ITV

Tag: animation

  • Nickelodeon’s ‘Shiva’ is highest rated kids show in India

    Nickelodeon’s ‘Shiva’ is highest rated kids show in India

    MUMBAI: It’s been a little over a month since its launch and Nickelodeon’s newest original kids show Shiva is already a leader in its genre. Topping the kids’ programming ranks for the last two consecutive weeks as per Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India’s data, Shiva has claimed the title of the most watched kid show in India.

     

    Viacom18 EVP and business head – kids cluster Nina Elavia Jaipuria shares that she was sure Shiva had the makings of a great show for kids, as the character resonates with millions in the target group.

     

    “For any show to work in the kids category, the character has to have all the right attributes, which the kids of today want and value. With Shiva, I think we got that perfect winner yet again. Before the launch of Shiva,we had syndicated an Ormax True Value (OTV) study with boys and girls across Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Chennai. Shiva ranked highest on the OTV score in comparison to all competitive players. The testament of this character’s success lies in the ratings where Shiva has been leading the charts across the four weeks since its launch,” Jaipuria explains.

     

    Nickelodeon’s latest gift to their tiny tot audience across the country, Shiva has not just helped in maintaining the channel’s high ratings but has also taken it to a new level. If one was to take out the average of the channel’s weekday ratings for the time slots when the show airs in the last four weeks, Nick leads the category by a large margin.

     

    Shiva currently airs at 1:30 pm, 4 pm and 6:30 pm on weekdays. 

     

    Going by the time band of 1:30 pm, Nick’s ratings stand at 584 (Rat 000s), followed by Cartoon Network at 268 (Rat 000s), Pogo TV at 344 (Rat 000s), Hungama TV at 192 (Rat 000s) and Disney Channel at 298 (Rat 000s). Similar is the case with time bands starting at 4 pm and 6:30 pm with Shiva amassing ratings of 440 (Rat 000s) and 807 (Rat 000s) respectively.

     

    According to BARC India’s week 48 ratings, the show leads the top five kids program list with a rating of 691 (Rat 000s), followed by Nick’s Motu Patlu in Wonderland with a rating of 675 (Rat 000s) and Cartoon Network’s Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii at third position with 662 (Rat 000s).

     

    Jaipuria says that Shiva commands 11 per cent of Nickelodeon’s ratings and contributes to eight per cent of the channel’s slots. “In week 48, seven out of the top 10 slots belong to Shiva. With my years of working in this category, there are only a few shows which get such a heartwarming opening. Shiva topped the charts in the first week of its launch itself and continues to lead its slots,” she adds.

     

    Given the show’s popularity, advertisers are naturally buoyed. “Nickelodeon has been on a strong growth trajectory and we have been clear leaders in the genre. We have seen a huge growth in our ad rates, with advertisers continuing to show great interest in us and our characters,” Jaipuria reveals.

     

    The growing popularity of the show has also made Shiva a viable character for merchandising. “In the coming financial year, you will see a host of Shiva merchandise in the market. Stating from apparel, bags to even watches and bicycles, we will be launching Shiva merchandise across multiple categories,” Jaipuria informs.

     

    With ample faith in their home grown content, the channel also plans to take Shiva international. “All our local productions are being syndicated internationally. We presented Shiva this year at MIPCOM and talks of international syndication for our new hero are underway,” she adds in parting.

  • Q1-2016: Distribution segment pulls down Animation gains to loss for DQE

    Q1-2016: Distribution segment pulls down Animation gains to loss for DQE

    BENGALURU: The Tapas Chakravarti led DQ Entertainment (International) Limited (DQEIL) reported consolidated loss of Rs 12.65 crore in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) as compared to a loss of Rs 12.06 crore in Q1-2015 and a loss of Rs 26.33 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The loss in the current quarter would have been higher but for a foreign exchange (forex) gain of Rs 6.8 crore as compared to a forex loss Rs 0.39 crore in Q1-2015 and a forex gain of Rs 3.95 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Note: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore

    (2) All numbers are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

     

    Segment Performance

     

