Newswire

Toonz Shows Win Hearts at MIPCOM 2025

It was an exciting market season for Toonz Media Group at MIPCOM 2025, with a strong presence led by CEO P. Jayakumar, along with VP Development Suriya Thomas, Director Content Distribution and Media Platforms Anish Narayanakutty, and Director Media Sales Bernhard Stephen. The Toonz team showcased an impressive lineup of new projects in development, including The Adventures of Rusty, Issa’s Edible Adventures, and Little Spark. On the distribution front, the slate featured vibrant and engaging titles such as Hangry Petz, already a hit on YouTube, CID Squad, Misfit Manor, Zoonicorn, and Witch Detectives.

The Toonz booth drew considerable attention, with buyers and partners appreciating the studio’s creatively diverse and globally appealing catalog. The market also witnessed YouTube’s participation for the first time, which added an exciting dynamic to content discussions and audience strategies. Toonz’s digital-first approach resonated strongly with attendees, especially as Hangry Petz continues to gain traction online, exemplifying the studio’s forward-thinking content strategy and adaptability in an evolving media landscape.

Despite a market still regaining full momentum after recent global challenges, the enthusiasm for new content was evident. The Toonz team held several promising meetings with global broadcasters, streamers, and co-production partners, paving the way for new collaborations and business opportunities. The visit also earned Toonz good coverage in the media, further highlighting our growing global influence. The overall response reaffirmed Toonz’s reputation as a creative powerhouse with a strong international footprint and an ever-expanding portfolio of engaging, high-quality shows.

An Inspiring Visit: Welcoming Our Promoters to Toonz Animations

We were delighted to host our esteemed promoters, the Chandaria Family, for an exclusive visit to the Toonz studio, where they experienced firsthand the creativity, innovation, and passion that power our storytelling. Praful Chandaria, Indu Chandaria, and Trisala Chandaria were warmly received by CEO Designate Viswanath Rao, Director – Finance Karthik Kumar, and Director – Operations P. K. Vijayakumar. The visit was filled with enthusiasm and excitement as the family explored the vibrant creative spaces and witnessed firsthand the passion and artistry that drive Toonz’s world-class animation.

During their visit, the Chandaria Family was briefed on the company’s ongoing projects and strategic initiatives. Our studio executives shared valuable insights into Toonz’s vision for the future of storytelling and innovation in animation. The promoters also had engaging interactions with members of the creative and production teams, gaining a deeper appreciation for their diverse talents, dedication, and contributions to the studio’s continued success.

The visit concluded with a series of presentations that showcased Toonz’s growth strategies, long-term goals, and upcoming opportunities in the global entertainment landscape. It was a moment of pride and inspiration for the Toonz family, reaffirming the shared commitment between the promoters and the team to drive creativity, collaboration, and excellence in everything we do.

Recode Kerala: Toonz Charts the Entertainment & AVGC Roadmap for the State’s Digital Future

Toonz Media Group CEO P. Jayakumar was among the keynote speakers at Recode Kerala, a high-profile summit held in Kochi on October 28. The event, inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and presided over by Industries Minister P. Rajeev, brought together leaders from government, technology, and the digital innovation ecosystem to envision the future of Kerala as a global technology hub.

Representing Toonz and the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics) sector, Mr. Jayakumar shared his insights on “The AVGC & Creative Media Tech Opportunity for Kerala.” His keynote highlighted how Kerala can leverage its strong creative and technical talent pool to build a global creative innovation hub, emphasizing the importance of Industry–Government–Academia collaboration in nurturing a future-ready workforce.

During a panel discussion titled “Global Industry Trends & Kerala’s Preparedness,” Mr. Jayakumar joined distinguished industry leaders including Tony Thomas (Co-founder, Zoho Corporation; CEO, Zoho Corporation-USA), Ajay Prasad (CEO-India, Taurus Investment Holdings), Naazneen Jehangir (Executive Director, NeST Group; CEO, NeST Digital), Sarath Chandran (MD & Head, Armada India), and M. B. Aravind (Co-founder & COO, HEX20). The session offered valuable perspectives on how Kerala’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is evolving to embrace new and emerging opportunities in technology and digital media.

