Animation
Cartoon Network acquires animated series ‘Jungle Tales’
MUMBAI: Moving forward on its commitment to acquire locally relevant content for India, Cartoon Network has recently acquired Delhi based Moving Picture Company’s Panchatantra inspired animated series Jungle Tales.
Strengthening its programming line up, the kiddies channel has lined up a slew of releases in the second half of 2004 which include shows called Boo, Rubbadubbers, Postman Pat, Little Red Tractor, Maisy, Duck Dodgers, Teen Titans, Xiaolin Showdown, Ozzie and Drix and Digimon Series. The channel has also lined up new series of the popular shows, He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe and X-Men Evolution apart from animated movies titles like Barbie Princess and Pauper and Cheburashka.
Jungle Tales also happens to be the eighth locally produced animation series, acquired by the Network for its discerning Indian audiences.
Jungle Tales is an adaptation of stories from Panchatantra, that are a well-known collection of animal fables, aimed at imparting wisdom, wit and morals through simple yet evergreen stories and incidents.
An official release informs that the series has been adapted for a contemporary audience, with a universal crossover appeal that promises to enchant both children and adults. Importantly, though the series is rooted in Indian folklore, the values portrayed here transcend all traditions and cultures. In fact, this is the country’s first indigenous long-form 3D animation series for television.
“Acquiring Jungle Tales is another leap forward for the Network, and we are delighted to provide a high-quality platform for content developed by Indian production houses. The Panchatantra stories have always been an integral part of a child’s formative years. We are happy that through Cartoon Network, the next generation of kids will continue to enjoy and learn from these timeless tales of wit and wisdom,” said Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc senior vice president and general manager Ian Diamond.
Diamond further added, “Providing content based on the Indian story-telling heritage is a critical mandate for Cartoon Network in its mission to provide a dynamic and healthy mix of local and international animated programming.”
“Moving Picture is committed to creating original animation content from India for both the domestic and global market. It is befitting that the first long format 3D Animation TV series from India, also our first animated production – Jungle Tales – will have its world premiere on the foremost kids platform of the country Cartoon Network,” said Moving Picture Company India Limited chairman and managing director Ramesh Sharma.
MUMBAI: History is getting a fresh rewrite this time with code, creativity and a longer arc in mind. Lens Vault Studios has announced its first original production, Bal Tanhaji, marking the official entry of the newly launched, tech-driven studio into India’s evolving entertainment landscape.
Arriving six years after the box-office success of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the new project expands the universe rather than revisiting familiar ground. Bal Tanhaji explores uncharted narrative territory, signalling a clear shift from one-off cinematic spectacles to long-format, world-building storytelling designed for digital-first audiences.
At the heart of this ambition is Prismix Studios, the in-house generative AI and technology arm powering the creative engine behind the show. The studio’s approach blends storytelling with next-generation tools, aiming to reimagine how Indian IPs are created, scaled and sustained beyond theatrical releases.
For Lens Vault Studios chairman Ajay Devgn the new venture represents a deliberate step beyond traditional cinema. The focus is firmly on building long-form intellectual properties across fiction and non-fiction, tailored to changing viewing habits and platform-led consumption. He said the studio intends to explore formats that remain largely untapped, while drawing on the team’s experience with large-scale cinematic storytelling.
Lens Vault Studios founder and CEO Danish Devgn echoed that sentiment, describing Bal Tanhaji as the studio’s first generative-AI-led IP and the starting point of a broader vision. The aim, he noted, is to carry forward the legacy of the Tanhaji universe while connecting with younger audiences through a blend of powerful narratives and emerging technologies.
With Bal Tanhaji, Lens Vault Studios is planting its flag early not just launching a show, but signalling a larger play for cinematic universes that live, grow and evolve across platforms. If this debut is any indication, the future of Indian storytelling may be as much about imagination as it is about innovation.