    The company’s distribution segment reported an operating loss of Rs 6.51 crore on operating revenue of Rs 1.80 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to the operating loss of Rs 1.19 crore on operating revenue of Rs 10.71 crore in Q1-2015 and an operating loss of Rs 12.53 crore on operating revenue of Rs 5.94 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s Animation segment reported an operating profit of Rs 2.08 crore in Q1-2016 from operating revenue of Rs 23.93 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 1.07 crore from operating revenue of Rs 9.93 crore in Q1-2015 and an operating profit of Rs 33.88 crore from operating revenue of Rs 69.87 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by DQEIL

     

    DQEIL reported 24.6 per cent increase in total income from operations (TIO) in Q1-2016 to Rs 25.73 crore as compared to the Rs 20.64 crore in Q1-2015. TIO in the current quarter was a little more than a third (33.9 per cent) of the TIO of Rs 75.81 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Total Expenditure in Q1-2016 increased 6.8 per cent to Rs 29.62 crore as compared to the Rs 27.72 crore in Q1-2015, but declined 65.3 per cent as compared to the Rs 85.3 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s finance expense in Q1-2016 was almost double (increased 93 per cent) at Rs 14.56 crore as compared to the Rs 7.55 crore in Q1-2015 but dropped 13.2 per cent as compared to the Rs 16.78 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    DQEIL Production expense (PE) in Q1-2016 increased 74.4 per cent to Rs 3.75 crore as compared to the Rs 2.15 crore in Q1-2015 and declined 77.6 per cent as compared to the Rs 16.75 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s Employee Expenses (EBE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 13.30 crore declined 20 per cent as compared to the Rs 16.64 crore in Q1-2015 and was 2.1 per cent lower than the Rs 13.59 crore (in Q4-2015.

     

  • Animation companies upbeat on West Bengal

    Animation companies upbeat on West Bengal

    KOLKATA: The Indian animation and gaming industry in India is worth around $2,477 million with a growth rate of 35 per cent (2009-2013). West Bengal, which showed the least amount of growth some years ago with outsourcing as the main nature of work, is now attracting companies to set up their base here.

     

    The industry has potential for growth, both in terms of size and moving up the value chain, reveals a report on animation, broadcasting and gaming by Deloitte.

     

    Seeing good opportunities, players like Big Animation (an Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group company), Arena Animation, NiDT and the Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) have set their sights on Kolkata. 

     

    According to NiDT director Chaitali Ghosh, the animation visual gaming sector, offering an opportunity never realized earlier, is now catching up in Kolkata.

     

    An expert said creativity from West Bengal is overflowing and a trinity should be created among government, industry and academia for the growth of the industry in eastern region.

     

    Webel DQE Animation Academy has placed more than 1100 students in various firms and is working on the animated version of Jungle Book apart from French and German movies. A production facility in Kolkata is also on the charts.

     

    ZICA director Shrey Agarwal informs that the company’s in-house studio in New Alipore is in the pipeline. Additionally, Arena Animation director Ramesh Kumar Ruia says that they has started a graduation course on animation. 

     

    Quoting Economic Survey 2014-15, an expert opined that Kolkata as a creative hub looked promising on the chart. “Seeing that digital advertising and gaming verticals are expected to drive growth on Indian media and entertainment industry in the next few years, West Bengal is likely to play a key role, firstly being a creative center of artists and secondly an important state in the eastern region. India is also emerging as the new favourite of international studios, with 100 per cent FDI permitted in the film sector,” he said.

  • CN premiers ‘Roll No 21: Ticket to Australia’ movie

    CN premiers ‘Roll No 21: Ticket to Australia’ movie

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network India’s poster boy Kris is set to travel to the land down under for a new adventure. Set in the great Australian outback, Roll No 21: Ticket to Australia premiers on 31 January at 12 pm on CN.

     

    In this latest addition to the Roll No 21 portfolio, Kris will embark on an exciting and fun adventure to Australia for his summer break. But this isn’t going to be like any other holiday! The trip suddenly turns into a rescue mission, when his Australian friend Nicky is captured by a dreaded bandit – Danger Doongara – a mutant reptilian creature.

     

    In what is his biggest ever rescue operation, Kris travels across the length and breadth of Australia; from the Great Sandy Desert, to Mount Ulluru in the treacherous Australian outback, to the Great Barrier Reef and all the way to Kangaroo Island in the south.

