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Tag: Cartoon Network

  • Cartoon Network India to debut ‘My Hero Academia on 10 September

    Cartoon Network India to debut ‘My Hero Academia on 10 September

    Mumbai: It’s time for “Quirks” and “Heroes” to take centre stage in India! Cartoon Network proudly announces the arrival of the globally acclaimed series ‘My Hero Academia’ for the first time on Indian Television in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. In a celebration of Japanese animation’s distinctive flair, Cartoon Network invites viewers to immerse themselves in the extraordinary saga of Izuku Midoriya. Brace for a “Super Sunday” spectacle on September 10, Sunday at 1:00 PM, where power-packed episodes will unfold their might, continuing with weekly instalments every weekend thereafter.

    A treat of epic proportions awaits all Otakus, as ‘My Hero Academia’ descends upon Cartoon Network, chronicling the enthralling battles and unbreakable bonds that define its universe. The series traces Izuku Midoriya’s remarkable odyssey from being “Quirkless” to earning a coveted spot at U.A. High School—an esteemed institution for aspiring heroes. This narrative cornerstone unveils a world of intricate hero-villain dynamics, encapsulating the evolution of “Heroes” and the triumphant ascent over adversity.

    Watch the ‘My Hero Academia’ trailer here

    Renowned voiceover artists lend their prowess to the show’s main characters in Hindi. Vidit Kumar brings life to Izuku Midoriya, Sahil Vinod Kulkarni, voices Katsuki Bakugo, and Mohak Ninad voices All Might.

    Talking about the show’s premiere,  Warner Bros. Discovery head of kids cluster, South Asia Uttam Pal Singh said, “Cartoon Network has consistently led in presenting unique and popular narratives to its audiences. As part of our fan-centric strategy, our anime lineup has garnered tremendous response, and we are elated to offer Indian fans yet another sensational storytelling experience that has taken the global stage.”  

    He added, “Our high-quality dubs of ‘My Hero Academia’ in multiple languages will fully submerge fans into this heroic saga. The series’ universal themes of courage, camaraderie, and the voyage to heroism align seamlessly with Cartoon Network’s core values.”

    To ensure an immersive experience within the ‘My Hero Academia’ universe, Cartoon Network India goes the extra mile. The show will premiere in five languages—English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada—granting audiences nationwide the opportunity to embrace this inspiring tale in their preferred language. The captivating and action-packed anime series, with its engaging plot, endearing characters, and thrilling hero-villain clashes, will be accompanied by a range of digital activities for fans, including a thrilling watch-and-win contest and power-packed content on Cartoon Network India’s official social media handles.

    Mark your calendars for September 10—a day that will witness the unfolding of a tale encompassing heart and valour. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary voyage laden with courage and friendship, destined to captivate audiences across the Indian subcontinent.

  • Cartoon Network & POGO announce School Contact Program edition 16

    Cartoon Network & POGO announce School Contact Program edition 16

    Mumbai: Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids’ brands, Cartoon Network and POGO, are thrilled to unveil the edition 16 of the School Contact Program (SCP) in India, an initiative that connects with over one million children. With a focus on fostering engagement and igniting inspiration, the SCP will reach out to young minds in nearly 1400 schools across 16 cities. Rolling out in schools across India from 21 August until the end of October, the program strives to impart important values in students thereby nurturing holistic development.

    SCP encapsulates two captivating concepts: Cartoon Network’s theme, ‘Titans of Tomorrow,’ champions virtues like recycling and energy conservation as essential components of children’s daily lives, fostering their active contribution to a better society. Conversely, POGO’s theme, ‘Heroes of Kindness,’ is dedicated to cultivating a more positive, joyful, and healthier community by inspiring and promoting various acts of kindness among individuals.

