Applause Entertainment forays into animation with exclusive deal with Amar Chitra Katha

With the deal in place, Applause Entertainment has acquired the license to the Amar Chitra Katha catalogue, comprising over 400 titles, which will be developed and produced into animated content.

Headed by media veteran Sameer Nair, Applause Entertainment has already created a name for itself in the storytelling ecosystem with premium original series, popular book and international format adaptations. With the partnership with Amar Chitra Katha, Applause will take the rich and varied content archive to the global audiences, in a brand new avatar.

“At Applause, we only strive to deliver the best in storytelling. Over the last four years, we have significantly pushed the envelope in curating and creating the most disruptive stories for Indian audiences that cut across genres and geographies,” said Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment. “Amar Chitra Katha is a household name in India with a diverse and celebrated library which deserves to be retold. Like millions of other people, I have grown up reading these iconic comics and as a child, imagined them with dynamic visuals and dramatic sound and action. This is our opportunity to realise that dream.”

According to Nair, this partnership is also a small step towards helping export Indian culture by taking a unique and deep rooted cultural brand like Amar Chitra Katha to screens across the globe.

Spanning 20 languages, the Amar Chitra Katha library boasts titles across epics and mythology, history, fables and humour, brave hearts, visionaries and ACK Junior.

Founded in 1967 by Anant Pai, Amar Chitra Katha is the pioneer in comic book storytelling for children in India, that has evolved into a cultural phenomenon today. With more than 1.5 million copies sold every year, their comics have secured a niche in the audience’s hearts and minds.

In the recent past, Amar Chitra Katha has made forays in the digital space with all their books having a vibrant global readership through the Amar Chitra Katha app, as well as presence on many other multiple digital platforms such as Alexa, Youtube etc.

The company also continues to add new titles to its catalogue, with new themes, topics and adapting its iconic art style to endear the brand to a new generation of young readers.

“We have been custodians of India’s stories for over 54 years, and we are thrilled to partner with Applause Entertainment to take our rich storytelling heritage to Indian and global audiences through animation,” said Preeti Vyas, President & CEO, Amar Chitra Katha. “As the nation’s favourite storyteller, our mission has always been to provide Indian children a route to their roots and inspire in them a great sense of pride about India and being Indian. While we continue to keep our founder, Anant Pai’s dream alive by telling new stories and creating fresh content in print and digital formats, we are also keen on presenting our iconic stories in an animated avatar.”