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Tag: Pogo

  • 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.

  • Right time for young parents to introduce their kids to ‘Ben 10’: WarnerMedia’s Abhishek Dutta

    Right time for young parents to introduce their kids to ‘Ben 10’: WarnerMedia’s Abhishek Dutta

    Mumbai: As one of the biggest beneficiaries of the swell in content consumption during the pandemic, the kids genre witnessed a sea change in terms of formats, time bands, and content themes. The heartening news is, even as kids return to school and exaggerated patterns stabilise, the segment is stabilising at a higher threshold than before. This indicates “a positive movement ahead for the genre,” according to WarnerMedia South Asia network head for Cartoon Network and Pogo Abhishek Dutta.

    While some recalibration in strategies to address the pending rationalisation was expected, the pandemic agnostic rise in demand for homegrown content is unanimously acknowledged as ‘here-to-stay,’ and hence a top priority, by heads of all channels. But that does not take away from the charm of international classics that are universal and timeless in their appeal. This understanding led Dutta to bring back the action-comedy show “Ben 10” on Cartoon Network in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu after a gap of six years.

    A timeless proposition

    Dutta believes that now is the perfect opportunity for the next generation of kids to experience the ‘Ben 10 phenomenon.’ “Many youngsters in the 2000s are now parents, and can introduce their favourite show to their kids to enjoy as a family,” he says alluding to the emerging trend of co-viewership on kids’ channels.

    The concept is enduring. A boy finds a watch that can transform him into a whole load of aliens with an assortment of special powers to combat bad guys from outer space…what’s not to love? But it’s also got plenty of humour and heart – Ben’s connection with his family is a critical component. Dutta asserts that “Ultimately, it’s an iconic superhero action show featuring alien transformations with an energised style and plenty of visual gags that have kept young viewers hooked over the years. It doesn’t go out of style.”

    The journey of 10-year-old Ben Tennyson’s adventures with the Omnitrix watch started with “Ben 10” (2005-2008). It was followed by “Ben 10 Alien Force” (2008), “Ben 10 Ultimate Alien” (2010), “Ben 10 Omniverse” (2012), “Ben 10 Ultimate Challenge” (2013), “Ben 10 With Bentuition” (2016), “Ben 10” (2016), “Ben 10 Express” (2017) and “Ben 10 Challenge” (2017).

    As per Ormax Brand Health Study 2021, “Ben 10” is among the top-10 shows watched online. “Ben 10’s popularity has never faded and has transcended age groups with the evolution of its stories and characters. Its appeal on television has played a significant role in driving the channel viewership,” remarks Dutta.

    Sharing an understanding of its brand potential he adds, “Ben 10 has been one of the highest-grossing Cartoon Network properties for our Warner Bros Consumer Products business across any kind of category imaginable. Over the years, kids have played with Ben 10 toys, worn Ben 10 clothes, and even tried out Ben 10 adventure rides at theme parks.”

    Going local with international content

    In 2020, a year after Dutta took charge, the channel launched an all-new version of “The Tom and Jerry Show” with ‘thought-over commentaries’ in regional languages that became an instant hit among fans in India. For “Ben 10,” it is bringing back the entire series with dubs in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu to give young fans and families an opportunity to relive the magic of Ben 10’s multiverse and understand the evolution of the series.

    The show has consistently featured multiple times among the top-10 slots of the kids category week-on-week since its launch on Cartoon Network in March. In the latest week, it occupied the top slot of the genre in urban India, claims Dutta. He further tells that Cartoon Network and Pogo’s Indian viewers are looking for relatable and engaging stories, resulting in an increased demand for localised content.

    “We identified this trend a while ago and have been focusing on developing unique native IPs and localising international content to suit the preferences of our young fans. Our localisation strategy ensures that our fans understand the nuances of the storyline and indulge in the content and quirks of the show. To achieve this relevance we focus on adaptation in our regional feeds instead of literal translation of the international shows that we bring in,” notes Dutta.

  • Cartoon Network to premiere ‘Taffy’ in India on 24 Jan

    Cartoon Network to premiere ‘Taffy’ in India on 24 Jan

    Mumbai: WarnerMedia Kids’ channel Cartoon Network is all set for the India premiere of the popular animated series “Taffy” on 24 January. The slapstick comedy created by French animation studio Cyber Group Studios, will air every Monday to Friday at 5.30 p.m.

