Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Nickelodeon Premieres 'Deer Squad'

Deer Squad Goes Global on Nickelodeon Channels

First Chinese-Originated Nickelodeon International and VIS KIDS collaboration with iQIYI to premiere on Nickelodeon in the U.S. on Jan. 25


New York--Jan. 13, 2021--Nickelodeon will premiere CG-animated series Deer Squad in the U.S. following a successful run overseas. The result of a partnership between iQIYI, an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, Nickelodeon International and VIS KIDS, a division of ViacomCBS International Studios, Deer Squad will premiere on Nickelodeon in the U.S. on Jan. 25, at 9 a.m. (ET/PT) in the preschool block. The series will continue to air regularly weekdays at 9 a.m. (ET/PT).

The adventure-rescue show follows four, lovable, enthusiastic and heroic deer friends—Kai, Lola, Bobbi and Rammy—who protect the animals of Central Forest and the humans who inhabit Platinum City, a futuristic metropolis surrounding their woodland home. When there's trouble, the Deer summon their special Planet Powers of Water (Kai), Wood (Lola), Earth (Bobbi) and Sun (Rammy) to solve problems.


“We first partnered with iQIYI on the series with a worldwide audience in mind. We’re incredibly proud to see this original preschool series become the first Nickelodeon International global Chinese-originated collaborative project, as we further our commitment to developing kids-first content from around the world,” said Nina Hahn, Head of VIS KIDS and Senior Vice President of International Production & Development for Nickelodeon International.

Deer Squad is a major breakthrough for iQIYI’s development of original children’s animation, creatively supervised by Nickelodeon International. We appreciate Nickelodeon’s international broadcasting strategy on the show, and it is great news that we have achieved No.1 in viewership in many regions. We hope that there will be more Chinese original animations to go international,” said Yang Xiaoxuan, Vice President of iQIYI and Head of Original Animation and Investment.


Nickelodeon International aired Deer Squad across Asia in August 2020, including iQIYI’s platform in China, and premiered in Australia, New Zealand and the UK later in the year. It was the #1 show in the Philippines among kids 2-141, ranked Nick Jr. as the #1 STV channel in Australia among kids 0-4 during Deer Squad premieres2 and averaged +148% in the UK compared to the timeslot benchmark3. The series is scheduled to air in Europe and Africa in March 2021.

Deer Squad is currently in production for a second season. The show marks the first time for Nickelodeon Asia to partner on a Chinese original from its conception phase.

About Nickelodeon International

Nickelodeon, now in its 41st 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 brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. Nickelodeon is one of the most globally recognized and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family, available in nearly 400 million households across 170+ countries and territories, via more than 80+ locally programmed channels and branded blocks. Outside of the United States, Nickelodeon is part of ViacomCBS Networks International, a division of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC). For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc.

About ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS)

Introduced in 2018, ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) is a division of ViacomCBS Networks International that produces content for ViacomCBS brands and platforms, including Paramount+, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, Channel 5, Network 10, Telefe and Porta Dos Fundos, as well as for third parties. In 2020, VIS Kids launched to further the expansion of the studio's global kids content pipeline. The content that VIS produces covers all genres, from preschool to young adult and across live action and animation, as well as soap operas, dramas, short and long-form comedy formats and feature film productions. VIS global sales include original productions, co-productions, formats sold for local adaptations, and sale of ready-made content.

About iQIYI

iQIYI, Inc. is an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China. Its corporate DNA combines creative talent with technology, fostering an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. iQIYI's platform features highly popular original content, as well as a comprehensive library of other professionally-produced content, partner-generated content and user generated content. The Company distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with tremendous user engagement, and has developed a diversified monetization model including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, live broadcasting, online games, IP licensing, online literature and e-commerce.

1 Kids 2-14s in the premiered weekdays (3rd Aug – 14th Aug 2020, @1600-1629). Source: Kantar Media, TechEdge, Nickelodeon PHL, 0600-2159, Period Run 3rd Aug – 14th Aug

2 Kids 0-4 in the premiered weekdays (12th October – 23rd October 2020, @1630-1659). Source: Nielsen, TechEdge, Nick Jr AU, 0600-1959

3 Kids 4-15 in the premiered weekdays (1st October – 16th October 2020, @0730-0759). Source: BARB, TechEdge, Nick Jr UK, Total Day

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Official iQIYI, Inc. press release:

iQIYI Expands Its International Footprint, Announcing Its Animation, Deer Squad Airing on Nickelodeon in the US on January 25, 2021
     
BEIJING, Jan. 14, 2021 -- iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, announced today that its original CG-animated series in collaboration with Nickelodeon International and VIS Kids, a division of ViacomCBS International Studios, Deer Squad, will premiere on Nickelodeon in the U.S. on January 25th, 2021. The airing of Deer Squad in the US market is a testament to the high quality of this iQIYI original animation and marks the successful entry of Chinese animation into an international market.


