ITV

Category: Kids

  • Disney launches consumer products with Portico

    MUMBAI: Disney Consumer Products and Portico have launched a new range of bed linen featuring Disney stars such as Hannah Montana, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and others from the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) High School Musical.



    With a price ranging between Rs 329 to Rs 2699, the collection is available across lifestyle, home textiles and furniture outlets across the country.


    High School Musical has received many honours including two Emmy Awards. High School Musical featured international Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens with a theme that encourages young viewers to believe in themselves, express themselves, and follow their dreams.

  • McDonald’s launches Happy Meals toys based on ‘Madagascar’

    NEW DELHI: McDonald‘s has launched new range of Happy Meals toys for kids based on the movie, Madagascar: escape 2 Africa.


    In order to introduce its new range of toys, the fast food restaurant has also launched new television commercial which features the toys based on the most popular characters from the movie.



    The TVC has been created by Leo Burnett‘s Tushar Pal and has been produced by Fingerprint Productions.


    The film shows a school bus on its way to a picnic spot. As the bus reaches the picnic spot, the kids see McDonald‘s Happy Meal boxes and are very surprised. Suddenly, the boxes explode and ‘Madagascar‘ characters come alive and start dancing. The kids also start dancing with the toys in their hands. As they shake the toy, it starts to talk.


    McDonald‘s has tied up with the DreamWorks‘s animated movie Madagascar, which features the adventures of four pampered zoo animals, a hippo, a lion, a zebra and a giraffe – let loose in the jungles of Madagascar.

  • Nickelodeon to launch online video game on environmental issues

    MUMBAI: As a part of its big green help initiative, Nickelodeon is set to launch an online multiplayer video game that deals with environmental issues.


    Termed the Big Green Help Global Challenge, the game will be available for download from 14 December.



    As a part of the game, kids will be able to choose from four Nicktoon characters including SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents’ Timmy Turner, and team up with three other players to defeat monsters like Carbon Creeper, Waste Whirlwind and Guzzlor.



    The game will be available across 15 Nickelodeon markets some of which are the UK, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico and Argentina.

  • Nick unveils new initiatives for Christmas

    MUMBAI: In an attempt to celebrate Christmas, Nick has launched the ‘Nick Lift Ur Gift’ contest. Viewers will require to watch the channel daily from 4 pm to 8 pm until 4 January to spot prizes. The lucky winners will win what they spot.



    Also, Nick’s favourite character Dora will visit various cities for a special ‘Meet n Greet’ tour where kids will “meet, play games and dance” with Dora. She will give out gifts to kids present in the stores across Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune and Bangalore.



    The channel will also showcase back to back episodes of shows like Mighty Cat Masked Niyander Ninja, Perman and Tricky TV from noon onwards on 25 December.



    GM Nick India senior VP Nina Jaipuria Elavia says, “This vacation, Nick has planned a very special Christmas for all its Nicksters. With the launch of interactive contests and on-ground events, I wish them all an unforgettable Christmas.”

  • Cartoon Network sued over ‘Class of 3000’ series

    MUMBAI: Timothy McGee, a Boston postal worker, has filed a lawsuit against Andre Benjamin, better known as Andre 3000 of Outkast, Cartoon Network, and Turner Broadcasting, claiming that it was he who had developed the “characters, artwork, storylines, and concepts” for the Class of 3000 series.


    The lawsuit encapsulates copyright infringement, breach of contract, and misappropriation of trade secrets. Gee has requested a compensation of $2 million “for the damages thus far.”



    According to McGee, he had submitted a show idea to then Cartoon Network vice president programming Michael Lazzo in 1997 about a group of young musicians who try to break into Atlanta’s burgeoning music scene. This is almost 10 years before Class of 3000 appeared on Cartoon Network.



    Class of 3000 is a comedy animated television series on Cartoon Network that talks about the story of a musical genius who left his hometown in Atlanta to pursue a career in recording.

  • Disney-Pixar to premiere 3D short film ‘Tokyo Master’ in theatre on 12 December

    NEW DELHI: Disney-Pixar will premiere its first Digital 3D short film, ‘Tokyo Mater‘, in theatre on 12 December.



