Leading India and Singapore-based innovative animation studio Cosmos-Maya is launching its own sales arm, WowKidz Distribution, as it focuses on becoming the global content gateway.

WowKidz Distribution aims to be a one-stop shop for all distribution requirements of global animation content players starting with the widely growing key market of Asia Pacific and then expanding into the rest of the world. Content acquisition is one of the key focus areas for WowKidz in the first stage of its distribution initiative, with the division debuting its dedicated acquisitions team at MIPCOM. 

Cosmos-Maya has been the forerunner and flagbearer for many firsts within the animation industry in its region. From commanding a staggering 65 per cent share of the Indian domestic animation production market, producing 50 half hours a month to add to its existing content bank of 2000 half hours, to a multitude of European co-productions, the studio has been focusing on bringing about change in the dynamically evolving market. 

Cosmos-Maya CEO Anish Mehta said, “Our production is one of our biggest strengths as a studio and we have been distributing our own content successfully across APAC. Thereby venturing further into the distribution arena with successful international brands through WowKidz Distribution was the next logical and synergistic business decision.”

With its established network, Cosmos-Maya can leverage the extensive network of Emerald Media, the Pan-Asian media investment platform backed by US private equity giant KKR, which has a controlling stake in the company.

Anish Mehta

Mehta added, “The onus will be on acquiring best in class American, European and Chinese content, the seeds of which have already been sown. WowKidz Distribution will be a massive gateway to Asia for high quality animation content produced by North America and Europe. WowKidz Distribution, while making the best brands from these regions accessible to Asian audiences, aims to infuse the creative and cultural sensibilities of Asia to the content. We will follow a three-pronged ‘Glocalisation’ approach – marketing, dubbing and syndication of content. Our knowledge and distribution experience of local Asian markets coupled with our creative prowess enables us to add that extra zing by dubbing and localizing the content and making it ready for consumption. Asian audiences will now have the best of all worlds.”

Overseeing this initiative for the studio with a dedicated WowKidz Distribution cadre from his 10 member team, “With WowKidz Distribution, we will be the gateway for global content, into Asia to begin with and then scale up the geographies. The groundwork for the same has been on for a while and come MIPCOM and we will announce our first slate of acquisitions,” said Cosmos-Maya Revenue and Corporate Strategy SVP, Devdatta Potnis.  

“WowKidz Distribution is an effort that will negate the geographical and language barrier for content and through our network across the world, will address the need gap in the market effectively” added  Cosmos-Maya Head – Business Development Europe, Joris Eckelkamp.

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Every so often, the stars collide. This time those stars are the indelible team behind Gunner and the ever-popular Blend Fest!

ABC gave us the first look at the cast of The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! with a promo during Kids Say the Darndest Things.

The upcoming special, live event, which is part of Disney’s 30th anniversary celebration of the beloved animated film, stars Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah, Shaggy, Graham Phillips and John Stamos. In the 30-second video, Cravalho looks bold in red tresses as Ariel, while Latifah looks intimidating as Ursula the sea witch. One can also see Shaggy as Sebastian the crab, Stamos as chef Louis, and Phillips as Prince Eric.

The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! is produced by Done+Dusted, with executive producer Hamish Hamilton and Richard Kraft, producer and director of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.

The Little Mermaid Live! airs 5 November on ABC.

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Marvel is launching a new Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series by Al Ewing and Juann Cabal in January 2020. The title was announced during Marvel’s Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con 2019.

As an announcement reads : Ewing’s spin on Marvel’s flagship cosmic title is sure to be intense, putting the Guardians in the center of a new intergalactic war and going up against the latest threats facing the galaxy, including the reborn Dark Gods of Olympus. 

“Guardians of the Galaxy: Space is the Place, is a high-octane spy-fi action-adventure set against an evolving backdrop of interstellar politics, intrigue and suspense. War is coming – and if the Guardians can’t stop it, they’re going to be right in the middle. We’re playing with all of the space empires, all of the high cosmic space stuff, we’re smashing it all together … stuff is coming,” said Ewing.

The synopsis follows like :

Once, they were a team of misfits. Now they’re a family, and they’ve earned their peace. But the universe is not a peaceful place — and it’s only getting worse. The Great Empires are in turmoil. The rule of law is dead. And amidst the chaos, the Gods of Olympus have returned — harbingers of a new age of war, reborn to burn their mark on the stars themselves. Someone has to guard the galaxy – but who will accept the mission? And will they survive it? Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk) and Juann Cabal (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) bring you in on the ground floor of a whole Marvel Universe of action and suspense!

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One Take Media Co. (OTMC) is happy to bring the hit 3D animation series Bablu Dablu Ki Froggy Gang for SAARC countries. The series consists of 104 episodes available in English, Hindi and other languages.

The series Bablu Dablu Ki Froggy Gang is so titled for a reason. This new animation comes from the house of Fantawild who has given all the super Hit TV series Bablu Dablu (Bonnie Bears). The series features a frog, a pond and other creatures. In fact, the frog named Bablu Joe Croaker—is good friends with a fly, Cosmo. Joe Croaker and his pal Dablu Cosmo live in a marsh with many of their friends, both of the animal and insect variety .They go on several adventures together and, occasionally, butt heads but they always manage to remain friends. This wonderful animated video does a terrific job in showcasing what friendship is all about—loyalty, forgiveness, and spending quality time together—as well as being there when things aren’t so great. Joe is a delightful character, with a hearty and funny laugh and he always rushes headlong into things. Cosmo is the level-headed fly that helps keep him straight.

OTMC founder and CEO Anil Khera said, “Watching animated series is the exciting part of our childhood. We are pleased to showcase Bablu Dablu Ki Froggy Gang series which incorporates vivid colours, rich characters, funny scenes, and the loyalty of friends. This provides family-suitable adventure and entertainment. So, dive into the Bablu Dablu Ki Froggy Gang series for a whole new adventure and we are sure you won’t want to miss a single episode!”

OTMC is one of the leaders in providing value Added Services to DTH, Telecom and Cable industries, services include Hollywood Movies, Hollywood Movies dubbed in Hindi and regional languages, Kids animation movies/series and Celebrity based cooking show and Korean content.

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