Toonz Animation invokes `Shiva` for next venture

Close on the heels of its animated feature film The Return of Hanuman, the Thiruvananthapuram-based Toonz Animation is readying an animated television series on yet another popular mythological character. The new venture is believed to be totally different from all the television series that the animation major had already created.

In an exclusive chat with Business Standard, Toonz Animation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), P Jayakumar, said: "We are venturing into a different format, which would be close to what may be called picture book animation, with Shiva". The series would run for 13 half hour shows and the company has chosen Cartoon Network to air the animated picture book series for the Indian audience.

Projected as a low-cost product, the series is being made at a cost as less as Rs 2 lakh. Elaborating on the low cost of the project, Jayakumar said, "Our animated film Hanuman was made on a large scale and set a trend after running successfully. It was no doubt received well by the audiences. However, the effort burned a large hole in our account books. While such films are made on a budget of not less than Rs 12 lakh, what we get from the channels is a paltry Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. The cost effectiveness is totally awry here."

Jayakumar added: "It is after a lot of brainstorming that we have gone for such a low-cost experiment. In fact, Shiva is an experiment in terms of producing a low-cost product in the most stylish way." The company expects this genre to bring in profits on being selected for telecast.

Shiva is expected to be aired on the cartoon channel in another six months. When Jayakumar says "stylish", he really means it going by what the rushes say. The series has been made with top class sketches and a well spelt out voice over. To add to the charm is the music composed by the famed Pandit Ramesh Narayan.

As was the case with Hanuman, Toonz Animation's Shiva is also expected to churn out a trend in this genre of animation as soon as it goes on air in another six month.