Wednesday, September 16, 2020

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Creators Made Korra an Angsty Teenager on Purpose

Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino say that it was a deliberate decision to make Korra an angsty, brash teenager.


Korra from The Legend of Korra won over viewers with her spunk, her spirit - and, in part, her angst; now, showrunners are revealing that the angst was a deliberate decision. The Legend of Korra debuted on Nickelodeon as a follow-up show to the critically acclaimed Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The events of The Legend of Korra take place 70 years after the first Avatar series, in a new Earth Kingdom established by Avatar Aang. Korra is depicted as the reincarnation of Raava's Avatar, although she is seen as the complete opposite of Aang; whereas Aang was somewhat reluctant to become the Avatar, Korra is brash, driven, and extremely eager to accept her role. Throughout the series, Korra masters control over all four elements - fire, water, earth, and air - in order to fully embrace her legacy.

Speaking with Polygon, The Legend of Korra creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino say that Korra's rash, angsty nature was created to directly contrast Aang's. Konietzko highlights that the creators knew Korra would be "more challenging for audiences" to embrace at first, especially considering Avatar's immense popularity and success. As a result, he and DiMartino wanted to ensure Korra was her own person and take her in the complete opposite direction of Aang, in order to explore new character stories, growth, and dynamics.

While Konietzko says there were many people who were frustrated with Korra's oftentimes flippant attitude, there were many who felt a strong connection to her as well. He emphasizes that Korra's "personal struggles and growth" were two particularly resounding points with fans, who felt they could better relate to her journey. Konietzko also draws an interesting parallel, saying that the viewers who reacted most strongly in support of Korra's character arc were often the same ones who connected with that of Zuko's as well. In many ways, this speaks volumes about the characters Konietzko and DiMartino helped create: although they may be deeply flawed and undeniably imperfect, it's that sense of uncertainty that makes them so compelling and relatable.

While The Legend of Korra went off air in 2014, fans of the series still remember Korra for her fiery personality and spirit. For viewers who want to step back into the magical world of Avatar, the live-action series is currently in the works, although both Konietzko and DiMartino have stepped down from the project. Although it's disappointing to know that the series' original creators won't be working on what's next for Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, fans will keep their fingers crossed that the live-action lives up to the legacy of both animated shows. Both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra have continued their stories in the form of graphic novels.

Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access and Netflix!

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More Nick: Toph Beifong to Feature in Her Own Standalone 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Graphic Novel!

Original source: ScreenRant.
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Animal Crossing Player Recreates Avatar: The Last Airbender's Best Fire Nation Characters

Avatar: The Last Airbender's Azula and other Fire Nation characters appear in Animal Crossing: New Horizons in one fan's perfect recreation.


A truly dedicated fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender has painstakingly recreated some of the franchise's best Fire Nation characters within the world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The scenes recreated in the game capture the look and feel of the show in a way only a true fan could get right.

The combination of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Animal Crossing: New Horizons is not that far-fetched, with each producing enormous audience numbers in 2020. When ATLA was released on Netflix back in May of this year, a full 12 years after finishing its original airing on Nickelodeon, the show became the most watched show on the streaming service after only a few days, and making history as the first title to spend 65 days in the top 10 streamed series on Netflix in what has been called a "stunning second life" for the series. Similarly, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has attracted the attention of over 22 million players as of June 2020. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is so popular that it has become the second best-selling game of all time in Japan, behind Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue.

The tribute was posted by Reddit user Omashu16 on the Animal Crossing subreddit, showcasing the Fire Nation Princess Azula and her two friends and fighting companions, Mai and Ty Lee. The details are perfect, with the reactions capturing the characters in their essence. In the past, Omashu16 has been responsible for other outstanding tributes to the series in Animal Crossing, including recreating the entirety of the show's intro. All of Omashu's recreations of Avatar scenes can be found on their Instagram.

Fire nation girl squad on AC 🔥 from r/AnimalCrossing

This isn’t the first tribute to a beloved series recreated in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Shows such as Drake & Josh, Danny Phantom, The Loud House, Naruto and the US version of The Office have received the Animal Crossing treatment, along with games like Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. Fans have made other incredible creations Animal Crossing in addition to tributes. Electronic pop duo Sylvan Esso used the platform to create an entire music video for the new song “Ferris Wheel." Screenwriter Gary Whitta has also used the game to launch late-night talk show Animal Talking from the comfort of his own Animal Crossing: New Horizons island and streamed online on Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube. Nickelodeon has even launches a range of in-game Animal Crossing clothing inspired by some of the network's hit properties, including Avatar, Rugrats, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Danger Force, and Garfield, as well as the iconic Nickelodeon logo!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons seems to be the perfect engine for fans to recreate their favorite shows and games, but it still takes lots of talent to get it right. The creator of this recent Avatar: The Last Airbender tribute has an eye for detail and the patience to recreate its characters as accurately as possible with the systems available in-game.

Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access and Netflix!

Subscribe to the NEW official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/AvatarSubscribe

Check out the Nickelodeon Animation Studio online: Website | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

More Nick: Toph Beifong to Feature in Her Own Standalone 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Graphic Novel!

Original source: ScreenRant.
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Hollywood Executives Talk Recent Setbacks and Future Growth Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Insurance for a $60 million film has increased tenfold in the age of COVID-19 (coronavirus). And that’s just one of many changes film industry professionals have had to face.


In the sixth iteration of Variety's “Rebooting the Entertainment Industry” streaming room series, sponsored by PwC and the Ad Council, Variety senior reporter Elaine Low moderated a conversation on the future outlook for growth in the industry. Panelists included Greg Boyer, a partner and U.S. media and consulting leader at PwC, Mark Gill, the president and CEO of Solstice Studios, Allison Page, the president of Magnolia Network and Syrinthia Studer, executive vice president (EVP) at Nickelodeon and Awesomeness Films.

The event covered current difficulties when creating new films and television shows as well as potential changes made to the entertainment industry even after the return to normalcy.

“I think the appetite for good content hasn’t waned at all,” Page said. “I think how that content is made, where it’s made, who’s making it, that is all kind of being thrown into question. I look at a lot of the content that’s getting shot during this time, and the production values are different, the style is different, but I think it actually lends an even greater air of authenticity to it.”

But creators have had to face a lot of changes when adapting to provide the content their audiences crave. Aside from the spike to insurance costs, Gill added that booking actors is even harder because stop dates for filming are much more up in the air. The pandemic, he said, has simply exacerbated the difficulties and barriers that already existed.

“Every possible way that it was already hard, it’s now just a lot harder, and we all have hopes, of course, that this will pass,” Gill said. “There’ll be, God willing, a vaccine or better therapeutic treatments and so on, but at the moment it’s brutal.”

For Page, overseeing the launch of Magnolia Network amid a pandemic has brought both positive and negative variables to the table. On one hand, their launch schedule is now extended, giving the team more time. On the other, the decline of linear networks means every moment counts.

The experience has taught her team to question tradition, though. Everything from the standard amount of episodes in a season to the lead-up in launching a show has been reconsidered over and over.

Breaking from tradition is something that will likely last into the future, Gill said. Technology and social distancing have challenged the importance of travel, with Apps like Zoom proving that traveling an hour for a short meeting isn’t always necessary. Mental health efforts and a renewed focus on empathy have also broken into the business world.

“We’ve seen a real change of mindset that says, ‘Hey, we can explore new and different ways to do things,’ whether that be shared services, different ways to get work done, working remotely,” he said. “I think this has probably opened a lot of eyes in terms of all the unique situations that we all have to deal with being parents, being neighbors, being friends, being colleagues.”

Studer, who works at Nickelodeon and caters content specifically to younger audiences, is also a mother. She said that though she started working at the company amidst the coronavirus shutdowns, the work-from-home option has created a healthy environment she hopes to carry over when in-person jobs begin again.

“I’ve carved out my breakfast and my lunch for my son,” she said. “I don’t know if there’s a way to incorporate that into this new world that we’re going to enter into when things get back to some semblance of normal, but there has been some flexibility that as a mom I’ve greatly appreciated, and I hope for myself and for my colleagues that we’re able to find some balance.”

Watch the full conversation below.

'Motu Patlu' Celebrates 1000th Episode

Motu Patlu, the award winning Indian animated series has reached its 1000th episode milestone! Produced by Cosmos-Maya, it’s the first Indian animated show to complete 1000 episodes in less than a decade.


Launched in October 2012 on Nickelodeon India, Motu Patlu has captivated millions of viewers across the world and has enjoyed a consistent top TV rating. It has successfully managed to retain its top-tier position in the BARC weekly rankings for over five years. The series has also become a massive hit in China.

The popular animated series has also significantly contributed to the ratings of the kids channel. Currently airing on TV and digital platforms in 250 countries in nine languages, Motu Patlu has garnered above 6.5 billion views from international audiences on Cosmos owned YouTube channel, WowKidz (multi-channel animation brand).

Inspired from the characters of Lot Pot Comics, Motu Patlu is a lively comic caper for the kids as well as the entire family. Set in the beautiful city of Furfuri Nagariya, the story is about Motu and Patlu , who are as similar as chalk and cheeseÖ the Awesome Twosome are always on an adventurous expedition and have an uncanny ability to get into tricky situations ñ every single day!