An adventure-rescue animation, Deer Squad tells the story of four lovable, enthusiastic and heroic deer friends Kai, Lola, Rammy and Bobbi, who protect the animals of Central Forest and the humans who inhabit Platinum City, a futuristic metropolis surrounding their woodland home. When there's trouble, the Deer summon their Planet Powers and transform into a team that can solve problems using their Planet Powers of Water (Kai), Wood (Lola), Earth (Bobbi) and Sun (Rammy). The animation series premiered on iQIYI on July 15, 2020 and was the most played show on the Chinese internet for seven consecutive weeks among all animations aired in the past four months.

Nickelodeon International aired Deer Squad across Asia in August 2020, including on iQIYI's platform in China. The show premiered in Australia, New Zealand and the UK later in the year. It was the #1 show in the Philippines amongst kids 2-141, ranked Nick Jr. as the #1 STV channel in Australia among kids 0-4 during Deer Squad premieres2 and averaged +148% in the UK compared to the timeslot benchmark3. It is scheduled to air in Europe and Africa in March 2021.

Created with a global audience in mind, Deer Squad is a successful attempt for iQIYI to enter the international animation market with its own animation IP. iQIYI initiated the cooperation with the Nickelodeon International and ViacomCBS International Studio (VIS) Kids teams, collaborating throughout the entire production process and providing crucial feedback to help bridge the cultural gap between Chinese and international audiences. This innovative in-depth collaboration model has provided new avenues and possibilities for domestic animation to travel beyond its own shores.

In terms of production values, Deer Squad was benchmarked against the highest  international standard in order to perfect the show's screenplay, character design, animation effects and other aspects, which will be key to its success in the competitive international market.

Yang Xiaoxuan, Vice President of iQIYI and Head of Original Animation and Investment said, "Deer Squad is a major breakthrough for iQIYI's development of original children's animation, creatively supervised by Nickelodeon. We appreciate Nickelodeon's international broadcasting strategy on the show, and it is great news that we have achieved No.1 in viewership in many regions. We hope that there will be more Chinese original animations to go international."  

"We first partnered with iQIYI on the series with a worldwide audience in mind. We're incredibly proud to see this original pre-school series become the first global Chinese-originated collaborative project as we further our commitment to developing kids-first content from around the world," said Nina Hahn, Senior Vice President of International Production & Development for Nickelodeon International and Head of VIS Kids.

iQIYI has been expanding its global resources and partnerships in the children's animation space in recent years, working with renowned animation houses to provide premium content. In the future, iQIYI will deliver on its commitment of creating high-quality and original IPs and look to further expand its IP industry chain by hosting events and developing spin-offs and merchandise. These initiatives will allow the Company to realize the full commercial value of its IPs while simultaneously enhancing the children's content industry and boosting the international competitiveness of Chinese-made original animation.

About iQIYI, Inc.

iQIYI, Inc. is an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China. Its corporate DNA combines creative talent with technology, fostering an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. iQIYI's platform features highly popular original content, as well as a comprehensive library of other professionally-produced content, partner-generated content and user generated content. The Company distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a massive user base with tremendous user engagement and has developed a diversified monetization model including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, live broadcasting, online games, IP licensing, online literature and e-commerce.

About Nickelodeon International

Nickelodeon, now in its 41st 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 brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. Nickelodeon is one of the most globally recognized and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family, available in nearly 400 million households across 170+ countries and territories, via more than 80+ locally programmed channels and branded blocks. Outside of the United States, Nickelodeon is part of ViacomCBS Networks International, a division of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC). For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. 

About ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS)

Introduced in 2018, ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) is a division of ViacomCBS Networks International that produces content for ViacomCBS brands and platforms, including Paramount+, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, Channel 5, Network 10, Telefe and Porta Dos Fundos, as well as for third parties. In 2020, VIS Kids launched to further the expansion of the studio's global kids content pipeline. The content that VIS produces covers all genres, from pre-school to young adult and across live action and animation, as well as soap operas, dramas, short and long-form comedy formats and feature film productions. VIS global sales include original productions, co-productions, formats sold for local adaptations, and sale of ready-made content.

