Category: Kids

MUMBAI: The Power Rangers ‘Get Powerised‘ Tour will kick off on 27 October in Houston, US and will feature characters from the Power Rangers Mystic Force TV show.

At select locations, Power Rangers fans will have the chance to meet their favourite heroes in person, get autographs and take photos with them. The “Power Rangers Zone” at every tour stop will feature fun and interactive themed activities, including cool toy demos, a green screen photo area where kids can reenact their favourite scene from the show and take home a souvenir photo of the action, as well as a drawing for a chance to win a limited edition golden Megazord that is not available in stores.

MUMBAI: US kids channel Nickelodeon has launched an enhanced version of TurboNick its broadband video platform. It has called it TurboNick 2.0.

It has continuous video streaming, customised play lists, content in multiple languages, the ability to search the broad Nickelodeon content library.

MUMBAI: The Disney Channel has announced that it has signed its first pan-European deal to provide content to mobile phones. Through an agreement with Orange, the service will be available to customers in the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Holland, Romania, Slovakia and, in time, France.

The service will consist of 65 to 120 minute programming loops featuring some Disney Channel‘s most popular content, including full 22-minute episodes of live-action programming franchises That‘s So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and animated hits like Kim Possible and Disney‘s Recess. In addition, consumers will be able to watch clips from Hannah Montana and a selection of Disney Channel Original Movies, informs an official release.

Disney Channels, EMEA executive vice president and managing director John Hardie said, “This is a break-through deal which we expect to be a huge hit with kids all over Europe. With parents‘ consent and knowledge, it allows kids to watch their favourite Disney Channel programmes on the way home or wherever they are. It‘s how today‘s kids are growing up to watch TV – at a time and in a place they choose and it‘s important that content providers are able to deliver that.”
 
 
In other agreements announced by the two companies, Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), Disney‘s international TV distribution division, and France Telecom-Orange will extend their existing broadband VOD movie licensing agreement in France across other markets in Europe. With these agreements, Orange VOD subscribers in Spain and TPSA VOD subscribers in Poland will be the first to enjoy movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films.

Titles include global box office hit Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man‘s Chest, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the forthcoming sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian are also included in the agreements.

Orange currently boasts of more than 2.9 million mobile broadband customers. France Telecom Executive Vice President Patricia Langrand said, “The agreement for the mobile services illustrates our desire to develop dedicated formats and programs specifically adapted for our mobile services with prestigious partners. Our agreement with Disney for VOD will enrich the content offer for our on demand services across multiple territories and platforms.”

MUMBAI: Kid‘s channel Cartoon Network has announced a pan Asian initiative titled Snaptoons – Short New Asia Pacific Cartoons, by scouting for emerging talent across its key markets in Asia, is slated to kick off on 18 October.

The network is looking to invest in funding, backing and developing new and original ideas that lend itself to animation, is targeted at kids and must either have a universal or regional appeal. Thus, Cartoon Network is looking for poets, artists, amateurs, professionals, students, individual animators, animation studios, to send in their pitches and see their creations come to life.

This programme will identify scripts and shortlist 30-40 entries for what they call a ‘bible synopsis‘ by the end of this year. From these pitches, ten will be green lit and each will be developed into full pilot episodes of 7-10 minutes each. The commissioned ten will have their world premiere on Cartoon Network across the Asia Pacific feeds. Depending on the response, these will be created into a feature film or full series episodes.

Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc (TENA) creative director Arnab Chaudhuri threw light on the concept of a ‘bible synopsis‘ with reference to a half hour animated series Class of 3000. This will be launched next year wherein Outkast‘s Andre Benjamin is the central character. Chaudhuri will be heading operations for Snaptoons in India.

Forseeing potential in the animation industry and expecting it to soar up to Rs 950 million by 2009, Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc (TENA) senior vice president and general manager Ian Diamond said, “Being the vanguards of original production, both live action and animation, it is our duty to raise the bar and create a platform for local animated productions.”
 