Commenting on this brilliant achievement, Cosmos-Maya CEO Anish Mehta said, “Through Motu Patlu we have created the Indian version of Laurel and Hardy. Our IP creation journey began with it and it’s a great moment for us to see it complete 1000 episodes and maintain the interest of the kids for eight years. It is a huge achievement for the entire team that has created 1000+ stories in less than a decade for this show. As we now move to a new phase with Motu Patlu going international, we hope that kids continue to watch the show and love it to help achieve the next milestone.”

Apart from the TV series, the show has spawned 20 TV films, a full feature that currently streams online for Indian audiences on VOOT Kids, and maintains an average viewership of 4.8 million views per 11-minute video.

The two popular cartoon show characters have come a long way to become bona fide Indian pop culture icons and achieved cult status. Cosmos-Maya kind of revolutionised the entire industry with this powerful, emotionally engaging and consistently popular story. The characters have found a place at the Madame Tussauds in New Delhi, becoming a key attraction and the first Indian animated characters to have their wax statues at the reputable museum.

Among its many monikers of success, Google has declared it to be the most popular animation show in the world, two years in a row. The winner of the ‘Most Popular Show’ for consecutive five years at the Kids’ Choice Awards India, Motu Patlu has been winning top honours everywhere. The series also won the ‘Best Animation – Jury’ award at the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival. The awesome twosome have even done a bit of yoga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The show also holds the distinction of being the only show in the world to achieve this milestone in a record span of less than eight years.

Commenting on this occasion, Motu Patlu creative director Suhas Kadav stated, “The milestone is a celebration for us as it approves our belief in meaningful entertainment. The show has beautifully weaved the journey of these two friends and their quirks. Our characters started their journey from Furfuri nagar and travelled internationally and added more colour and culture to their stories. The show has set trends, won the hearts of the audiences for its storyline and made records, and we couldn’t be prouder. As it makes the 1000-episode mark, we are sure that Motu Patlu will keep raising the bar and continue to be the audience favourite by delivering exciting storylines”.


India’s Cosmos-Maya Celebrates 25 Years of Growth in Animation


We recently had the chance to catch up with Anish Mehta, CEO of Cosmos-Maya, one of the leading animation studios in India. The company, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, boasts of a 14,000 sq. ft. state of the art studio located in the heart of the Indian entertainment industry, Film City in Mumbai. It has expanded to other locations in Mumbai and Hyderabad, with a total area across its studio facilities in excess of 70,000 sq ft.

Starting life as a service provider in 1996, Cosmos-Maya has been on a global growth trajectory with a clear business expansion plan. The studio has gone from a local work for hire shop to line producing for international companies such as the BBC and Disney. Here is what Mehta told us about his growing company’s plans in 2021:

Animag: Can you tell us a little bit about the early days of the company?

Anish Mehta: Cosmos-Maya was founded by veteran filmmakers Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi, who established their roots in the field of animation in India in 1996, when they started work as a service animation unit in the heart of Film City in Mumbai. During this time, they built up a reputation as one of the most reliable units for animation, and simultaneously started the Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) to catalyse the technical training ecosystem in the burgeoning 3D animation market.

What is Cosmos-Maya focusing on in 2021?

Growth! We did incredibly well in the domestic Indian space in 2020 with five new kids’ television shows, and we plan to maintain this trajectory in 2021 with two international co-productions already in the pipeline. We have a new show coming up titled Dabangg, based on a blockbuster Bollywood franchise of the same name, which will be a landmark production for us, and broadens the scope for IP extension within the Indian content space. The third season of Eena Meena Deeka will be released, this time with WildBrain Spark joining us as an international partner who were attracted by the global potential of this IP. This year also marks the release of Putra, our latest international production for the Indonesian market.

Beyond children’s animation, we plan to expand more into the fast-growing EdTech sector, and the global licencing and merchandising market. In light of that, we have initiated production work on The Incredible Monsta Trucks, a show designed to lend itself to our growth in consumer products.

How did you make the transition from service provider to content producer?

We had been service animators and trainers for nearly 15 years, and after each season of a project that we worked on we’d have to establish our job-worthiness all over again for the next season. We didn’t have a stake in the projects we were working on. Eventually we decided this was an uncertain way of business, and that we should work towards establishing greater creative control in our projects. This meant becoming more entrepreneurial, starting to build our own IP and nurturing our desire for storytelling.

In 2010, the company moved forward in this direction and entered the IP production space, starting conceptualization of the popular show Motu Patlu – which would go on to release in 2012 on Nickelodeon. This kickstarted the studio’s content library.

