Category: Kids

MUMBAI: The kids‘ channel Nickelodeon has ordered 20 new episodes of the second season of Go, Diego, Go!. Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon has commenced production activity of the show.

The second season of Go, Diego, Go! is slated to kick off in October 2006.

According to an official release, on the heels of its hugely successful cousin Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go! made its Nick Jr. debut in September 2005, and has quickly become the number one preschool show on all of commercial TV.

Series star Jake T. Austin returns for season two as the voice of rough- and-tumble animal rescuer Diego. Jake can also be seen this July in the animated feature film The Ant Bully with Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep. Academy Award-nominated actress Rosie Perez also returns as the voice of “Click” the Camera.

“Diego is an irresistible action hero with a heart, and we are thrilled he has followed in his cousin Dora‘s footsteps to become the number one TV choice among preschoolers,” said Nickelodeon preschool television executive creative director Brown Johnson. “We are excited to be working with Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh on a new season of Diego‘s animal rescue adventures.”

Go Diego Go! was created and is produced by Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh, the team behind the phenomenal hit show Dora the Explorer.

MUMBAI: Interactive games-on-demand TV network, TVHead has inked a deal with Hit Entertainment, a provider of preschool entertainment to create games targeting the preschoolers.

The deal calls for the premier games-on-demand television network to develop the first-ever, specially designed iTV games based on the popular characters Barney, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina.

Aiming to launch in the last quarter of 2006, the California-based TVHead is developing new interactive games specifically for the preschool audience and unique to each of the London based Hit’s world-class properties, according to an official release.

Each game will offers children a range of activities; Barney will focus on music and imagination; Thomas will focus on navigation and problem solving; Bob the Builder will focus on teamwork, problem solving and spatial relationships; and Angelina Ballerina will focus on dancing, friendships and determination to make your dreams come true.

“Children the world over adore Barney, Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina,” said TVHead founder and CEO Sangita Verma. “We are delighted at the opportunity of giving kids a new way to interact with these amazing properties that entertain, captivate and educate the growing preschool segment of our audience.”

“Hit Entertainment is excited to be working with TVHead to deliver age-appropriate, innovative content for their new gaming platform,” said Hit Entertainment senior VP Jamie Cygielman. “As the Barney & Friends, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina TV series all provide educational entertainment that kids love and parents trust, this new gaming platform will allow children to deepen their relationship with these characters, creating an even more engaging learning experience.”

Families will be able to play these games using the standard remote controls for their television sets, as TVHead’s proprietary technology simply plugs into existing VOD infrastructures and requires no special set-top boxes. The Hit offerings will join TVHead’s current games-on-demand lineup, which includes titles for casual and enthusiast gamers of all ages.

MUMBAI: With the trend in licensing moving toward younger ages, The little big Mouse is not one to be left behind. The Walt Disney Company through its merchandise division Disney Consumer Products is gearing up for a marketing blitz to strengthen its preschool portfolio.

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) merchandise will feature elements of the interactive learning specific to the shows.
Little Einsteins and My Friends Tigger and Pooh will kick off in spring 2007, focusing on different aspects of early child development and combine to address the needs of the “whole” child. Disney Consumer Products (DCP) merchandise will feature elements of the interactive learning specific to each show.

“Parents have enjoyed Mickey and Pooh for years, and now a new generation of preschoolers are being introduced to these characters with a fresh CG-animated look. Little Einsteins rounds out a very strong preschool block that blends entertainment with education,” said DCP chairman Andy Mooney. “Retailers are also seeing potential in these shows and clearing shelf space based on the strength of Playhouse Disney as a preschool platform.”

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (MMCH), which premiered in May on Playhouse Disney channels and Disney Channels around the world — the first-ever same-day global launch of Disney Channel programming. The show focuses on problem solving and early math curriculum.

MMCH toys will launch this Fall with all other product categories launching in spring 2007. The toy line from licensee, Character Direct, will feature interactivity and gadgets direct from the television series, as well as new technology and innovation. Name That Song Mickey is a key item in the line – the product features a wireless piano combined with a soft Mickey plush that interactively teaches kids music through numbers.

Little Einsteins which premiered in October 2005. The show, which fosters creativity through music and art, began debuting around the world, most recently in Australia and New Zealand and will next launch in France, India and Taiwan. DCP will launch a broad cross-category assortment of product in spring 2007.

My Friends Tigger and Pooh will premiere in spring 2007, wherein the show teaches life lessons, such as friendship, as well as early earth science. Tigger and Pooh are “Super Sleuths” and the audience helps them solve mysteries in the Hundred Acre Wood. A licensing program is currently in development for mass and mid-tier retail distribution for spring 2008.

