The everlasting bond with young viewers across OTT, consumer products, games, and beyond is filled with milestones at every stage.
Nickelodeon, India’s biggest kids’ entertainment channel, has maintained its No. 1 position in the kids’ category for eight straight years by engaging young viewers with local storylines and adorable characters.
Motu Patlu, India’s most famous cartoon character, has played an important role in this success story.
The lovely and well-liked couple is celebrating ten years of their incredible journey to becoming the ultimate global icons.
Motu Patlu’s stratospheric rise has been unparalleled, beginning as characters in the children’s magazine Lotpot and culminating in their becoming the first Indian animated character couple to have statues at Madame Tussauds in Delhi.
Nickelodeon and Cosmos Maya brought the iconic Motu Patlu to reality, and it now reaches over 289 million viewers in 7 languages across India.
Here’s a look back at the most memorable and successful moments in India’s favourite Nicktoon’s #10tastic journey.
Victory with viewership
Motu Patlu began its success story as the highest-rated slot on Nick during the first week of its premiere in 2012 and has remained at the top and relevant a decade later, providing the category with much-needed energy.
Motu Patlu’s exponential rise is a testament to Nickelodeon’s demanding DNA, as evidenced by its current top position on the channel, delivering 45 percent of Nick’s total ratings and ranking among the top 5 shows in the category week after week.
Growing Global Fandom
Love for Motu Patlu has transcended national boundaries, as the show continues to entertain young audiences across continents and languages.
Motu Patlu has delighted and entertained young audiences with 1000+ stories spanning 560 episodes, 25 movies, and 20+ games across iOS and Android, further building its global popularity.
Motu Patlu was named the world’s most searched Indian TV show by Google Trends in 2018, marking one of the dynamic duo’s most significant achievements.
Building Advertiser Trust
Motu Patlu’s strong values, fandom, and ratings have made way for integrations beyond FCT through product licensing, brand films, and in-content product placements, adding significant brand building for advertisers in India.
Motu Patlu’s popularity has led to patronage from leading advertisers, including Colgate, Casio, Parle Products, Pratap Snacks, Perfetti Van Melle, ITC, and Dabur, among others.
“Nickelodeon has truly been revolutionary in transforming the face of kids entertainment in India.” Nickelodeon effectively paved the road for indigenous characters and tales in the Indian kids’ entertainment industry ten years ago with the premiere of Motu Patlu. With Motu Patlu, we created not only charming characters, but also an iconic brand that has become a category game-changer among all stakeholders, including children, parents, and our advertisers. We are grateful to our supporters and thrilled to have completed ten very successful years, and we look forward to the next ten with zest.”
Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment & Kids TV Network, Viacom18, remarked of Motu Patlu’s outstanding decade,
“A decade ago, when we decided to bring Motu Patlu to life on television, it was a leap of faith.” Not only were we introducing kids to our first indigenous IP, but we were also presenting them to two adult but charming characters in a world dominated by foreign kid toons. Aside from being an example piece of superb storytelling, the duo’s affability and realistic chemistry made them a runaway phenomenon. From its inception as a local IP to its current status as a global icon, Motu Patlu’s breadth and depth of storylines, as well as its enormous popularity, have made it the country’s most successful and largest kid’s IP. Motu Patlu’s success demonstrates our in-depth comprehension of children’s content. It motivates us to continue exploring white areas, launching new IPs, and captivating children with fantastic stories and characters for India. We are grateful to Lotpot and Cosmos Maya for their contributions to this amazing success story.”
Anu Sikka, Creative, Content & Research, Kids TV Network, Viacom18, stated,
“Motu Patlu has grown to become icons that have carved a space for itself in India’s story of homegrown toons, and we are pleased to be a part of this journey. We are very happy that we were able to bring characters to life that have become an intrinsic part of a kid’s childhood. We are delighted to have partnered with Nickelodeon on this journey which was truly visionary and one that opened avenues for growth for the animation industry in India.”
said Ketan Mehta, founder & MD Cosmos Maya.
10tastic Promotion Plans
Nickelodeon pulls out all the brakes to celebrate Motu Patlu’s 10th birthday with an all-encompassing marketing blitz that includes on-air, on-ground, and digital promotions across the Nickelodeon franchise, as well as a robust engagement with mommy networks and influencers.
To encourage interaction, the kids’ property has launched a dancing challenge, giving viewers the opportunity to appear on Nickelodeon’s social media platforms.
Furthermore, the network’s brands will participate in the event by engaging in a lively banter on Twitter and other social accounts to share some of the best Motu Patlu experiences!
Furthermore, top child influencers and new-age content platforms are utilising reels, stories, and posts.
Toon icons Motu Patlu over the last decade provided unparalleled engagement and happiness to kids. The next decade will see them break new ground, set new benchmarks and create many more winning moments.
About Nickelodeon India:
Nickelodeon India has established itself as a thought leader by being the number one franchise in the children’s sector, with household availability in over 120 million households across eight languages.
The brand features a plethora of channels such as Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr, and Nick HD+ that cater to children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.
The franchise now has the country’s largest original content library, with over hours of programming, and expects to add over 200 hours this year.
On Nick and Sonic, the franchise is home to the most legendary iconic characters such as Happy & Pinaki – The Bhoot Bandhus, Motu Patlu, Rudra, The Golmaal Jr, Pakdam Pakdai and Shiva; and Dora the Explorer, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig on Nick Jr; and marquee international properties such as Loud house, Kung-fu-panda, Avatar, Penguins of Madagascar etc.
on Nick HD+ Through large-scale experience formats, a consumer product line, and a digital and internet presence, the channel continues to engage and delight children across India.
About Viacom18:
