Olesker Named President of KEN Creative

Producer/director/writer Jack Olesker, creator of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers television series, has been named president of KEN Creative Studio, the India/U.S. production arm of Bangalore, India-based multinational conglomerate KEN Group. Olesker’s immediate task will be to develop a slate of original animated feature films and television series to be produced jointly in the U.S. and India for North American and overseas distribution.

Based in Chennai, India, KEN Creative is currently in production on its own animated feature film, Ninja Knights: When Warrior Worlds Collide, which is written, produced and directed by Olesker and scheduled for worldwide release. A trailer for the film was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival and American Film Market (AFM) earlier this year. The studio is also in post-production on the pilot episode of Hip Hop Fables, an animated television series with a budget of $10 million.

A former executive with DIC Ent., Olesker has written for such animated series as The Littles, The Care Bears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Super Mario Bros. and M.A.S.K. He is best known for developing Saban Ent.’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, one of the most successful children’s series of all time. He has also created series for Fox Family Channel, Disney Channel, CBS, NBC and Warner Bros., and is experienced in product merchandizing and licensing through such companies as Bandai, Mattel and American Greetings.

The Chicago native began his career as a novelist. His first book, No Place Like Home became a bestseller for G. P. Putnam’s Sons and its film rights were purchased by Sherry Lansing during her tenure at MGM. Turning his attention to Hollywood, Olesker became a staff writer for Blanc Communications and later joined DIC Ent., where he served as senior story editor. After becoming an independent writer and producer, he worked extensively with Haim Saban’s Saban Ent. and Jean Chalopin’s and Mark Taylor’s Jetlag Prods. He has written more than 900 produced television scripts, nine films, six novels and has created more than a dozen television series.

‘What we are producing at KEN Creative Studio compares favorably to the best animation in the industry, including Pixar and Disney,’ Says Olesker. ‘It amazes me that there has not been a U.S. television series or film produced in India before now. We will change that in short order.’

KEN Creative Studio houses a staff of 95 animators at its production facility in Chennai, and has established its U.S. headquarters in New Buffalo, Michigan. Development, scripting and voice talent production is being carried out in the U.S., with animation production taking place in India. Olesker’s long-term plans also include the development of an additional stable of writers and directors in India. For more information on KEN Creative Studio, go to www.ken-creative.com or www.kenkreative.com.