Category: Kids

Mumbai: It’s time to welcome the friendly and notorious ghost trio – Bhoot Boss, Thakela and Pakela who will put an end to all ‘paap’ in brand new episodes of your favourite show Paap-O-Meter. The Fun-o-Clock begins ticking as this team reunites to spook all troublemakers with their mischief and save those in trouble with their magic. 

Mark your calendars and tune into the hilarious and heartwarming antics of ‘doston ke dost aur dushmano ke ghost’ as they set out for new adventures. From saving a park from turning into a parking lot, helping strangers from falling off an icy mountain cliff and even using food fights to solve problems, watch these pranksters go to all extents to follow their mantra – “Chalo kare paap khatam”.  Join Bhoot Boss and his boys for a rib-tickling experience with non-stop masti and mazaa!

Mumbai: Digitoonz, a renowned creator of high-quality entertainment including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, has partnered with Three’s A Company, Australia, to announce an exciting distribution agreement for their captivating animation series, Tales of Aluna, with Shemaroo. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for the co-production between Three’s A Company and Digitoonz Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., comprising 26 episodes, each running for 11 minutes. Shemaroo Entertainment has acquired distribution rights for India, Asia, the Middle East and the MENA region, further strengthening this partnership.

Tales of Aluna tells the enchanting story of Aluna, a half-spirit, half-human girl, and her loyal guardian, Barabajagal, residing on a mystical and magical island. This extraordinary island, a remnant of the legendary Atlantis, possesses the remarkable ability to navigate the oceans under its enigmatic power. When a young musician named Fili and his entourage crash land on the island, Barabajagal becomes concerned about the potential threat these intruders pose to the island’s ancient heritage and natural harmony. However, Aluna forms a bond with these fascinating individuals from across the sea, and together, they embark on a series of daring adventures. United, Aluna and her newfound friends face thrilling challenges and work collaboratively to overcome them.

Shemaroo Sr VP – animation, kids digital, L&M Smita Maroo expressed her delight regarding the partnership, stating, “We are excited to be associated with Digitoonz and Three’s A Company for the distribution of Tales of Aluna. The series offers a unique blend of captivating storytelling and visually stunning animation, which will surely captivate audiences across regions. We look forward to bringing this enchanting series to a diverse audience and delivering an enriching entertaining experience.”

Digitoonz CEO Vikas Kumar expressed his enthusiasm for the agreement, stating, “We are thrilled about this collaboration. Tales of Aluna is an exceptional project, showcasing a modern hybrid animation series that combines the cutting-edge techniques of Unreal Engine and Toon Boom Harmony. We are delighted that audiences in India, Asia, the Middle East, and the MENA region will have the opportunity to experience this unique series.”

Geoff Watson, the producer of the series, also shared his excitement, remarking, “It is incredibly thrilling to witness Shemaroo presenting Tales of Aluna to audiences in India, Asia, the Middle East, and the MENA regions. Aluna is a series that deeply resonates with children and families, emphasizing the values of friendship, trust, responsibility, and environmental consciousness, all woven into engaging stories filled with fun and excitement.”

This collaboration with Shemaroo marks a significant milestone for Digitoonz, allowing the studio to expand its global reach and provide high-quality animated content to a diverse audience. With Tales of Aluna poised to captivate viewers through its compelling storytelling and visually striking animation, the distribution agreement with Shemaroo Entertainment sets the stage for a successful and immersive viewing experience across key markets.

Mumbai: Nickelodeon – India’s kids’ entertainment franchise, has continued to strengthen its position and setting new benchmarks in the industry with numerous category-first initiatives. The unprecedented success of the digital edition of Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2022 received 1.7 million votes, the highest ever across all editions of KCA. This unparalleled response is a testament to its ability to engage and empower its young viewers across platforms. 

