Monday, June 23, 2014

Nickelodeon Brings Its Animated Shorts Program to San Diego Comic-Con 2014 with Open Call for Original Projects

Nickelodeon has today, Monday 23rd June 2014, announced the exciting news in the following press release, from Business Wire, that, continuing its mission to open its doors to more creative talent than ever before, Nickelodeon for the first time will hold an open call for brand-new original animated projects at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2014 – the biggest fan event of the year! On-site from Nickelodeon's booth on the convention center floor, the network's animation development team will take live, in-person pitches from Thursday 24th July to Saturday 26th July 2014, to greenlight a project for its global Animated Shorts Program. The pitch chosen will be developed into a short with the potential to air on Nickelodeon, appear on www.nick.com or the Emmy Award-winning Nick App, or even be developed into a long-form animated TV series.


Nickelodeon's Comic-Con booth this year features a windowed pitch room at its center, where the network's animation development team will hold the open call during select times each day. The team's meetings will be with Comic-Con attendees, as well as with distributors scouted during the convention. Participants seeking appointments must register in advance at www.nickshortspitches.com, where information, guidelines, requirements and restrictions are posted. Deadline to register is Friday 18th July 2014.


Most recently from the network's Animated Shorts Program, the network greenlit 13-episodes of "The Loud House" by first-time creator Chris Savino ("Rocko's Modern Life", "The Powerpuff Girls")--a graduate of the 2013 Program. Inspired by Savino's chaotic life growing up in a huge household, the series will follow 11-year-old Lincoln as he gives an inside look at what it takes to survive in the bedlam of a large family, especially as the only boy with 10 sisters.

Nickelodeon's Animated Shorts Program, which is designed to identify and develop original comedy-driven content for kids, was launched in 2012 and took 600 pitches in its inaugural year. The program became global its second year. Concepts are received in all animation, styles from 2D, digital 2D, stop motion, CG and mixed media. Finalists are provided with the necessary artistic and production support teams to help them complete their fully animated original, humor-based and character-driven shorts.


Additionally, the Nickelodeon Animation Studio has launched a brand-new fan art contest called "The Nickelodeon Tumblr Fan Art Competition", in which NAS are asking super fans to draw their favorite Nickelodeon character, past or present, doing their favourite activity, and upload it to their Tumblr blogs/accounts using the custom hashtag #NICKFANART for the chance to have their art displayed on the screens of the Nick Booth at San Diego Comic-Con International 2014! Full details of The Official Nickelodeon Tumblr Fan Art Competition can be found here on Nickelodeon Animation Studio's official Tumblr blog, nickanimationstudio.tumblr.com.


Original Nickelodeon Press Release:

Nickelodeon Brings Its Animated Shorts Program to San Diego Comic-Con with Open Call for Original Projects

Network for First-Time Ever to Take Meetings from Convention Floor with Goal to Greenlight Pitch from Attendees

June 23, 2014 01:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Comic-Con 2014

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Continuing its mission to open its doors to more creative talent than ever before, Nickelodeon for the first time will hold an open call for original animated projects at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2014 – the biggest fan event of the year. On-site from Nickelodeon’s booth on the convention center floor, the network’s animation development team will take live, in-person pitches from Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26, to greenlight a project for its global Animated Shorts Program. The pitch chosen will be developed into a short with the potential to air on Nickelodeon, appear on www.nick.com or the Nick App, or even be developed into a long-form animated TV series.

“Our Shorts Program helps us source talent and it feeds our content pipeline. It has expanded our relationships with creators who range from budding amateurs to experienced professionals, and we’re looking forward to bringing the program’s energy to the convention.”

"Comic-Con has always been a place to make connections and discover new, original ideas, so we thought we'd use it as a platform to find someone who could be the next big thing in animation," said Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon's President of Content Development and Production. "Our Shorts Program helps us source talent and it feeds our content pipeline. It has expanded our relationships with creators who range from budding amateurs to experienced professionals, and we're looking forward to bringing the program's energy to the convention."

Nickelodeon’s Comic-Con booth this year features a windowed pitch room at its center, where the network’s animation development team will hold the open call during select times each day. The team’s meetings will be with Comic-Con attendees, as well as with distributors scouted during the convention. Participants seeking appointments must register in advance at www.nickshortspitches.com, where information, guidelines, requirements and restrictions are posted. Deadline to register is Friday, July 18.

