Evry Animation Show We Make is For Global Audiences

By Pickle November 9, 2024

Crafting stories that resonate universally, Reliance Animation continues to shape India’s position on the global animation stage, says Tejonidhi Bhandare, CEO, Reliance Animation who shares insights with Pickle on meeting evolving viewer expectations, expanding IPs, and leveraging AI for creative storytelling

Reliance Animation has established itself as a leading creator of intellectual property in India. How has 2024 treated you so far, and what are your plans for the next year?

Our journey has evolved from services to domestic IPs. We were the first to bring Bollywood into animation with our beloved show Little Singham, a spin-off of the live-action cop-universe franchise by
renowned filmmaker Mr. Rohit Shetty. The year 2024 has been challenging, with many changes in content consumption patterns and other actors, including shifts in advertising. Adapting to consumer demand is our plan for the next year.

The Indian Prime Minister has served as a prominent advocate for Indian animation, recently highlighting leading Indian animation characters and the global reach of Indian stories. What are your thoughts?

The acknowledgement from the Prime Minister of India is a significant milestone for the AVGC sector, highlighting the contributions made in this field, including domestic IPs like Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu, and our beloved Krishna. It is genuinely remarkable when your efforts receive acknowledgement. This acknowledgement inspires us to produce an increasing number of domestic shows, as India possesses a rich tapestry of stories to tell.

Could you provide details about your animation catalogue? What are your thoughts on Reliance Animation IPs appealing to children in North America?

Every one of our animated shows is crafted to appeal to a worldwide audience. For example, The tales of Little Krishna, penned by international author Jeffrey Scott, elegantly highlight India’s vibrant heritage and culture through the delightful adventures of Little Krishna. These are timeless stories of the struggle between good and evil.

Which characters in your catalogue hold the most significance? Little Singham, Little Krishna…

Each character holds importance: Little Krishna is notable for its storytelling and visual quality, Little Singham is recognised as the first Bollywood spin off show, Shaktimaan is celebrated as India’s first superhero, Smashing Simmba serves as a spin-off of the cherished film character from Ranveer Singh’s movie Simmba, and Golmaal Jr. expands upon the Golmaal film franchise, which already comprises four films.

India has announced incentives of up to $3.6 million for co-production, animation films, and service work. What are your thoughts?

We have not yet fully realised the advantages of this, and it would be beneficial to hold regular briefing sessions on how to make these claims. Many studios lack awareness of the process and are finding it challenging to comprehend the steps needed to claim it.

Is artificial intelligence being utilised by Reliance Animation throughout the production process?

We use AI in production and have created AVOD videos with AI. We also believe that ‘Artificial Intelligence cannot supplant Creative Intelligence.’ It is a robust support system that boosts production efficiency, lowers costs and time, personalises, and improves decision-making.

Is there any upcoming film project for Reliance Animation?

Currently, there are no films in development. Our main focus is on producing telefilms for Little Singham and various other shows.

You have transitioned from a leadership role in finance to one in creative business and intellectual property creation. What has your professional journey been like?

The switch from Finance to Commercial Creative has been thrilling and exciting, which I love. Films and serials probably piqued my interest. My analytical skills helped me adapt to the difficult role. A professional journey involves lifelong learning, resilience, adaptability, a growth mindset, problem-solving, collaboration, and building trust and relationships. I’ve followed this mantra and will.

What are three goals you hope to accomplish by the year 2025?

Our goals are numerous, but the foremost priorities are as follows:

 Investigate additional global partnerships for services and joint productions

 Develop additional domestic IPs that serve the needs of the Indian diaspora across the globe

 Create a minimum of two new shows aimed at international audiences, either in the role of producers or as exclusive production partners, akin to past projects