1 Kids 2-14s in the premiered weekdays (3rd Aug – 14th Aug 2020, @1600-1629). Source: Kantar Media, TechEdge, Nickelodeon PHL, 0600-2159, Period Run 3rd Aug – 14th Aug

2 Kids 0-4 in the premiered weekdays (12th October – 23rd October 2020, @1630-1659). Source: Nielsen, TechEdge, Nick Jr AU, 0600-1959

3 Kids 4-15 in the premiered weekdays (1st October – 16th October 2020, @0730-0759). Source: BARB, TechEdge, Nick Jr UK, Total Day

SOURCE iQIYI

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Catch Kai, Lola, Rammy and Bobby in Nickelodeon's Brand New Animated Adventure Rescue Show, DEER SQUAD

Every episode of Deer Squad promises action, comedy and a whole lot of heart.


Bursting onto the scene this New Year are Kai, Lola, Rammy and Bobbi – the DEER SQUAD. These four lovable, enthusiastic and heroic young deer friends are the protectors of Central Forest and all who inhabit Platinum City, the futuristic metropolis surrounding their woodland home.

Deer Squad (formally Deer Run) is Nickelodeon’s brand new CG-animated adventure rescue show that follows the four friends on their daily adventures as they learn about the world around them and lend a helping hand to the animals of Central Forest and humans of Platinum City. From tackling giant doughnuts to tornadoes to ice robots, when there’s trouble the Deer summon their Planet Powers and transform into a team that is capable of solving problems using their Planet Powers of Water (Kai), Wood (Lola), Earth (Bobbi) and Sun (Rammy).


Packed with action, comedy and heart, each episode of DEER SQUAD tells relatable yet meaningful stories that help build character and teach valuable life lessons like teamwork and problem-solving.

Get set for adventure with DEER SQUAD! Premiering on Nickelodeon USA on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT! Following launch, new episodes will air weekdays at 9:00 a.m. (ET/PT).

Produced by iQIYI under the creative guidance and supervision of Nickelodeon, Deer Squad was developed with global audiences in mind. From the storyline to the characters and production, all elements have been created to meet the highest international standards. The story cleverly combines adventure, education, and humour to convey universal values such as love, courage and responsibility. The series has also been meticulously curated to feature inspiring role models and tips on staying safe. It is the first time Nickelodeon Asia is taking a Chinese original IP on its network from conception phase. A second season has been commissioned, and a third is in the planning stages.

Deer Squad season one premiered on iQIYI in China on Wednesday 15th July 2020. Following its world debut, Deer Squad premiered on Nickelodeon South East Asia on Monday 3rd August 2020. The series will is also rolling out internationally.


iQIYI has been expanding its global resources and partnerships in the children's animation space in recent years, working with renowned animation houses such as Nickelodeon, BBC and Disney to provide diversified and premium content. The international release of Deer Squad demonstrates that the global industry has recognized the high-quality original content produced by iQIYI as well as the influence of its platform.

iQIYI will continue to deliver on its commitment of creating high-quality and original IPs and look to further expand its IP industry chain by hosting events and developing spin-offs and merchandise. These initiatives will allow the Company to realize the full commercial value of its IPs while simultaneously enhancing the children's content industry and boosting the international competitiveness of Chinese-made original animation.

ViacomCBS Consumer Products will be rolling out a Deer Squad consumer products line.

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On January 25, the animation Invincible Deer Squad, based on an original production of iQIYI, premiered on Nickelodeon's channel in the U.S. The children channel of Colombia Viacom International Media Group has already broadcasted the show around the world, including the Philippines, the U.K., and Australia, to favorable ratings. In a testament to iQIYI's content creation strength, Invincible Deer Squad is the fastest-ever for a Chinese animation series to progress from domestic broadcast to an overseas launch, taking only 18 days.

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Originally published: Thursday, December 31, 2020.

Press releases via Business Wire, PR Newswire.

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Nick Jr. Australia to Premiere 'Santiago Of The Seas' on Monday, 15 February

Brand-New Preschool Series, Santiago Of The Seas, Sets Sail.

Premieres Monday, 15 February. Only On Nick Jr. Australia.


From the creators of Dora the Explorer comes a brand-new animated preschool series Santiago of the Seas, premiering Monday, 15 February at 8.30am AEDT on the Nick Jr. channel in Australia.

Infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum, the action-adventure series follows eight-year-old Santiago “Santi” Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe in a fantastical Caribbean world.

In the series, Santiago’s (Kevin Chacon) steadfast and loyal crew consists of Tomás (Justice Quiroz), his clumsy energetic cousin whose magical guitar can be used to harness the wind, and Lorelai (Alyssa Cheatham), a knowledgeable mermaid who can speak to sea creatures and transform into a young human girl.


Together, Santi and his best mates sail the seas on the majestic ship El Bravo, using their smarts, pirate skills and moral compasses to guard their home of Isla Encanto from villains like the nefarious pirate Bonnie Bones (Kyndra Sanchez) and her Palm Crow sidekick Sir Butterscotch (John Leguizamo).

In the Santiago of the Seas series premiere, “The Legend of Capitán Calavera,” Santiago and his friends become the new pirate protectors of Isla Encanto after discovering the lost treasure of the legendary Capitán Calavera.

Santiago of the Seas is created by Dora the Explorer alumni, Niki López, Leslie Valdes and Valerie Walsh Valdes. The series teaches kids the value of teamwork, honesty and kindness, while also encouraging them to learn Spanish phrases and fun facts about marine biology.

Watch your sneak peek below:


Santiago of the Seas.

Premieres Monday 15, February At 8.30am AEDT

New Episodes Continue Weekdays.

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In additional news, Nick Jr. Australia recently premiered Barbapapa - One Big Happy Family, the brand new animated series inspired by the legendary shapeshifting Barbapapa family, in Germany (Deutschland), Austria (Österreich) and Switzerland (Schweiz) on Sunday 1st November 2020!


Originally published: Thursday, February 04, 2021.

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Paramount+ Reanimates SpongeBob's "Sweet Victory" for Super Bowl LV Spot

Paramount+ Expedition | Sweet Victory | Super Bowl LV Spot | Paramount Plus


"First look at the Paramount+ Expedition "Sweet Victory", airing this Sunday, February 7, during Super Bowl LV on CBS!

At the summit of Mount Paramount, a surprise greets our heroes as they celebrate sweet victory.

Featuring new animation for SpongeBob and his band singing "Sweet Victory", based on Eddie Trigueros!

Live Sports. 
Breaking News.

Start streaming with Paramount+ March 4.




More Nick: Nickelodeon and Paramount+ Release Sneak Peek of 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years'!

Originally published: Monday, February 08, 2021.

Additional source: ComicBook.com

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First Look: Peppa Pig Travels to U.S.A. in New Four-Part Special, Premiering March 5 on Nickelodeon

Peppa Pig and her family go on a cross-country road trip to Hollywood to make a movie in the Nickelodeon special!

Credit: ABD Ltd/Ent. One UK Ltd 2003.

Peppa Pig is going on a holiday — across the pond!

The titular pink piggy is set to explore the U.S.A. for the first time in a new four-part special on Nickelodeon, airing March 5. When Peppa's family wins a chance to star in a Hollywood blockbuster, they bring their catchy British accents to the States, traveling around in a motorhome and setting out on a cross-country road trip where they eat at a diner, eating at a diner, take on plenty of sightseeing. and basically live the American dream.

Once they finally make it to Hollywood, Peppa, Mummy, Daddy and brother George prepare for their closeups while starring opposite Super Potato in a movie titled Vegetables in Space.

In a spoof movie trailer and poster for Vegetables in Space, unveiled by PEOPLE, Peppa and co. wear broccoli costumes while preparing for "Lights. Camera. Action!"

Credit: ABD Ltd/Ent. One UK Ltd 2003.

In the laugh-out-loud movie-within-a-show, Peppa and her family tag along with Super Potato and Hash Brown as they battle against space carrots overtaking the moon.


The four episodes are titled "America," "The Diner," "Canyon Country" and "Hollywood."

As exciting as the film might be, Peppa Pig's adventures in America start long before she heads to Hollywood to make it big. The family starts out in New York City, where they take off in a motorhome to drive across the country to check out all of the most recognizable spots in the United States. In New York City, in the first episode, they visit the Empire State building and check out the lights in Times Square.


Episode 2 sees some excitement down south, where Peppa Pig's family eat over-easy eggs at a traditional diner before they go to a barn dance and then stop by a Monster Truck rally in short order, while the third episode has them visiting the Grand Canyon by helicopter and meeting Mr. Buffalo and Mr. Bison on their drive through the desert. When Peppa finally makes it to Hollywood, they got lost (in perhaps the most relatable of moments) on the freeway. Eventually they find their way by following the Hollywood Walk Of Fame to their destination.