Most recently from the network’s Animated Shorts Program, the network greenlit 13-episodes of The Loud House by first-time creator Chris Savino (Rocko’s Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls)--a graduate of the 2013 Program. Inspired by Savino’s chaotic life growing up in a huge household, the series will follow 11-year-old Lincoln as he gives an inside look at what it takes to survive in the bedlam of a large family, especially as the only boy with 10 sisters.

The network also has announced 11 finalists from the 2014 Program, which include: "Francine" by writer/comedian Katie Crown; "Meat Pie vs. the Dark Ages" by Nickelodeon director Gabe Swarr; "Shelf Life" by Nickelodeon storyboard artist Robert Iza; "Summer Memories" by writer/director Adam Yaniv; "Ice Station Zedonk" by Nickelodeon director Tom Parkinson; "Night Crew" by independent animators Caitlin Boyle and Tara Helfer; "Planet Claire" by Nickelodeon executive producers Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb; "The Outsiders" by writer Eric Bravo; "Leander, Dre and Cyppy" by Nickelodeon storyboard artist Monica Ray; "Ugly Mutt" by PUNY Entertainment's Shadi Petosky and Dave Hagen; and "Bad News Bunny" by California State University, Fullerton, graduate Tarryn Henderson.

Nickelodeon's Animated Shorts Program, which is designed to identify and develop original comedy-driven content for kids, was launched in 2012 and took 600 pitches in its inaugural year. The program became global its second year. Concepts are received in all animation, styles from 2D, digital 2D, stop motion, CG and mixed media. Finalists are provided with the necessary artistic and production support teams to help them complete their fully animated original, humor-based and character-driven shorts.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).

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Nickelodeon's Animated Shorts Program 2014: San Diego Comic-Con International - Creative Guidelines:

Animated shorts must be: character driven, and have kid appeal.

Nickelodeon looks for ideas that feature an original lead character – with about 2 or 3 characters in total. Be prepared to show either through designs, thumbnail storyboards, script, or comic what your two-minute story is.

Characters must be relatable to kids ages 6 to 11 and appeal to both boys and girls.

All submissions must be kid-appropriate in content.

Shorts are limited to 2 minutes in length.

Nickelodeon are open to all animation styles including 2D, digital 2D, CG, Stop Motion, and Mixed Media.

Your pitch materials should include:

* Concept Treatment

* Character Descriptions: designs with written descriptions preferred

* 2 minute rough thumbnail storyboards or 2 minute script/outline

* Resume, Credits or a link to online portfolio and/or work samples (if available)

* Must accept/sign the submission release form (attached)

Your pitch materials can include:

* Character designs – rough sketches are acceptable

* Character layouts

* Link to more pitch content, comics, zines, etc

* Pitches are limited to fifteen minutes so be prepared to quickly introduce yourself, your characters, and your idea!

The following time slot reservation site is for in-person pitches at San Diego Comic Con 2014. In person pitches must take place with the creator or co-creator of the idea and Nick are unable to accept any pitches that will not take place in person at the Nickelodeon Booth from July 24th to the 26th at SDCC.

The deadline for reserving your time slot to pitch to Nickelodeon at San Diego Comic Con 2014 is July 18th 2014.

Time slots are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

If your pitch is selected to be produced as a short, as a condition of such production, you and Nickelodeon will enter into Nickelodeon's customary agreement for the creation of such shorts.

Good luck to everyone who submits an entry into the 2014 Nickelodeon Animated Shorts Program!
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Nickelodeon Germany, Nickelodeon Switzerland and Nickelodeon Austria To Broadcast 24/7 From October 2014

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Northern Europe has today, Monday 23rd June 2014, announced in the following press release, from Nick Germany's "Nick Pressecenter", the very exciting Nickelodeon International news that Nickelodeon Germany (Deutschland), Nickelodeon Switzerland (Schweiz) and Nickelodeon Austria (Österreich) will start broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Autumn 2014!


The network, which currently broadcasts between 6:00am and 8:15pm each day, sharing the airwaves with Comedy Central, will make the 24/7 switch in October 2014.