Defying in-person limitations and allowing audiences to engage like never before, this year witnessed kids engaging with KCA through short and snacky content across platforms and screens. With the addition of newer categories, the fandom surrounding Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards grew tremendously and witnessed appreciation for socially trending categories such as Favorite Audio on Reels, Favorite Influencer, and Favorite Shorts. With ‘Kids Ki Choice, Kids Ki Voice’ at the core of it, the iconic Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2022, reiterated its focus on empowering kids with #It’sAllAboutYou.

With a phenomenal response received, Pathaan emerges as the clear favorite amongst kids by winning the Favorite Movie, and Shah Rukh Khan earns the title of Favorite Movie Actor for his role. Kiara Advani bags the title of Favorite Movie Actor (Female), while Hrithik Roshan and Madhuri Dixit are declared as Favorite Dancing Star (Male) and (Female), respectively. The Favorite Sportsperson title is once again won by PV Sindhu, along with a host of special awards being presented to Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aryan, and Bhumi Pednekar. 

Following its Oscar triumph for Best Original Song, RRR’s infectious track Naatu Naatu continues to shine by winning the honor of Favorite Song (South) at the Kids’ Choice Awards 2022. Additionally, KGF 2 emerges as the Favorite Movie (South), while Rashmika Mandanna and Yash claim victory in the Favorite Movie Actor Female (South) and Male (South) categories, respectively. The sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah maintains its winning streak by securing the title of Favorite TV Show for the eighth consecutive time, with Dilip Joshi once again taking home the award for Favorite TV Actor (Male).

Momos take the crown as the ultimate favorite food among the generation, while Candy Crush Saga claims the title of the Favorite Mobile Game. Adding to the excitement, Nickelodeon’s Motu Patlu steals the show as the Favorite Show on Kids Channel, with Motu himself being honored as the Favorite Indian Cartoon Character.

Speaking on the massive response received for Kids’ Choice Awards 2022, Viacom18, head – marketing, kids TV Network Sonali Bhattacharya said, “With year-on-year successful editions of the Kids’ Choice Awards, Nickelodeon continues to be the ultimate platform that puts kids at the center of all that it does. This year’s edition garnered a record-breaking 1.7 million votes, proving that kids have been empowered to voice their choice. Our focus with Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2022 was to engage with kids on all platforms where they consume content. By tapping into these touchpoints, we were able to drive inclusivity and participation to this one-of-its-kind award. We are delighted with the response and thrilled that we could meaningfully entertain our young audiences.”

Taking its reach to new heights, the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2022, hosted by National award winner Varun Buddhadev, will have its largest-ever digital simulcast on 28 June 2023. The entertainment extravaganza will be streamed across various network platforms, including Nickindia.com and Sonicgang.com, as well as the social media platforms of Nickelodeon India, Sonic Gang, MTV India and Colors. Kids can also tune into JioTV to join in on the excitement. 

Mumbai: Warner Bros. Discovery is set to elevate the summer excitement and delight kids with an extraordinary line-up of entertaining shows and movies that are poised to ignite their imaginations and keep them entertained throughout the month of June. As temperatures rise and schools are out, the network’s acclaimed kids’ entertainment channels – Cartoon Network, POGO, and Discovery Kids will continue to be the go-to destination for kids seeking thrilling and captivating shows.

Discussing the summer line-up, Warner Bros. Discovery head of kids cluster – South Asia Uttam Pal Singh said, ‘We have been absolutely thrilled by the incredible response from our fans since the start of this summer. As a result, we are delighted to unveil a remarkable new line-up for Cartoon Network, POGO, and Discovery Kids. Our unwavering commitment is to provide children and families with unforgettable experiences, featuring thrilling premieres and beloved fan favourites. With a diverse range of new shows, formats, and themed specials, kids can immerse themselves in an array of exciting and engaging content this summer.”

