Category: Kids

MUMBAI: BBC’s children’s channel CBeebies has commissioned a new multi-platform action adventure animation series from CBeebies In House Production and Fremantle Media Enterprises (FME), designed to help children‘s movement development.

Tree Fu Tom follows the adventures of a boy with magical powers as he takes viewers to an enchanted world in a tree and encourages them to help him cast magic spells with gentle, fun physical movements.
 
Eight-year-old Tom Powers may look like a normal boy but he has quite extraordinary abilities. With the help of a magic belt, Tom is able to transform into a magical superhero and embark on amazing adventures in Treetopolis, an epic majestic world in miniature, infused throughout an ancient tree.

As Tom explores this fantastical playground with his magical friends, he interacts with viewers through the screen, inviting them on his action-packed journey of exploration and encouraging them to interact physically with his movement magic – called Tree Fu – to help him save the day.

CBeebies controller Kay Benbow said, “Tree Fu Tom is an incredibly exciting new project; visually stunning and quite unlike anything we‘ve done before. The physical actions have all been devised and approved by movement development specialists and are designed to help all children – but particularly those with Dyspraxia. It is hoped that by regularly practising some of these simple movements we can actively assist in the development of all children, teaching them valuable movement skills at a crucial time in their lives.”

As Tom casts a magical spell and enters the world of Treetopolis, viewers join him on a series of adventures alongside the sprites, bugs and naughty fungi, known as Mushas, who inhabit this world. Alongside his faithful sidekick Twigs, Tom must harness the spectacular power of Tree Fu and, with the assistance of the audience at home, create Big World Magic to help his friends avert disaster and overcome the epic challenges of the magical and natural world.

FME senior VP children and family entertainment Bob Higgins commented: “We‘re tremendously proud of our involvement with this exciting new show and can‘t wait to introduce Tom to the UK and the world. This is a programme with strong, funny characters, adventurous story-telling and a unique integral component which, at its heart, promotes exercise and good health. We can‘t wait for kids around the globe – and maybe some of their parents! – to begin mastering their tree-fu technique.”

MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based DQ Entertainment (DQE) has signed a co-production agreement with France-based Method Animation for a new 3D HD series.
Robin Hood – Mischief in Sherwood will comprise 52 episodes of 11 minutes each with an estimated global production budget of €8.5 million.
 
Targeted at children aged between 6 and 9 years, the series will be full of humour and is intended to create an entertaining experience that relaunches iconic hero Robin Hood. The audience will be taken on a journey into Sherwood Forest and will be able to discover the youthful, early years of Robin.

Said DQE Chairman & CEO Tapaas Chakravarti, “Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves, as he is popularly known, is one of the most loved characters in the world. This new series Robin Hood – Mischief in Sherwood, to be produced as a high quality stereoscopic 3D series, will appeal to kids worldwide bringing out the charm and mischief of our young hero. This partnership with our own long term co-production partners Method Animation will bring to this production the benefit of the synergies that our teams have achieved together with the production of several remarkable series such as Ironman, Little Prince, Little Nick, Skyland, Peterpan and more recently the 3D stereoscopic feature film, The Prodigies with our sister concern Onyx Films.”

Averred Method Animation CEO Aton Soumache, “Adapting the legendary Robin Hood is such an exciting and challenging project. This hero is an iconic figure for audiences worldwide and will be adapted for animation to explore what has never been told before: the youth of Robin Hood. We will reboot the story of Robin Hood to create magical entertainment for the whole family specially appealing to kids aged 6-10 years. Watching Mischief in Sherwood, audiences will discover how he became the legendary Robin Hood.”

MUMBAI: Kids entertainment channel, Cartoon Network, will air new episodes of Beyblade: Metal Fusion from 11 April at 5 pm, between Monday–Thursday.
 
Also, Funskool India is launching its Beyblade: Metal Fusion, a toy line that allows kids to collect, customise and compete with a new metal gear system.

Beyblade: Metal Fusion line comes with five interchangeable parts.

The performance tip determines competitive method, the fusion wheel determines the weight of the top and the spin track determines movement patterns.

