Japan s leading private broadcasterTV Asahi and Shin-EI Animation, TV Asahi s wholly owned subsidiary and its production arm for animation,have collaborated with Reliance MediaWorks to create all new episodes of Ninja Hattori, the comedy action animation franchise that has garnered a strong following in India and many other Asian countries.

Shin-ei s experienced team of writers and directors, in collaboration with the team of 100 animators at the Reliance Media Works animation studio, is creating the new Ninja Hattori episodes in 2D-HD through a digitally mastered process. Reliance MediaWorks has also done the post production and Sound Effects for the series.

A new animated version of Ninja Hattori-kun will be made in India, where the series has been a major hit, TV Asahi Corp. said.

The series will be aired in India beginning in May and possibly in Japan as well by the end of the year, TV Asahi said.

The new Ninja Hattori-kun, based on gag manga comics by cartoonist Fujiko Fujio (A), will be the first in around 25 years.

After the cartoonist draws 26 new stories, TV Asahi s subsidiary animation studio will do some basic work on the material and an Indian production company will create the animated series, according to the broadcaster.

The previous series aired in Japan from 1981 to 1987 and in India starting in 2004.

TV Ashai is aiming to boost profits from its content business, including animation, in India, in cooperation with Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc.

Ninja Hattori-kun features a child ninja who befriends an elementary school boy in contemporary Tokyo.