    “Taffy” narrates the tales of an imposter raccoon posing as the eponymous cat. The raccoon lives a luxurious life after getting adopted by billionaire Mrs. Munchmore. The mayhem begins as Bentley, Mrs Munchmore’s dog tries to expose Taffy at every chance he gets, only to be outsmarted by him.

    “At Cartoon Network, our endeavour is to deliver fresh and exciting content for kids and their families. As we commence 2022, we bring to our viewers some great shows, new episodes of all-time favourites and the launch of ‘Taffy,’ an internationally adored slapstick comedy in India,” said Cartoon Network and Pogo South Asia network head Abhishek Dutta. “With the classic-look animation style of the show coupled with a genre that has seen much success and adoration in the country, we are sure that our audiences will enjoy ‘Taffy’ as well.”

    Cartoon Network is also celebrating Tom & Jerry’s 82nd birthday on 10 February with brand new episodes of “Tom and Jerry Tales” between 7–11 February, 10.30 a.m onwards.

  • Pogo launches Telugu language feed

    Pogo launches Telugu language feed

    Mumbai: WarnerMedia kids’ entertainment TV channel Pogo has announced a new Telugu language feed to reach more homes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

    Localised content has been a key part of Pogo’s fan-first strategy, and its recent local originals have received an enthusiastic response from audiences. Kids and families will get to enjoy cartoons such as “Chhota Bheem,” one of the channel’s most successful comedy series of recent times “Titoo – Har Jawaab Ka Sawal Hu” and the Bollywood-inspired original “Smashing Simmba.” The highly-entertaining adventures of “Bandhbudh Aur Budbak” will also now be available in Telugu.

    “The creation of Pogo’s Telugu language feed is a step in our commitment to bringing local animation content in the first languages of our young viewers,” said South Asia network head for Cartoon Network and Pogo Abhishek Dutta. “This will be our opportunity to present world-class animation and stories to even more fans in India.”

    Pogo is already available in Tamil and Hindi.

  • Broadcasters kick off Diwali celebrations, announce special programming

    Broadcasters kick off Diwali celebrations, announce special programming

    Mumbai: This Diwali festival, broadcasters have announced a strong line-up of shows to win a significant share of TV viewing that will take place over the four-day long weekend starting from 4 November. Ranging from marquee reality shows to blockbuster films, TV channels have left no stone unturned to attract eyeballs.

    General entertainment shows

    Star India network will air beloved programs such as “Dance+” season six on Star Plus, “Bigg Boss Diwali special” on Star Maa and Star Vijay, mythological series “Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki” on Star Bharat, “Me Honar Superstar Jallosh Dancecha” on Star Pravah and “Comedy Stars” on Asianet.

    Zee Tamil will air a one-and-a-half-hour special of “Olimayamana Ethirkalam” on 4 November at 7 a.m. This will be followed by “Diwali Special Pattimandram” at 9 a.m. This will be followed by a special two-hour episode of “Survivor- Naanga Vera Maathiri” at 10:30 a.m and special program “Mega Thala Diwali”  at 4 p.m.

    Viacom18’s regional entertainment channels will entertain viewers with Diwali specials that celebrate the themes of the festival. Colors Bangla will air “Sangeet Er Muhajuddho” where the theme for this weekend will be a piano special. It will also air episodes of the fiction series “Mon Mane Na.”

    Colors Tamil will present fiction shows like “Amman 2,” “Abhi Tailor,” “Sillunu Oru Kaadhal” and the channel’s acclaimed shows “Enga Veetu Meenakshi” and “Idhayathai Thirudathey 2.” On the non-fiction front, there will be engrossing performances on its show “Dance vs Dance” season two and a special music show “Voice of Legends.”

    Colors Marathi channel will air special episodes of “Bigg Boss Marathi” and air special episodes of its fiction shows “Jeev Maza Guntala” and “Raja Ranichi Ga Jodi.”

    Zee Café, &Flix and &PrivéHD will air some of the most beloved Korean dramas on TV including titles such as “Boys Over Flowers,” “Descendants Of The Sun,” and “Bread, Love And Dreams” on the weekends.

