Nickelodeon, French producers circle 'Oasis'

From Variety.com:

Nick, French producers circle 'Oasis'
Duo team with TeamTo on animation series

Nickelodeon, French channel TF1 and French animation studio TeamTo have signed on as co-producers of the Korean 3-D animated TV series "Oasis."

A recipient of production finance from the Korea Content & Culture Agency, "Oasis" was developed by Seoul-based Tuba Entertainment and is being repped internationally by independent distributor Synergy Media.

The deal with Nickelodeon was sealed at the KidScreen Summit in New York, which opened Feb. 8. Roughly 70% of the series' $10.8 million budget is expected to be financed by Nickelodeon and the French co-producers.

"Oasis" centers on a vulture scared of flying, who sets off on a road trip with his son and daughter to a legendary place where fears can be overcome. The series will be made up of 52 episodes of 11 minutes each.

"Nickelodeon told us they had been looking for a cartoony, slapstick-style CGI comedy for a long time," said Youngmee Kim of Synergy Media.

Production on seven 90-second pilots will kick off in a few weeks.

Nickelodeon International Says “Action!” to Ricky Sprocket – Showbiz Boy

From AWN Headline News:

Nick Says “Action!” to Ricky Sprocket – Showbiz Boy

Bejuba! Ent. Inc., Snowden Fine Prods. and Studio B Prods. Inc. have announced that RICKY SPROCKET – SHOWBIZ BOY will air on Nickelodeon channels in the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Scandinavia in the fall of 2007 and Nicktoons Network in the U.S. The series, created by Alison Snowden and David Fine, the Oscar-winning team behind BOB AND MARGARET, will be co-produced with Vancouver’s Studio B Prods. Inc. and distributed by Bejuba! Ent. Inc. Canadian broadcast partner TELETOON was involved in the early production of the property and is preparing to launch the series in the fall of 2007.

RICKY SPROCKET – SHOWBIZ BOY is a 26x22 (52x11) animated comedy series aimed at kids 6-12. The series follows mega superstar child actor Ricky Sprocket, a regular kid with an annoying sister, too much homework, childhood issues and a crazy showbiz life. Ricky is not only funny and quirky, but a real character with his own emotions and life concerns. Ricky’s fans adore him, but even though he’s the world’s biggest star, he still has to take out the garbage.

“Nickelodeon channels around the world and Nicktoons Network in the U.S. have embraced Ricky Sprocket from the moment they saw it,” says Tatiana Kober of Bejuba! Ent. “The series will strike a chord in children around the world as Ricky is a real kid living every child’s dream.”

“We are delighted to be working with Nickelodeon on this exciting new comedy. I think kids will really relate to the humor and pace of this cartoon,” said Studio B Prods. partner Blair Peters.

“We feel RICKY SPROCKET’s humor and strong character is a perfect fit with Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Networks we are thrilled that they feel the same way,” said David Fine of Snowden Fine. “It’s great that the show has found a home with such prestigious broadcasters.

Debbie Macdonald, vp, programming director, Nickelodeon U.K., said, “RICKY SPROCKET is a real gem of a series. The high standards of animation, brilliant humor and quirky characters will resonate with Nick audiences all over the world.”

Alison Snowden and David Fine recently moved to Vancouver after living in London, England for the previous fifteen years. In the U.K., they produced short films and numerous ads as well their award winning series, BOB AND MARGARET (produced with Nelvana Ltd), which was a primetime hit on Global TV in Canada and Comedy Central in the U.S. The series was Comedy Central’s highest rated series after SOUTH PARK. Snowden and Fine have won numerous awards for their work, including two Oscar nominations, finally bagging the trophy the third time for their short film, BOB’S BIRTHDAY, which was the precursor for BOB AND MARGARET. Visit www.snowdenfine.com for more information.

Bejuba! Ent. is an executive production/distribution company working with producers to bring quality children’s and family productions to the marketplace. The company, established in 2003 by Tatiana Kober, focuses on bringing production partners together, on closing gap financing and on distribution. Bejuba! is working with a number of companies on several different projects, including THE AMAZING ADRENALINI BROTHERS!, MONSTER WARRIORS, Tandem Films’ short films and ZDFE’s children’s programming.

An award-winning Vancouver-based animation studio founded in 1988, Studio B Prods. produces such original series as BEING IAN, CLASS OF THE TITANS, D’MYNA LEAGUES, WHAT ABOUT MIMI? and YVON OF THE YUKON. Studio B also provides service work for some of the most well-known companies in the world, including Jetix Europe (Pucca). For more information, visit www.studiobproductions.com.

