ACK Media launches 600th edition of "Tinkle"

ACK Media, India's leading Education and Entertainment company, which owns some of the most loved brands like Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Karadi Tales and Brainwave, launched the landmark 600th edition of the kid’s favorite comic magazine “Tinkle”. One of the few kids magazines in India, to have reached the 600th edition, Tinkle 600 is a collector’s edition and will be available at all bookstores and stands @ Rs. 60 from 1st August onwards.

 

“The launch of the 600th issue is a great achievement for Tinkle and shows the love that Tinkle readers have for the magazine. It is one of the most loved magazines across all age groups. We would like to celebrate the 600th edition launch with all Tinkle Fans, hence we have announced a contest Tinkle Tickles Laugh–a-thon. The idea is to create a record of the longest laughter chain by dialing in the toll-free IVR number (022-25761600) or logging on to the microsite (www.tinkleonline.com/600). We also have six of our brands  - Amar Chitra Katha, National Geographic Traveller India, Brainwave, ACK Animation Studios, Karadi Tales and Tinkle Digest celebrating Tinkle’s 600th issue with special content and trivia on Tinkle”, said Vijay Sampath, CEO, ACK Media.

 

“I loved Tinkle as a kid and not in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would be a part of it. It is a great honour to work for a magazine founded by such great writers as Anant Pai and Subba Rao. It is great fun to work with such talented people and write for kids across the country”, said Rajani Thindiath, Editor, Tinkle. “Tinkle is over 30 years old and boasts of second and third generation readers. It has evolved over years in terms of look and design. We have introduced new characters, popular character have grown and changed with time like Suppandi is now a young boy, Shikari Shambhu has moved on from being a hunter to being a conservationist. The magazine has evolved over years to suit the readers’ need, which is why it is the most favourite comic magazine in India”, she further added.

 

Tinkle’s 600th issue features stories by 6 famous writers and artists, a special intro by Pai, an exclusive interview with Nandita Das, an interactive mystery and loads of special entertainment!  The landmark 600th issue of Tinkle also welcomes with it some innovative changes. Tinkle will now be available in a new size with a variety of fun and educational non-fiction sections. All popular characters will now be a regular feature and some new ones will be introduced.

 

“The effort is to make Tinkle an interactive, fun comic magazine for kids, that adheres to our motto ‘Where Learning Meets Fun’. A magazine that kids can call their own. We are also announcing the 17th Tinkle Original story competition with this issue, inviting writers, both upcoming and established to write for Tinkle”, highlighted Rajani.

 

Commenting on how Tinkle continues to be the most loved magazines across all age group over decades, Rajani said, “When Tinkle was first introduced, children were only exposed to TV and radio. With the advent of cable TV, internet, computer games, mobiles, SFX and animation, the expectations have risen. Where they were earlier content with folktales and simple stories, the demand now is for more complex storylines, mysteries and horror. Retaining its ethos, Tinkle remains a fun family magazine and has successfully adapted to the changes, keeping its core TG in mind. No matter what changes, children will always connect to humour. And humour mixed with learning is the hallmark of Tinkle. We are connecting with our readers through several media, including post, emails, www.tinkleonline.com and social networking sites.”

 

The Journey of Tinkle and its Characters!!

Tinkle made its debut on 14thNovember, 1980. The Guest of Honor who launched the very first issue was a 12-year-old girl, Elaine D’Lima. She was the winner of a Story-telling contest conducted by Anant Pai across 90 schools. There was no issue of Tinkle in December that year but it began to come out regularly from January 1981. The concept of Tinkle was to provide a children-oriented family magazine, in a comic format. Pai and Subba Rao were in their cabin when one of their office staff came in to inform that there was a call for Pai and whether he could ‘Tinkle back’ later. That’s how the name ‘Tinkle’ came through.

 

Tinkle grew from being a 32-page fortnightly to a 72-page monthly. Over the years Tinkle’s popular characters have also evolved to suit the readers need. Suppandi is now shown as a young boy who has other adventures besides the many mishaps with his various employers. Shikari Shambu has moved on from being a hunter to being a conservationist. Tantri the Mantri has acquired cohorts and more complicated schemes in his efforts to do away with Raja Hooja.

 

Tinkle has always explored new characters in keeping with its policy of discovering new talent and exposing children to the variety that is available in storytelling and illustration styles. Starting from first generation characters such as Suppandi, ShikariShambu, Tantri the Mantri and Kalia the Crow, Tinkle now has newer additions such as Defective Detectives, SuperWeirdos and Ina Mina Mynah Mo that are gaining popularity. Tinkle also features longer stories and an evolved content now.