In 2015, Cosmos-Maya made a strategic move to go global with its first internationally focused IP, Eena Meena Deeka, which launched in the European market, following which we set up a digital platform and licensing/merchandising wing under the name of Wow Kidz. Wow Kidz also has its own multichannel network on YouTube where it currently caters to 54 million subscribers in 18 languages across 34 channels.

By 2016, Cosmos-Maya had established a leading position in the market with ten TV series in simultaneous production, working with reputed names across the domestic and global animation industry to produce nearly 25 episodes a month. In 2017, the company solidified its market ownership at 60% of the domestic animation output in India, and KKR-backed Emerald Media came on board with a controlling stake in the company.

What would you say are the biggest challenges facing the studio in 2021 as we all face the realities of COVID continuing to wreak havoc around the world?

I think like most business units – media or non-media – the biggest challenge in 2021 is to streamline our work/production processes to maintain the same adherence to timelines as we did in 2020, irrespective of whether we work from home or out of the studio premises. We have always been active in adapting to change, and we managed to discover our own rhythm in the new normal. Production timelines and timely delivery was ensured and uncompromised. Our entire workforce at Cosmos-Maya synergized wonderfully to ensure that all our planned shows and projects in 2020 released as scheduled, and we hope to remove kinks in that process (if any) to facilitate a seamless and productive work process. Hopefully we shall get to transition back to a situation akin to the old normal.

Which animation tools does your team currently use to produce animation?

In the largest chunk of our work, for 3D animation we use Maya by Autodesk and for 2D animation we use Flash by Adobe. For rendering we adapt and use various other technologies: We partnered with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine (known for bestsellers like Fortnite) for production of The Incredible Monsta Trucks. Beyond these, we are working to develop Toon Boom Harmony to ramp up the 2D animation end. For ensuring efficient and timely production tracking and seamless delivery across all processes, we have our own proprietary software.

How many people are currently working at the studio?

We are moving toward becoming a completely self-sufficient studio powerhouse with end-to-end and exhaustive animation capabilities. A team of nearly 1,200 animation artists and technicians help us reach towards this goal.

What are some of the animation highlights we can look for in 2021 from Cosmos-Maya?

We will have a much more diversified – artistically and stylistically – range of animation while maintaining our signature volumes of delivery. As we mentioned, we have multiple international feature films and four to five new shows and seasons already planned for 2021. We shall work towards expanding our business in the co-production sector, which besides extending our global reach, also helps us get a much better understanding of audiences and their tastes in different territories and the kind of topics and subjects families and their children today are interested in exploring.

We are using this understanding to bring on more contemporary and mature storylines in the future and diversify our portfolio beyond the standard pre-school and kids’ genres. Moreover, we seek to bring in new creative dimensions with our existing bestsellers like Motu Patlu that have started to attract big audiences in the European market.

What is your take on the animation industry in India?

It’s been just a little over a decade since the Indian kids’ animation sector fully came into being, i.e. the homegrown IP production sector. We see a lot of creative development happening in this space, with skilled artists and technicians with a contemporary voice coming onboard. The growth trajectory has been absolutely great for the Indian animation sector, a chunk of which rests in the kids’ genres, and a large segment of the future scope of this industry lies in genre and audience diversity. We hope to see more mature content for different age groups coming up, with significant strides in adult animated content, too.

What do you want animation and kids content professionals around the world to know about your studio?

If we could describe our studio in a few words, they’d be: young, meteoric and powerhouse. We started our expansionary phase just over a decade ago, and our ambition is reflected in our current scale of business, both within and outside of India. We are artistic, experimental and are known for maintaining excellence in our delivery capabilities. For anyone who has an artistic bent, a vision for the media space and a business acumen, Cosmos-Maya is a place to spread their wings. Our growth in these past eight years is testament to our vision of becoming a completely self-sufficient creative organism.

What do you love about working in animation?

Animation is unbound by ideas of perceptions of reality. Any visual that the human mind can synthesize, animation can achieve. It is a format that lends itself almost naturally to the most fantastical narratives. For a fraction of the cost and logistical input, content creators can achieve the most surreal video storytelling from animation as compared to conventional live-action filmmaking, which is also evident in the growth of the CGI service industry, propelled by filmmakers looking to reduce their infrastructural footprint by achieving entirely realistic worlds rendered into their content through the magic of special effects and animation. Animation lends itself to any kind of genre today. From crazy kids’ cartoons, movies and educational content, to adult satire and political commentary, filmmakers have utilized this format to give a semiotic depth to their narratives which can be seen in mainstream movies like Frozen or Inside Out, or in darker films such as Waltz With Bashir. Where films are supposed to be larger than life, animation provides viewers an absolutely new dimension to explore.

What does the future hold for Cosmos-Maya?