Get ready for an electrifying summer as ‘CN Superhero Summer’ continues on Cartoon Network, featuring an action-packed line-up for kids. Every Sunday will be a ‘Super Sunday’ with new episodes of ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ at 1 pm and special episodes of ‘Teen Titans Go!’ on June 18 and June 25 at 12 noon, delivering awesome adventures with Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven. But that’s not all!  Throughout June, get ready for a hilarious and courageous tale in the not-so-scary world of ‘Courage the Cowardly Dog’ every Monday to Friday at 10 pm. This season promises action, laughter, and superhero fun that kids won’t want to miss!

On POGO, India’s homegrown kids’ entertainment channel, is all geared up for a fantastic month with a captivating line-up of new Big Picture and episodes. Join ‘Chhota Bheem’ on another thrilling adventure in the all-new Big Picture ‘Zuhu ka Zalzala’ airing every Sunday at 11:30 am starting June 18. Chhota Bheem and his friends will take all fans on an epic rollercoaster ride as he faces the evil Zuhu to save the Vayuchakra. Kids and families will also get to celebrate Father’s Day and salute the strength of their fathers with ‘Little Singham – Ultimate Soldier’ on Sunday, June 18 at 12:15 pm.

The excitement doesn’t end there—Discovery Kids continues the non-stop fun with its ‘Non-stop Masti Summer’ line-up throughout June, featuring a new show and thrilling premieres. Tune in to ‘Haddi Mera Buddy’ every Monday to Friday at 8 pm, starting June 19, where mischievous animated friends join Billy and Mandy in a game with Haddi for the soul of a sick hamster. Adding a filmy touch, special episodes of ‘Filmy Time with Kris’ will air from June 19 to 23, Monday to Friday at 2:30 pm. Discovery Kids guarantees an unforgettable summer filled with endless fun and masti.

Gather your team of superheroes, friends, and troublemakers as you tune in to the exciting programming line-ups of ‘Teen Titans Go!’, ‘Chhota Bheem,’ and ‘Kris Roll No 21’ this June, exclusively on Cartoon Network, POGO, and Discovery Kids.

Mumbai: In the recent few years the kid’s content has undergone a change. Anime is the new buzzword now and how the kid’s channels are experimenting with this content now. It’s no longer young kids watching but older kids are also watching these channels and they need a different set of content to keep them hooked.

Cartoon Network India is the leading kids’ entertainment brand in India, offering the best in original animated content including multi-award-winning local and global hits like ‘Ben 10’, ‘Teen Titans’, ‘Teen Titans GO!’, ‘We Bare Bears’ and ‘Lamput’. Cartoon Network is currently available nationwide in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

CartoonNetworkIndia.com is a destination where kids can find a large selection of cartoon character-based games, videos on demand, and a community site featuring personalised avatars and message boards. Cartoon Network, a companion brand to POGO and Discovery Kids, is a brand created and distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery. 

Uttam Pal Singh, Head of Kids Cluster, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery has been in the kid’s content and animation industry for almost 20 years and has contributed to it in a 360-degree manner. From Animation to Design to Direction and Producing several award-winning Television series, shorts, commercials, campaigns to now heading Entertainment channel – Cartoon Network, POGO and Discovery Kids. 

He is the creative vision behind the successful launch of very popular Bollywood IPs ‘Little Singham’ and ‘Fukrey Boyzzz’ on Discovery Kids. 

Indiantelevision.com in an email interaction spoke to Uttam Pal Singh, Head of Kids Cluster, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery on the rise of anime in the kid’s genre, the challenges in the genre and advertiser’s interest, and much more…

Edited Excerpts

On anime being the most talked about genre when it comes to kids’ content, when did this change happen and how has it caught the attention of kids

While Indian broadcasters have primarily focused on developing shows with relatable characters appealing to the larger kids’ audience of four-ten years. However, as kids grow old, their content consumption and preferences change due to access to digital platforms, particularly among young adults. We believe there was always an opportunity, especially with the content offered for older kids. This audience demographic prefers content made with high-quality standards that also mirrors their generation and pop culture. Japanese Anime’s high-octane storylines and authentic characters have significantly gained popularity in India, attracting new audiences to the genre. The growing popularity of anime that has led to the rise of fan communities known as “Otaku” and “Weebs”, with fan clubs popping up on social media platforms, is a testament to the solid anime fandom.

