Kids

Nick US introduces interactivitity for preschoolers

Published

19 years ago

October 3, 2006

MUMBAI: American Pre-schoolers will “just press play.” Noggin, the commercial-free, educational preschool network from US kids firm Nickelodeon, is introducing a new form of interactive viewing for preschoolers, on its new, original, live-action series, The Upside Down Show.

Starring comedy duo, The Umbilical Brothers (David Collins and Shane Dundas), the 13-episode half-hour preschool series developed by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organisation behind Sesame Street and Dragon Tales, will debut on Noggin on 16 October

Set in a fantastical living room with more doors than walls, The Upside Down Show stars David and Shane, two brothers who live with their fun-loving sidekick Puppet, their invisible pet fly Fido, and the Shmuzzies, adorable fluff balls who speak “Shmuzzish” and love to rhyme. Each episode begins as the brothers “hand” an imaginary remote control to the viewers at home so they can “control” the duo’s physical motion by fast forwarding, rewinding or pausing their movement.

Breaking ‘the fourth wall‘ of the television set, the brothers encourage their audience to participate in their antics and accompany them on their excursions. Every week, the duo embarks on a journey to explore new infinite worlds like the Very Hairy Room, Wind Room or Puppy Room, and everyday destinations like the beach, the airport or the movies. But Shane and David need help from their friends and viewers at home, as they don’t know where their destination is or how to get there!

They take detours through magical doors in their apartment which allow the brothers — and the preschoolers playing along — to investigate the world around them.

Nick says that The Upside Down Show provides a fresh new way for preschoolers to interact by learning critical thinking skills, rich vocabulary and relational concepts and life skills through pretend play. The series elevates the concept of imaginative play to a new platform in which children build valuable reasoning skills, develop creative problem solving abilities and enhance their understanding of and joy in the world around them.

The remote control featured on the series becomes a fun tool to help children learn unique vocabulary and relational concepts, as well as to play along with these completely original, imaginary stories.

The following preschool platforms will also kick off the launch of The Upside Down Show:

Noggin.com is also streaming a ‘sneak peek’ clip from the premiere episode.

Nickelodeon Preschool Television executive creative director Brown Johnson says, “David and Shane may be the two funniest men on the planet. They are silly, spontaneous, ridiculous, amazing and on the perfect wavelength for preschoolers.

“The Brothers make ordinary things extraordinary — from taking a trip to the art museum or the beach to visiting wacky places like the sticky room, the no-room room, or the sandwich room, where they achieve ‘total sandwich.’ They make me laugh every time!”

Sesame Workshop executive VP, creative director Liz Nealon says, “We’re very excited about the debut of The Upside Down Show, which is very different than other preschool shows. Pairing the irresistible antics of the Umbilical Brothers with the Workshop’s understanding that young children learn best through imaginative play has created a special kind of alchemy.

“We‘ve worked hard to make sure that this offbeat and funny show also serves up serious school readiness – teaching and reinforcing cognitive thinking and language skills, and fostering a sense of mastery and self-confidence, all while keeping kids laughing and engaged.”

In the first episode Art Museum Shane creates an artistic masterpiece to hang on the refrigerator, until he and David discover they don’t actually have a refrigerator! At the suggestion of their neighbor Mrs. Foil and with help from Puppet and their pet fly Fido, The Brothers look for an art museum to hang the piece of art. Along the way, Shane and David get stuck in the Sticky Room, lost in the Fog Room, and meet a young talented finger painter in the Museum of Finger Painting. The Brothers introduce “Pause,” “Rewind,” “Fast Forward” and “Instant Replay” buttons on the imaginary remote, and the viewers at home press the “Humongous” and “Minute” buttons to help Shane and David reach their final destination.

In the second episode Farm Shane and David have a band called The Talking Airheads, which features Shane on guitar; David on drums and a cowbell; Fido the fly on trumpet; and The Shmuzzies on the Marimba. But the band faces a setback when David’s cowbell — which happens to be attached to an imaginary cow named Clarabelle – disappears! On their journey to find the cow, The Brothers spend time in the Great Big Bell Room, fish for the cowbell in the Boat Out At Sea Room and go for a ride in the Bicycle Room. Viewers help Shane and David along by pressing the “Seesaw” and “Steady’ buttons on the remote control.

Noggins‘s site will feature a variety of content to complement the premiere of The Upside Down Show, including an online game where preschoolers can personalize an imaginary play experience with Shane and David by creating their own interactive video. The site will also feature downloadable clips from the series and several activities including The Upside Down Show printables, crafts, E-cards and more. Nick Jr.’s award-winning website (www.nickjr.com) will also launch The Upside Down Show interactive game and activities, in addition to featuring a dedicated playlist of clips from series on Nick Jr. Video.

Kids

Om Nom bites into India as Warner Bros. Discovery picks up the series

Published

1 month ago

January 20, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: The little green hero is making a big leap east. Zeptolab has struck a major distribution deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing its hit animated series Om Nom Stories to audiences across the Indian subcontinent.