     

    Brimming with humour and wit, the brand new film is geared up to discover the beautiful Australian continent, make new friends and defeat a new villain Doongara and also his arch nemesis Principal Kanishk.

     

    It is the fourth tele-feature from the franchise. For the record, CN India’s first original animation production series, Roll No. 21 was launched in 2010 and has seven seasons under its belt.

  • Lucas Films move from Star Wars to animation feature

    Lucas Films move from Star Wars to animation feature

    NEW DELHI: ‘Strange Magic’, a new animated feature film, is being released by Disney on 23 January with an original story by George Lucas. 

     

    Strange Magic is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

     

    Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colourful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion. 

     

    Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Industrial Light & Magic, which created the CGI animation for 2011’s Academy Award-winning film Rango, bring to life the fanciful forest turned upside down with world-class animation and visual effects.

     

    With a story by George Lucas, Strange Magic is directed by Gary Rydstrom (Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation, Lifted), produced by Mark S. Miller (associate producer Mars Attacks!) and executive produced by George Lucas, with a screenplay by David Berenbaum (Elf), Irene Mecchi (Brave, The Lion King) and Rydstrom.

     

    The aim is also to prove that Lucas Film is not just about the ‘Star Wars’ Universe.

  • DQE strengthens digital media strategy to monetise content

    DQE strengthens digital media strategy to monetise content

    MUMBAI: As part of its digital media strategy, entertainment production and distribution company DQ Entertainment have launched two YouTube channels- Power Kids and Tiny Toonz in association with leading multi channel network Whacked Out! Media (WOM).

    Power Kids will showcase animated content for children aged five and above while Tiny Toonz will be aimed at younger children. It will also launch its content and games on other platforms such as Google Play store, Amazon and iTunes.

    The reason for the new digital initiative is to make full use of its rich animated library and target all platforms including apps, smartphones, tablets, social media etc. DQ is banking on this to substantially add to grow revenue. WOM will be a strategic digital media partner for YouTube, allowing DQ to monetise its animated properties and mobile games.

    DQ Entertainment chairman and CEO Tapaas Chakravarti said, “The majority of our audience today are constantly online consuming large amounts of animated content through mobiles, tablets and smart TVs from YouTube and other digital media platforms. Having established our footprint globally, DQE is perfectly positioned to leverage our extensive resources and content library for this high growth sector of the entertainment industry. We hope this will help us to reach wider global audiences. We are excited to work with WOM who are a leading MNC with vast experience in the digital ecosystem. We are confident that WOM will help us expand our global digital presence and reach new markets.”

    Whacked Out! Media MD Ramkrishna Veerapaneni said, “We are delighted to be working with DQ Entertainment to create a new online platform for children. We hope that DQE Digital World will become the ultimate destination for catrtoons, games and lots of fun content for kids all over the world.”


    DQE content includes The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Lassie, Iron Man, Robin Hood, Casper etc. It will also show exclusive online educational entertainment content.

     

  • DQ Entertainment reports profit for Q2-2015 versus loss in Q2-2014: Animation segment back in black

    DQ Entertainment reports profit for Q2-2015 versus loss in Q2-2014: Animation segment back in black

    BENGALURU: The Tapas Chakravarti led DQ Entertainment (International) Limited (DQEIL) reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 14.43 crore (27.4 per cent of Total Income from Operations or TIO) in Q2-2015 (quarter ended 30 September 2014, current quarter) versus a loss of Rs 12.06 crore in Q1-2015. PAT for the current quarter, however was down 36.5 per cent as compared to the Rs 22.72 crore (40.27 per cent of TIO). PAT in HY-2015 at Rs 2.38 crore (3.3 per cent of TIO) was less than a twelfth (1/12.4 times) the Rs 29.35 crore (33.7 per cent of TIO) in HY-2014.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    Two segments contribute to DQEIL revenues – animation and distribution.  The company’s animation segment which had reported operating loss of Rs 1.07 crore on segment revenue of Rs 9.93 crore in the previous quarter, reported an operating profit of Rs 23.62 crore on segment revenue of Rs 39.94 crore in Q2-2015. For Q2-2014, animation segment had reported operating profit of Rs 22.7 crore on higher operating revenue of Rs 41.57 crore. For HY-2015, this segment reported revenue of Rs 49.86 crore and an operating profit of Rs 16.47 crore versus higher revenue of Rs 69.14 crore and higher operating profit of Rs 29.43 crore in HY-2015.