In his address, Mr. Jayakumar spoke about the dramatic transformation in viewing experiences — from families gathering around a single television set to today’s audiences seeking immersive, personalized, and 360-degree content experiences. He emphasized that this shift presents immense potential for Kerala to position itself at the forefront of creative and entertainment technology.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister, in his inaugural address, noted that Kerala has already laid a strong foundation in digital infrastructure and must now focus on building a robust ecosystem to accelerate growth in innovation-driven sectors.

The Recode Kerala Summit reaffirmed Toonz Media Group’s commitment to advancing Kerala’s AVGC and digital creative landscape, reinforcing the state’s ambition to become a global destination for digital and creative technology excellence.

SAIK Felicitates Toonz Media Group for 25 Glorious Years

On the occasion of International Animation Day, the Society for Animation in Kerala (SAIK), in association with Kerala Start-up Mission and C-DIT, organized an AVGC Conclave that brought together key stakeholders from the state’s animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics ecosystem. The conclave explored the evolving landscape of the creative industry and discussed strategies to strengthen Kerala’s AVGC sector.

As part of the celebrations, Toonz Media Group was felicitated for completing 25 illustrious years of creative excellence. The honour was received by CEO P. Jayakumar, Vice President – Development Suriya Thomas, and Senior Manager – Corporate Communications Akhila Premachandran, on behalf of the Toonz family.

Several leading visual effects studios that contributed to blockbuster movies were also recognized, along with winners of the State Film Awards in animation and visual effects categories.

The conclave also featured a roundtable session where SAIK members discussed current industry challenges and proposed actionable solutions. Some of these recommendations will be presented to the government to further strengthen the AVGC ecosystem in Kerala.

The event was graced by C-DIT Director G. Jayaraj, a long-time supporter and advocate for the growth of the creative and digital media sectors in the state.

The felicitation stands as a proud moment for Toonz, marking 25 years of innovation, creativity, and leadership in the global animation and entertainment industry.

Gaumont Animation & En Animation Team Visits Toonz Studio

Toonz Media Group had the pleasure of welcoming our esteemed co-production partners from Gaumont Animation (France) and En Animation (Italy) for an inspiring studio visit, marking a significant milestone in our collaboration on the much-anticipated animated project, Tiny Head. The visiting delegation included Mr. Filippo Cigognini from En Animation, Ms. Christelle Naga and Mr. Robert Vargas from Gaumont Animation, who arrived on the 27th for a creative and productive engagement with the Toonz team.

During their visit, the teams engaged in detailed creative discussions and production reviews, exploring various aspects of storytelling, design, and animation development. The interactions were marked by mutual enthusiasm, productive brainstorming, and a strong collaborative spirit that underscored the strength of this international partnership. The synergy between the teams reflected the strong creative alignment and mutual commitment that have been the hallmark of this partnership.

This visit followed the earlier one by Ms. Terry Kalagian, Head of Animation at Gaumont, in March, and served as a continuation of the fruitful collaboration between the studios. The Gaumont and En Animation teams expressed their appreciation for the progress achieved so far and reiterated their confidence in Toonz as a trusted creative partner. The visit not only strengthened professional ties but also reaffirmed the shared vision of delivering world-class animation content through Tiny Head.

YouTube Music Academy 2025: Insights and Innovation for the Future of Digital Music

Vairamuthu Srinivas, Head of the YouTube Division at Toonz Media Group, attended the YouTube Music Academy held on October 15, 2025, at the Taj Coromandel, Chennai. Organized by YouTube Music India, this exclusive gathering brought together a dynamic mix of music professionals, entertainment creators, record labels, and digital partners. The event served as a collaborative platform to explore the evolving YouTube ecosystem, focusing on the latest tools, growth strategies, and creative best practices that empower content creators and organizations to enhance audience engagement and monetization.

The sessions were carefully designed to help participants make the most of YouTube through practical insights on analytics, storytelling, and creative trends. The discussions explored how creators can use YouTube’s various formats, including music videos, Shorts, live sessions, and behind-the-scenes content, to build strong release strategies and increase visibility. Speakers also highlighted the importance of consistent branding, effective channel management, and the use of data to improve content and audience engagement.

Throughout the day, attendees learned about new YouTube innovations and AI tools shaping the future of content creation. From artist-focused analytics dashboards to new audience engagement features and programming opportunities, the academy offered a clear view of the evolving world of digital music and entertainment. The event reinforced YouTube’s commitment to helping creators succeed through learning, collaboration, and technology.