As part of our fan-first focus and localisation strategy and given the dearth of anime content in regional languages and growing demand in India, Warner Bros. Discovery led the charge by introducing a variety of anime shows on Cartoon Network. We aim to provide exhilarating anime entertainment and launching highly sought-after series such as ‘Dragon Ball Super’, ‘Digimon Adventure’, and ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ and movies from the Dragon Ball franchise is a step to cater to the tastes of our dedicated audience. We are committed to delivering top-tier, spirited dubbed programming in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam for our viewers.   

On the recently launched ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’, how has it been received

The overwhelming success of ‘Dragon Ball Super’ organically led to the launch of ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ as part of our commitment to showcasing the entire franchise, which has taken the world by storm and continues engaging fans with the popular characters and their stories on the go-to destination for all anime and Cartoon Network fans in India. We implemented a comprehensive marketing campaign utilising on-air, digital, and on-ground strategies to promote the highly anticipated debut of the fan-favourite ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ series on Cartoon Network in India. The widespread audience engagement across the country and massive reach garnered by the series is a testament to the show’s success. 

We presented Goku and his fantastical world through our Super Sunday showcase, giving fans another opportunity to witness the excitement and extravagance as Goku defended Earth from extra-terrestrial threats. Within a month, the ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ promo garnered over 3.6 million views on Cartoon Network India’s Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook pages. Thousands of Cartoon Network and Dragon Ball fans are also getting to experience the show through mall activations across Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Bengaluru. 

Across our social platform, we witnessed the love for the series, where fans excitedly participated in our trivia and selfie contests. We also collaborated with Toei Animation and the show’s legendary producer, Norihiro Hayashida, for a special shout-out to the growing fan community in India and invited several anime fan groups and communities to watch the show on Cartoon Network, resulting in great buzz for the premiere. We are delighted to have received such tremendous love and support and aim to bring more Dragon Ball Super story arcs and Japanese anime content to Warner Bros. Discovery Kids Network in India in multiple regional languages.

On the group in India called Otakus, which is the biggest fan following for anime content, what will be your endeavour to give this group more anime content

At Warner Bros. Discovery, our strategy has focused on putting our fans first and the growing Otaku community. We noticed that the consumption of Japanese anime, although on the rise, was accessible on limited platforms and only in Japanese or English. We decided to bridge this gap by introducing an anime line-up and content from the Dragon Ball franchise dubbed in regional languages and local nuances tailored for our Indian audiences so that they can fully enjoy the amazingly curated content and storylines. Therefore, it’s no surprise that ‘Dragon Ball Super’, ‘Digimon Adventure’, and now ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ are receiving an overwhelmingly positive response. It’s our endeavour to constantly engage with the Otaku community by offering more successful Japanese anime titles on Cartoon Network India.

On how the kids’ genre in recent years fared and what has been your reach

The kids’ genre, which has largely been homogenous, has evolved primarily with the audience’s evolving taste and exposure to global content. At Warner Bros. Discovery, with our flagship Kids portfolio, i.e. Cartoon Network, POGO and Discovery Kids, we have positioned our content offering to appeal to a large spectrum of kids’ audiences. We constantly innovate, creating newer storylines and bolstering our programming pipeline across genres. Our localisation approach and understanding of the demands and changing consumption patterns helped us stay ahead and top of mind for our audiences. We remain committed to our fans in delivering content that reflects their tastes and appeals to them.