Leading up to the four-part special, Nickelodeon will air "Best of Peppasodes" all week long, Monday through Thursday, March 4, at 8 a.m. ET.

The brand-new Peppa Pig event airs Friday, March 5, at 8 a.m. ET on Nickelodeon, kicking off a new season of the hit show. Find a fun new Peppa Pig Instagram filter here.


Credit: ABD Ltd/Ent. One UK Ltd 2003.

Credit: ABD Ltd/Ent. One UK Ltd 2003.

More Nick: Peppa Pig to Support Team GB for the Tokyo Olympics With 'Big Inspiration for Little Piggies' Campaign!

Originally published: Tuesday, February 02, 2021 at 01:38 GMT.

Additional source: Romper, HuffPost Canada.

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Nickelodeon Staff to Take Part in Kidscreen Summit 2021

Kidscreen has announced that Nickelodeon staff will be taking part in a raft of sessions at the Kidscreen Summit 2021!


Being held virtually due to the on-going COVID-19 (coronavirus) health crisis between Monday, February 8 - Friday, March 8, 2021, Kidscreen Summit is renowned as the kids entertainment industry’s most important annual event. Top executives attend Kidscreen Summit to take advantage of the year’s best business networking, and to engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry.

For more information about Kidscreen Summit 2021 and to register to attend, please visit https://summit.kidscreen.com. #Kidscreen21

Kidscreen Summit 2020 Sessions Featuring Nickelodeon Staff:

Nickelodeon Releases 'The Loud House Mega Music Countdown' Digital Album

Nickelodeon has announced the release The Loud House Mega Music Countdown, a brand new digital album featuring the best songs from the network's hit animated series, The Loud House!


Inspired by the Loud House special of the same name, The Loud House Mega Music Countdown features 12 fan-favorite songs performed by the cast of the series: "Play It Loud", "That’s What Christmas Is All About", "Best Dang Brother", "Best Thing Ever", "Get Pumped", "Glam Song", "Best Buds", "Tricked", "Road Trippin’ Blues", "We Got This", "Our Amazing Mother" and "Stand Together".

The Loud House Mega Music Countdown is available to stream now on music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer. Visit https://theloudhouse.ffm.to/megamusiccountdown for more information and links to each service.


In the The Loud House Mega Music Countdown, host Carlos PenaVega - the voice of Bobby Santiago himself as well as one fourth of Big Time Rush - counts down all the top tracks as voted for by fans, leading up to the #1 Loud House song of all time! Featuring all the best songs from The Loud House in one epic playlist, the special premiered on Nickelodeon on Monday, February 15, 2021 (President's Day) at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT, and is now available to stream on Nickelodeon on Demand as well as nick.com.

The Loud House debuted on Nickelodeon in May 2016 and centers on 11-year-old Lincoln Loud and his ten sisters as he gives an inside look at what it takes to survive the chaos of a huge family. As one of the longest-running animated series on Nickelodeon with 156 episodes, the property also has been translated into a comic book series, which continues to roll out new stories, chapter books, a digital album and a podcast, Listen Out Loud. The series is executive produced by Michael Rubiner. Kyle Marshall serves as co-executive producer and Ashley Kliment-Baker is art director. The series currently ranks as the number-one animated show on Nickelodeon with Kids 6-11 year-to-date.

The voice cast of The Loud House includes: Asher Bishop as Lincoln Loud; Andre Robinson as Clyde McBride; Catherine Taber as Lori; Liliana Mumy as Leni; Nika Futterman as Luna; Cristina Pucelli as Luan; Jessica DiCicco as Lynn and Lucy; Grey Griffin as Lola, Lana and Lily; and Lara Jill Miller as Lisa.

The show has also been spun-off with the successful companion series, The Casagrandes, which tells the story of 11-year-old Ronnie Anne who moves to the city with her mom and older brother to live with their big, loving family, the Casagrandes.

Currently in its fifth season, The Loud House has been renewed for season 6. A Loud House movie is slated to premiere on Netflix in April 2021.

The Loud House Mega Music Countdown follows the success of the “Really Loud Music” digital album in April 2020.

