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Tag: Graphic

  • Disney brings Graphic’s ‘Astra Force’ on Big B’s birthday

    Disney brings Graphic’s ‘Astra Force’ on Big B’s birthday

    MUMBAI: Graphic India and Disney Channel India will reveal the first look of its superhero series Astra Force on the occasion of Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday – 11th October as a special surprise for the millions of megastar’s fans around the world.

    In the month of August last year, Graphic and Disney announced the production of the animated series -“Astra Force.” with legendary icon, Bachchan. A funny and fast-paced, action-adventure series, filled with laughs and thrills, “Astra Force” tells the story of a mythical hero from a distant world, who was stranded on th earth millions of years ago after an epic space battle.

    When 8-year old brother and sister twins accidentally awaken the mythical superhero from his long hibernation, they must teach him about our modern world and join Astra to save the universe from a new wave of giant monsters and intergalactic threats.

    “At the heart of everything we do at Disney is tell great stories and we tell them in a manner that our audiences that can relate with. We have been building on our local animation slate on Disney Channel; offering content and content that kids have come to love and now with Astra Force, we are extremely happy to have partnered with Sharad and Mr. Bachchan to bring in another interesting facet to storytelling in this space, said Disney India VP – content and communications, media networks, Vijay Subramaniam.

    “Amitabh Bachchan is a real life superhero to millions, including myself, so it’s no surprise that he is the perfect person to become immortalized in this new animated avatar,” added Graphic’s Co-Founder & CEO Sharad Devarajan. “The opportunity to collaborate with Bachchan on ‘Astra Force’ is made that much stronger by partnering with Disney, a company whose creativity and storytelling I have admired all my life.”

    Disney Channel India has been entertaining kids and families through a range of locally relevant stories spread across high-quality animation series and “Astra Force” will be the perfect complement to the line-up of existing shows.

    Devarajan is the producer on “Astra Force” along with Graphic India SVP-Creative Jeevan J. Kang who is overseeing visual development character design and art for the project.

    Graphic’s previous animated superhero, Chakra The Invincible, was created with Stan Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, Iron Man and The Avengers) and received over 30 million views globally on Rovio’s ToonsTV platform available through the Angry Birds app.

    Graphic India is a character entertainment company focused on creating leading characters, comics and stories through mobile and digital platforms. Founded by media entrepreneurs Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman, it is owned by the U.S. comic book company, Liquid Comics and CA Media LP, the Asian investment arm of The Chernin Group, LLC (TCG).

  • Disney brings Graphic’s ‘Astra Force’ on Big B’s birthday

    Disney brings Graphic’s ‘Astra Force’ on Big B’s birthday

    MUMBAI: Graphic India and Disney Channel India will reveal the first look of its superhero series Astra Force on the occasion of Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday – 11th October as a special surprise for the millions of megastar’s fans around the world.

    In the month of August last year, Graphic and Disney announced the production of the animated series -“Astra Force.” with legendary icon, Bachchan. A funny and fast-paced, action-adventure series, filled with laughs and thrills, “Astra Force” tells the story of a mythical hero from a distant world, who was stranded on th earth millions of years ago after an epic space battle.

    When 8-year old brother and sister twins accidentally awaken the mythical superhero from his long hibernation, they must teach him about our modern world and join Astra to save the universe from a new wave of giant monsters and intergalactic threats.

    “At the heart of everything we do at Disney is tell great stories and we tell them in a manner that our audiences that can relate with. We have been building on our local animation slate on Disney Channel; offering content and content that kids have come to love and now with Astra Force, we are extremely happy to have partnered with Sharad and Mr. Bachchan to bring in another interesting facet to storytelling in this space, said Disney India VP – content and communications, media networks, Vijay Subramaniam.

    “Amitabh Bachchan is a real life superhero to millions, including myself, so it’s no surprise that he is the perfect person to become immortalized in this new animated avatar,” added Graphic’s Co-Founder & CEO Sharad Devarajan. “The opportunity to collaborate with Bachchan on ‘Astra Force’ is made that much stronger by partnering with Disney, a company whose creativity and storytelling I have admired all my life.”

    Disney Channel India has been entertaining kids and families through a range of locally relevant stories spread across high-quality animation series and “Astra Force” will be the perfect complement to the line-up of existing shows.

    Devarajan is the producer on “Astra Force” along with Graphic India SVP-Creative Jeevan J. Kang who is overseeing visual development character design and art for the project.

    Graphic’s previous animated superhero, Chakra The Invincible, was created with Stan Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, Iron Man and The Avengers) and received over 30 million views globally on Rovio’s ToonsTV platform available through the Angry Birds app.

    Graphic India is a character entertainment company focused on creating leading characters, comics and stories through mobile and digital platforms. Founded by media entrepreneurs Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman, it is owned by the U.S. comic book company, Liquid Comics and CA Media LP, the Asian investment arm of The Chernin Group, LLC (TCG).

  • Kantar acquires majority stake in Guardian Digital Agency

    Kantar acquires majority stake in Guardian Digital Agency

    MUMBAI: Holding companies seem to be speeding up the process of adding specialised digital agencies in their kitty.  

     

    WPP, the British holding company has announced that Kantar, its wholly-owned data investment management arm, has acquired the Guardian Digital Agency (GDA), a specialised data visualisation, site design and interactive development agency, previously part of Guardian News and Media Group. The company, which employs 13 professionals, will be rebranded under the name Graphic. Many of Kantar’s 12 companies have already worked with GDA to increase the impact and interactivity of their work.