On language feeds garnering more eyeballs as children are more conversant in their language

Yes, Indian audiences seek relatable stories with local nuances in their language, reflecting their preferences, leading to a growing demand for localised content. We tapped this trend a while ago and have been working to provide unique, indigenous IPs and adapting international content to regional languages to better cater to the tastes of our young viewers. Moreover, presenting our content and shows in multiple regional languages is a tentpole of our localisation strategy to bring fans closer to the iconic characters they love and enjoy. In the last two years, we have actively worked towards it and expanded the feeds across channels in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Marathi languages.

On that one hook, you look at when deciding on content for this genre

We have different hooks for our flagship channels. Our original international animation shows such as ‘Teen Titans Go’ and ‘Ben10’ fall under the action-comedy genre for Cartoon Network which remains the key attractive genre for kids. When looking at catering to the older kids, we led the way by bringing Japanese anime shows to the country in five regional languages and started a whole new trend.  

On advertisers’ interest in this genre, as today kids are the opinion makers in the family

The response has been great. Brands creatively engage with our network channels to reach our large loyal audience base. Thanks to the immense popularity of Cartoon Network and these fan-favourite anime characters, both traditional and non-traditional advertisers and brands continue to collaborate with us for our on-ground and on-air campaigns. Moreover, it’s not just kids and parents but a growing population of young adults who love these characters, resulting in a significant rise in co-viewing and pull for brands. For the summer campaign, brands across categories such as snacks/food & beverages, personal care/hygiene, and home care have contributed to celebrate ‘CN Superhero Summer’.

On how the channel is reaching a new community with this unique animation language and the summer line-up

As part of our strategy to build Cartoon Network as the ultimate anime destination for kids, we are constantly exploring new opportunities, such as collaborating with relevant content creators and communities, utilising various media platform tools, and partnering with brand and media entities to execute topical campaigns and launches. In fact, for the ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ launch, we invited the anime fan community to participate in a ‘watch and win’ trivia contest for special rewards. As part of the premiere campaign, Dragon Ball fandom showcased their love for Goku’s world with a ‘selfie contest’. Even the show’s producer, Norihiro Hayashida, gave a special shoutout and invited Indian anime fans to watch the show on Cartoon Network.

For the CN Superhero Summer initiative, which celebrates the brave heroes of the Cartoon Network universe, fans are getting to experience new movies of the Dragon Ball Z franchise and ‘Teen Titans Go!’ to keep them engaged and entertained. Moreover, for the first time, Cartoon Network fans will meet Teen Titans as part of the on-ground activities happening in popular malls.

Our approach to engaging with fans goes beyond on-air touchpoints, and we are committed to connecting with kids, the Otaku community, and families through various initiatives throughout 2023.

Mumbai: Sony YAY! the leading kids’ entertainment brand, is ready to bring the ultimate carnival- The Giant Wheel Festival for the first time in Mumbai from 4 – 11 June, at Dublin Square, Phoenix Marketcity Kurla. The Giant Wheel Festival adds to the ever-expanding #Happyverse and aims to deliver unparalleled, awe-inspiring experiences to kids and families alike. Offering a captivating array of attractions and entertainment, the Giant Wheel Festival in Mumbai guarantees an unforgettable journey through a kaleidoscope of wonders. From performances by popular artists to celeb walk-ins and workshops, it provides a delectable feast of engaging activities, including story-telling sessions, Zumba classes, puppet shows, magic shows, stilt walkers, bubble artists, and more, ensuring an enchanting experience for all.

In this one-of-a-kind carnival, kids will have the unique opportunity to play and engage with their favourite toons like the Honey Bunny, Oggy and Kicko all under one roof. Bollywood and TV celebrities who are also very famous mothers will also be there to share their excitement – the Iconic Bollywood star Karishma Kapoor, award-winning TV actress Mahi Vij, the Hip Hip Hurray star Kishwer Merchant, and other popular television actors including Juhi Parmar, Sourabh, and Riddhima Jain. To make the carnival even more wholesome and enriching, multiple brands are coming together to create an unmatched experience and contribute towards a vibrant and diverse celebration – Powered by Parle Candy Culture, Associate Sponsors – Club Mahindra and Weikfiled.

