Toonz Animation buys Toonsense Studios
By Venkatachari Jagannathan | 30 Nov 2001
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Thiruvananthapuram: The city-based $3-million turnover Toonz Animation has acquired Toonsense Animation Studios, Mumbai, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is part of Toonz Animation’s strategy to get into the domestic animated TV commercials market. The company is part of the $3-billion NRI-promoted Comcraft group.
Refusing to disclose the purchase price, Toonz Animation director (operations) P Jayakumar says the Mumbai-based 15-employee company is good at producing animated commercials. “To get into production of such films, our presence in Mumbai is a must and hence the acquisition.”
Last year Toonz Animation had signed a business deal for producing animated advertising films with a Mumbai company promoted by Shrirang Sathaye and Suhael Merchant. The duo has won several awards for their animated commercials from the ad world. Jayakumar says Toonz Animation is currently doing six commercials for Nestle.
Toonz Animation, meanwhile, has decided to fund the full-length animation film based on Taj Mahal announced earlier. The film is expected to cost Rs 90 crore. “It will take four years to complete the film,” says Jayakumar. In addition, the company is scouting for a financial partner to produce a serial on Tenali Raman for airing on Indian channels.
Speaking about the impact of the post-11 September events on the projects being executed by Toonz Animation, Jayakumar says the company’s order-book position is not affected. “We have lined up projects that will keep us busy for the next one year.”
Toonz Animation is working on Prezzy, a 26-episode animated TV serial for Rainbow Productions, Italy. The company is also working on a project for Unicef and for a London-based computer gaming company. Toonz Animation has completed its work for TV serials Tommy Oscar and Turtle Island. “We are negotiating for Indian distribution rights for Tommy Oscar,” says Jayakumar.
Toonz Animation, which had entered the comic book segment, is negotiating with newspapers to feature its comic strips. “Currently The Indian Express is featuring our comic strips on its children’s section,” says Jayakumar.
Refusing to disclose the purchase price, Toonz Animation director (operations) P Jayakumar says the Mumbai-based 15-employee company is good at producing animated commercials. “To get into production of such films, our presence in Mumbai is a must and hence the acquisition.”
Last year Toonz Animation had signed a business deal for producing animated advertising films with a Mumbai company promoted by Shrirang Sathaye and Suhael Merchant. The duo has won several awards for their animated commercials from the ad world. Jayakumar says Toonz Animation is currently doing six commercials for Nestle.
Toonz Animation, meanwhile, has decided to fund the full-length animation film based on Taj Mahal announced earlier. The film is expected to cost Rs 90 crore. “It will take four years to complete the film,” says Jayakumar. In addition, the company is scouting for a financial partner to produce a serial on Tenali Raman for airing on Indian channels.
Speaking about the impact of the post-11 September events on the projects being executed by Toonz Animation, Jayakumar says the company’s order-book position is not affected. “We have lined up projects that will keep us busy for the next one year.”
Toonz Animation is working on Prezzy, a 26-episode animated TV serial for Rainbow Productions, Italy. The company is also working on a project for Unicef and for a London-based computer gaming company. Toonz Animation has completed its work for TV serials Tommy Oscar and Turtle Island. “We are negotiating for Indian distribution rights for Tommy Oscar,” says Jayakumar.
Toonz Animation, which had entered the comic book segment, is negotiating with newspapers to feature its comic strips. “Currently The Indian Express is featuring our comic strips on its children’s section,” says Jayakumar.
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