The company is exercising its efforts to grow the corporate brand globally. We are establishing ourselves more firmly in the theatrical film space, with Dogtanian and Three Muskehounds, our co-production with Apolo Films coming out in 2021, and multiple other film projects in the offing. We have partnered with Italian producer Gruppo Alcuni for the next segment in our title Leo Da Vinci. The digital tech space is rearing to see a value of $1.336 billion in 2022E, and we’re making the best of every inch of that growth.

Cosmos-Maya used 2020 to ideally position itself to ride the increasing demand for kids’ content from the expanding OTT and pay TV climate. Our distribution and licensing arm Wow Kidz sources 2D and 3D animated content from North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific among various other markets. The company is making strides in all possible avenues of the animation spectrum. EdTech is Cosmos-Maya’s youngest and fastest-growing division and is expected to account for 20%+ of production revenues for FY 2022E. We are the preferred content partner for EdTech decacorn Byju and are in active discussion with leading companies in this space in India. Moreover, we’ve forayed into EdTech driven OTT, amping up the L&M to have a deeper access into the consumer side of the business, focus on scaling up the quality of animation further with some high-end mainstream North American projects – the groundwork for which has already been laid and continuously evolving to ensure the retention of the significant majority stake of the Indian domestic animation market.

Building on initial efforts in FY 2020A for International Service Work, the company has been able to grab multiple high quality, high-margin projects such as Prince of Tennis, Monkey King, etc. and will continue to grow on the back of those as well.

Learn more at cosmos-maya.com.

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More Nick: #NickKiPakkiPromise | Nickelodeon India!

Original source: AnimationXpress; Additional source: exchange4media.
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L'ATTITUDE Honors Niki López, Miguel Puga and Isabela Merced in 2020 LATINXT List

L'ATTITUDE Continues Commitment Of Elevating The Next U.S. Latino Superstars In Entertainment As Part Of LATINXT Initiative

LATINXT aims to be the premier launching pad for presenting new content and celebrating the U.S. Latino voices creating cultural and economic impact in the media


Mariana Da Silva (left), founder of El Cine, and 2019 LATINXT honoree, Camila Mendes, during last year's conference.

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 16, 2020 -- As part of their world-first, livecast, interactive event, L'ATTITUDE has unveiled their 2020 LATINXT List. Launched in 2018 with actor and entrepreneur Zoe Saldaña and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez – and later earning the endorsement of multi-hyphenate artist Lin-Manuel Miranda – this year's LATINXT list is an exciting ensemble of superstars in the making, many of whom will be spotlighted during the virtual event on Thursday, September 24th, 2020.

As the only business and media event focused on the New Mainstream Economy driven by U.S. Latinos, L'ATTITUDE introduced the groundbreaking LATINXT initiative to recognize and uplift breakthrough Latinx talent who are redefining the New Mainstream. The full list of nearly 40 Latinx creatives amounts to a multidisciplinary pipeline of talent that includes showrunners, writers, directors, producers, actors and trailblazers in the LGBTQ+ space. Notable honorees include Grammy-winning musical artist Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera of Starz's Vida, and Isabela Merced, who played the titular character in Dora and the Lost City of Gold and who is now establishing herself as a flourishing musical artist.

Multi-platinum Grammy winner, entrepreneur, and official L'ATTITUDE partner, Emilio Estefan, is thrilled to be celebrating the promising young talent, as well as the growing influence of U.S. Latinos' voices overall through the event's programming. "The first two years of this event have attracted world-class celebrities, breakthrough talent, and national media attention, so we're really excited about the robust lineup this year, and we can't wait to showcase all the artistry that's positively impacting American culture and helping to redefine the New Mainstream," said Estefan.

Below is the full list of creatives on the rise that comprise the 2020 LATINXT list:

Performance:

  • Melissa Barrera – Actress and singer starring in Warner Bros.' upcoming Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights
  • David Castañeda – Actor, Netflix's The Umbrella Academy
  • Rhenzy Feliz – Actor, Netflix's upcoming All Together Now, Marvel's Runaways on Hulu
  • Madison Reyes – Actress, Netflix's Julie and the Phantoms
  • Xochitl Gomez – Actress, Netflix's Baby-Sitter's Club
  • Alexa Mansour – Actress, AMC's The Walking Dead: World Beyond
  • Karrie Martin – Actress, Netflix's Gentefied
  • Carlos Miranda – Actor, Starz's Vida, Pantaya's ANA, and the upcoming indie film Senior Moment
  • Chelsea Rendon – Actress, Starz's Vida and the new film Murder in the Woods
  • Tess Romero – Actress and star of Diary of a Future President on Disney +
  • Jesus Sepulveda – Comedian and actor, HBO Latino's Entrenos and Netflix's Chingo Bling: They Can't Deport Us All
  • Joseph Julian Soria – Actor, star of Netflix's Gentefied