The carnival is set to be the ultimate summer destination for kids and families in Mumbai.

Sony YAY! marketing, communications & OAP Head Sujoy Roy Bardhan said, “As the leading kids’ entertainment brand, our goal has always been to redefine kids’ entertainment. Sony YAY!’s #Happyverse aims to build connections with our audiences through immersive experiences beyond television screens. The Giant Wheel Festival is one such testament to our commitment to deliver unique experiences that resonate with both kids and families. While this is just the beginning of the carnival, we believe that it has immense potential to spread its vibrant colour across multiple cities in the future.”

Mumbai: Sony AATH, one of the most loved Bengali entertainment Channels is bringing forth a family animation show titled ‘Kolpopurer Golpo’. Set against the backdrop of Kolpopur, a small village in Bengal during the late 17th century, the show captures the culture, emotions, and everyday life of a common man. It revolves around the story of Kanai, a hardworking farmer and devout follower of Maa Kali, who, despite tough financial conditions is content with his life.

‘Kolpopurer Golpo’ showcases the story of a small fictional village called Kolpopur in the interiors of Bengal when feudalism was prevalent in India. The protagonist of the show – ‘Kanai’ – a farmer, and an ardent devotee of Maa Kali, often gets troubled by tyrant Zamindar Dwarpanarayan. However, with his unwavering faith and honesty, he always manages to escape these situations. The show largely portrays the trials and tribulations faced by the peasant class due to the Zamindari system.

Produced by Ssoftoons, ‘Kolpopurer Golpo’ is a beautiful example of how goodness begets goodness. It will take viewers through a rollercoaster of emotions and is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. To promote the show, Sony AATH is rolling out a digital campaign on its social media pages.

Tune in to Sony AATH to watch the premiere of Kolpopurer Golpo on May 28 at 12:30 PM.

English Cluster & Sony AATH, Sony Pictures Networks India’s chief marketing officer & business head Tushar Shah said, “We have always believed in bringing forth content that not only entertains people but also connects them to the roots of Bengal. Our new show Kolpopurer Golpo is woven around the class struggle prevalent in the pre-independence era. We are sure that the virtuous protagonist prevailing over everyday hardships will strike an emotional chord with our audiences”.

Mumbai: Building upon the immense success of its debut season, Roro Aur Hero – Bhoot Mast Zabardast, is back with a brand-new season on IN10 Media Network’s kids’ channel, Gubbare, to enthrall the audiences again. 

The show revolves around Roro, a naughty ten-year-old boy who meets Hero, a 12-year-old ghost who decides to school Roro in all the tricks and hacks of life in his dramatic way. The second season will offer its viewers an enhanced level of entertainment with an array of new comical characters and captivating storylines.

“We launched the show last year in April, and the response to the first season was overwhelming. We’ve worked tirelessly to bring an even more exhilarating experience this time around and are thrilled to present Roro Aur Hero – Bhoot Mast Zabardast season 2 to our dedicated fans and new audiences. Viewers can expect a perfect blend of comedy, adventure, and heart-warming moments that will captivate audiences of all ages,” said Gubbare AVP – content & strategy Brian D’Costa.

The fans will meet two new characters – Pappu and Lappu – who are ghost-hunters and use gadgets to track down ghosts, often creating additional challenges and thrills for Roro and Hero. While Pappu is a level-headed decision-maker, Lappu’s silly and foolish antics often lead to trouble, resulting in comical chaos throughout the season. Additionally, another character called Babban is introduced as Lappu and Pappu’s friend, who provides them with innovative gadgets to help capture Hero.

The new season will also take the viewers into new worlds exploring space, aliens, and history among others.

Available in Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu, season two will air on Gubbare on 29 May at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.