Under the agreement, Warner Bros. Discovery has acquired the series for exclusive Pay TV broadcast and non-exclusive digital streaming in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The move marks a significant expansion for Zeptolab as it pushes one of its most successful original IPs into one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment markets.

As part of the deal, all 26 seasons of Om Nom Stories will be rolled out across Cartoon Network, Pogo, Discovery Kids and Discovery+, offering both linear and digital access to the franchise’s slapstick humour and expressive, dialogue-free storytelling.

“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Warner Bros. Discovery to bring Om Nom Stories to the Indian subcontinent,” said Zeptolab executive producer Manaf Hassan, noting that the broadcaster’s reach and legacy make it a strong fit for the series’ growing global fanbase.

Warner Bros. Discovery, meanwhile, sees the acquisition as a natural addition to its children’s portfolio. Warner Bros. Discovery head of factual entertainment, lifestyle and kids for South Asia Sai Abishek, said the series aligns with the network’s focus on cheerful, imaginative and universally appealing content for families across the region.

The timing adds an extra layer of significance. The expansion coincides with Om Nom’s 15th anniversary, underlining the franchise’s staying power and its evolution from a mobile game character into a global animation brand. With this latest bite at the Indian subcontinent, Om Nom’s adventures look set to find a whole new generation of fans.

Kids

Colour outside the lines Chhota Bheem sketches a new play with Faber Castell

Published

2 months ago

January 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: If childhood memories had a colour palette, Chhota Bheem would likely be right in the middle of it and now, quite literally, in children’s pencil boxes too. Green Gold Animation has announced a landmark licensing partnership with Faber-Castell India, marking the global stationery major’s first-ever licensed character collaboration. The association brings Chhota Bheem to a specially curated range of student art and creative products, blending everyday learning tools with one of India’s most recognisable homegrown characters.

The move is a notable expansion of Chhota Bheem’s footprint beyond screens, reinforcing the character’s status as a multi-generational IP that has steadily grown from a television favourite into a cultural constant. For Green Gold Animation, the partnership signals a sharpened focus on extending its intellectual property into daily touchpoints, where entertainment meets education and habit.

In its first phase, the collaboration will roll out Chhota Bheem-themed products across key student art categories, including watercolour cakes, wax crayons, poster colours, sketch pens, oil pastels and creative bundling kits. The range is aimed squarely at school-going children, tapping into Bheem’s strong emotional connect while encouraging imagination, creativity and hands-on expression.

Green Gold Animation founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka noted that Chhota Bheem’s journey has long moved beyond episodic storytelling. He said the partnership reflects a deliberate attempt to embed the character into moments of learning and creativity, while building a more purpose-led licensing ecosystem around Indian IP through collaboration with a globally established brand.

From Faber-Castell India’s perspective, the tie-up marks a strategic first. Faber-Castell India director marketing Sonali Shah said the collaboration opens a new chapter by pairing the brand’s long-standing reputation for quality and safety with a character that already commands trust and affection among Indian children. The aim, she added, is to make creativity more engaging and relatable without diluting product standards.

The launch will be backed by a 360-degree promotional push, spanning digital campaigns, social media storytelling, creative usage content and on-ground retail activations across select markets. Both companies have confirmed that this is only the starting point, with additional Chhota Bheem-themed products across new categories planned in the months ahead.

Headquartered in Hyderabad, Green Gold Animation continues to scale its ambition of building globally competitive Indian IPs, with Chhota Bheem leading the charge. This latest collaboration suggests that the brand’s next phase of growth may be less about what children watch and more about what they create.

Kids

Sony tightens grip on Peanuts with $457 million stake buy

Published

2 months ago

December 22, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

JAPAN: Sony has doubled down on the power of legacy brands, snapping up a majority stake in the Peanuts intellectual property in a late-year deal valued at about $457 million.

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan have acquired the roughly 41 per cent holding in Peanuts Holdings LLC previously owned by Canadian children’s entertainment company WildBrain. The move lifts Sony’s ownership to 80 per cent, with the Schulz family retaining the remaining 20 per cent.

The deal brings one of pop culture’s most durable franchises, home to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang, firmly under the Sony umbrella. The characters were created by Charles M Schulz, whose daily comic strip ran for half a century before ending in 2000.

Sony had already been a long-time partner in the business. The latest transaction consolidates control and sharpens the group’s hand as it looks to keep the characters front and centre across film, television, music and consumer products.

President and group ceo of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Shunsuke Muramatsu, said the additional stake would allow Sony to further elevate the Peanuts brand by drawing on the group’s global reach and creative expertise, while preserving the legacy of Schulz and his family.

President and ceo of Sony Pictures, Ravi Ahuja, said the combined ownership gives Sony the ability to protect and shape the future of the characters for new generations, expanding their relevance without diluting their charm.

Peanuts long ago escaped the confines of the comic strip, cementing its place in popular culture through perennial television specials such as A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. More recently, WildBrain kept the franchise active with animated series including Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show.

Now, with Sony firmly in control, the message is unmistakable. In an industry obsessed with the next big thing, nostalgia still sells and Sony is betting big on a doghouse that refuses to age.