Director:

  • Gigi Saul Guerrero – Filmmaker best known for creating and directing the horror web series La Quinceañera. Directed the film Culture Shock as part of Hulu's anthology series Into the Dark, and episodes of The Purge for USA Network
  • Marvin Lemus – Award-winning filmmaker, who is a creator, executive producer, and director of Netflix's Gentefied
  • Jenée LaMarque – Director and writer, The Pretty One, The Feels, Room 104, Vida
  • Carlos López Estrada – Director, Blindspotting, and Disney's upcoming film, Raya and the Last Dragon
  • Melina Matsoukas – Two-time Grammy award-winning director for music videos "We Found Love" and "Formation." Directed Universal Pictures' Queen & Slim
  • Diana Peralta – Director, producer, and writer. Her debut feature film, De Lo Mío, will premiere on HBO in November 2020

Writer:

  • Linda Yvette Chavez – Award-winning screenwriter and producer, who is a creator, executive producer, and director of Netflix's Gentefied
  • Hailey Chavez – Comedy writer whose credits include NBC's Superstore and Disney+'s Diary of a Future President
  • Danny Fernandez – Writer and actor, whose credits include Diary of a Future President for Disney+ and Love, Victor for Hulu
  • Nancy C. Mejía – Writer and director, whose recent projects include Vida and The L Word: Generation Q
  • Julio Torres – Writer, comedian, and actor known for his work on Saturday Night Live. Co-creator, writer, and executive producer of HBO's Los Espookys

Producer/Showrunner:

  • Niki López – Creator and co-executive producer of Nickelodeon's new animated preschool series, Santiago of the Seas, premiering Friday, October 9 on Nickelodeon
  • Monica Macer – Award-winning showrunner and executive producer of Netflix's Gentefied, and MacGyver for CBS
  • Miguel Puga – Visual artist and art director. Co-executive producer of Nickelodeon's Emmy Award-winning series, The Casagrandes
  • Tanya Saracho – Award-winning actress, playwright, and screenwriter, as well as showrunner for STARZ's Vida
  • Moisés Zamora – Creator, executive producer, and co-showrunner of Selena: The Series for Netflix

Music:

  • Isabela Merced – Recording artist and actress, whose song "My Only One (No Hay Nadie Más)" generated nearly 50 million Spotify streams. Her debut EP, "The Better Half of Me," was released earlier this year
  • Leslie Grace – Singer and songwriter starring in the upcoming Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights
  • Ángela Aguilar – Singer and daughter of singer Pepe Aguilar. She gained recognition after performing "La Llorona" at the 19th Annual Latin Grammys
  • Mariah Angeliq – Singer, newly signed to Universal Music Latin Entertainment and gaining popularity for her refreshing pop/urban/R&B style, highlighted in her single "Blah"
  • Jhay Cortez – Singer and songwriter best known for his writing on several reggaeton hits, such as "I Like It" by Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin

Trailblazers – LGBTQ+:

  • Emily Estefan – Musical artist, LGBTQ+ advocate, and the daughter of producer Emilio Estefan and singer/songwriter Gloria Estefan
  • Aurora Guerrero – Queer writer, director, and activist who has directed episodes of Gentefied and 13 Reasons Why for Netflix
  • Gabby Rivera – Writer best known for writing America, the comic series featuring Marvel's first queer Latina superhero, America Chavez
  • Mj Rodriguez – Actress and singer known for her breakout role as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista in the hit FX drama, Pose

The L'ATTITUDE event agenda will feature four days of virtual sessions covering business, finance, politics, sports, and entertainment, including panels on Latin music, upcoming streaming, film, and TV content, and the emerging talents on the LATINXT List. The LATINXT panels will take place on Thursday, September 24th, spanning topics that include Latinx talent on the rise in Hollywood, an early look at Warner Bros.' highly anticipated musical film In the Heights, and a 1:1 spotlight on Isabela Merced's skyrocketing career in music and film. Additional entertainment-focused panels will spotlight Nickelodeon's role as a leader in diverse programming for children, and STX's upcoming film Greenland with stars Morena Baccarin and Gerard Butler.

L'ATTITUDE was created to showcase the contributions of U.S. Latinos across multiple industries, as well as to help enlightened leaders gain a deeper understanding of U.S. Latinos' crucial role in fueling the New Mainstream Economy. "We launched our LATINXT initiative to not only celebrate those individuals who are already making an impact in the media, but also to do our part to help close the gap in representation within the entertainment industry. We're proud to provide all of these talented creatives with this platform to help them gain further recognition – among both their peers and decision-makers – so they can reach the next level of their careers," said Sol Trujillo, L'ATTITUDE co-founder.

