MUMBAI: With Fox Kids due to launch in the country soon Cartoon Network's gameplan is clear! Reaffirm commitment and maintain numero uno position among childrens channels by acquiring locally relevant content for India, Cartoon Network has announced the acquisition of the 13 half-hour episode series titled The Adventures Of Tenali Raman produced by Trivandrum based Toonz Animation Studios. The Network has also signed a pre-buy agreement with Toonz Animation for a second series called The Adventures of Hanuman, currently under production.
 

An official release informs that The Adventures of Tenali Raman was produced using 2-D animation. The series revolves around the clever adventures of the popular folklore character, Tenali Raman, and is scheduled for world premiere on the channel in the second quarter of the year. The 13 half-hour episodes of action adventure series The Adventures of Hanuman are expected to be ready for telecast on Cartoon Network by early next year.

Senior VP and GM Turner Entertainment Networks Asia Ian Diamond said, "Providing content based on the Indian story-telling heritage is a critical mandate for Cartoon Network in its mission to contextualise the Network for our Indian audiences."

Tenali Raman is the intellectual royal court jester and among the eight wise men who adorn Vijaynagaras King Krishna Deva Rayas court. The Kings court is the arena where most of the outrageous battles of wit between Tenali Raman and his adversaries take place. Tenali is the Kings favourite and can never resist challenges verbal or otherwise - and one-way or the other wins out in the end!

Opened in 1999, Toonz Animation India occupies more than 18,000 square feet of space inside Technopark in Trivandrum, Kerala. Toonz Animation claims to be the most advanced studio to open in India since the country emerged as a potential player in the international animation industry. With a staff of over 450 Indian and international artists.