    Warner Bros. Discovery head of kids cluster, South Asia Uttam Pal Singh said, “We are excited to roll out this year’s much-anticipated School Contact Program for kids. Through the much-loved cartoon characters and interactive content, our aim is to inspire students to become catalysts for positive change. By incorporating themes like ‘Titans of Tomorrow’ and ‘Heroes of Kindness’ into the program, we intend to nurture essential qualities such as kindness and best practices related to conservation and recycling within their lifestyles. What better way to achieve this than by reflecting the ethos of their animated companions—Chhota Bheem, Little Singham, and Teen Titans Go.”

    With associate sponsors including Exo, Kellogg’s Chocos, and game partner Topps, Cartoon Network’s “Titans of Tomorrow” program champions environmental responsibility, akin to the ethos of ‘Teen Titans Go!’ characters. In parallel, POGO’s “Heroes of Kindness” initiative, also backed by Kellogg’s Chocos, Godrej Good Knight, and Ziggy Donuts, focuses on cultivating values of peace, empathy, and affinity, spotlighting characters like ‘Chhota Bheem’, ‘Little Singham’, and ‘Titoo’.

    Warner Bros. Discovery, South Asia head of marketing – OTT and linear Azmat Jagmag said, ‘Bringing fans closer to their favourite cartoon characters from Cartoon Network and POGO is vital to our fan-first strategy. The 16th edition of the School Contact Program aims to captivate kids’ imagination and nurture positive personality traits through engaging activities. We are excited to design an initiative that encourages kindness and teamwork in young minds, all while delighting our fans across 16 cities.”

    As an integral part of the engagement program, a forty-minute thematic session is being planned for each school. These sessions will include a diverse array of activities, including icebreaker sessions, thought provoking discussions about sustainability, and promote incorporating acts of kindness into their daily routines. Additionally, the program will include hands-on activities related to the environment. These activities will lead to a special ceremony where students make a promise to make thoughtful and responsible choices for the planet’s improvement. Acknowledging students’ active involvement, participating students will receive engaging goodie bags and certificates from POGO and Cartoon Network, inspiring them to embrace and lead positive change.

    During the upcoming weeks, the SCP will be held in various cities throughout India, including Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery celebrates Diwali with a fantastic programming lineup for kids

    Warner Bros. Discovery celebrates Diwali with a fantastic programming lineup for kids

    Mumbai: This Diwali, Warner Bros. Discovery joins the family celebrations with an exciting programming lineup across its children’s entertainment channels: Cartoon Network, POGO, and Discovery Kids. Beginning on October 22, the channels will provide viewers with a fun-filled ride featuring popular animated characters like Little Singham, Teen Titans Go!, Chhota Bheem, Titoo, and Ekans throughout the week in multiple regional languages.

    Throughout Diwali week, POGO will broadcast Diwali Cinema Wali, which will feature movies from popular homegrown shows such as Ekans: Snakes Awake!, Titoo-Har Jawaab Ka Sawaal Hu, and Chhota Bheem. Additionally, on 22-23 October , viewers will be treated to two brand new movies, Ping Pong ki Circus, starring Titoo, and Mahavinashi ka Vinash, starring Chhota Bheem and his gang.

    From 22 October, Discovery Kids will ramp up the celebrations with Little Singham movies every day at 11:30 a.m., including the premieres of the mini-series Mahabali Little Singham: Badhta Khatra and Mahabali Little Singham: Mirchigad Par Hamla on 22 and 30 October, respectively.

    On 23 October, at 11:30 a.m., the channel will also debut its new 3D tele-feature, Legend of Shervansh, for young viewers.

    Cartoon Network will bring Teen Titans Go! Diwali Celebrations for kids to enjoy brand-new episodes of its popular superhero comedy series, Teen Titans Go!, beginning on 22 October at 11:30 a.m.

    The premiere of Digimon Adventure: in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu on 24 October at 8 p.m. will add a sparkle of exciting anime content to the channel’s festive season line-up.

