Motu Patlu, an Indian animated show launched in October 2012, has captivated millions of viewers across the world and has enjoyed a consistent top TV rating. Brought to life by Nickelodeon, along with Cosmos Maya, the adorable and loved duo are now celebrating a decade of becoming the ultimate global icons. The beloved characters today reach out to over 289 million viewers in seven languages across the length and breadth of India.
From being born as characters in kids’ magazine Lotpot, to coming to life on television to being the first ever Indian animated character duo to have their statues at Madame Tussauds, Delhi, Motu Patlu’s meteoric journey has been unmatched. The everlasting bond with young viewers that now extends across OTT, consumer products, games and beyond is filled with milestones at every stage.
Celebrating Motu Patlu’s 10tastic Birthday, Nickelodeon pulls out all stops with an all-encompassing marketing blitz which will include on-air, on-ground and digital promotions across the Nickelodeon franchise, along with a robust activation with mommy networks and influencers. Moreover, top kid influencers and new age content platforms are being engaged with reels, stories and posts.
Driving interactivity, the kids’ franchise has initiated a dance challenge, giving viewers a chance to feature on Nickelodeon’s social media pages. Furthermore, leveraging its network’s strength, brands within the network will join the celebration by engaging in a fun banter on Twitter and other social handles to share some of the best Motu Patlu moments.
“Nickelodeon has truly been revolutionary in changing the face of kids entertainment in India. Ten years ago, the Indian kids’ entertainment category was in need of indigenous characters and stories and Nickelodeon, with the launch of Motu Patlu, successfully paved the way. With Motu Patlu, we built not just endearing characters but an iconic brand that has gone to be a category game changer amongst all stakeholders- kids, parents and our advertisers. We are thankful to our patrons and delighted on completing 10 very successful years and look forward to the next 10 with enthusiasm and zeal,” said Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria.
“A decade ago, when we decided to give life to Motu Patlu on television it was a leap of faith. Not only were we introducing kids to our first homegrown indigenous IP but also introducing kids to two adult but adorable characters in a world dominated by international kid toons. Apart from being an exemplary piece of great storytelling, it is the affability and relatable camaraderie that made the duo a runway hit. From being launched as our homegrown IP to becoming global icons today, Motu Patlu’s width and depth of stories and immense fandom makes it the most successful and largest kids IP in the country. Motu Patlu’s success is a testimony to our deep understanding of kids content and propels us to continue tapping white spaces, launch new IPs and enthrall kids with great stories and characters for India. We are extremely thankful to Lotpot and Cosmos Maya for being a part of this legendary success story,” said Viacom18 Kids TV Network creative, content and research head Anu Sikka.
“Motu Patlu have grown to become icons that have carved a space for themselves in India’s story of homegrown toons and we are elated on being a part of this journey. We are very happy that we were able to bring characters to life that have become an intrinsic part of a kid’s childhood. We are delighted to have partnered with Nickelodeon on this journey which was truly visionary and one that opened avenues for growth for the animation industry in India,” said Cosmos Maya founder and MD Ketan Mehta.
With an early achievement of being the highest-rated slot on Nick, Motu Patlu began its success story within the launch week itself in 2012 and since then continues to stay at the top and relevant a decade later, giving the category a much-needed impetus. A testimony to Nickelodeon’s challenging DNA, Motu Patlu’s exponential growth is visible through its current top position on the channel, contributing 45 per cent to Nick’s total ratings and featuring amongst the top five shows of the category week on week.
With digital distribution, love for the show has crossed national boundaries as they continue to entertain its young viewers across continents in different languages. With a screen-agnostic approach, Motu Patlu has delivered and entertained young viewers with 1000+ stories across 560 episodes, 25 movies, and 20+ games across iOS and Android further growing its fandom across the globe.
Motu Patlu’s strong values, fandom and ratings have made way for integrations beyond FCT through product licensing, brand films, in-content product placements, adding significant brand building for advertisers in India. Motu Patlu’s popularity has led to patronage from leading advertisers including Colgate, Casio, Parle Products, Pratap Snacks, Perfetti Van Melle, ITC, Dabur among others.
