NEW DELHI: Kids have got it made this summer. Cartoon Network and Pogo have lined up exciting stuff which includes some local productions too even as Turner International makes additional investments in India.
In an indicator to the localisation that is taking place in Pogo, the channel announced two local shows, while Turner International India MD Anshuman Misra said the company is investing in local content and infrastructure too.
According to Misra, Turner International recently obtained government permission to make additional investments here, which will be used in local productions. Turner has also invested in a post-production studio here where Cartoon Network and Pogo-related work will be undertaken.
The star attractions of the summer entertainment line up on Pogo include the launch of two Indian productions M.A.D (Music, Art and Dance) on 24 April at 11:30 am and Bam! Bam! Bam! Gir Pade Hum that premiers in June.
Pogo will also launch the Indian TV premiere of the second installment in the Harry Potter film series - Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets on 22 May at 2 pm The movie will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Cartoon Network will launch its ninth local acquisition, Vikram Aur Betaal, on 19 June at 12 pm as part of its summer holidays Movie Masti franchise.
Announcing the line up, Turner Entertainment Networks Asia senior vice president and general manager Ian Diamond said, "As leaders in the kids' TV segment, we are constantly providing our fans a combination of world-class programming with local productions and acquisitions."
The latest additions on Pogo's schedule clearly demonstrates this commitment to "innovate and entertain with a keen eye on quality and relevance," he said.
Concurring with Diamond, Misra said providing content that is based on the Indian story-telling heritage is a critical mandate for Cartoon Network in its mission to contextualise the network for Indian audiences.
Pogo's third local production and its first indigenous series - M.A.D - is an off-the-wall, interactive journey for 8-12 year olds and their families and is filled with fun tabletop 'makes', dynamic performances, humour and some art stunts in the studio and in nearby towns.
Each episode presents an everyday theme, which is then creatively explored and unravelled with the help of real-life examples. In-depth review of concepts and themes by Indian art teachers and references to school curriculum make the show relevant to Indian children, while exposing them to a healthy mix of local arts and crafts, global images and studio props.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Gir Pade Hum is a game show for 8-12 year olds with laughs by the dozen and the chance to find a champion team. Premiering in June, the show is all about "Victory Is In The Balance!"
In addition, Pogo's special summer movie block, May Movie Magic will also premiere all-time favourite kids' movies such as Chitti Chitti Bang Bang apart from Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. Cartoon Network will re-kindle the Potter-magic by airing, for the first time a non-animated feature - Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone.
Vikram Aur Betaal is produced by the Hyderabad-based Green Gold studio and this full length 2-D animated movie is based on an age-old story of the courageous and brave King Vikramditya and his quest to capture the clever ghost, Betaal. The movie will be aired in English and Hindi and is Cartoon Network's ninth local acquisition.
Additionally, Cartoon Network will launch a brand new action adventure series Beyblade, under the Toonami block on 20 May at 5:30 PM It revolves around a teenaged martial arts student, Tyson, as he perfects his technique of Beyblading that involves harnessing the mystical powers of customised spinning tops known as Beyblades.
