The ‘God of Cricket’ is marking a new innings in his illustrious career with his television debut in an animated avatar! Sachin Tendulkar, the world’s greatest cricket superstar, is all set to star in 3D CGI action, comedy and adventure animation series, Master Blasters, co-produced by Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. and Moonscoop LLC. This first-of-its-kind international co-production deal featuring the global cricketing icon was announced by Smita Maroo, VP of Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. and Mike Young, CEO of Moonscoop LLC. This is the first time that an Indian cricketer or sportsperson will be seen in an animated avatar on World television.
“Master Blasters” Season one will comprise 26 episodes of 22 minutes each. In Master Blasters, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is appointed by The Programme for International Training of Cricket Heroes (PITCH), to head a training camp for the finest young cricket talents from around the world. While coaching and teaching the young hopefuls the finer points of the game, Sachin also mentors them to be grounded and unspoiled humanitarians. The kids play a series of international, competitive matches in a futuristic, high-tech, spaceship-like cricket stadium that can actually fly and land anywhere in the world! Meanwhile, another cricket camp headed by the envious cricket star Peter is secretly determined to have his team humiliate Sachin’s protégés – by any means necessary! High spirited and adventurous, Master Blasters features Sachin as the central character along with twelve kids and a dog.
‘Master Blasters’ Season One worldwide rights will be available at MIPTV, Cannes, in April 2013.
The series is co-produced by Shemaroo Entertainment (UK) Pvt. Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd., one of India’s foremost distributors and Moonscoop LLC.
Smita Maroo, Vice President, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd., said,“Shemaroo Entertainment is proud and privileged to present Living Legend Sachin Tendulkar as an animated character in his television debut series ‘Master Blasters’. Cricket runs in the blood of every Indian and working with an icon like Sachin Tendulkar is a dream come true. The fact that Shemaroo Entertainment is collaborating with world renowned Moonscoop for a co-production deal involving a super sport star talent Sachin Tendulkar is testimony to our expertise and experience. We are confident that this highly entertaining series will be a great success in India and the cricket playing nations. We plan to introduce this unique format to non-cricketing countries as well.”
“We have been planning out this venture since the past 2 years; the sole purpose of this is to take the Indian Animation industry to the next level. I have personally known Mark since quite a few years, we pitched him the idea of Master Blasters on one of our meetings and he was quite excited. The show is still on the preproduction stage and we are expecting it to be ready by 2014. It is our first International co-production. At Shemaroo we always have supported the Indian Animation Industry, having produced one movie each year since the past 5 years. It is a big giant step for us, our last movie ‘Super K’ received a lot of international acclaim and with Master Blasters we hope to give a big boost to the Indian Animation Industry.”
Speaking about the Master blaster himself, she exclaimed,” We have been in talks with Sachin since the past 6-8 months, and he was quite excited hearing about the concept. We hope he also gives his voice to the character as it is modeled on him, it all depends on how things work out in the future.”
Sachin Tendulkar, the cricket legend, remarked “I have always been fascinated with the world of animation and have enjoyed watching it with my children. The challenge for the production team will be to ensure that some human values and learning’s are imparted while continuing to entertain the viewers through the series. It will indeed be a different experience to see one’s own rendition on the animated screen, performing larger than life action much beyond the limitation of the real world!”
“With his incredible popularity in half the world where Cricket is a passion, Sachin’s impact with the sport of Cricket and Master Blasters will break international boundaries in the same way as Football’s Pele, Ice Hockey’s Wayne Gretzky and Basketball’s Michael Jordan,” says Mike Young, CEO, Moonscoop.