Competition takes place in the Beystadium arenas. To get the action started, kids pull the top‘s ripcord to launch it into play with the battle cry “Let It Rip!”.

An additional bonanza for kids will be the introduction of Beyblade Battle gear accessories including super vortex battle set, wind and shoot launcher, string launcher, launcher grip with rubber and rapid deploy case.

MUMBAI: iCarly won the award for favourite kids show at the Nickelodeon’s Kids choice Awards in the US.
Kids paid tribute to their favourites by casting a record-breaking 200 million votes from 7 March -2 April 2011 in 20 categories.

In other television categories Favourite Reality Show went to American Idol; Favourite Cartoon to SpongeBob SquarePants; Favourite TV Actor to Dylan Sprouse; Favourite TV Actress to Selena Gomez and Funniest TV Sidekick to Jennette McCurdy.
 
In film Orange, blimps were presented to Johnny Depp; Miley Cyrus; The Karate Kid for Favourite Movie and Despicable Me for Favourite Animated Movie. Jackie Chan won top honours for Favourite Buttkicker and Eddie Murphy took home the blimp for Favourite Voice from an Animated Movie for his role of Donkey in Shrek Forever After.

In music, top honours went to for Katy Perry for Favourite Female Singer; The Black Eyed Peas for Favourite Music Group and Justin Bieber for Favourite Male Singer while his track “Baby,” featuring Ludacris, won for Favourite Song. Most valuable players Shaquille O‘Neal and Lindsey Vonn won for Favourite Male Athlete and Favourite Female Athlete, respectively.

The Diary of Wimpy Kid series garnered Favourite Book and Just Dance 2 won Favourite Videogame. In a new special category this year, Josh Duhamel was immortalized into the Arm Fart Hall of Fame as voted by viewers during the live telecast.

Rosario Dawson presented former Kids‘ Choice Awards host and winner Justin Timberlake with Nickelodeon‘s The Big Help Award in recognition of his ongoing charitable work as a philanthropist with Shriners Hospitals for Children. The Big Help Award recognises individuals who take actions to better the world and whose significant impact on their community has inspired kids to do the same.

The show as hosted by actor/comedian Jack Black and broadcast from the Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles; the kids‘ top choices in television, movies, music and sports were revealed via slime slushie, cheerleader and a bear on a unicycle.

The telecast featured additional celebrity participants, including: Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, Taylor Momsen, Steven Tyler, Joe Jonas, Russell Brand, Jaden Smith, Sofia Vergara, Jane Lynch, Nick Cannon, Miranda Cosgrove, Victoria Justice, Rosario Dawson, Rico Rodriguez, Cory Monteith, Keke Palmer, Shaun White, Randy Jackson and many others.
 

MUMBAI: Disney Channel is premiering a family weekly situation comedy show, “Best of Luck Nikki”, from 3 April at 11 am.
The show is directed by David Polycarp and produced by production house ‘The Company‘.

Walt Disney Television International India president and general manager Natasha Malhotra says, “Disney is committed to entertaining Indian kids and families with great stories and lovable characters and Best of Luck Nikki is a wonderful example of this. It‘s a delightful light hearted comedy full of fun and laughter that families are sure to enjoy.”
 
The show is based on the lives of the Singhs, an average Indian family comprising mom, dad and siblings Dolly, Rohan and Sunny, and how they attempt to handle the newest family entrant, baby Nikki.

The show‘s cast comprises Gurdip Kohli and Girish Sahedev as Mrs. and Mr. Singh, Nikki‘s overworked parents.

New actors include Sheena Bajaj as Dolly, Nikki‘s older sister Akash Nair as Sunny, Disney Channel popular host Murtuza from Big Bada Boom as Rohan and Ananya Kolvankar as baby Nikki.
 

MUMBAI: Disney Channel‘s original television series, Ishaan, has launched its music album.
This will be the first locally produced musical on Indian television for tweens. Also, this will be the first album by a television show featuring original tracks. 
 
The album comprises nine tracks featured on Ishaan and a bonus track from Bappi Lahiri.