MUMBAI: Animax has sealed a new long term output deal with Japan‘s leading animation studio Gonzo to bring the latest edgy animation to Asia.

With this, Asian viewers will now get the chance to watch anime programmes from Gonzo soon after viewers in Japan. The deal commences immediately for Animax.

Animax vice-president Programming and Production Betty Tsui says, “We are delighted to have a strong partner like Gonzo as the studio‘s original creative direction is in sync with Animax‘s overall strategy to provide world-class anime entertainment for the youth of today. With the recent launch of the Animax refresh campaign, the timing of this output deal is a fantastic opportunity for both Animax and Gonzo to showcase more unique anime that wows and inspires viewers.”

Responsible for some of the most innovative and stylish animation using 2D and 3D computer graphic techniques, Gonzo has brought to viewers around the world extremely popular titles like Samurai 7, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Hellsing. The synergy of Gonzo and Animax is apparent as both partners strive to provide the youth and young adult market with varied and quality programme offerings that wow audiences.

With a reach of over 25 million households across Asia 24 hours a days, the new partnership represents enormous potential for Gonzo to showcase its new titles and become a household name in the Asian region.

Rolling out the output deal is the spectacular animation creation, Trinity Blood. Having premiered first and exclusively in Hong Kong on 1 June 2006, Trinity Blood is broadcast on Animax every Thursday at 10 pm.

MUMBAI: Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) signed an MOU with Toonskool Advanced Animation Academy Bangalore yesterday for a three year degree program in Animation.

With the signing of this MOU, Toonskool becomes the first accredited institute in the country to train students for a B.Sc. Degree to be awarded by KSOU in the field of Animation.

Announcing the program, KSOU vice chancellor Prof. K. Sudha Rao said, “India has tremendous opportunity to be an animation outsourced country. This Degree program in Animation has been thoughtfully and timely launched by KSOU to enable the students to be a part of the growing animation industry. Even if one student from each village becomes an accredited animator it will add to the pool of much needed reservoir and bring in financial support. Besides the advent of this programme adds to the avenues available to them and they can now look beyond the traditional B.A, B.Com degree courses.”

Explaining the nature of animation, KSOU IT director Viswanatha Rao said,” Animation is both an art and science. While the end result achieved can be defined as art, the process of achieving it is science.” He added, ” From $250 million in 2005, the Indian animation industry is anticipated to soar upto $950 million by 2009. With the industry flourishing at such a rapid pace, by 2008, a minimum of 3,00,000 animation professionals will be required to fill the vacuum.” He also commended the efforts of Shri Govardhan CTO Toonskool in spreading animation awareness in the country.

Speaking at the occasion, Toonskool MD Ashwin Ajila said, “In India, animation today is no longer merely a pursuit. Animation has globally evolved into a $70 billion industry, playing a vital role in all disciplines of life ranging from medicine, to sports, interactive media to defence. It entails systematic academic procedures and studies to attain a professional level as demanded by the industry. India has begun to attract high end, complex animation projects that can only be executed by highly qualified animators. It is therefore essential for aspiring animators to go through a long term industry-supported course in animation. With this MOU, aspirants can become graduates and attain the desired level of proficiency to face the competitive global market in animation.”

This joint programme facilitating B.Sc. Degree in Animation will be made available through the KSOU approved study centres all over the country. To begin with the first degree program will be launched from August 2006 in three colleges; NITTE Education Trust-NITTE Institute of Technology-Bangalore, Thakur College- Kandivli Mumbai and H L Sonawane College- Kalyan Maharashtra who are already the approved Study Centres, states an official release.

The content devised by Toonskool comprises script to screen processes. The course is holistic in nature and covers all the aspects ranging from identification of individual aptitude to specialization in the areas of interest. The program structure is academically and professionally streamlined to put the student on a definite growth path through the semesters. The course curriculum involves foundation art, classical animation, production process, digital techniques and creative ideation.

MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has announced multi-genre, multi-year agreements with Cypriot pay TV broadcaster Lumiere TV (LTV) in collaboration with the public free TV broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC).

As per the agreements a broad selection of blockbuster movies, Disney animated series and live action network series will be available to viewers across Cyprus, informs an official release.

A host of Disney/Pixar animated movies such as Finding Nemo, Toy Story, A Bug‘s Life and Disney animated features including Dumbo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pooh‘s Heffalump Move and The Tigger Movie will be available to viewers.

