Mumbai based Graphiti Multimedia and South Africa based Inkpot studios have entered into a co-representation deal where both companies will exclusively represent each others IP and products in their native territories. The two companies shared this information with AnimationXpress.com even as Day one of FICCI FRAMES 2007 was underway.
Headed by the trio of Animation Stalwart Ram Mohan, Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty, Graphiti Multimedia which Co Produced J Bole Toh Jadoo with Nickelodeon, is amongst the front runners in Indian Animation IP creation. Inkpot Studios is headed by Creative Genius Tim Mostert whose comic strip turned animation character Speedy has fascinated millions of readers and viewers in South Africa.
Tim commented, “It‘s a great time to be setting up a partnership in India because it is the sleeping giant of the animation industry and the South African industry is at the same place India was five years ago. As a studio, Graphiti has a rich legacy of Animation and both the studios have a shared zeal for creating original animation content”
“We look forward to rolling Speedy out into Indian media including TV, Cell Phones, Publishing and Licensed Merchandise. At the same time, we also believe that the large Indian population in SA will embrace all of Graphiti‘s properties and the new characters that will be launched on SA TV and mobile networks. I plan to take Jadoo to the SA networks next month itself” he added.
Graphiti‘s Munjal Shroff shared, “Tim has got an exciting range of characters such as Speedy which we believe can find a huge audience in the Indian market. It has an instant appeal, across a diverse audience. Also properties such as Finer Things and Silly Poems lend themselves naturally to the mobile platform”
Commenting further, Tim revealed that inkpot studios is currently working on a series of Cricket based Mobisodes called Sticky Wicket and that it would be simultaneously released in India and South Africa.
Other properties in Graphiti‘s pipeline include Tree House Set, Action Hero BC and Krrish Trrish & Baltiboy.
“We are building a content portfolio of first rate animation content, not necessarily produced in house” concluded Munjal