The album features tracks sung by young artists such as Nikhil D‘souza, Remo Ghosh, Debopriya (June) Bannerjee and Pawni Pandey.

The music is given by Anand Ranganathan, Dhruv Ghanekar along with Kaizad Gerda and Kabir Singh. The lyrics of the songs have been given by Irfan Siddiqui and P.A. Sreekanth.

Says Walt Disney Television International India vice president and general manager Natasha Malhotra, “We‘re very excited about the unprecedented success of Ishaan‘s music. This initiative sets a new standard within the industry that we will continue to maintain and challenge.”

The album is available in major retail stores across India. In addition, fans can also download Ishaan wallpapers, ring tones and caller tunes of these songs available across leading mobile platforms and www.disney.in.

MUMBAI: Indian kids are more connected than ever as 79 per cent of respondents are mobile phone users and 92 per cent of kids have mobile phones in their homes–compared to just 17 per cent a decade ago.
Television continues to remain the top medium with 95 per cent of the respondents having watched TV yesterday, according to Cartoon Network’s New Generations 2011 study released at the Ficci-Frames summit.

With more access to consumer electronics, the number of kids with computers at home has increased from 6 per cent in 2001 to 22 per cent in 2011, the study said. Only 2 per cent of homes surveyed had DVD Players in 2001 which has leapfrogged to 61 per cent today.

The study was presented by South Asia Turner International India Entertainment Networks VP and Deputy GM Monica Tata and Bollywood’s director and producer Yash Chopra.
 
Cartoon Network’s patented kids’ lifestyle research analyses the evolution of Indian kids, including their behaviour, attitudes and preferences, over the past 10 years.

Tata said, “We are extremely proud of this landmark achievement as it has been an enriching journey closely observing Indian kids evolve over the last 10 years. As the largest study of its kind, we’re pleased to not only be part of kids’ lifestyles but also contribute to society valuable insights on this dynamic consumer segment, which is tomorrow’s decision maker.”

The findings also revealed that kids in India are more likely to interact with computers and online than their parents. Amongst Internet users, 22 per cent of kids access the Internet daily and 67 per cent of kids play online games followed by 51 per cent of kids listening to or downloading music.

The report also said that 45 per cent of kids go online to search for information, 26 per cent for emailing, 23 per cent for homework and 19 per cent for social networking. Girls are just as active gamers as boys with 68 per cent playing games online compared to 66 per cent of boys. Mobile emerged as the most commonly used platform for gaming by kids (50 per cent), followed by gaming consoles (35 per cent).

In the social network space, Facebook emerged as the number one social network website (93 per cent), followed by Orkut (50 per cent).

According to the survey, Indian kids’ spending power is increasing with pocket money going up by 201 per cent over the past 10 years. Girls’ average monthly pocket money is as much (Rs. 280) as boys (Rs. 277).

Also, 58 per cent kids receive gift money and the average annual gift money stood at Rs 845 in 2010 vis-?-vis Rs 567 in 2009 and Rs 306 in 2006. 55 per cent of kids save part of their pocket money. with the survey indicating that girls tend to save more of it (59 per cent) as compared to boys (52 per cent). The most preferred financial tool for kids’ saving by parents is insurance (51 per cent).

Said Turner International Asia Pacific Research and Market Development Vice President Duncan Morris, “Today‘s kids are more connected and more influential than ever before, but while one in 10 has their own mobile phone, and 8 in 10 homes have Internet access, New Generations will no doubt chart continued growth as Indian kids start to rival their connected cousins in other countries like Australia and the USA, where more than 50% have their own mobile, and 8 in 10 are Internet users.”

48 per cent of parents are likely to consider their child’s opinion while buying a mobile phone. Further, parents involving their kids in car purchase decision making has grown from 25 per cent in 2001 to 63 per cent in 2011.

After the Cartoon Network’s study was launched, Dr Kersi Chavda spoke about the negative effects of violent games and the side effects of getting addicted to Internet and other media.

Chavda highlighted the problems that parents are facing due to some irresponsible actions on part of gaming industries; primarily he spoke about the rating standards used for games, which he said were too lenient.