In addition to the scheduled LATINXT and accompanying entertainment sessions, the virtual forum will feature discussions with Pitbull, Eva Longoria, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, and many more prominent figures. The event will also bring together leaders from Nike, Bank of America, BlackRock, Verizon, United Airlines, Walmart, Wells Fargo, American Express, and Target, among others, along with leading national media partners like MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and Dow Jones MarketWatch.

To learn more about the LATINXT initiative, scheduled programming, and to register for the event, visit www.lattitude.net.

ABOUT L'ATTITUDE
The brainchild of international business executive Sol Trujillo and NAHREP Co-Founder and CEO Gary Acosta, L'ATTITUDE hosts a world-class slate of CEOs, celebrities, economists, educators, entrepreneurs, journalists, politicians and industry influencers at its annual conference. Participants engage in open dialogue about the latest facts and data regarding the New Mainstream Economy and the U.S. Latino cohort that is driving it. As the name implies, L'ATTITUDE is about staying on course to a growing and sustainable economic future for America. U.S. Latinos, our country's largest, youngest and fastest-growing cohort, represent nearly 1 in 5 Americans, nearly 1 in 4 millennials, nearly 1 in 3 alphas, and account for over $2.3 trillion in GDP, making it the 8th largest economy in the world if it were a stand-alone country. L'ATTITUDE features presentations, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and entertainment featuring leading celebrities. For an informative video on this year's conference visit: https://lattitude.net/2020-event-overview/#440171996.

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More Nick: L'ATTITUDE Convenes A-List Celebrities And Entertainment Luminaries To Shine Spotlight On The Latino Factor Fueling New Mainstream Economy!
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Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Wednesday, September 16, 2020 | NickRewind

Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Wednesday, September 16, 2020 | NickRewind


Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.

Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.

Read more Rugrats comic strips!: https://www.creators.com/features/rugrats

More Nick: Nickelodeon and Paramount to Bring 'Rugrats' Back for the Next Generation of Kids!
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Young Dylan TIK TOK CHALLENGE | #WatchAlongWeekender | The Scoop by Nickelodeon UK

Young Dylan TIK TOK CHALLENGE | #WatchAlongWeekender | The Scoop by Nickelodeon UK


In today's video from our Watch Along Weekender series, some of your favourite Nick stars take part in the Young Dylan Tik Tok Dance Challenge.

Watch 'Watch Along Weekender' on Nickelodeon every weekend morning from 9:30am and catch non-stop episodes from the newest and best Nickelodeon shows like Danger Force, The Substitute, Unfiltered and many more! All while watching along with your favourite social stars Holly H, Max & Harvey, Rosie, Lorenzo, Donel and Mikey.

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Snack Time & Skidoos! | Josh & Blue's VLOG Ep. 19 | Blue's Clues & You!

Snack Time & Skidoos! | Josh & Blue's VLOG Ep. 19 | Blue's Clues & You!


It's time for another vlog with Josh and Blue! Josh and Blue make a super duper yummy snack, sing "Oranges Grow on Trees", and skidoo into Chalk World!

#JoshAndBlueVlogs #Skidoo #BluesCluesAndYou

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Super JA! | Kaya | Nickelodeon Polska

Super JA! | Kaya | Nickelodeon Polska


Super JA! to seria spotów, w której stacja Nickelodeon prezentuje dzieci o szczególnych zdolnościach. Niezależnie od tego, czy chodzi o grę na instrumencie, celowanie w sporcie, pomaganie środowisku czy wymyślanie kolejnej wielkiej rzeczy, ta seria skupi się na codziennych dzieciach, które robią niezwykłe rzeczy. Super Ja! promuje młode talenty, ukazuje ich niezwykłe pasje oraz upór i determinację w dążeniu do celu. W Super Ja! poznamy dwójkę utalentowanych polskich nastolatków oraz piątkę dzieciaków z innych krajów.

Informacje: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2020/09/nickelodeon-poland-launches-super-ja.html

Więcej Nick: Moya Misja Launches SpongeBob Customer Loyalty Program in Poland!
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Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | NickRewind

Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | NickRewind


Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.

Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.

Read more Rugrats comic strips!: https://www.creators.com/features/rugrats

More Nick: Nickelodeon and Paramount to Bring 'Rugrats' Back for the Next Generation of Kids!
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Legendary Cartoonist Sergio Aragonés to Guest Star on New 'The Casagrandes' Episode 'Mexican Makeover'

The Casagrandes' Lalo Alcaraz explains legendary cartoonist Sergio Aragonés' role as Paco the parrot on the Nickelodeon show.