    Speaking about the Diwali line-up, Warner Bros. Discovery Kids Cluster South Asia head Uttam Pal Singh said, “This Diwali, we’re bringing an exciting slate of action-packed movies and episodes of fan favourites across POGO, Discovery Kids and Cartoon Network. We are sure to surpass all expectations with the new and Diwali themed specials from popular shows that the kids and their families can enjoy as they celebrate the festivities together.”

    With its recently announced Little Singham Fan Fest, Discovery Kids is making the occasion even more enjoyable for kids by bringing them closer to their favourite supercop, Little Singham. The local initiatives in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow promise a big fiesta for young fans of the show. It includes fascinating activities and workshops.

  • Devdatta Potnis parts ways with Cosmos-Maya

    Devdatta Potnis parts ways with Cosmos-Maya

    Mumbai: After a ten-year partnership during which time the company grew steadily, Devdatta Potnis, the current chief growth officer, has announced his decision to leave Cosmos-Maya.

    Dev joined the studio as head of sales in 2011 and was instrumental in getting the animation studio’s first domestic IP, Motu Patlu, off the ground. The show is celebrating its ten-year milestone this year. In 2015, he planned another strategic move, diversifying the studio’s revenue streams by establishing one of the biggest digital kids’ networks globally, WowKidz, which has over 90 million subscribers worldwide across YouTube and Facebook. With Dev at the helm, the studio went on to produce a multitude of shows with leading kids’ broadcasters in India including Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network, Sony, Discovery and also cemented bonds with all the key OTT players like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Voot, Zee5 and Disney+ Hotstar among others.

    After this domestic success, the studio set its sights on international markets overseen by Dev. He placed Cosmos-Maya on a structured growth path across the European, Asian, and North American markets, and became the face of the animation studio globally. It was thanks to these consistent efforts, that the studio grew from 30 people to 1200+ artists & the coveted private equity investment came into the animation business, first with KKR backed Emerald Media in 2018 and then with TPG affiliate NewQuest Capital Partners in 2021. According to media reports, the company has grown phenomenally in the last decade, from one Indian series in 2012 to a market leadership position in India with a valuation of more than 90 million USD. Dev was a key architect in these endeavours.

    “It has been a pleasure working with this incredible company, Cosmos-Maya, and I thank the founders, Ketan Mehta, Deepa Sahi and Anish Mehta, who gave me the opportunity to grow this company, plan its strategic direction, and take it to the stage where it is now India’s #1 animation studio. I owe a lot of my professional expertise and development to Cosmos-Maya and the team, who will always be special to me, personally and professionally. I wish them all the best for the future,” said Potnis.

    Dev’s next move will be announced soon.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery celebrates Dussehra with new content line-up for kids

    Warner Bros. Discovery celebrates Dussehra with new content line-up for kids

    Mumbai: Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids’ entertainment channels—Discovery Kids, Cartoon Network, and POGO—are getting into the festive spirit with an action-packed and entertaining content line-up for kids and families to watch together.

    Starting with Dussehra on Wednesday, 5 October the channels will air a compelling programming line-up of new episodes and movies throughout the week of popular animated shows for their viewers in multiple regional languages.

    Cartoon Network, in its special ‘Happy Wala Dussehra’ block, will premiere back-to-back new episodes of the power-packed bunch of superheroes—Beast Boy, Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire from Teen Titans Go! from 11:30 a.m. onwards.

    Pogo will celebrate the festival with a special ‘Dussehra Movie Dhamaka’ programming block with all-time favourite “Chhota Bheem” movies airing all day from 10:30 a.m. onwards. Young fans will also have a fantastic weekend with the engaging movie line-up of two popular homegrown original series, Titoo – Har Jawaab Ka Sawaal Hu with Zamana Titoo ka on Saturday, 8 October at 10:30 a.m. and Ekans-Snakes Awake! with the premiere of Ekans-Mystery of Three Gems on Sunday, 9 October at 12:30 p.m. and Ekans-Hero Ek, Villain

    The excitement doesn’t end here! Discovery Kids will start the Dussehra festival on Wednesday, 5 October with the telecast of its animated series Ramayana, showcasing the popular tale of Lord Ram and his triumph over Raavan at 8:30 a.m. Starting at 9:30 a.m., the channel will surprise its fans with the back-to-back airing of eight Little Singham movies and blockbusters. Kids will also get to witness the antics of the funky and cool gang of Fukrey Boyzzz with a festive theme blockbuster, Funtoosh Festival, starting at 4:30 p.m.

