DHX Media lands the extraordinary world of Dorg Van Dango on Nickelodeon Italy
Hilarious new original kids' series, co-produced with Cartoon Saloon, expected to roll out on Nickelodeon across 170+ territories in 2020
Nickelodeon is bringing the weird and wild world of Dorg Van Dango to viewers in the brand new animated series!
Dorg Van Dango is a Canada-Ireland co-production from WildBrain Ltd. (formally DHX Media) and Cartoon Saloon, in association with Family Channel in Canada and RTE in Ireland.
Dorg Van Dango will premiere on Monday 14th September 2020 at 15:30 on Nickelodeon Italy (Italia). Following launch, Dorg Van Dango will continue to air regularly weekdays at 15:30 on Nick Italia.
The news follows Nickelodeon International signing a exclusive agreement with WildBrain to air the series on more than 100+ locally programmed Nickelodeon channels and branded block in over 500 million households across 170+ countries and territories worldwide, including in the UK, Australia, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain, Central Eastern Europe, Poland, Israel, Latin America, Asia (excluding China), India, the Middle East and North Africa. The series is currently rolling out onto Nickelodeon channels and blocks globally. Commissioning broadcaster Family Channel is airing the new series in Canada.
A brand new 2D-animated comedy for six to 11-year-olds, Dorg Van Dango (52 x 11') follows the adventures of Dorg, a regular teenager growing up in the town of Normill. But life takes a wild turn when four magical beings - THE MAGICALS - escape from Area 52 and crash-land in his back yard! Dorg takes them under his wing and disguises them as normal teenagers—but his new gang of best friends are anything but normal. Jet the cool unicorn, RD the goofy alien, Yooki the spooky ghost, and Patronella the weird witch all try to help Dorg navigate teenage life. Whenever he has a problem or chore, they’re always quick to offer a magical shortcut, but it’s not long before their magic gets out of control and things escalate in unexpected and hilarious ways. When the gang try to use their powers to undo the chaos, they only make more magical mayhem, leaving it up to Dorg to figure out a solution and save the day - often learning a thing or two about life and friendship along the way.
"The world of Dorg Van Dango is really hilarious and quirky," said Josh Scherba, President, DHX Media. "What kid wouldn't want a super-cool unicorn, a curious alien, an ancient witch and an eerie ghost as his secret, new best friends? When these escapees from Area 51 look to 'normal kid' Dorg Van Dango for help, things get crazy. Alongside the team at Cartoon Saloon, we've created something really fun and special here, and we're confident Nickelodeon's international audience is going to love following the adventures of Dorg and his unusual new friends."
"We are thrilled to be partnering with DHX and Cartoon Saloon on Dorg Van Dango. The vibrant, fun, fresh look of the series and unique stories of friendship, are a perfect fit for Nickelodeon and we look forward to introducing Dorg and the Magicals to our audience internationally," said Layla Lewis, SVP Global Acquisitions and Partnerships, Nickelodeon.
"I want to thank the very clever people at Nickelodeon for joining Cartoon Saloon and our wonderful colleagues at DHX Media on this journey to bring Dorg and his friends to an international audience," said Paul Young, CEO of Cartoon Saloon. "Our Emmy-winning comedy writer, Nick Murphy, has been leading a team of Irish and Canadian writers to create scripts that have left me crying laughing. Our creative team of Fabian Erlinghauser, from Cartoon Saloon, and Matt Ferguson, from DHX Media, are preparing a show that has a very colourful, original look. Something fresh for a new generation of kids out there. We're all very excited!"
Dorg Van Dango is based on an original idea by Fabian Erlinghäuser (Song of the Sea, Moone Boy) and Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner, The Secret of Kells) and is developed and produced with assistance from Fís Éirean/Screen Ireland and Creative Europe. Cartoon Saloon handles writing, designs, storyboards and post-production as well as distribution in Ireland and the UK, and DHX Media handles voice records, character and background builds, animation, and distribution rest-of-world.
Fans can visit nicktv.it to find out more about their favourite shows, play games and watch clips. Fans can also like the official Nickelodeon Italia Facebook page and follow Nickelodeon on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to the official Nickelodeon Italia YouTube channel for the latest Nick news, highlights and videos.
More Nick: Nick Jr. Italy to Premiere 'Barbapapa & Family' on Monday 21st September 2020!
About WildBrain
At WildBrain we make great content for kids and families. With over 13,000 half-hours of filmed entertainment in our library – one of the world’s most extensive – we are home to such brands as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Inspector Gadget and Degrassi. Our shows are seen in more than 150 countries on over 500 telecasters and streaming platforms. Our AVOD business – WildBrain Spark – offers one of the largest networks of kids’ channels on YouTube, with over 109 million subscribers. We also license consumer products and location-based entertainment in every major territory for our own properties as well for our clients and content partners. Our television group owns and operates four family entertainment channels that are among the most-viewed in Canada. WildBrain is headquartered in Canada with offices worldwide and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (DHX) and the NASDAQ (DHXM). Visit us at www.wildbrain.com.
On September 23, 2019, DHX Media Ltd. announced it is rebranding as “WildBrain”.
About Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon is a four-time Academy Award® and BAFTA nominated animation studio formed by Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey in 1999. From award-winning shorts to Feature Films and TV series, Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international Animation industry.
In 2010 the studio's first feature film, The Secret of Kells, was nominated for an Academy Award® and in 2015 Tomm Moore's follow up feature, Song of the Sea, garnered Moore a second Oscar® Nomination and the first nomination for Producer Paul Young and won the IFTA for Best Film in Ireland. In 2018 Nora Twomey received an Oscar® Nomination for The Breadwinner, their third feature film, which had the help of Angelina Jolie as an executive Producer. Writer/Director Louise Bagnall and Producer Nuria Blanco (also an Associate Producer on Dorg) received Cartoon Saloon's 4th Oscar® Nomination in January 2019, for the short film Late Afternoon. Concentrating the artistic skills and experience of the company's core creative founders, Cartoon Saloon continues to tell stories for the screen, aligning with artists and partners with whom they can grow and learn. www.cartoonsaloon.ie
About Nickelodeon
The home of SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, PAW Patrol and Nella the Princess Knight, Nickelodeon UK & Ireland Network is available in over 13 million cable and satellite homes and now reaches more than 10 million viewers a month. Launched in 1993, the top-performing Nickelodeon network comprises seven dedicated entertainment channels for kids aged 4-15 and their families: Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nickelodeon +1, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. +1 and Nick Jr. Too. The entertainment company has built a diverse multi-platform business by putting kids first in everything it does – Kids Rule! Content is at the core of the business with critically-acclaimed and hugely-popular television programming from the UK and around the world. In addition to the quality television programmes, Nickelodeon also produces bespoke content available online and on Nick Play, as well as consumer product and recreation opportunities such as the UK’s first-ever Nick theme park, Nickelodeon Land and the slimiest music festival for kids, SLIMEFEST UK.
Originally published: Friday, September 11, 2020.
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