    Movies

    On Star India network’s movie channels blockbusters like “The Big Bull,” “Mimi,” “Hungama 2,” and “Bhuj: The Pride of India” will air on Star Gold. Hollywood hits such as “Disney’s Frozen 2,” “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” “The Empty Man,” and “A Welcome Home Christmas” will be telecasted on Star Movies.

    &pictures will showcase the premiere of Rana Dagubatti’s “Haathi Mere Saathi” on 7 November.

    Zee Tamil will air the Dhanush starrer “Karnan” on 4 November at 12:30 p.m and the world TV premiere of “Dikkiloona” at 6 p.m.

    Tamil movie channel Zee Thirai has lined up the crime thriller “Kavalthurai Ungal Nanban” on 3 November at 7 p.m and “Ka/Pe Ranasingam” on 4 November at 7 p.m.

    Colors Tamil has announced a line-up of films that will be telecast every day starting from 1 November at 1:30 p.m. These include “Uththaravu Maharaja,” “Meendum Oru Mariyadhai,” “Chasing,” “Magamuni,” and “Devadas Brothers.”

    Times Network’s English movie channels including Movies Now, MN+, MNX and Romedy Now have also announced a power packed movie line-up for Diwali. Some of the movies that will be featured include “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Spiderman: Far From Home,” “Zombieland: Double Tap,” “Rain Man,” “Raging Bull,” “Irma La Douce,” and “Fly Me To The Moon.”

    Kids’ entertainment shows

    POGO will premiere their new show “Krishna Aur Kans” and air special episodes of “Smashing Simmba” “Titoo” and “Shaktimaan.” Cartoon Network aired “The Tom and Jerry Show” Dusshra special on 18 October and will be airing fresh episodes of the program during the festival weekend.

  • Cartoon Network, Pogo unveil content lineup for Oct-Nov

    Cartoon Network, Pogo unveil content lineup for Oct-Nov

    Mumbai: Kid’s entertainment channels Pogo and Cartoon Network have unveiled their special lineup of shows to be aired during the festive months of October and November.

    As a part of this telecast schedule, “Titoo – Har Jawaab Ka Sawaal Hu” will return on Pogo with new episodes of the series that will air from 18 October from Monday to Friday at 11.15 a.m. “Chhota Bheem” specials will air every day from Monday to Friday, at 8.15 p.m, including a premiere, “Chhota Bheem Aur Chand Pari ki Dastaan,” on 15 October. In November, viewers can tune in to new episodes of “Smashing Simmba,” “Titoo – Har Jawaab Ka Sawaal Hu,” “Shaktimaan” specials, and the premiere of “Krishna Aur Kans.”

    Pogo has also launched an on-air content ‘Gift Wali Diwali’ where viewers need to spot and win cool gifts from the mystery gift box that will open on their TV screens, every day between 12 p.m and 2 p.m as they binge on episodes of “Titoo – Har Jawaab Ka Sawaal Hu” and “Smashing Simmba.” Gifts like mobiles, laptops, tablets, cycles, scooters, headphones, and more are up for grabs.

    On Cartoon Network, “The Tom and Jerry Show” Dussehra special will begin from 15 October, 1 p.m onwards. The new episodes of the “The Tom and Jerry Show” will air from Monday to Friday at 3:30 p.m, starting 18 October. The show “Grizzy and The Lemmings” will air between 4-8 November. The channel’s first sci-fi superhero show “Ekans – Ek Se Badhkar Snake” will return with season three.

    “We are excited to present an action-packed, entertaining and fun content lineup for the entire family to watch together and enjoy this festive season,” said WarnerMedia South Asia network head for Cartoon Network and Pogo Abhishek Dutta. “We are delighted to bring a combination of specials and new seasons of the most loved shows that are bound to take the spirit of celebration a notch higher.”

  • Warner Media greenlights new ‘Titoo’ episodes for Pogo

    Warner Media greenlights new ‘Titoo’ episodes for Pogo

    Mumbai: Warner Media has greenlit more episodes of the Indian animated comedy series “Titoo: Har Jawaab Ka Sawaal Hu” for its kids entertainment channel, Pogo. Produced by Cosmos-Maya, the original series premiered in July 2020.

