NEW DELHI: Moving Picture Company (India) Limited (MPCL) is test marketing its first long format 3D animation series Jungle Tales in the India International Trade Fair (IITF), which commenced here on Friday.
According to the Noida-based production house, the series, inspired by Panchatantra, is the country's first completely indigenous long format 3D animation series for television.
"We are test marketing Jungle Tales with Delhi audience. We had introduced the pilot of the series last year at the IITF and it evoked more than 20,000 responses. With a potential of 150,000 visitors, from vast strata of society, we believe this series with treatment in contemporary style is an ideal way of arousing interest," says MPCLs vice-president-business development Pankaj Bhushan.
The narration and treatment of the series, for which the studio is expecting to finalise a deal with a satellite channel in India soon, has been created considering the "lifestyle of todays kids". The primary target group is kids but the stories make for fun viewing for an entire family, Bhushan says.
"The objective (of test marketing at the IITF) is to create awareness about animation in India. Sales or attracting buyers is not the sole aim. We want to convey to the people that animation is thriving in India. And for this IITF, with visitors of various age-groups, seems to be the right choice," says Bhushan.
MPCL, which has already worked on six episodes of 22 minutes each, is taking four episodes to the fair. "We are initially planning 13 episodes but might increase it to 26 depending upon the response from the audience," Bhushan explains.
MPCL, which specialises in television software and documentary films apart from 3D animation, is targeting the particular segment of international audiences that has a liking for Indian films.
The studio is yet to finalise the distribution plans. The series will be marketed not only in India, but also in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and North America.
"We are examining the options of retailing at the moment. Its very tough to gauge the figure for sale of DVDs or CDs. We might tie-up with an international partner for distribution," says Bhushan.
