10: Alien Swarm.
 
Says Turner International India director programming South Asia Krishna Desai, “Christmas for everyone – especially for kids – is synonymous with holidays, family bonding, exchanging goodies and just being merry! Cartoon Network and Pogo fulfils kids‘ entertainment wish list by showcasing some of kids most favourite movies, turning this Christmas into one of their most unforgettable experiences.”

Heightening the Christmas spirit, Pogo will present a special Christmas block – Christmas TV on 25 December. The block will showcase the network premiere of the Barbie movie – A Christmas Carol at 8 am and Bollywood movie Chain Kulli Ki Main Kulli at 11 am.
 

MUMBAI: Kids entertainment channel Cartoon Network (CN) has partnered with various telecom operators such Airtel, Idea, Reliance Mobile and Tata Docomo to launch comics of its popular toon stars on mobile.

The channel has tied up with Nazara Technologies, a mobile entertainment service provider, to manage and distribute the service.
 
Says Turner International India VP & deputy GM distribution & business operations South Asia Siddharth Jain, “As per the latest Cartoon Network‘s (CN) patented kids‘ lifestyle research ‘New Generations‘, 63 per cent of kids use a mobile phone at least once a week in India. This highlights the fact that mobiles and mobility is an integral part of a kid‘s lifestyle. We are delighted to add comics of our iconic toon stars such as Ben 10 and Johnny Bravo to enliven one of the oldest and most cherished content format on mobile.”

The comics can be downloaded for Rs 1 per day, Rs 10 per week and Rs 30 per month depending on their operator. Additionally, the channel is also looking at introducing a customised java application next year to download an entire comic in one go.
 

MUMBAI: Big Animation has partnered with Nick, Hungama and Big Home Video to create a 360 degree marketing buzz for its flagship property, Little Krishna.
The Reliance MediaWorks group company has now sold the licensing and merchandising rights of the animated series to Nick, which already holds the broadcasting rights the show across the Asia Pacific region. Nick plans to launch the L&M properties in January next year. 
 
While Hungama has bought Little Krishna‘s digital rights encompassing mobile ring tones and digital wallpapers, Big Home Video has procured the home video rights, to be launched this December.

Says Big Animation CEO Ashish SK, “We are looking at a 360 degree approach for the property with broadcasting, licensing & merchandising, mobile ring tones, wallpapers, home video and every other means of presence related to Little Krishna for which we have signed deals with Hungama.com, Nick and Big Home Video. From December onwards Little Krishna will be available on every major shelf in the country and hopefully will find its way in every Indian home too.”

“All the deals are built on the revenue-sharing model,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Evergreen Entertainment, the international distributors of the Indian animated property, is gearing up to showcase Little Krishna at kids screen festival, New York and MIPTV next year.

The 13-episode Little Krishna is a co-creation between Big Animation and The India Heritage Foundation.

MUMBAI: Walmart is rolling out the “pink” carpet for approximately 365 kids from Boys & Girls Clubs of America at a series of special viewing parties celebrating the national release of Disney‘s The Princess and the Frog.
Little girls will enjoy a fairytale evening that includes making a grand entrance on a pink carpet at the event and donning the latest Disney Princess looks from Walmart.

Private parties and film screenings are taking place in Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Tampa, and Birmingham. 
 
A special pre-opening viewing was held in New Orleans, the setting for the movie, on Wednesday. The festivities will also include music from the film, photo opportunities with character cut-outs, and special princess activities. The Princess and the Frog introduces the first new Disney princess in a decade.

“Walmart is happy to provide kids from Boys & Girls Clubs of America with a magical film experience, along with a selection of film merchandise from our stores,” said Walmart US division president Rosalind Brewer. “This holiday all families can make their little girls feel like princesses with Walmart‘s affordable product assortment, conveniently located in The Princess and the Frog destinations in most Walmart stores.”

Walmart is adding its own holiday magic by offering a wide selection of film-inspired merchandise at affordable prices. All girls can be Princess Tiana with apparel, accessories, books, music, bedding, toys and more, located in The Princess and the Frog destinations in most Walmart stores nationwide and on walmart.com.

From tiaras and tees to royal scepters and sleepwear, Walmart‘s assortment of The Princess and the Frog merchandise is offered $10 or below including:

The Princess and the Frog Tee – $5.00

The Princess and the Frog Cosmetic/Dress-up set – $5.00

The Princess and the Frog Jewelry – $5.00

The Princess and the Frog Girls 3-piece Leggings and Scarf set – $10.00

The Princess and the Frog Soundtrack – $13.88
 

MUMBAI: Walt Disney has acquired animated series Stoked Heads for its channels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The film produced by Fresh TV is distributed by CAKE.

The animated sitcom centers on six teenagers who come together to work and surf, for a summer at the world renowned Surfer‘s Paradise Resort.

Said Disney Channels executive director worldwide programming strategy EMEA Patricia Hidalgo, “We are thrilled to launch Stoked. The show has cross gender appeal, humor and quality animation makes it the perfect fit for our viewers.”
 
CAKE managing director Ed Galton added, “Stoked is a fantastic tween property, which is proving a hit internationally. Disney Channels is a key target network for CAKE and a perfect place for the show-this deal proves there‘s a real desire for quality kids‘ programming that challenges the status quo.”

The 26×22-minute surf comedy is scheduled to air in 2010 on Disney channels across Central and Eastern Europe and Disney XD in the U.K., Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

MUMBAI: Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) has tied up with Simmons Jewellery to launch SpongeBob SquarePants jewellery set.

With prices ranging from $95-$350, the SpongeBob Fine Jewellery collection includes designs crafted from sterling silver and Swarovski crystals and will be available at Zales jewellery stores.

says Simmons Jewelry CEO Russell Simmons, “We are always looking for innovative ideas to develop fine jewelry. The Nickelodeon partnership to license SpongeBob is the perfect addition to the Simmons Jewelry Co. family in order to make the jewelry industry more relevant to today‘s consumer.”

Debuting on Zales.com and at select Zales stores nationwide, the SpongeBob Collection features dog tags, rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. The SpongeBob eye pendant, a sterling silver dog tag encrusted with Swarovski(TM) crystals, is the highlight of the collection and is ideal for family and friends alike.

MUMBAI: After being unable to repay its debts, Loonland, the kids‘ outfit TV, has been placed under preliminary administration by a German insolvency court.

In a statement, the company‘s management blamed shareholders for refusing to approve a share consolidation twice that would have allowed it to raise new equity.
 
“Therefore the company cannot clear all debts on the respective due dates,” the statement read.

TV-Loonland also announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Briem as its CEO.

MUMBAI: Hasbro, the US-based multi-national toy and board game company, has struck a ten-year deal with Sesame Workshop to manufacture and market toys and games based on Sesame Street from 2011.

The toy rights for Sesame Street are currently held by Mattel‘s Fisher-Price brand.

Hasbro will roll out products featuring the likes of Elmo, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster, under its Playskool and games brands.

Announcing the deal, Hasbro‘s president and CEO Brian Goldner said, “Sesame Workshop has an amazing portfolio of characters that children have enjoyed in a variety of forms for decades and Sesame Street is a brand that parents trust. Hasbro fully embraces Sesame Workshop‘s philosophy and mission, and we see this new alliance as an ideal strategic fit.”
 
Added Sesame Workshop‘s president and CEO Gary E. Knell, “At the heart of Hasbro‘s business is making fantastic games, toys, lifestyle and entertainment products that are enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide.”