     

    The company’s distribution segment reported the following numbers: Q2-2015 – Revenue Rs 12.71 crore, operating profit Rs 12.02 crore; Q1-2015 – Revenue Rs 10.71 crore, operating loss Rs 1.19 crore; Q2-2014 – Revenue Rs 15 crore, operating profit Rs 9.44 crore; HY-2015 – Revenue Rs 23.41 crore, operating profit Rs 10.83 crore; HY-2014 – Revenue Rs 17.86 crore, operating profit Rs 7.58 crore.

     

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by DQEIL for Q2-2015

     

    DQEIL TIO in Q2-2015 at Rs 52.64 crore was more than double (2.5 times) the Rs 20.64 crore in the immediate trailing quarter, but 7 per cent lower than the Rs 56.58 crore in Q2-2014. TIO in HY-2015 at Rs 72.38 crore was 16.8 per cent lower than the Rs 87 crore in HY-2014.

     

    The company’s total expenditure (TE) in Q2-2015 at Rs 25.24 crore (47.9 per cent of TIO) was 9 per cent less than the Rs 27.72 crore (134.3 per cent of TIO) in the previous quarter and 36.5 per cent lower than the Rs 41.77 crore (73.8 per cent of TIO). In HY-2015, TE at Rs 52.56 crore (72.6 per cent of TIO) was 33.5 per cent lower than the Rs 79.07 crore (90.9 per cent of TIO) in HY-2014.

     

    DQEIL’s employee expense (EBE) in Q2-2015 at Rs 15.34 crore (29.1 per cent of TIO) was 7.8 per cent lower than the Rs 16.64 crore (80.6 per cent of TIO) and 22.3 per cent lower than the Rs 19.74 crore (34.9 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014. HY-2015 EBE at Rs 31.98 crore (44.2 per cent of TIO) was 20 per cent lower than the Rs 39.97 crore (45.9 per cent of TIO) in HY-2014.

     

    The company’s depreciation, amortization and impairment expense (depreciation) in Q2-2015 went up 4.6 per cent to Rs 7.98 crore (15.2 per cent of TIO) from Rs 7.63 crore (36.9 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 and was 18.9 per cent lower than the Rs 9.84 crore (17.4 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014. HY-2015 depreciation at Rs 15.6 crore (21.6 per cent of TIO) was 17.5 per cent less than the Rs 18.92 crore (21.7 per cent of TIO) in HY-2014.

     

    DQEIL’s production expense in Q2-2015 at Rs 1.78 crore (3.4 per cent of TIO) was 17.4 per cent lower than the Rs 2.15 crore (10.4 per cent of TIO) and almost 5 times the Rs 0.36 crore (0.6 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014.  Production expense in HY-2015 at Rs 3.93 crore (5.4 per cent of TIO) was almost double (1.95 times) the Rs 2.01 crore (2.3 per cent of TIO) in HY-2014.

     

    Click here to read the full financial

  • ‘Maya the Bee – Movie’ deal signed for release in America and Canada

    ‘Maya the Bee – Movie’ deal signed for release in America and Canada

    NEW DELHI: Studio 100 Film has acquired the popular Australian-German film Maya the Bee for the North American market following a distribution agreement with Shout! Factory, a leading multi-platform entertainment company.

    Studio 100 Film is an international feature films sales agency based in Munich/Germany. The announcement was made by Studio 100 Film CEO Patrick Elmendorff and Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos.

    In this agreement, Shout! Factory has secured exclusive US and Canadian distribution rights to Maya the Bee – Movie, including theatrical, home entertainment, digital distribution and broadcast for cross-platform releases.

    Shout! Factory plans a strategic rollout of this film in selected theatres, video-on-demand (VOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), electronic-sell-through (EST), television and in all packaged media through Shout! Factory Kids in 2015.

    Elmendorff said: “Following the recent success of Maya the Bee – Movie in Germany, South Korea, Poland, etc., we are very proud to announce the distribution agreement for the North American market. I am delighted to partner with Shout! Factory. They have demonstrated great expertise in distributing feature films.”

