People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has tied up with leading Indian comic Tinkle to promote the cause of compassion towards animals.

One of India's largest selling comics, Tinkle has been a favorite with children for the past 2 decades and more.

PETA Special Projects Co-Ordinator Bijal Vachharajani says, " With characters like Shikari Shambhu, the hunter turned saviour for animals in distress, and Kalia, the very intelligent crow who protects smaller animals from being attacked by larger animals,the comic has always kept its young readers informed and aware of animals and their rights."

Speaking about the collabaration to Animation Xpress about how PETA is increasingly looking to use animation as a medium to get its message across Bijal Vachharajani said, "PETA India recently launched a promotional campaign where the animated Channel [V] mascot, Simpoo aka Professor SS Sodhi turned vegetarian for the animals and for his health. In the video version of the ad campaign, which was previewed at Olive’s Bar & Kitchen, Simpoo charts his mouth-watering diet plan: He starts his day with aloo de parantha and mango aachar and, later, dines on aloo gobhi and Sarson da saag.

Commenting furtherBijal says, "PETA also has a website for young animal lovers, http://www.petaindiakids.com, which uses animations to reach them. PETA’s elephant and chicken comic books have educated many children on these wonderful animals. Today with SFX and animation booming, more and more wonderful movies like Finding Nemo and Lion King are hitting the silver screen. They hold a draw for children and adults alike and best of all they have the important message about the animals we share this planet with. A character from the recent hit movie, Finding Nemo says, "Fish aren't meant to be kept in a box, kid. It does things to ya." After all fish do not belong in tiny tanks or aquariums. Fish are wonderful creatures with individual personalities and attributes that most people know little about, some thing that the movie makes the viewer realise.

"Babe was another moving story of a pig about to face the wrong side of a knife and reveals the sorry plight of animals slaughtered for food." she added.

The increasing usage of animation in fields as diverse as medical simulation, to
3d walk throughs to helping NGO's get across their message goes to show how great the potential lies in the medium.