Nicktoons Network, the 24-hour animation network owned by Nickelodeon, features a wide variety of programming that have defined kids’ and animation lovers’ television for more than 10 years. Targeting kids 6-14, Nicktoons Network features programming that is 75% exclusive to the channel. Nicktoons Network currently reaches 37 million homes via cable, digital cable and satellite, and can be seen on Cablevision, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, DirecTV, DISH Network and Time Warner Cable.

Nickelodeon, the world’s most widely distributed kids’ network in the world, reaches a total of 200 million households in 169 territories worldwide via 29 channels, 27 websites, three mobile services and five broadband. Programming is also aired via 21 branded program blocks and syndicated on third party broadcasters.

DreamWorks’ Panda & Madagascar Spinning TV Series on Nickelodeon

From AWN Headline News:

DreamWorks’ Panda & Madagascar Spinning TV Series on Nick

Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation are teaming on possible weekly series based on DreamWorks animated features, KUNG FU PANDA and MADAGASCAR, confirms Nickelodeon. First reported in VARIETY, the MADAGASCAR spinoff will chronicle the adventures of its penguin characters — Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private.

Nick will handle the day-to-day development of the series, but plans to outsource the actual CG production.

DreamWorks Animation ceo Jeffrey Katzenberg told VARIETY, "We've given them all the elements that exist in the movies and then, really... we're pretty deferential on this. They spent a lot of time with the creators, directors, producers and talent involved in the two movies, but it was more to pick their brains and then take the properties and make them their own."

Tom Martin (THE SIMPSONS) has been hired to write the pilot for PANDA while Paul Rugg (FREAKAZOID!) will write the MADAGASCAR-inspired show.

Since Paramount's acquisition of DreamWorks in December, Katzenberg said, "From the outset, one of the highest priorities for us was to share with Nickelodeon our movie properties. One of the greatest opportunities in making the deal with Viacom was [Nick’s] interest and enthusiasm for repurposing or adapting our properties into their world and their TV networks.”

Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon and MTV Networks Kids & Family Group, added, "We know what's in our own pipeline, and so we look for things that would be additive. We thought the characters in KUNG FU PANDA were very funny and could live beyond the movie universe. And everyone loves those penguins."

W!LDBRAIN Gets First Series with Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba!

From AWN Headline News:

W!LDBRAIN Gets First Series with Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba!

Nick Jr. has announced it has picked up a new original half-hour preschool series, YO GABBA GABBA! The 20-episode live-action magazine-style series will use music and song to highlight simple life lessons and universal experiences in the lives of preschoolers. Produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN, YO GABBA GABBA! will commence production in April in Orange County, California, and the series is scheduled to premiere on Nick Jr. in fall 2007.

YO GABBA GABBA! stars host DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) who brings to life five friendly toy characters in a colorful land full of song and dance. The magazine-style format is infused with a retro style and beat driven music. YO GABBA GABBA! will feature animated segments, real kids and special guests, in addition to a world of puppet characters. Muno the red Cyclops, Foofa the pink flower bubble, Brobee the green little one, Toodee the blue cat-dragon and Plex the robot will star.

"YO GABBA GABBA! puts the funk in preschool!," said Brown Johnson, evp/exec creative director, Nickelodeon Preschool. "The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN have created a hip, inventive and one-of-a-kind music series, which furthers Nick's commitment to be the place for top quality preschool music entertainment."

"Shows like this come along once in a lifetime. YO GABBA GABBA! is both fresh, fun, unique and truly original," added Charles Rivkin, president/ceo of W!LDBRAIN. "We are proud to work with Nick Jr. and the brilliant minds at The Magic Store to redefine preschool entertainment for generations to come."

The Magic Store was founded in 2005 by "Gen X" dads Christian Jacobs, Justin Lyon and Scott Schultz. The studio's first project, YO GABBA GABBA!, was produced independently in two half-hour episodes. After creating an online viral frenzy with the trailer, the show ultimately found a home on Nick Jr.

Founded in 1994, W!LDBRAIN (www.wildbrain.com) is an award-winning entertainment company that develops and produces content across the media spectrum.

Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Buzzing About Mayfly

From AWN Headline News:

Paramount, Nick Buzzing About Mayfly

Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies have optioned the CG family pitch MAYFLY from writing team Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick (THE SANTA CLAUSE, SPACE JAM), reports VARIETY.

With mayflies sometimes only living a matter of days, a young bug accidentally oversleeps and must live for the moment with the help of his tortoise friend, who could live to be 100 years old.

Nick Movies exec Julia Pistor will produce.