    Not only that, but Discovery Kids is also launching a new three-part mini-series of Little Singham, beginning with Dussehra week and ending with Diwali week. The first instalment of its three-part mini-series Mahabali Little Singham: Khalbali ka Raaz will air on 9 October at 11:30 am.

    Gear up for an exciting Dussehra week with your favourite toons only on Cartoon Network, POGO, and Discovery Kids.

  • Anish Mehta moves on as CEO of animation studio Cosmos-Maya

    Anish Mehta moves on as CEO of animation studio Cosmos-Maya

    Mumbai: Anish Mehta has decided to move on from his role as CEO of animation studio Cosmos-Maya after a ten-year stint. He built the studio from a 30-member team to a 1200+ powerhouse.

    He will be soon announcing his new venture sometime this year.

    Under Anish’s leadership, the studio has grown multifold owing to his strong ability to maintain a fine balance between business and creativity. He is credited with achieving quite a few milestones not only for the studio but also for the industry at large. Anish had been the CEO and minority shareholder of Cosmos-Maya since 2012.

    He led the studio’s foray into original Indian animation IP creation with the launch of Motu Patlu, India’s most successful animation series.  Post that, the studio created over 10,000 half hours of kids’ animation content across 20+ shows; maintaining a 50 per cent+ market share of the original Indian kids and family content space for a decade. The studio’s key clients include – Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network, Sony, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, Discovery Kids, Facebook and YouTube.

    During his tenure, the company grew with four different business streams globally and revenue and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth of 25x+ from 2012 to 2022. Globally he spearheaded efforts towards co-productions with European and other international players, which were able to sell in 100+ countries the world over.

    His most notable achievement was to steadily attract organized investment into the business and consistently give investors a profitable exit through a higher valuation of the company. He played an instrumental role in getting private equity investors into the Indian animation business, first with KKR backed Emerald Media and later with TPG affiliate NewQuest Capital Partners.

    Commenting on his exit, Anish Mehta said “I would like to thank Ketan and Deepa, the promoters of Cosmos-Maya for trusting me with the opportunity of growing the company. I would also like to extend gratitude to our previous investors KKR backed Emerald Media, Rajesh Kamat and angel investor Tilak Sarkar for providing the right guidance and support on this journey. It has been a great pleasure working with the current investor, TPG affiliate NewQuest Capital Partners and I wish them and the team of Cosmos-Maya all the very best for future growth and to carry the legacy forward.”

    He also led the initiative of building the company’s YouTube network, WowKidz with 35 channels, which achieved 80 million+ subscribers, and 41 billion+ views worldwide across 10+ languages in a short span of 5 years. “I feel very passionately about content creators and believe that digital media has offered a rather egalitarian and equalizing platform to all creators. I find the best way to express my appreciation is to be able to support and mentor the new generation of digital content creators as they set out to create path-breaking content that will have a positive impact on countless lives of kids & family audiences. The intention is to partner with global investors and pioneers to achieve this vision”, said Mehta.

  • Cartoon Network launches a new initiative ‘Redrawing India’

    Cartoon Network launches a new initiative ‘Redrawing India’

    Mumbai: Cartoon Network has launched an initiative called ‘Redrawing India’. This announcement is part of Cartoon Network’s new brand promise ‘Redraw Your World’, which aims at empowering children to think outside the box, and to own & hone their abilities. It is celebrating inclusivity, creativity, and entertainment through music, new content, activations, and brand collaborations. The Redrawing India Series is taking that thought ahead by spotlighting real kids and their stories.

    The six children from across India were chosen by Cartoon Network because of how differently they are leading change, one cause and innovation at a time. From music and environment to sports & technology, these inspiring young minds are breaking down barriers, redefining dreams and are recognised nationally & globally for their bold and defining actions. Their unique and equally diverse stories of redrawing India are showcased through a video series on Cartoon Network’s social platforms – Instagram, Facebook and YouTube – encouraging kids around India to step ahead and redraw their world. The Redrawing India Series further solidifies the ethos of the ‘Redraw Your World’ anthem launched earlier in May, that celebrates the individuality and diversity of kids through music.

    Commenting on the campaign, Cartoon Network and POGO South Asia Network Head Abhishek Dutta said, “‘Redrawing India’ is a catalyst that will show every child that they too have the power to redraw their world. India is brimming with talent, and kids are its future. We hope that this video series will ignite passion in India’s young minds to identify and nurture their unique abilities and dreams.”

     

  • Cartoon Network to telecast ‘Dragon Ball Super’ in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu

    Cartoon Network to telecast ‘Dragon Ball Super’ in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu

    Mumbai: Cartoon Network has announced Dragon Ball Super for the first time in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The channel is bringing the action-packed adventures of Goku and his friends with a day-long Dragon Ball Super Sunday stunt with back-to-back episodes on 22 May from 9 am. It will air every weekday at 10.30 am and 7:30 pm and weekends at 5.30 pm.

    The launch of Dragon Ball Super is a part of the channel’s re-energised brand promise and tagline Redraw Your World through which it aims to cater to the complete spectrum of kids and families including pre-schoolers, and family co-viewing, with over two hundred hours of diverse content throughout the year.

    The channel also planned various digital activities for its fans including a fan-art contest, a watch & win competition for the Dragon Ball Super Sunday stunt, a dance challenge based on the popular hook step of Dragon Ball Super and collaborations with influencers.

    Popular voiceover artists are lending their voices for main characters in the show in Hindi. Ankur Javeri for Goku, Neshma Chemburkar for Chichi, Rajshree Sharma for Bulma, Mayur Vyas for Krillin, Rajesh Kava for Beerus and Prasad Barve for Vegeta.

    Fans are in for a special treat as the follow-up of the blockbuster classic anime follows the tranquil lives of Goku and his friends after vanquishing the evil Majin Buu. However, they are disrupted when Beerus, the God of Destruction, challenges Goku who requires his friends’ assistance to become the venerable Super Saiyan God. Dragon Ball Super reconnects fans with these beloved characters through unimaginable and adventure-filled storylines that unveil twelve universes and gods.

    Talking about the show launch, Cartoon Network and POGO South Asia network head Abhishek Dutta said, “Cartoon Network has always had its finger on the pulse of what its fans want. The anime genre and in particular, the Dragon Ball franchise is always right up there on the wishlist, and we’re really pleased to present the series in new regional languages.”

    “We are sure this extraordinary title will make a great addition to our top-rated ‘Redraw Your Summer’ content line-up and will be enjoyed by kids and families,” he added.

  • Pogo to kick off summer ’22 programming lineup with ‘The Pandavas’

    Pogo to kick off summer ’22 programming lineup with ‘The Pandavas’

    Mumbai: To kick-off the summer holiday season, Pogo, India’s leading kids’ entertainment channel has planned plenty of fun-tainment and summer campaigns between April 25 to June 3.

    Pogo is launching the thrilling adventures of five brothers “The Pandavas” on April 23 with new episodes every weekend at 12:30 pm.  

    The action-packed series, developed in collaboration with hi-tech animation, adds to Pogo’s fun-filled line-up of amazing characters, exciting storylines, and diverse worlds.