Comedy Central, meanwhile, will timeshare a channel with Viva, the former running between 5:00pm and 6:00am while the Viacom music channel airs 06.00 to 17.00.

In those markets, VIMN will combine VIVA and Comedy Central into one shared feed. As of October 2014, VIVA will broadcast between 6:00am and 5:00pm, followed by Comedy Central, which will air between 5:00pm and 6:00am.

The move is designed to broaden the Nickelodeon demographic.

"We want to become the essential content hub for Millennials in Europe," said Magnus Kastner, the Executive Vice President (EVP) and Managing Director (MD) of Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe. "Extending Nickelodeon's presence as a 24/7 channel dedicated to kids and an additional youth target group is an important strategic move in realizing this goal."

Kastner, who joined VIMN last year from Rotana, added that Viva and Comedy Central's target audiences shared similar interests and so it made sense to bring the two together to timeshare a single channel.

VIMN said it would share more details on programming and a precise launch date soon.


VIVA confirmed the cut-down of its airtime on its official Facebook profile page, facebook.com/viva. According to the channel, it will in future focus on music and Japanese animated series (anime) and also expand its interactive offerings which combine TV and internet.

With its new evening schedule, Nickelodeon doesn't want to target the whole family in contrast to its competitors Disney Channel and Super RTL, but eyes older children. "We will follow the bedtimes of children and adolescents. With each hour, we will consequently become older and increasingly target teenagers or even viewers in their twenties," said Kastner. He added that Nickelodeon's evening programme might adopt a different name to separate itself from the daytime programme. In the USA, for example, Nickelodeon calls itself Nick At Nite (stylized as nick@nite) in the evening. Nick USA also has a dedicated channel dedicated to teens and young adults called TeenNick.

Additionally, as part of a restructure to their family of channels, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Northern Europe's flagship channel MTV will be rebranded as MTV HD and positioned as a sole HD channel from the autumn, said Kastner. This would be "the next logical step into the digital future for MTV."

Original Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe Press Release:

Nickelodeon wird 24 Stunden-Sender – Comedy Central und VIVA teilen sich künftig Sendefrequenz

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Northern Europe positioniert ab Anfang Oktober das Portfolio in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz neu // Nickelodeon wird ein 24 Stunden-Programm – Comedy Central künftig bereits ab 17 Uhr,

Nickelodeon baut seine Programmfläche in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz (DACH) weiter aus: Ab Oktober 2014 sendet Nickelodeon ein 24 Stunden Programm für Kinder und Jugendliche. Damit wird Nickelodeon zum einzigen 24 Stunden-Kinder- und Jugendsender im deutschsprachigen TV-Markt – denn auch am Abend sollen Kids und eine erweiterte Jugendzielgruppe im Fokus stehen. Zusätzlich zu den 3- bis 13-Jährigen sollen in der neu hinzugewonnenen Prime Time vor allem junge Erwachsene angesprochen werden. Bislang sendet Nickelodeon von 6 Uhr bis 20:15 Uhr auf einer Frequenz mit Comedy Central.

"Wir wollen das wichtigste Content House für die Millennials in Nordeuropa und so natürlich auch im deutschsprachigen Raum werden", so Magnus Kastner, Executive Vice President und Managing Director bei Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe. "Der Ausbau von Nickelodeon zu einer 24 Stunden-Plattform und die Erweiterung der Zielgruppe um Jugendliche ist ein wichtiger Schritt in diese Richtung. Zurzeit ist eine enorme Dynamik im Kinder TV-Markt – wir werden diesen wichtigen Wachstumsmarkt aktiv mitgestalten."

Der Ausbau von Nickelodeon zu einem 24 Stunden-Sender impliziert eine weitere Veränderung im Portfolio der DACH-Region von Viacom International Media Networks: Ebenfalls ab Oktober werden sich der Musik- und Entertainment-Sender VIVA und Comedy Central eine Sendefrequenz teilen. Vorgesehen ist, dass VIVA künftig von 6 bis 17 Uhr senden wird, ummantelt vom Comedy Central Programm von 17 Uhr bis 6 Uhr. Damit bietet Comedy Central in Zukunft drei Programmstunden mehr, was auch der großen Nachfrage im Werbemarkt nach qualitativ hochwertigen und gleichzeitig unterhaltsamen Comedy Umfeldern Rechnung trägt.