Subscribe to the official The Loud House & The Casagrandes YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/LoudCasaSubscribe


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Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and Onesimus | Shine A Light: Black History Month | Nickelodeon

Learn more about Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a lead scientist who created the Covid-19 vaccine, and Onesimus, who helped stop the spread of smallpox.


Visit NickHelps.com for more information and resources.

For more Black History Month on Nickelodeon, visit http://nickalive.blogspot.com/search/label/Black%20History%20Month.




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'Phantom of the Mooery' Promo | Side Hustle | Nickelodeon

There's a mystery afoot in the brand new Side Hustle episode "Phantom of the Mooery", premiering Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon! Check out the promo below!:


In the all new Side Hustle episode "Phantom of the Mooery," Presley (Jayden Bartels), Lex (Jules LeBlanc) and Munchy's (Isaiah Crews) favorite hangout, the MicroMooery, is in trouble.  Someone is breaking in and milking Cash the cow at night.  So Spenders hires the kids to solve the mystery of the Night Milker. (#110)

Sneak Peek:



Originally published: Sunday, February 07, 2021.

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Australian Animator Tobias Krebs Joins 'SpongeBob SquarePants' as Storyboard Artist

Nick News Brief: Australian animator Tobias Krebs has joined the SpongeBob SquarePants production crew as a Storyboard Artist. "I am happy to announce I am officially a Storyboard Artist on Spongebob Squarepants," Tobias said on Twitter with the following image, adding "A Childhood dream come true!!! #SpongeBob". Congrats Tobias!


Tobias' previous credits include: Shopkins Wild, Pencilmation, The Greatest Battle Lies Within, Nurry Brothers Adventure World, Spongo, Fuzz & Jalapeña, and Mushroom Park.

More Nick: 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years' and 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run' to Debut on Paramount+ on Thursday, March 4!

H/T: Anime Superhero Forum /@SweetShop209.

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Nickelodeon Set to Premiere 'Big Nate' During Summer 2021

Nickelodeon is planning to premiere Big Nate, the network's brand new CG-animated series based on on the best-selling children’s books written and drawn by Lincoln Peirce, during summer 2021! The acclaimed author and cartoonist revealed the news during a fantastic interview with Brightly in November 2020!

Big Nate (Center)

"Big Nate continues to appear in newspapers as a daily comic strip; it will celebrate its 30th birthday in January. New comic collections are published twice a year – the next one is called Big Nate: In Your Face. Perhaps the biggest news is that, after many years of false starts and dead ends, a Big Nate animated TV show is coming to Nickelodeon in the summer of 2021. This will help Nate reach a new generation of readers/viewers and might even inspire me to write and illustrate more Big Nate novels. So, there’s a lot to look forward to!"

Peirce also revealed in the same interview that Nickelodeon has also optioned his Max & the Midknights book series, with development underway for a potential TV series and/or movie based on the novels!

Announced in February 2020, Nickelodeon is taking the misadventures of Big Nate from page to screen with an all-new animated TV series based on the best-selling children’s books written and drawn by acclaimed author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce. The eponymous 26-episode series follows Nate, a precocious 11-year-old boy, and his best friends as they navigate sixth grade with humor and style. Big Nate is being produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif.

Big Nate is a book title I've wanted to translate into a series for a long time, and I am so happy this awesome, super-funny character is coming to Nickelodeon," said Ramsey Naito, Executive Vice President, Animation Production and Development, Nickelodeon. “All of creator Lincoln Peirce's slightly unruly, but entirely relatable characters share Nick’s same creative DNA, and we can't wait for them to join our amazing family!"

The TV series will feature brand-new original storylines centered on Nate and his mischievous shenanigans that usually result in disaster, detention or both. Whether trying to convince everyone that their school is haunted to get out of a test, or accidentally setting the pet iguana free in the school’s air ducts, Nate and his friends cause trouble everywhere--and must keep their cool before they get caught.

The Big Nate TV series is executive produced by Mitch Watson (All Hail King Julien) and John Cohen (The Angry Birds Movie), with Peirce serving as consultant throughout development and production. Bridget McMeel is co-producer.

Barbara M. Rubin, Partner, Co-Chair of the Entertainment Department, helped with the IP transfer of Big Nate from Scripps Network’s to Nickelodeon.

More Nick: 2021 on Nickelodeon | New Shows, Specials, Podcasts, Events, Movies, Episodes, and More!