This stance was vigorously challenged by Reliance Entertainment Digital Business CEO Rohit Sharma, who said that the Doctor’s findings were irrelevant in contemporary times.

The dynamic debate was laid to rest by Perfetti Van Melle India MD Sameer Suneja, who emphasised the importance of self-regulation by the media and gaming industry.

The research surveyed a total of 3759 kids of 7-14 years of age and 1121 parents of 4-6 years old kids in SEC A, B and C across 19 centers including, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Nasik, Ahmedabad and Lucknow.

Launched as a pan-Asia Pacific initiative in 1998, New Generations is currently conducted in India, Pakistan, Australia, Taiwan and Philippines in the region. In India, it was launched in 2001.

MUMBAI: In its zest to celebrate the birthday of Chhota Bheem, kids channel Pogo is launching Badaa Birthday Party Tour.

In a special 60-day festive TV marathon leading up to Chhota Bheem’s Badaa Birthday Party on 1 May, Pogo is offering kids a fabulous chance to win an all expenses paid, pre-birthday bash with Chhota Bheem. 
 
The character will visit the four winner’s houses to celebrate his birthday with them.

To enter the contest, kids needs to answer a question about their favourite hero Chhota Bheem during the break and SMS their answer to 58558. Also up for grabs are iPods, music systems, mobile phones and other prizes.

Said Turner International India Entertainment Networks, South Asia VP and deputy general manager Monica Tata, “Growing in his popularity and iconic status, Chhota Bheem is one of the best loved characters by kids on Indian television today and we’re pleased to be celebrating Chhota Bheem’s birthday with those who matter most – his fans! The Pogo Bada Birthday Party offers the ultimate money-can’t-buy-experience of meeting and celebrating with Chhota Bheem in their home.”
 

MUMBAI: In its zest to celebrate the birthday of Chhota Bheem, kids channel Pogo is launching Badaa Birthday Party Tour.
In a special 60-day festive TV marathon leading up to Chhota Bheem’s Badaa Birthday Party on 1 May, Pogo is offering kids a chance to win an all expenses paid, pre-birthday bash with Chhota Bheem.

The character will visit the four winner’s houses to celebrate his birthday with them.
 
To enter the contest, kids needs to answer a question about their hero Chhota Bheem during the break and SMS their answer to 58558. Also up for grabs are iPods, music systems, mobile phones and other prizes.

Said Turner International India Entertainment Networks, South Asia VP and deputy general manager Monica Tata, “Growing in his popularity and iconic status, Chhota Bheem is one of the best loved characters by kids on Indian television today and we’re pleased to be celebrating Chhota Bheem’s birthday with those who matter most – his fans! The Pogo Bada Birthday Party offers the ultimate money-can’t-buy-experience of meeting and celebrating with Chhota Bheem in their home.”

MUMBAI: US kids broadcaster Nickelodeon will launch a new nighttime programming block later this year on TeenNick called ‘The ’90s Are All That!’.

This will offer content from the 1990’s including All That, Clarissa Explains it All, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Rugrats, Rocket Power, Salute Your Shorts, The Amanda Show and Kenan & Kel. 
 
The broadcaster says the initiative has been developed in part as a response to the overwhelming demand from fans of Nickelodeon’s groundbreaking original series from the 1990s. There are more than 9 million fans of Nickelodeon’s ’90s programming on Facebook alone.

The block will feature a rotating line-up of ’90s Nick library content, as well as forthcoming acquisitions and feature films from the decade. TeenNick’s audience also will have the opportunity to influence the block’s line-up by requesting their favourite series and episodes via social media sites set up by the network, including a dedicated Facebook fan site.

Nicktoons and TeenNick senior VP, GM Keith Dawkins says, “There is an entire generation of young people who literally grew up on these great 1990s’ series, and many of them have been vocal about wanting to see and experience these shows again. TeenNick caters to the older segment of the Nick audience, so it’s the perfect place to reconnect these shows to their original fans and introduce them to younger viewers for the very first time.”