The BMC and UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), in association with Neelaya Collective, are organising ‘A Toon Club Animation Workshop for Children’ at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, from 23 to 29 May 2026. The five-day workshop series will be mentored by acclaimed animation director, educator and cultural curator Tehzeeb Khurana. It is specially designed for children and school students from Mumbai to introduce them to Indian animation and visual storytelling. Inspired by pioneers such as Dadasaheb Phalke, Bhimsain, Pramod Pati, Ishu Patel and R.A. Shaikh, the workshops will cover techniques including hand-drawn animation, matchstick animation, pixilation, bead animation and cut-out animation. The free workshop is open to children aged between 8 and 16 and is limited to 20 participants. The initiative is part of the wider “Celebrating Mumbai – A UNESCO City of Film” programme. Screenings of Shilpa Ranade’s award-winning animated feature Goopy Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya, written and produced by Soumitra Ranade, and the classic Doordarshan animated music video Ek Chidiya, Anek Chidiya will also take place at NGMA Mumbai. Speaking about the workshop, Tehzeeb Khurana said, “The workshop is designed to combine hands-on learning with an understanding of animation’s history, fundamentals, and contemporary relevance.” Welcoming the initiative, she added, “Institutional and local civic body support at the city level is extremely important for the future of the arts and animation industry.” Filmmaker Soumitra Ranade said, “Indian animation continues to face challenges such as limited financing, a shortage of trained talent, and audience expectations shaped largely by Disney and Pixar.” He added that such events help encourage collaboration, investment and appreciation for original Indian animated content.