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Nickelodeon Options Lincoln Peirce's 'Max & the Midknights' Book Series for TV Series and/or Movie

Following acquiring the rights to Lincoln Peirce's beloved Big Nate comic strip and best-selling children’s book series, the acclaimed author and cartoonist has revealed that Nickelodeon has optioned the rights to his follow up book series, Max & the Midknights for a TV show and/or movie!


Speaking to Brightly in November 2020, Peirce said: "I wrote Max & the Midknights as a one-off, but I ended up enjoying the experience so much that I decided to turn it into a series. Book 2, Max & the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins, will be published on December 1. And I’m already well into writing Book 3, Max & the Midknights: The Tower of Time, which will conclude the series. The story has been optioned by Nickelodeon, and development is underway for an eventual animated TV show and/or movie. I think Max would make a great show. There are countless stories waiting to be told about the residents of the kingdom of Byjovia!"

Set in the Middle Ages, Max & the Midknights is a hilarious illustrated novel centers on Max, who is often mistaken for a boy because of her short hair and assertive personality. Max wants to be a knight, not an entertainer like her uncle. She finally gets her chance when her uncle is kidnapped by the evil and aptly named King Gastley. She and several and other courageous children dub themselves the Midknights and come to the rescue. Aided by the retired wizard Mumblin, Max and her team try to restore peace to the Kingdom of Byjovia. This is a story of magic and adventure. In the book series, comic panels with Peirce's signature black-and-white art are expertly placed amid small paragraphs of text, allowing readers to be drawn into this fun setting. Max & the Midknights was published in 2019, followed by Max and the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins in December 2020. The third and final book in the series, Max & the Midknights: The Tower of Time, will be published in the near future. Both book series are available to purchase on Amazon.

While the novels stands alone from the Big Nate books, the opening page of the debut book references the series, as Nate's teacher chastises him for submitting Max and the Midknights as his nonfiction book report.


Brightly also got the chance to chat to Peirce about Max, Nate, and the roles gender and identity play in tween novels:

In the first book in the Max & the Midknights series, Max remained gender neutral until people read the book. Can you tell us why it was important to you to create a heroine and to not tease her gender with the cover art and book description?

That came about as a result of a conversation I’d had a few years earlier with three friends – Jeff Kinney, Dav Pilkey, and Stephan Pastis. We were speaking about the fact that in the children’s book market, all of us had become known for creating stories featuring pre-adolescent boys as protagonists. When we did bookstore events, the kids in attendance were overwhelmingly male. And of course, all four of us are middle-aged men. At a certain point in the conversation, someone posed the question: What if one of us wrote a book with a female protagonist? I thought to myself, “I’d like to try that” – not because I’m particularly interested in the notion that there are “girl books” and “boy books.” I reject that premise. I just thought it would be fun – and a challenge – to subvert readers’ expectations. I knew, based on the fact that I’d written the boy-centric Big Nate books, that just about everyone who picked up a copy of Max & the Midknights would assume Max was a boy. I didn’t want them to focus on Max’s gender, but on her dilemma – she’s living the life of an apprentice troubadour while dreaming of becoming a knight. That’s why I made her name and appearance gender neutral, and why I waited nearly 50 pages to reveal the fact that Max is a girl. I didn’t want to write a book in which her gender is the main issue; I wanted to write a book in which her gender is ultimately irrelevant.

The second book, Max & the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins, deals a bit more explicitly with questions of identity: Max’s identity as an aspiring knight, first and foremost, but also the idea that people might withhold or disguise their identities for any number of reasons. Max is a kid who’s accustomed to people jumping to conclusions about her identity. That made her the perfect character to drive the story in Battle of the Bodkins. Everyone knows by now that Max is a girl, but that hasn’t necessarily made her path any smoother. And it doesn’t mean that the identities of other characters are always what they appear to be.

What is it about Max that makes her relatable to both tween boys and girls?

It’s fun to read stories about characters whose lives are more eventful than our own, and Max certainly has a pretty interesting life. But a story becomes even more compelling when the characters we’re spending time with are everyday people with identifiable strengths and vulnerabilities. Max has no extraordinary powers – she’s not a superhero or an alien or a kid with magical abilities. In fact, she’s filled with many of the same insecurities as a typical 10-year-old. I’d like to think that, in that sense, she seems authentic to readers. Kids enjoy finding themselves in stories, and even though parts of Max’s life are exotic, it’s easy for young readers to see themselves in her.