    After four successful seasons, the latest commission of this local production includes a further 52 half-hour episodes as well as four 80-minute TV specials, said the channel in a statement On Monday.

    Commenting on the development, South Asia network head for Pogo and Cartoon Network, Abhishek Dutta said, “After we received so much love for ‘Titoo’ from Pogo fans over the past year, it was in many ways an easy decision to greenlight new episodes. It’s such a great show and is clearly making an impression on kids and families.”

    “We continue to put faith in locally-made shows that demonstrate India’s burgeoning creativity and talent within the animation industry. In addition to ‘Titoo’, Pogo’s line-up for the rest of 2021 is looking really impressive, with a steady rollout of new episodes, specials and fan-favourites,” he added.

    Cosmos-Maya CEO, Anish Mehta stated, “We are elated to see the love that has been showered on ‘Titoo’ since his debut. With his unique quirks and funny antics, he embodies the ‘novelty with familiarity’ mantra and is clearly a hit with the viewers. We’re certain that young fans will enjoy these brand-new escapades of ‘Titoo’. This is one of India’s fastest growing IPs and, together with Pogo, we are pushing all creative boundaries to make this a mega show.”

    Since early 2020, Warner Media has premiered a number of new local titles like “Lambu-G Tingu-G” and “Smashing Simmba” on Pogo and “Bandbudh aur Budbak” and Bollywood-inspired show “Dabangg – The Animated Series” on Cartoon Network. More recently, it launched its first-ever Indian CGI superhero series, “Ekans – Ek Se Badhkar Snake”.

  • Melissa Lim to lead kids’ content acquisitions at WarnerMedia

    KOLKATA: WarnerMedia has appointed Melissa Lim as the new head of content acquisitions and co-productions for its kids’ networks in Asia Pacific, which include POGO, Cartoon Network and Boomerang. She will also advise on licensing content to fuel the growing slate of kids and family programming on the regional streaming service HBO GO in Southeast Asia.

    Lim is currently based in Singapore and reports to Leslie Lee, head of WarnerMedia Kids APAC. Working closely with counterparts in the original production and development team, as well as programming, her key areas of focus will be exploring co-production opportunities and acquiring kids content for the region. For the latter, she will work with colleagues from other WarnerMedia acquisitions teams in the US, EMEA and LatAm.

    “Pinpointing and securing the world’s best third-party animation that sit perfectly alongside our originals is no easy task. I know that Melissa’s experience and passion will ensure we provide our fans a complete on-brand entertainment experience,” said Lee. “Her role is particularly important at a time when our networks are evolving and expanding viewer demos.”

    Melissa’s previous roles include stints at MTV Asia and StarHub, where she spent 13 years gaining invaluable insight into the kids programming world. Most recently, she was managing co-production and acquisitions at Disney for its channels and regional streamer.

  • Cartoon Network India serves up ‘The Tom and Jerry Show’ with an Indian tadka!

    Cartoon Network India serves up ‘The Tom and Jerry Show’ with an Indian tadka!

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network’s long-running, classic chase comedy, The Tom and Jerry Show, is now available in India with ‘Badle tevar aur flavour’! For the first time ever, the iconic show has been dubbed with Hindi, Tamil and Telugu commentary, bringing the duo’s legendary tales to Indian kids in a more relatable way. Adding another layer of immersive storytelling, Cartoon Network is airing this brand-new adaptation daily at 1.30pm and 6pm.

    The quirky commentary version of the most-loved slapstick comedy The Tom and Jerry Show stems from Cartoon Network’s approach to creating kids’ entertainment content that is fun, diverse, inclusive and relatable for all its fans. Cartoon Network and Pogo have exemplified this approach with tremendous success in India, with shows like Grizzy and the Lemmings, rib-tickling international silent-comedy animation.

    Cartoon  Network and Pogo South Asia network head Abhishek Dutta said, “We have been betting big in recent years on ‘glocal’ content that is relevant and relatable. The addition of commentary to enhance a slapstick silent comedy is a delicate task, one that we have successfully accomplished in the past. In our experience, this works brilliantly in India and the larger South Asian market. It was only a matter of time that we broke new frontiers with a ‘glocalized’ rendition of international fan-favourite, The Tom and Jerry Show, that is an inseparable part of Cartoon Network’s legacy. We are confident that our younger, newer audiences will definitely love the cat and mouse duo more than ever before, in the all-new Hindi, Tamil and Telugu commentary versions.”