"Die Zielgruppen von VIVA und Comedy Central sind relativ homogen – insofern schaffen wir mit der Ausstrahlung auf einer Frequenz eine neue Plattform für junge Erwachsene, die es in vergleichbarer Weise im deutschen TV- und Werbemarkt derzeit nicht gibt", erklärt Kastner weiter.

Über weitere Details zum zukünftigen Programm von Nickelodeon, Comedy Central und VIVA ab Oktober sowie den genauen Starttermin Anfang Oktober wird Viacom International Media Networks in den kommenden Wochen informieren.


Logos finden sie in unserer Mediathek unter:
http://www.viacom.de/medias?utf8=%E2%9C%93&serie_id=mediathek_photo_vimn_logos

Über Viacom International Media Networks:

Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe gehört zu Viacom International Media Networks und agiert in Deutschland, der Schweiz und Österreich, Polen, Schweden, Norwegen, Finnland und Dänemark sowie den Niederlanden und Belgien. Mit MTV, Comedy Central, VIVA, Nickelodeon und anderen bekannten Entertainment-Marken bietet Viacom International Media Networks in Nordeuropa 37 Sender für die Zielgruppen Kinder und Familien, Jugendliche und Erwachsene an. Insgesamt wird das TV-Angebot von Viacom International Media Networks von mehr als 80 Millionen Haushalten in Nordeuropa genutzt. Auf mehr als 50 Webseiten in Nordeuropa bietet Viacom International Media Networks zudem noch mehr Musik, Nachrichten und Unterhaltung. Mit MTV Mobile bietet Viacom International Media Networks in Deutschland, der Schweiz, Polen, den Niederlanden und Belgien eigene Mobile-Marken an.
Be Viacom, die Sales Unit von Viacom International Media Networks, bietet Markenlösungen für die Zielgruppen Kinder, Jugendliche, junge Erwachsene und Familien auf dem internationalen Markt. Be Viacom bietet so Komplettangebote zur Markeninszenierung seiner Werbekunden in Verbindung mit den eigenen starken Entertainment Brands. Werbung, Promotion, Branded Content, Brand Experience, Digital Activation, Sponsorship und Licensing sind Bestandteile dieses Angebotsportfolios. Viacom International Media Networks gehört zu Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) und umfasst viele der beliebtesten Multimedia-Entertainment-Marken. Zu diesen zählen u.a. MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, VH1, VIVA, COLORS, Game One und Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más, ein Sender für das hispanische Publikum in den USA. Die Viacom-Marken werden weltweit von mehr als 700 Millionen Haushalten in 170 Regionen und 37 Sprachen über 200 lokale Fernsehsender und mehr als 550 digitale und mobile Medienplattformen empfangen. Für mehr aktuelle Informationen folgen Sie uns auf Twitter (www.twitter.com/vimngermany) oder bei Facebook (www.facebook.com/VIMNGermany).

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Additional sources: C21Media, World Screen, Broadband TV News.
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Nickelodeon USA Unveils First Trailer For "Dora and Friends: Into the City!"

To celebrate Nickelodeon USA starting to premiere and show Nickelodeon Preschool's brand-new animated preschool series "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" in the networks morning preschool programming block in August 2014, Latina magazine has exclusively unveiled Nick USA's all-new trailer/promo to promote the networks all-new preschool show on their official website, Latina.com, which you can watch in the online streaming video clip below!

"Dora and Friends: Into the City!" (20 episodes) is a brand-new animated preschool series featuring the iconic character Dora The Explorer in all-new adventures, with new friends and a new interactive curriculum. The series is set in a fictional, pan-Latino city called Playa Verde, where Dora is 10 years old, in school and at the center of a peer group that works together to give back to the community — having both real-life and magical adventures along the way. As always, Dora is an adventurer, a good friend and problem-solver. "Dora and Friends" helps teach Spanish and introduces new educational areas to the curriculum, including social-emotional skills like community service and peer relationships. "Dora and Friends" is created by Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes ("Dora the Explorer").

In each episode, Dora and her friends go on adventures, whether it's rescuing a lost stuffed monkey for a little boy in the hospital or returning a ring to an ancient Mayan Princess.

