After winning the “Best Animation Episode Award” at FICCI BAF this year and amassing an enviable fan following already, the upcoming season 2 of Shaktimaan in animation series found Reliance Animation the original producer of the series joining hands with Magic N Colors from Hyderabad in a co-production deal last week. Ashish S. K., CEO, Reliance Animation & Sanjay Kommera, Chairman & CEO of Magic N Colors signed the agreement.
As per the deal, Reliance Animation will handle the pre and post-production responsibilities for the series while Magic N Colors will take care of the animation production. Reliance Animation as before will hold the IP Management and IP Rights of the property. Shaktimaan in animation is presently getting telecasted on Sonic – the new channel launched by Viacom -18, December last year.
Speaking on this occasion, Ashish S. K. said, “I am extremely positive with this deal as Magic N Colors have the right infrastructure and more importantly the right attitude needed to create international quality animation content. Shaktimaan has already proved itself with its unmatched quality and its only going to get better from here on and we wanted a partner who will share similar mindset of uncompromised quality deliverables. We are extremely optimistic about the series doing great both in national and international markets and have huge plans with the property in the coming months”.
“I have always believed that the only way to create superior international standard properties is by means of effective co-productions. It has to work in both levels – co-productions between Indian studios since we understand the market and the workforce on a national level and to have co-productions with international studios so that the prospect of effective international distribution increases for the properties. Co-production treaties in this regard with major animation production countries will go a long way for the development of overall Indian Animation Industry only if Government will help us with it. It is always a win-win situation as the co-production partners bring in their area of expertise in the deal helping the product to turn even better. With Shaktimaan we intend to create a case study as how effective co-production between Indian studios can help create properties that will be accepted even in the international markets while becoming popular with the core Indian audience as well”, Ashish added.
Commenting on the coproduction deal, Sanjay Kommera said, “Joining hands with Reliance Animation for Shaktimaan Animation series is the right deal at the right time for us. We definitely need a super hero from India in animation and Shaktimaan fits in there perfectly. There is no better product than Shaktimaan to fill that space. Getting associated with a product like Shaktimaan and an organization like Reliance Animation would position my company in a different league of companies focusing on international quality productions. I am completely in favour for effective coproductions since it will generate adequate investment in the property ensuring better quality, which on a long-term scenario will position the industry strongly in the international market. With better products, better exposure and wider distribution, effective co-productions would certainly create a very positive environment for our Indian Animation Industry. With more companies getting into co-production towards original IP creation with shared risk, it will slowly and gradually drift away the outsourcing mind frame and would provide opportunities of international co-productions as well in the future.”