    A quintessential slapstick animation comedy, The Tom and Jerry Show follows the misadventures of Tom, a house cat, in his never-ending quest to nab a feisty and notoriously clever mouse Jerry. The iconic rivalry between the titular characters and their unrelenting capers have garnered a global audience base. Already well-received in India, the dubbed edition of The Tom and Jerry Show is set to consolidate Cartoon Network’s leadership position in the Indian kids’ entertainment space.   

    Watch Tom & Jerry’s new ‘Badle tevar aur flavour’ promo here

  • ‘Smashing Simmba’: Bollywood supercop gets an animated avatar

    ‘Smashing Simmba’: Bollywood supercop gets an animated avatar

    MUMBAI: Rohit Shetty’s Simmba, the most recent blockbuster of his sensational supercop brand, has been transformed into an animated series for young fans. The Bollywood-inspired Pogo original production Smashing Simmba will premiere on Saturday, 14 November at 1 pm and will be aired regularly in the same time slot. The series is produced by Rohit Shetty Picturez in association with Reliance Animation, a part of Reliance Entertainment.

    Film director and producer Rohit Shetty said he was onboard with a cartoon avatar for his cop character the moment the concept was pitched to him.  “It is amazing to see how the series has shaped up. The blend of comedy and nail-biting action, with young Simmba’s cool quotient, and funny traits, is sure to appeal to the young audience. I am eager for kids to experience the animated rendition of their favourite big-screen hero Simmba on Pogo.”

    Cartoon Network and Pogo South Asia network head Abhishek Dutta believed the time was ripe for a fresh entrant in the Indian cartoon animation scene. “Within the diverse genres of homegrown animation, Bollywood has emerged as a theme widely appreciated by young fans. When Indian cinema’s most popular characters are presented in animated universes with relatable stories, kids absolutely love it. We are excited to associate with industry stalwarts Rohit Shetty and Reliance Entertainment for this unique venture, and Diwali is the perfect time to celebrate this partnership.”

    Following the recent launch of Titoo, Pogo has been strengthening its offerings of popular and premium homegrown kids’ entertainment content, shared Dutta. “Smashing Simmba is exactly the kind of locally-made and relatable show that will delight our young viewers. I’m sure kids will extend the same love to our new hero, Simmba, that they have for all our shows and characters over the years.”

    Reliance Entertainment group CEO Shibasish Sarkar said, “We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting new show with a pioneering channel Pogo which has championed the evolution of kids’ entertainment in India. Given the channel’s vast and growing viewership comprising kids across the length and breadth of the country, there could be no better partner for Simmba’s foray into the kids’ entertainment space.”

    The Indian animation space for kids is evolving rapidly along with its viewers, and content creators are eager to experiment with stories, characters, and backdrops, explained Reliance Animation COO Tejonidhi Bhandare. “Cinema-inspired IPs, featuring characters who are loved for their memorable personalities and nuances, have massive potential to become popular properties. ‘Smashing Simmba’ is an excellent example of how creatively Bollywood and animation can come together, opening avenues for endless possibilities.”

    Pogo’s has adopted a high-octane promotional campaign for the nationwide launch of Smashing Simmba. This includes extensive digital marketing, PR, influencer engagement, brand integrations along with on-air activation. To amp up the buzz and excitement, the channel will unveil an Simmba-themed game ahead of the show’s launch. The programme will also be available in Hindi and Tamil.

    Smashing Simmba follows the hilarious cavorts of the quick-witted and fearless teenager Simmba, who aspires to be a police officer. A fun-loving prankster with endless tricks up his sleeve, Simmba spends the better part of his days nabbing villains and miscreants. Thick as thieves with his friends Ricky and Kittu Khabari, Simmba finds himself on exciting adventures which perfectly represent his catchphrase, “mind is blowing.” With his signature move – the infallible ‘jumpy chumpy’ – the villains don’t stand a chance.

    Watch the mind-blowing Smashing Simmba promo here.