Dora uses the help of a Map App on her smartphone and a magical charm bracelet to navigate the city and overcome obstacles along the way. In this new series, Dora continues to show she is a good friend, leader, and problem-solver with a group of new friends – Kate, Naiya, Emma, Alana and Pablo -- who share her passion for learning and exploring.

Watch the trailer for Dora's new series, "Dora and Friends: Into the City" below:



Partial transcript of Nickelodeon USA's "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" promo:
Get ready to meet a amazing group of friends, and the one girl who brings them altogether.

Nickelodeon Presents a brand new series.

Join Dora, Emma, Kate, Naiya, Alana and Pablo, for big adventures in the big city!

When these friends get together, anything is possible!

Dora and Friends: Into the City. The brand-new series begins this August, only on Nickelodeon!
To celebrate the upcoming premiere of "Dora and Friends: Into the City!", Nick Jr. USA's official websites "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" webpage has unveiled exclusive printable "Dora and Friends" eBooks, which introduces each character from Nick's brand-new animated preschool show, which you can print out here on NickJr.com!

Nick Jr. UK and Ireland will start to premiere and show Nickelodeon Preschool Animations "Dora and Friends", a brand new animated spin-off series from Nickelodeon's massively popular preschool series "Dora the Explorer", in 2015, as part of "2015 on Nick Jr. UK"!
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Ozzy Osbourne And RuPaul To Guest Star In "Bubble Guppies"; Bully Ray To Guest Star On "See Dad Run"

Rolling Stone, a magazine that focuses on politics and popular culture, is reporting the exciting Nickelodeon Preschool news in a article on their official website, rollingstone.com, that Ozzy Osbourne and RuPaul Andre Charles will be guest starring in upcoming brand-new episodes of Nickelodeon's Emmy Award-winning popular preschool series "Bubble Guppies"!

In one all-new "Bubble Guppies" episode, the English heavy metal vocalist, songwriter, and television personality Ozzy Osbourne is set to voice the character Sid Fishy, a "rock and roll fish who loves being rotten".


Unlike the more wholesome residents of underwater city Bubbletucky, Sid Fishy, pictured above, sports a red mohawk, eyebrow and fin rings, a gold tooth and slime spray to wreak havoc on unsuspecting guppies. The Prince of Darkness tells Rolling Stone he was drawn to the character because "I've always smelled a bit fishy".

When asked to elaborate on the contents of Fishy's container, a representative for the show replied, "The green liquid is Sid Fishy's 'stink sauce' made up of different smells such as stinky socks and rotten eggs. He wants to use the stink sauce to cover Big Bubble City and all its citizens to make them stinky." It is unclear which characters, including Mr. Grouper, Mr. Grumpfish and any of the residents of the Bubbletucky Zoo, will be affected.

In a separate episode, the American actor, drag queen, model, author, and recording artist RuPaul ("RuPaul's Drag Race") will also star as RuPearl, a "charismatic snail that's part ringside boxing announcer and part fashionista". Both of their episodes will premiere on Nickelodeon in 2015.

Osbourne said he was attracted to the role because of his 2-year-old granddaughter Pearl. "The whole reason I did the show was for Pearl," said Ozzy. "She has Nick Jr. on 24/7. I can't wait to see her reaction when she hears my voice come from Sid Fishy's mouth.

In related Nickelodeon Guest Star news, Contactmusic.com is reporting that TNA Superstar Bully Ray recently filmed a guest part in the hit Nick At Nite sitcom "See Dad Run". Although the 42-year-old grappler is remaining tight-lipped on his part, he was thrilled to get to work with lead actor Scott Baio ("Happy Days", "Bugsy Malone"), "Pretty Woman" director Garry Marshall and his filmmaker son Scott Marshall on the comedy series.


Bully - who can be seen competing with the other stars of TNA every week on "IMPACT Wrestling" every week on Challenge TV in the UK and Spike in the US - revealed: "I just did a television show for Nickelodeon. The show is called "See Dad Run" and it stars Scott Baio and it's on nick@nite. So I did an episode with him and it went really well and I had an extremely positive experience out there in Hollywood, I was there about a week working at Paramount Studios, I got to work with Scott Marshall and Garry Marshall, and I got to work on the same set as "Happy Days". It was a tremendously positive experience."
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