BHUBANESWAR: KUNI GANESHA, the first Oriya 3-D animation serial for kids is set to invade into the living rooms from tomorrow. An eight-episode package, the serial will be aired on Doordarshan on Saturdays at 8.30 pm.
City-based Media Pixels Productions which has made the novel attempt, adapted the tale of Lord Ganesha keeping in mind the young audience. The group headed by Gouri Shankar Singh and Jyotiranjan Swain, gave mediapersons a peek into this series at a private screening on Wednesday in the city.
Looking at the episodes one could figure out that the serial definitely caters to a global audience. The quality of animation is good and the figures look true and real. “About eight episodes of the serial are ready and 3D animation and digital sound are its highpoints,” said Singh, producer of Kuni Ganesha and an animator himself.
Work on the ambitious project began three years back when Singh during his visit to Mumbai, found a number of young animators from Orissa doing a ‘brilliant’ job for production houses like Zee and Star Plus. It was when he saw their work that he decided to create something similar back home.
Luckily, Singh came across a group of animators who shared the same passion. “However, arranging funds and technology for Kuni Ganesha was not an easy task for any of us. But we managed somehow and the final result is for all to see,” said Singh. The animation team was headed by chief animator and engineer Raj, animators Rajendra Moharana, Niranjan Pradhan and Bedapragyan Das besides technical head Janardhan Das, who oversaw all the preparations. The serial was scripted and directed by Jyotiranjan Swain.
On Lord Ganesh as a subject for the series, Swain said, “Ganesha was chosen after looking at different characters and different stories. He appealed because he is a character anyone can identify with.”
The story revolves around Lord Ganesha who comes in the avatar of a child to help kids in distress. Socially relevant issues like girl education, man-animal conflict, and rural development have been shown through Kuni Ganesha. Members of the production house claimed that all the stories have elements of suspense, adventure, kidnap and rescue, action, comedy, pathos, nature, and music. They also promote social and ethical values.
While the music has been scored by Rajesh Shankar, the voice of Kuni Ganesha is that of a Class IV student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Shreyas Sahil.
The group had earlier released an animated Oriya album Nilapari. Future projects of Media Pixels include Aaema Kahani, an animation series on Oriya folk tales and first Oriya 3D animated film Ekalavya.
mdiana@expressbuzz.com