    “The Pandavas”, inspired by the mythological characteristics of the Pandava brothers, will be centred around the chronicles of “Righteous Yudhishtir”, “Powerful Bheem”, “Astute Arjun”, “Adventurous Nakul” and “Valorant Sahadev” in their childhood days, as students of Guru Dronacharya.

    Created by leveraging cutting-edge CGI technology, the animated retelling will bring alive the adventures and heroic battles nestled in the lessons of unity, respect, morals and sibling camaraderie of the young princes of Hastinapur.  

    Commenting on the launch of the summer campaign, Pogo and Cartoon Network’s South Asia Network Head, Abhishek Dutta said, “The Pandavas is a thrilling mix of action and comedy. We are positive Pogo’s young fans will relate to the inspiring stories of the Pandava brothers.”

    He added, “During the ‘Pogo fun-tastic summer’ campaign, fans can expect celebrations, awesome content and a chance to meet their favourite toon characters.”

  • Cartoon Network ups the marketing ante with global campaign ‘Redraw Your World’

    Cartoon Network ups the marketing ante with global campaign ‘Redraw Your World’

    Mumbai: Cartoon Network has revealed a new brand positioning and tagline ‘Redraw Your World’ across its key tentpoles in summer, the flagship school contact programme and the year end festive season. Perfetti Van Melle India has come on board as the campaign’s ‘presenting sponsor.’

    From 30 March onwards, viewers will be “able to enjoy a completely new look and feel of the Cartoon Network channel refreshed with vibrant colours, music and design, and an expansive new programming slate,” said the channel in a statement.

    “With the Redraw Your World launch, we are all set to provide kids with a platform that celebrates uniqueness, empowers little actions and inspires storytelling,” said South Asia network head Cartoon Network and Pogo Abhishek Dutta. “It strengthens our content commitment for India with fun and family-friendly narratives starring popular and iconic characters, reflecting the world and depicting the tales of adventure and bravery.”

    The campaign will feature alongside shows like “Ekans – Ek Se Badhkar Snake,” “Dragon Ball Super,” “Digimon Adventure,” Emmy-nominated series “Lamput,” “The Powerpuff Girls,” “Ben 10,” “Tom and Jerry,” and “DC Super Hero Girls” among others.

    Cartoon Network will bring over 200 hours of fresh content including original homegrown series, international shows, acquisitions, and specials. The channel will also bring a special block for preschoolers under ‘Cartoonito’ later this year.

    The tagline ‘Redraw Your World’ is a brand proposition that has been rolling out across the world.

    “At Cartoon Network, we create original and diverse worlds that are vibrant and fun. Armed with creativity, ‘Redraw Your World’ is an extension of our global commitment to inject stories that reflect the world, inspire imagination, and empower kids,” said head of WarnerMedia Kids in Asia Pacific Leslie Lee.

    The campaign will also have an on-ground activation in leading malls. Cartoon Network has partnered with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and several brands in the food and beverage and technology sectors.

    In collaboration with the IPL team, Rajasthan Royals, Cartoon Network’s characters ‘Ekans’ and ‘Tom’ and ‘Jerry’ will co-create engaging content with the players for their digital platforms.

    The channel has inked a deal with 99 Pancakes across its 33 outlets in 14 cities all through April to May and launched a curated menu.

    Cartoon Network has partnered with Reliance Digital to bring its campaign theme closer to viewers with in-store displays and character meet and greets held across 100 outlets across Maharashtra and Gujarat.

    In May, the channel will unveil a new music video anthem, that would be a hybrid of animation and live action to empower kids to ’embrace their true selves.’

    The network has launched ‘Cartoon Network Fan Art’ talent showcase contest across Instagram, YouTube, Facebook where kids may follow the hashtag #RedrawYourWorld and participate.

    The channel is planning to conduct its 15th edition of school contact programme across 13 cities followed by on-air content, social media activations and on-ground activities during Diwali and Christmas later this year.