NewQuest Capital Partners has acquired a majority interest in Singapore and India-based animation studio Cosmos-Maya from Emerald Media. The terms of the deal were not revealed.
Founded by Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi in 2013, Cosmos-Maya produced a wide selection of animated children’s shows and features, including Motu Patlu, Selfie with Bajrangi, Titoo, Eena Meena Deekaand Dabangg. The studio has various shows in various stages of development and production. Among its upcoming productions is the global animated co-pro Dogtanian and the Three Muskethounds.
“This is a new and interesting chapter for us as we look at larger markets and newer challenges. Emerald Media has been a great support in our growth story and now this investment from another great investor like NewQuest is a testament to our market leadership and strong operating performance,” says Anish Mehta, CEO of Cosmos-Maya. “We are excited to bring NewQuest on board as we embark on our next growth phase to become a fully integrated, global animation production and distribution company. Their experience, network and industry knowledge will help supercharge our growth, organically and through strategic acquisitions.”
For over a decade, the studio hasdelivered several successful IPs to every major local and global broadcaster and OTT player present in the region. Having gained significant market share in India, the company is also aggressively expanding its operations in the western markets producing several successful TV series, shows and independent feature films for leading platforms in Europe and the US. The company has also become one of the largest providers of animated content to leading EdTech players in India and the US. Cosmos-Maya has a proven track record of anticipating trends and setting industry benchmarks with quality productions and the use of latest technology.
“Cosmos-Maya has been one of the most dynamic companies in this segment with a remarkable growth trajectory. With a portfolio of over 20 IPs and a highly talented team, we strongly believe that Cosmos-Maya is exceptionally well placed to consolidate its leadership position in the segment,” said Amit Gupta, Partner and Head of India and Southeast Asia at NewQuest.
“Cosmos-Maya has had a phenomenal journey of 25 years in animation and has grown by leaps and bounds during this period. The partnership with Emerald Media heralded a strong growth era for us I am very happy that we are now getting a partner in NewQuest. The partnership marks yet another important chapter in the global journey of our studio, which is poised for accelerated growth,” added Ketan Mehta, Founder & Promoter of the studio.
Cosmos-Maya’s YouTube channels (under the umbrella brand WowKidz) is one of the fastest growing kids’ platforms in Asia. These channels cumulatively boast of a subscriber base of over 65 million and total view count of over 35 billion as of May 2021. In addition to the studio’s own IPs, WowKidz also have various internationally successful shows like Hotwheels and the Chinese animation series Boonie Bears, among others.
You can find out more about the studio here.