In CyBC‘s Disney branded slot, half-hour animated series such as Disney‘s Kim Possible and Disney‘s Aladdin, The Series will also be included.

In addition, the Playhouse Disney preschool series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins will premiere on TV in Cyprus, adds the release.

In addition, both broadcasters have also selected blockbuster live action features including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, National Treasure, Freaky Friday and The Pacifier.

These agreements also cover international series Lost, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, According to Jim and season two of Desperate Housewives.

BVITV EMEA executive VP and MD Tom Toumazis said, “Cyprus is a lively market with exciting growth potential, and we are committed to building our business there. We are pleased to be working with Lumiere TV and CyBC to launch this new selection of schedule-driving entertainment across their channels.”

Lumiere TV executive chairman Joseph Avraamides said, “Strategic alliances of this magnitude and nature are very important for any operator in any market, but they are becoming even more important in a small territory like Cyprus. We are very happy and proud for this association with Buena Vista International Television.”

Also commenting on the agreements, CyBC chairman Andreas Aloneftis said, “We are really thrilled to be working with both BVITV and Lumiere TV and we do hope that our viewers will appreciate and be able to enjoy the much loved Disney movies and hit network series for the years to come.”

MUMBAI: Some proposals in a draft Broadcast Bill 2006, prepared by the information and broadcasting ministry for the Union Cabinet‘s consideration, has evoked mixed reaction from the industry.

The Indian animation industry is excited that the government is mulling mandating a certain percentage of programming on TV channels to be sourced from India.

“We are absolutely delighted. The proposed bill is a surprise and will be a catalyst for growth. I would like to however add that Cartoon Network, Nick and Disney have anyways gotten interested in local content and this regulation is a bit late, “DQ Entertainment CEO & MD Tapas Chakravarti.

He went on to add that 15 per cent is too less and that China and Japan have close to 50 per cent of local programming share on TV channels.

Chakravarti also reveals that the development has inspired DQ to go ahead with its investment plans in Intellectual Property (IP) in India.

“At DQ, we have taken a decision internally almost six months back for creating Intellectual Property (IP) in India. We are planning $10 million investments on our part and our French and American partners will bring in similar numbers. The idea is to create products for global market but with Indian stories. This will be something similar to what Disney did with Jungle Book,” he explained.

As per the draft bill, TV channels on a mandatory basis would have to have 15 per cent of their total weekly programming produced locally. It‘s also being proposed the share of public service/socially relevant programme content shall not be less than 10 per cent of the total programme content of a channel broadcast during every week.

This would mean that channels like Cartoon Network, Animax, Discovery, Animal Planet and Discovery Travel and Living would have to have a prescribed percentage of content generated from India, which has been a long-standing demand of Indian animators.

Concurring with Chakravarti is Phoebus Media CEO Rahul Bakshi. “15 per cent is too less, but is a good start and will have a multiplier effect. It gives companies like ours conviction and confidence that we are on the right track having already invested a lot in local content,” he added.

The industry also feels that the move will give it shelter from the rain as well as boost the job scenario.

“Such a government move will help us get more conviction to stick to original content. Thousands of jobs will be created and more animators means more animation outsourcing also,” says Green Gold Animation CEO Rajiv Chilakalapudi.

According to Graphiti Multimedia director Munjal Shroff, the proposed regulation could help content creators look at other markets to compliment the revenues.

“Usually there has always been a block because TV channels find it much more economical to buy animated content from markets like Mipcom at $500 to $1000 per episode rather than commissioning new shows in India. If the bill is passed and local content does become compulsory, then it will give local content creators a space to exist and once there is a minimum local market, then content creators can always look at other markets to compliment the revenues,” says Shroff.

Color Chips CEO Sudhish Rhambotla felt that channels would either commission local content or also have the option of shifting production of some of their shows being produced elsewhere into the country, which again would be “good for the business.”

On their part, the kids channels expressed their readiness to make changes in their programming structure if need be.

The Walt Disney Company India managing director Rajat Jain said, “Whatever changes have to be made, will be made in our programming according to the Broadcast Bill when it is passed. At the end of the day, one has to comply with the laws of the land.”

When queried as to what percentage of programming on Disney Channel and Toon Disney were local presently, Jain said, “It is difficult to calculate at this point in time what the percentage of local content is.”

Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta says her channel already plays more than 15 per cent of local content.

“I don‘t know the exact percentage of local content that we have on the channel but currently it will definitely be more that 15 per cent. If fact, we will be the only kids channel that have that much of local content,” she says.

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