     Maya the Bee is a worldwide and well-known brand. The books of the little bee were first published over 100 years ago and since then worldwide audiences young and old have loved the brand. “The worldwide sales of the movie to more than 100 countries illustrate the continuous popularity of this well-known and much-loved brand and the rising demand for great family entertainment,” says Elmendorff.

    “We are incredibly excited about this new relationship with Studio 100 Film. This highly entertaining family movie is the perfect addition to our library of exciting new films. We look forward to presenting Maya the Bee movie to North American audiences through a wide variety of entertainment distribution platforms and on family home entertainment shelves,” Shout! Factory’s founders said.

    Studio 100 Film presents Maya the Bee – Movie as Australian-German co-production of Studio 100 Media and Buzz Studios in association with Flying Bark Productions. Directed by Alexs Stadermann, it is produced by Thorsten Wegener (Studio 100 Media) and Barbara Stephen (Buzz Studios) and executively produced by Patrick Elmendorff (Studio 100 Media) and Jim Ballantine (Buzz Studios). Studio 100 Film, the film division is a hundred percent subsidiary of the international children’s production and distribution company Studio 100 Media based in Munich.

    The story is about a freshly hatched bee Maya who is a little whirlwind and will not follow the rules of the hive. One of these rules is not to trust the hornets that live beyond the meadow. When the Royal Jelly is stolen, the hornets are suspected and Maya is thought to be their accomplice. No one believes that she is the innocent victim and no one will stand by her except for her good-natured and best friend Willy. After a long and eventful journey to the hornets hive Maya and Willy soon discover the true culprit and the two friends finally bond with the other residents of the opulent meadow.

     

  • After ‘Frozen’ Walt Disney announces ‘Moana’

    After ‘Frozen’ Walt Disney announces ‘Moana’

    MUMBAI: Following the recent success of Frozen and Maleficent, Walt Disney Animation Studios has announced a new animated movie, Moana.  Set to be female-led once again, the movie is about a spirited teenager on an impossible mission to fulfill her ancestors’ quest.

    In theaters in late 2016, the film will be directed by The Little Mermaid’s Ron Clements and Jon Musker.

    “John and I have partnered on so many films—from The Little Mermaid to Aladdin to The Princess and the Frog,” said Clements. “Creating Moana is one of the great thrills of our career. It’s a big adventure set in this beautiful world of Oceania.”

    “Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself. She’s the kind of character we all root for, and we can’t wait to introduce her to audiences,” Musker added.

    The official plot synopsis reads: In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island.

    During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.

    Last year’s Frozen was praised for its two lead female characters and female director, Jennifer Lee. It was named the highest-grossing animated Disney film of all-time in January after earning a massive $1.28 billion worldwide.

     

  • Toonz Entertainment acquires Imira entertainment

    Toonz Entertainment acquires Imira entertainment

    CANNES: Toonz Entertainment, a preeminent content and animation company which incorporates flagship division Toonz Animation in India, has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Imira Entertainment, one of Spain’s leading production and distribution company specialising in youth programming.

     

    At the on-going global market for entertainment content across all platforms held in Cannes, MIPCOM 2014, Toonz Animation CEO P Jayakumar and Imira Entertainment CEO Sergi Reitg today announced the development. The transaction is set to be finalised on completion of due diligence.

    The far-reaching agreement will see Imira continue to operate as a separate production and distribution entity with its existing management structure, but the companies will jointly exploit the opportunities and synergies created by the acquisition to offer combined content creation strength and global distribution.

     

    Imira will handle television and licensing rights for Toonz Animation-produced content in regions where is has an established foothold including Europe, US, Latin America and Africa with Toonz utlilsing its relationships in Asia and Pacific territories on behalf of Imira.  Imira will also benefit from investment and production partnership potential from its parent company.
     

    Jayakumar said: “Adding Imira Entertainment to the Toonz Group brings significant complementary services and areas of expertise to our offering. Sergi and his team have a tremendous track record and we look forward to working with them to leverage our combined strengths.”

     

    Reitg adds: “Toonz Animation has a world-class pedigree in television and film. It is an exciting home for Imira Entertainment and a natural fit, and we are looking forward to working with our new colleagues to maximise the potential of our partnership.”