    The short film has been directed by John Lasseter of the ‘Cars‘ fame.


    Says Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios CEO John Lasseter, “I am delighted to be back in the director‘s chair for the ‘Cars Toons‘ series.”

    The series stars Mater the tow truck voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. The film shows a routine tow lands Mater in Tokyo, where he is challenged to a drift-style race against a nefarious gang leader and his posse of ninjas. With the help of his friend, ‘Dragon‘ Lightning McQueen, and some special modifications, Mater attempts to drift to victory and become Tow-ke-O.


    In addition, 2-D computer versions of “Tokyo Mater” will also be shown in theatres.

  • DQE inks deal with Disney for three TV animated series

    MUMBAI: DQ Entertainment (DQE), the Hyderabad-based animation, gaming and entertainment company, has signed an exclusive three-year licensing agreement with Walt Disney Television International (WDTVI) India


    for three of its animated series – Twisted Whiskers, Ratman and Sandra.

    The shows, to be aired for Disney audience in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will be dubbed in four languages.


    “All the three animated series will be dubbed in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu,” DQE Group chairman and CEO Tapaas Chakravarti confirms.








    The Disney multiplex of channels has acquired three of DQE‘s properties for broadcast. “The shows, comprising 52 episodes of 11 minutes each, will be aired on Disney multiplex of channels in 2009,” says Chakravarti.


    Since Ratman’s production process is complete, this series will be the first to be aired amongst the three, Chakravarti adds.

     

  • CN’s Adult Swim to release The Venture Bros 3 on Home Video

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim is set to release the third season of its animated series “The Venture Bros.” on home video.



    Arriving as a two-disc box set on DVD and Blu-ray for the suggested retail prices of $29.98 and $44.98, respectively, The Venture Bros. Season 3 features all 13 uncensored episodes deleted scenes and commentaries.



    Additionally, the Blu-ray disc box set will be packaged with a CD which includes 20 tracks that comprise the full musical score from the television series‘ third season.



    The Venture Bros is a spoof of 1960s action cartoon shows and follows the misadventures of the Venture family.

  • Disney ups stake in Jetix to 96 per cent

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Co has entered into an agreement with Jetix Europe N.V. to boost its holding in the pan-European kid’s entertainment company to 96 per cent, at a price of $14.15 per share.



    The agreement is an attempt to expand Walt Disney’s kids and family media business in Europe. Jetix Europe’s specialisation deals with TV channels, program distribution, and consumer products.



    Post the completion of the transaction, which is expected to close before the end of 2008, Disney plans to obtain 100 per cent of the shares in the company. Disney previously held a majority share in Jetix.



    The Jetix audience and distribution partners would be better served “through improved programming, more targeted branding, more integrated management, and implementation of company-wide synergies.”



    “Television continues to be a strong brand builder for Disney around the world and this investment enhances our efforts to reach kids and families. By achieving operating efficiencies, we will have additional opportunities to create more family-friendly programming and locally-produced content across Europe,” Disney Media Networks co-chair and Disney-ABC Television Group president Anne Sweeney said.



    Disney acquired its original interest in Jetix Europe (formerly Fox Kids Europe) when it procured Fox Family Worldwide from News Corp. in 2001.

  • AOL launches playsavvy.com

    MUMBAI: US net service provider AOL has launched AOL PlaySavvy.com.


    The site, targeting parents of children aged 5-17, aims to help them decipher the world of games, both PC and console.








    AOL PlaySavvy editor-in-chief Libe Goad said, “Playing video games is one of the top pastimes for children these days, almost more than watching TV. We created AOL PlaySavvy to help parents navigate through all the gaming information out there in order to decide what‘s appropriate for their children.”


    “In addition, PlaySavvy provides advertisers the opportunity to reach this targeted user base by creating appealing campaigns around the content,” he added.


    Prior to PlaySavvy.com, AOL has launched sites like ParentDish.com and Lemondrop.com.