Developed by Michael Rubiner and premiering in 2019 on Nickelodeon, The Casagrandes - a spin-off from Nickelodeon's hit The Loud House - follows Ronnie Anne Santiago and her family after they move to Great Lakes City to live with their titular extended family. The next episode of the series, "Mexican Makeover," will explore how the kids love and live their culture when Mama Lupe -- Abuela Rosa's mother -- comes to visit from Mexico. In the episode, Abuela fears her grandchildren have become Americanized and are not upholding the family's traditions. Afraid of Mama Lupe's judgement, and wanting her to see that all is well, Rosa enlists the kids in putting on a show for Mama Lupe.

Legendary cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, who won an Eisner Award in 2001 for La Plumilla de Plata, makes a guest appearance in "Mexican Makeover," where he'll play Paco, a parrot who accompanies Mama Lupe everywhere. CBR talked with Casagrandes producer and cultural consultant Lalo Alcaraz about bringing Aragonés into the mix.

Himself the creator of the satirical comic strip La Cucaracha and an award-winning editorial cartoonist, Alcaraz said he has long admired Aragonés, famed for his work with MAD magazine and Groo the Wanderer. He said he and Casagrandes co-executive producer Miguel Puga frequently meet Aragonés at comics conventions, and Alcaraz always gets his picture taken with the comics legend. Inviting Aragonés to do the show naturally followed. "We thought it would be hilarious to bring in people we love and admire," Alcaraz said.

As for Aragonés' role in "Mexican Makeover," Alcaraz said, "The thing is, he is an icon and he has a really cool voice and he plays this old Mexican parrot and he's spot on." The Casagrandes family itself has a scarlet macaw -- Sergio -- who is named after Aragonés and may be Paco's cousin. As Alcaraz noted, "[...] There's nothing more Mexican than having a parrot."


The Casagrandes - Paco the Parrot

In terms of Aragonés' performance, Alcaraz said he was pleased with the work the legendary cartoonist did for The Casagrandes, adding, "We had to dress up the accent. 'Can you accent it up a bit?' He's got a beautiful voice."

Alcaraz said the door is open for another appearance from Aragonés. "I always get in trouble when I try to reveal too much, but I think we do have a script where Mama Lupe, the great-grandmother character, returns," he said. "Hopefully, he will return for a command performance."

New episodes of The Casagrandes air Fridays at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The Emmy-winning show stars Izabella Alvarez, Alex Cazares, Sonia Manzano, Carlos Alazraqui, Ruben Garfias, Carlos PenaVega, Leah Mei Gold, Roxana Ortega, Jared Kozak, Alexa PenaVega, Sumalee Montano and Dee Bradley Baker. "Mexican Makeover" guest stars Sergio Aragonés as Paco and Angelica Aragon as Mama Lupe.

Watch The Loud House & The Casagrandes on Nickelodeon!

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ViacomCBS Launches Paramount+ in Russia in Partnership with Okko; Includes Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. Content

ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) today, Monday 1st June 2020 announced the launch of Paramount+ in the country in partnership with Russian online streaming platform, Okko, further expanding the global reach of ViacomCBS's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service! Paramount+ will bring subscribers hundreds of hours of entertainment as well as exclusive content from the entire family.


Paramount+ is available as part of Okko's existing subscription packages (Optimum and Premium subscriptions for 399 and 799 rubles. respectively), as well as a standalone subscription service (199 Rubles for the first three months, 299 Rubles after). In June, the Optimum package subscription package, including the Paramount+ service, will be available for new Okko users for 1 rubles.

Paramount+ will include content : films and comedies from Paramount Pictures, as well as children's series from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.


From its very launch, Paramount+'s large library of content will be available to subscribers, including children's programming from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. (including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), live-action and animated movies from Paramount Pictures (such as No Country for Old Men), as well as comedy series for adults from Comedy Central (including South Park).

Subscribers will also be able to exclusively see some premieres before they are shown on television. At launch, subscribers will be able to watch Corn & Peg before it premieres on Nickelodeon.

Thanks to the launch of Paramount+, Okko will become the digital platform where content from ViacomCBS' portfolio of brands will be presented to the fullest extent possible.

Paramount+'s content library will be replenished regularly with new premium content from ViacomCBS brands, including Channel 5 and MTV (these shows will appear in the subscription in the future). Channel 5 content and the bulk of Comedy Central's content in Russia will be presented for the first time on Okko and will be exclusively available to subscribers of the service.

Okko expects that exclusive animated series and live-action shows for children and youth audiences, as well as the family cinema as part of the Paramount+ subscription, will accelerate the growth of the video service's audience and strengthen its position in the market.

Update (16/9) - Paramount+ today (Tuesday 15th September 2020) added programming from British FTA channel Channel 5!

Below is ViacomCBS Россия's official press release announcing the exciting news!: