ITV

Category: Kids

  • Nickelodeon unveils Dora merchandise in France

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) and Corinne Cobson, a France-based designer, unveiled ‘Dora par Corinne Cobson‘, an exclusive apparel line for mothers and daughters inspired by Nickelodeon‘s hit pre-school property, Dora the Explorer.



    ‘Dora par Corinne Cobson‘ features trendy, fashion-forward items especially designed to equip pre-schoolers and their Mums for an overnight adventure away from home. The designer kit comprises a vanity case, toiletry bag and mother/daughter socks and night-shirts.



    The wholly original design is a blend of pink and the season‘s black and gold colour palette, incorporating the outline of Dora‘s face as a subtle and elegant motif splashed across each item.



    A limited edition of ‘Dora par Corinne Cobson‘ is currently available at the Corinne Cobson boutique in Paris, with a full line expected to launch at retail across France in Winter 2009.

  • Children watching Sesame Street in Kosovo more likely to respect other ethnicities: Study

    MUMBAI: The local adaptation of Sesame Street in Kosovo, Rruga Sesam (Albanian language) and Ulica Sezam (Serbian language) is making a significant impact on how children view other ethnicities in their communities, their literacy and socio-cultural knowledge.

    Children who watched the show were 74 per cent more likely to demonstrate positive attitude towards children from different ethnic backgrounds than those who didn‘t, according to a recent study.


    The test also concluded that children who viewed the series were more likely to express a willingness to interact with children of a different race/ethnicity.



    Fluent Public Opinion & Market Research (New York), in collaboration with SMMRI (Kosovo) and Sesame Workshop, conducted a randomized controlled trial of 536 five-to-six-year-old children across different demographic groups in Kosovo. Over a six week period, half viewed the series while the rest did not.



    The researchers tested children’s pre and post exposure learning on three of the curricular areas presented in the program. These areas included respect and understanding, math, and socio-emotional learning.



    Among five-year-olds, children who viewed the series could recite more new words in languages other than their own than those that did not.



    Says Sesame Workshop’s VP international research and outreach Dr Charlotte Cole, “We are pleased that through Rruga Sesam/Ulica Sezam we are helping to provide a critical foundation for building cognitive skills and promoting cultural values in children at a young age.The empirical evidence documented in this study demonstrates that television can encourage respect and provide a window of understanding that can have a marked effect on children’s lives. We are both thrilled and humbled to know our work is making a positive difference.”



    Rruga Sesam and Ulica Sezam airs throughout Kosovo on RTK, and is also broadcast regionally by two Serbian language broadcasters, TV Most Zvecan and TV Herc Strpce.



    Rruga Sesam and Ulica Sezam series is produced by Sesame Workshop, in collaboration with local partner CMB.

  • CBBC kicks off film initiative with Bafta

    MUMBAI: BBC, in association with British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), has launched a new initiative to inspire and enable children to make their own films.


    To be a part of this initiative, CBBC Me and My Movie, children need to submit their own two-minute films.



    The competition is being launched through the show Blue Peter throughout this month.


    The deadline for the competition is 6 October ‘08, after which four nominees will be invited to attend BAFTA‘s children awards ceremony, to be held in London on 30 November.


    The CBBC Me and My Movie website provides an original 3D online space where children can upload their film entries, download a free film-making resource pack, access copyright free music clips. They can also have an experience of editing, using the special me and my movie mash-up tool.


    CBBC controller Anne Gilchrist said, “This is the perfect opportunity for budding film makers to try their hand at creative storytelling. Last year‘s competition unearthed some real talent; I can‘t wait to see what the CBBC audience comes up with this time. This initiative should keep every adult film maker on their toes.”


    Bafta‘s Children‘s committee chairman Julian Scott added,”Bafta is delighted and proud to be part of this highly creative and empowering initiative. It shows children that if they have a bit of imagination they can tell their own stories in their own way and we are thrilled that so many of our members have volunteered to act as mentors and provide support, guidance and advice.”

  • Nick launches Toon Jockey initiative

    MUMBAI: Nick has announced yet another initiative called ‘Nick Toon Jockey’ for kids. The initiative will give kids a chance to be famous on television.



    Nick will give kids a once in lifetime opportunity to be a Toon Jockey which includes getting an exclusive opportunity to become the face of the channel and represent Nick across its various on-air and on-ground initiatives along with Nick toon stars – Perman, Ninja Hattori, SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora – the Explorer, etc.



    Speaking on the launch of the initiative Nick India SVP and GM Nina Jaipuria said, “At Nick, we endeavor to put kids first and consistently give them what they want. Toon Jockey is a great way of making the kids celebrities on their favourite channel. This will truly enhance their engagement and connect with Nick, while spiraling them to stardom.”

  • Disney Channel to air Disney Channel games on 27 July

    MUMBAI: Disney Channel US will air Disney Channel Games at 8 pm on 27 July.


    The show, which will air every Sunday, is a competition where the young players fight with each other to win the Disney Channel Games Cup.



    The show will be hosted by Brian Stepanek (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody).


    Each of the four subsequent Disney Channel Games 2008 special telecasts will be presented Saturdays (8:00 pm, ET/PT) through 30 August.


    The 27 Disney Channels worldwide will air the five special telecasts thereafter with local Disney Channel stars hosting their country‘s telecast.


    The special telecasts are highlighted by a post-Games concert featuring performances by Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, The Cheetah Girls, Demi Lovato and Jordan Pruitt.


    The event, filmed at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, benefits four children‘s charities: Make-A-Wish Foundation, Starlight Starbright Children‘s Foundation, Unicef and Boys & Girls Club of America.

  • Cartoon Network Enterprises launches Love Story 2050 merchandise

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network Enterprises, in association with Adlabs and Baweja Movies, has launched a line up of Love Story 2050 merchandise. Cartoon Network Enterprises is the sole licensing and merchandising agent of Love Story 2050.



    Cartoon Network Enterprises has developed over 18 types of customised Love Story 2050 movie merchandise across five key categories such as publishing, toys, home furnishings, apparel and novelty. These products will be sold under the umbrella of the popular kids’ channel Pogo and branded Pogo Inspired.


    Speaking on the partnership, Cartoon Network Enterprises executive director India and South Asia Jiggy George said, “Movie merchandise is another tantalizing peak into what a movie has in store for its audience. It’s another touch point, promotional medium and yet a keepsake of an exciting dream world. With the spy gadgets, hover crafts, interactive robots, the cute Boo doll, fun comics and the stylish and slick apparel and furnishings, Cartoon Network Enterprises hopes to uphold and build on to the anticipation of the biggest Sc-Fi bollywood film- Love Story 2050.”


    Keeping true to the Sci-Fi theme the toys are interactive robots, spy gadgets, hovercraft, special masks etc that have been specially sourced and created for the movie. Additionally, stylish bed sheets, pillow covers and Tops and Tees for boys and girls have been designed that is available in a range of colors.


    Exciting comics and range of colouring books complete the varied Love Story 2050 merchandise range whose star attraction is Boo the cuddly robot companion of Priyanka Chopra from the movie.


    The range stands out for its blend of futuristic toys and is priced reasonably starting from Rs 49 to Rs 3459 (only for Home furnishings).Tops and T Shirts have been priced at Rs 399 onwards. Story books and colouring books have been priced at Rs 49 and Rs 99.

  • Nick to air High Noon at Mega Mountain on 22 June

    MUMBAI: Nick will air High Noon at Mega Mountain in the Nick Home Cinema slot on 22 June at 11 am. The action movie is based on three ninjas.


    This is the fourth action adventure of three brothers – 15-year-old Rocky (Mathew Botuchis), 14-year-old Colt (Michael J. O‘Laskey II), and 8-year-old Tum Tum (J.P. Roeske II) who are martial art experts thanks to their Grandpa Mori (Victor Wong), a retired ninja.



    On a trip to the Mega Mountain amusement park, the three boys are joined by their computer genius neighbour, 13-year-old Amanda (Chelsey Earlywine). Bad fate strikes the amusement park when it is invaded by an army of ninjas led by evil Medusa (Loni Anderson), who wants to take over the park and hold the owners for a $10 million ransom.



    Former TV star Dave Dragon (Hulk Hogan) happens to be making an appearance at the park, and the combination of Dave, Rocky, Colt, Tum Tum, and Amanda makes life difficult for Medusa and her warriors.

  • NASA, Disney come together to promote Wall-E

    MUMBAI: NASA and Disney have signed an agreement for a series of educational and public outreach activities related to Disney-Pixar‘s new movie, Wall-E, opening in theaters nationwide on 27 June.


    This collaboration highlights the similarities between the movie‘s storyline and NASA‘s real-life work in robot technology, propulsion systems and astrophysics.



    Disney-Pixar‘s Wall-E is set 700 years in the future. The film‘s main character is the only rover-robot left on Earth. He meets a new robot named Eve, and together they take a journey through the universe.


    “Great ideas for future exploration of the universe start with the imagination. We hope that with the help of our new robot friend Wall-E, NASA can encourage young people to learn about science and technology and become the explorers of tomorrow,” said NASA Headquarters chief of strategic communications Robert Hopkins.



    Disney has designed a 30-second public service announcement featuring Wall-E for NASA‘s television channels and website. The video is designed to draw students to NASA‘s website to explore the agency‘s missions. The Wall-E character also will be featured on NASA‘s Kids‘ Club page.



    In addition, Disney has designed a “movie surfer vignette” about Wall-E that touches on science and technology that drives NASA‘s programs, which began airing on the Disney Channel in June.


    For the World Premiere of Wall-E, NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., will be showcasing some of the latest in rover and lander technology, highlighting the recent Phoenix mission, as well as the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission, which is currently scheduled for launch in the fall of 2009.



    Starting 27 June and running through 27 August, the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood will host a special NASA space exploration display, including imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, which can be enjoyed by all guests coming to see Wall-E there.


    Commenting on the collaboration, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group president Mark Zoradi said, “All of us at Disney are delighted to be working with NASA in their educational and public outreach efforts to teach schoolchildren about space exploration, robot technology, and the universe they live in.”

  • Nick’s Kids and Family Group forms games, virtual worlds divisions

    MUMBAI: With an aim to provide the audience with innovative gaming and virtual world experiences, the kids and family group of US kids broadcaster Nickelodeon has formed new games and virtual Worlds Groups.


    Dave Williams will run the games group while Kyra Reppen will lead the virtual worlds group, both under the title of senior vice president and general manager.


    Both Williams and Reppen will report to Nickelodeon kids and family group executive VP digital media Steve Youngwood.



    Youngwood said, “With these two dedicated teams, our new gaming and virtual world divisions will further enable us to create even more relevant content and foster innovation in the virtual world and gaming spaces.”


    “Dave and Kyra have built great momentum in their respective areas, and will provide more engaging experiences for our audiences in their expanded leadership roles,” Youngwood added.


    The Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group will encompass all paid and subscription gaming initiatives across all relevant platforms including: online and CD-ROM games, and handheld and console games.


    It will also include the company‘s dedicated casual games sites, Shockwave and AddictingGames. Further, it will focus on the creation of games for the entire family around existing and new properties.


    The company recently announced it would add 1,600 new games in 2008 to its library of 5,000 games and an investment of $100 million in the casual games space.


    The virtual worlds group will manage all company virtual world initiatives for kids, tweens, teens and families, including the original youth-oriented virtual community of Neopets.


    The group will focus on the innovation of the company‘s existing worlds with projects like World of Neopia (working title) and of the expansion of Nicktropolis with a premium layer. It will also develop original properties like the recently announced Monkey World.


    Williams will expand the company‘s subscription game services, licensing and self-publishing businesses. He will aim at growing offerings like the educational online gaming site myNOGGIN.com and Shockwave‘s established subscription services, and also develop new ones.


    Williams will also work in partnership with Nickelodeon‘s consumer products division to increase the company‘s retail games business around franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly and Shockwave‘s Carrie the Caregiver. Another area of focus for Williams will be securing new partnerships with game developers and publishers.


    In addition to his new responsibilities, Williams will continue to manage Shockwave and AddictingGames thereby aiming to add more community features and new offerings to each to make them “the pre-eminent social gaming sites.”


    Reppen will spearhead the strategy, creative development and management of new and existing virtual worlds along with the casual multiplayer online games (MMOGs) for the company. These new virtual worlds will be based both on original concepts and existing properties.


    In addition to her new responsibilities, Reppen will continue to manage Neopets. She will be responsible for evolving and innovating upon the site and will be responsible for expanding Nicktropolis.

  • Walt Disney Home Entertainment unveils 2nd edition of Jungle Book

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has released the second special edition of The Jungle Book. The collection is available for a limited time only.


    The Jungle Book 2 Special Edition includes an all-new adventure game, plus enough deleted scenes, music videos, behind the scenes features and games to entertain the entire family.The popular sequel to one of Disney‘s most beloved films consists of original toe-tapping tunes and new version of old favorites including “The Bare Necessities.”


    Mowgli has been living in the man-village with his little stepbrother Ranjan and his best friend Shanti. But the man-cub still has that jungle rhythm in his heart, and he misses his old buddies Baloo and Bagheera. When Mowgli wanders back to the wild for some swingin‘ fun, he soon finds Baloo isn‘t the only one waiting for him—the man-eating tiger Shere Khan is lurking in the shadows and planning his revenge. If he is to defeat his nemesis, Mowgli will need the help of both his old friends and his new family.