At the beginning of Battle of the Bodkins, Max is suffering a crisis of confidence. She wonders if she has what it takes to become a knight, and she compares herself to Sedgewick, one of her Knight School classmates. We’ve all been there! I’m pretty sure that most tweens, whether boys or girls, know what it’s like to feel resentful of a more accomplished peer. Max certainly does, and during Battle of the Bodkins she can be peevish, vain, short-tempered, and snarky. She also has many moments of courage, loyalty, valor, and selflessness. She’s a mixed bag, which I think makes her much more relatable than a character who either succeeds at everything or fails relentlessly.

How do you use illustrations to support the text of a middle grade novel?

I don’t think of illustrations as supporting the text; I see them as part of the text. I use the term hybrid to describe books like mine, because it suggests an equal partnership between words and pictures. Instead of marching alongside one another, the illustrations and text are weaving in and around each other. It’s almost like two musicians working on a duet until it sounds just right. That’s why I would describe myself as a rhythm writer. There’s a definite rhythm that I strive for on each page, but it’s hard to pin down exactly why one piece of dialogue works as part of the text, while another line simply has to be featured in a speech bubble.

Some pieces of editorial insight are cliches, but that doesn’t make them any less true – like “show, not tell.” I think about that one all the time. In Battle of the Bodkins, there’s a lot of action. I could try to write a vivid description of what it’s like for Max to fall into a crater in the Pits of Doom or, earlier in the book, to be swallowed by a giant swamp worm. But it’s far more impactful – and fun for the reader – if I present those events visually. Similarly, moments of humor can become far more memorable if a joke is reinforced by the facial expressions and body language of the characters involved.

I also think it’s important for the style of the illustrations to match the tenor and tone of the text. I consider myself only a fair to middling visual artist, but the clean, simple cartooning style I’ve developed over the years is a good fit for the comedic nature of a book like Battle of the Bodkins. A more realistic or atmospheric approach wouldn’t be as effective.

You’re well-known for the Big Nate series, how are Nate and Max similar? How are they different?

Let’s start with the similarities. They’re about the same age – Max is 10 and Nate is 11.  Both are bold and decisive, and both are leaders. They are optimists. Each has a bumbling but lovable father figure; for Nate, it’s his actual dad, and for Max, it’s Uncle Budrick. And they both have certain qualities that make them unique among their peers.  In Max’s case, she is skilled in the knightly arts. Nate’s skills apply to a different kind of art – he is an aspiring cartoonist and storyteller. And finally, both characters are clearly good people whose hearts are in the right place. Any difficulties they find themselves in are never the result of their acting out of malice or spite.

But they diverge in many ways. Nate has a much bigger ego than Max and is convinced of his own exceptionality. He’s older than Max is, but not as emotionally mature. He’s impulsive and impatient – character traits that do not serve him well in middle school.  Max, on the other hand, has a level of self-awareness that eludes Nate. She is far more responsible; in Battle of the Bodkins, she must make decisions that will impact the safety and security of an entire kingdom. She’s also independent and uncommonly self-reliant for a child of her age – one gets the feeling that Uncle Budrick might fall apart without her. And above all, Max is a protector. She understands that the job of a knight is to shield others from harm, and she embraces this role. Nate is the star of his own life, but his adventures are inevitably low-stakes events. Max, on the other hand, frequently deals with high-stakes, life-or-death conflicts. She is truly heroic.

About Lincoln Peirce:

Lincoln Peirce is a New York Times-bestselling author and cartoonist. His comic strip Big Nate, featuring the adventures of an irrepressible sixth grader, appears in over 400 newspapers worldwide and online at gocomics.com/bignate. In 2010, he began a series of illustrated novels based on the strip, introducing Nate and his cast of classmates and teachers to a new generation of young readers. In the past seven years, twenty million Big Nate books have been sold.

Max and the Midknights, Lincoln’s instant New York Times bestselling novel for Crown Books for Young Readers, originated as a spoof of sword and sorcery tales. He later rewrote the story with a new and memorable protagonist: Max, a ten-year-old apprentice troubadour who dreams of becoming a knight. Max & the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins returns readers to the kingdom of Byjovia for more high-spirited medieval adventures, supported by hundreds of dynamic illustrations employing the language of comics. Of the lively visual format that has become his trademark, Lincoln says, “I try to write the sorts of books I would have loved reading when I was a kid.”

When he is not writing or drawing, Lincoln enjoys playing ice hockey, doing crossword puzzles, and hosting a weekly radio show devoted to vintage country music. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children and live in Portland, Maine.


H/T: Special thanks to @NicktoonsFan for the news!

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