     
    The investment is part of WPP’s strategy of developing its integrated services in fast-growing and important markets and sectors and strengthening its capabilities in digital media.

     

    WPP’s digital revenues (including associates) were well over US$6 billion in 2013, representing almost 35 per cent of the Group’s total revenues of US$17.3 billion. WPP expects 40-45 per cent of its revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years. 

    Kantar is the data investment management division of WPP and one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By connecting the diverse talents of its 12 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community.

     

    In the UK, WPP companies (including associates) collectively generate revenues of nearly US$3billion and employ over 15,000 professionals. Worldwide, WPP’s data investment management companies (including associates) collectively generate revenues of about US$5 billion and employ over 34,000 professionals.

  • Graphic India and Filmkraft Productions partner to launch Krrish comics

    Graphic India and Filmkraft Productions partner to launch Krrish comics

    MUMBAI: Graphic India and Filmkraft Productions have announced the launch of an original digital comic series and comic magazine called Krrish: Menace of the Monkey Men.

    Krrish: Menace of the Monkey Men, will be released as a comic book magazine available in stores later this year and also be converted into an animated mobile comic that will be released as weekly chapters through an exclusive Krrish Comics App, which will be launched by Hungama Digital, the digital partner for Krrish 3. Carving Dreams was responsible for securing the deal between Filmkraft Productions, Graphic India and Hungama Digital.

    Hrithik Roshan commented, “As we get ready for Krrish 3, I am pleased to announce this bonus never before seen Krrish story from Graphic India, the leader in Comics for India, and Hungama, the first name in digital mobile. We’re working with an international team of comic book superstars so you can experience Krrish in a whole new way.”

    “Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan have created a hero that has captured the imaginations of millions across India. We are thrilled to be partnering with Filmkraft Productions and Hungama to continue the exploits of Krrish, in the natural extension of comic books, which is a perfect fit for any superhero.” Graphic India co-founder and CEO, Sharad Devarajan added. “Through digital comics Krrish can now fly straight from the big screen and into the small screen of mobile devices, reaching his millions of fans.”

    Filmkraft Productions founder and acclaimed producer and director, Rakesh Roshan said, “As we get ready to launch Krrish 3, one of the most ambitious movies in Indian history, a compelling comic book program based on the Krrish superhero is essential. Graphic India’s quality and production standards make them the perfect choice for us to partner with on this exciting expansion of the Krrish franchise.”

    The story features an action-packed original adventure of Krrish written and illustrated by legendary comic book creators, Tom De Falco, Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema, who have worked on leading comic book characters such as Spider-Man, Spider-Girl, Superman, Thor, The Avengers and countless others. The talents were recruited by Graphic India who is working with leading comic book, film and animation partners from around the world.

    Hungama Digital Media Entertainment MD and CEO Neeraj Roy said, “Krrish after capturing the hearts and minds of the nation is now ready to gain cult status with its first comic book magazine. We are proud to come on board as the Digital Partner for Krrish 3, and work with Filmkraft Productions and Graphic India, not to mention our long relationship with Carving Dreams. Our digital distribution strategy will take Krissh closer to every fan. The Krrish franchise is definitely now in the league of international superheroes a new generation is growing up with.”

    Carving Dreams CEO Afsar Zaidi said, “With the launch of Krrish comics, a milestone has been achieved in the rapidly growing space of Indian comics. Carving dreams is proud to be a part of the very first physical and motion comic created out of India’s biggest superhero franchise. The Krrish brand has taken a quantum leap with the current installment of the franchise and to position that with the right kind of image in the comic space we got Filmkraft Productions, Graphic India and Hungama Digital together to work on this creative association.”

    A preview of sketches from Krrish: Menace of the Monkey Men illustrated by Frenz is available exclusively on the Graphic India website and Facebook page.

  • Graphic India appoints Salil Bhargava as COO

    Graphic India appoints Salil Bhargava as COO

    MUMBAI: Graphic India, a character entertainment company, has appointed former Jump Games CEO Salil Bhargava as Chief Operating Officer (COO). The company is focused on creating leading characters, comics and stories for the Indian youth market through mobile and digital platforms.

    Bhargava, an veteran in the industry and brings more than twelve years of experience in media, entertainment and digital companies in India and overseas, will report to Sharad Devarajan, Co-Founder and CEO of Graphic India.

    CA Media, the Asian investment arm of The Chernin Group, had acquired an undisclosed large minority stake in Graphic India in January this year.

    Commenting on the new appointment, Graphic India Co-Founder & CEO Sharad Devarajan said, “Salil has been a leading force in pioneering India‘s mobile entertainment industry over the last decade and I am delighted to bring his experience to Graphic as we build a digital media company that transforms the Indian character entertainment industry with new heroes and stories to inspire the world.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Bhargava said, “I am thrilled to be joining Graphic India which is setting new boundaries in creativity for character entertainment in India. Sharad and his team bring an unparalleled level of experience in this space and there cannot be a more exciting company to work with as we pioneer digital initiatives to make Graphic‘s unique and ground breaking content available across every digital device in the country.”

    Salil has a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce, Pune. He has studied at Michigan State University in USA and holds an MBA degree from Eli Broad Graduate School of Management.

    Graphic India‘s stories include, Ramayan 3392A.D. and The Sadhu, both currently in development as Hollywood feature films; 18 Days, a reimagining of the great eastern epic, the Mahabharata, by acclaimed graphic novel creator, Grant Morrison; Chakra The Invincible, the first superhero for India from legendary creator Stan Lee; and numerous other heroes and stories.