 
 
 
 
Diamond added, “It is our responsibility to provide a platform for Indian talent to rightfully take a place on the global animation stage. Snaptoons is a serious, ongoing initiative designed to connect, discover and nurture creative brilliance that exists throughout Asia and will showcase the enormous potential that abounds in the region. This initiative will forge a relationship between that talent and Cartoon Network‘s extensive global production infrastructure to help develop the next generation of ground breaking animation.”

A similar project was conducted in the US titled ‘World Premiere Toons‘ which identified the creators of the Power Puff Girls, Johhny Bravo and Dexter. “This approach has been extremely successful at a global level; toon icons such as The Powerpuff Girls, Courage The Cowardly Dog and many more, were born out of a similar campaign, and today, they are firmly entrenched in the animation hall of fame. This unique opportunity is an ongoing partnership between Cartoon Network and the local talent and I look forward to creating the next global Cartoon Network hit from this country,” says Diamond.

Chaudhuri added, “For the network and the brand the ‘Characters are King‘ and now we are looking for the next generation of creators.”

The broad parameters that creators could keep in mind while developing the concept would be to ensure that their concept is kid related, is character driven with a good dose of comic action. Additionally, in terms of design and creative vision it should be fun, funny, fearless and importantly, should have the potential to be commissioned as full series and/ or a feature film.

The two channels from the Turner stable (Cartoon Network and Pogo) according to Diamond have clocked a 22 per cent growth in ad sales revenue and currently Cartoon Network secures a 30 per cent market share in the kids genre, while Pogo marked 23 per cent. Diamond sees India as having immense potential and it optimistic about India‘s contribution to this new initiate.

For more information on the programme, the participants can visit the Snaptoons website on www.SNAPTOONS.org. The deadline for enteries is 31 December 2006

MUMBAI: Nickelodeon Preschool Television has announced that they have picked up an all-new, 14-episode season of the 2-D animated preschool series Max and Ruby. In addition, a new Max and Ruby Easter special will premiere on Nick Jr. and Noggin in Spring 2007 to kick off the new season.

Based on the classic children‘s book series by internationally acclaimed children‘s author and illustrator Rosemary Wells, Max & Ruby follows the adventures of two bunny siblings. The show, a co-production from Nelvana/Corus Entertainment, currently airs weekdays on Noggin at 10:30 am (ET), informs an official release.
 
“We‘re thrilled to bring more Max and Ruby episodes to Nick Jr. and Noggin,” said Nickelodeon Preschool Television executive creative director Brown Johnson.

“Preschoolers clearly delight in Max‘s antics and Ruby‘s creative persistence. They are a dynamic brother-sister duo.”

Each half-hour episode of Max and Ruby consists of three seven-and-a-half minute stories that celebrate the universal nature of sibling relationships. The series follows Max, an enthusiastic and determined preschool bunny, and his big sister Ruby, a very smart and goal-oriented seven-year-old, through their everyday lives in the village of East Bunnyhop. Even though Max and Ruby have conflicting agendas, they enjoy working and playing together.

The original 26 episodes of the series and the new season of 14 episodes were produced by Nelvana in association with Chorion Silver Lining.

MUMBAI: Pre-school series Franny‘s Feet will now be available on PBS Kids with a Spanish language track beginning 7 October. Thirteen/WNET and Decode Entertainment have brought the weekly series for four- to seven-year-old children to television in markets across the United States.

Viewers will also be able to access the Spanish-language track or DVS (descriptive video service for the visually impaired) using the Secondary Audio Program (SAP), informs an official release.

MUMBAI: Cartoon Network has announced the completion of principal photography on its first original live-action television movie, Re-Animated, which will combine elements of live-action and animation.

When we decided to venture into the territory of live-action we knew it was going to have to be an event like nothing we‘ve ever done before,” said Cartoon Network senior vice president, programming and development Michael Ouweleen.

“And even though we are featuring live-action characters, it still had to be done the Cartoon Network way. Re-Animated has proven to be that kind of project,” Ouweleen added.

MUMBAI: SPE Networks‘ Japanese anime channel Animax has appointed Supriya Bambawale as marketing manager in India.

In this capacity, Bambawale will oversee the functions of programming, marketing and creative services, as well as conquering new markets to expand the channel‘s reach.