Following its best Q1 performance in
the kids six to 11 demo in five years, Nickelodeon swung into New York for its 2017/18 upfront presentation riding a wave of momentum and touting a content pipeline stacked with nearly 700 episodes of new and returning series.
PRESCHOOL
For preschoolers, the network will
premiere three new animated series
Butterbean’s Café, Sunny Day and Top Wing, along with close to 200 new episodes of returning hit shows including PAW Patrol, Blaze and the
Monster Machines, Shimmer and Shine, Mutt & Stuff and the newly
launched Nella the Princess Knight.
Nella the Princess Knight, which marks Nick's first co-production with U.K.-based corporate sibling Channel 5, centers on an unconventional heroine who goes on marvelous quests to show the world that there's more than one way to be a princess or a knight.
Created by Christine Ricci (curriculum consultant on Blaze and the Monster Machines and Team Umizoomi). It will hit international markets beginning in April 2017, with consumer products launching in early 2018.
Butterbean’s Café, about a fairy who runs a neighborhood cafe with her friends. Created by Jonny Belt and Robert Scull, the creators of Bubble Guppies, the series is produced by Brown Bag Films (Peter Rabbit) in Ireland, picked up for 40 episodes.
Top Wing, a co-production with 9 Story, focuses on a team of eager young Birds as they flock together to help their community and earn their wings as full-feathered rescuers. It was created by Matthew Fernandes and executive produced by Scott Kraft (The Fresh Beat Band, PAW Patrol), picked up for 26 episodes (originally 52epsx11min).
Sunny Day is a brand-new animated preschool series that follows Sunny,
the best hairstylist in her town and a natural leader. Created and produced by Silvergate Media (Peter Rabbit ), picked up the series for 40 episodes over two seasons.
Nick currently owns six of the top-10 programs for kids ages two to five this year, according to Nielsen Media Research, led by top-ranked PAW Patrol.
ANIMATION
For kid-targeted animation, three new series will be introduced, Amusement Park, The Adventures of Kid Danger and Captain Man and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while nearly 200 episodes of returning hits including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House and ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks are scheduled to launch.
Amusement Park is a result of parentco Viacom’s new five-point turn around plan, which will see Paramount’s film slate include co-branded releases from each of Viacom’s flagship brands. It is the first of a four-film Nick/Paramount theatrical slate and will be directed by Dylan Brown for a July 2018 premiere. A Nick TV series adaptation will follow in 2019.
Ten episodes of The Adventures of
Kid Danger and Captain Man (working title) are also in the mix. Created and executive produced by Dan Schneider (Game Shakers, iCarly), the crime-fighting program is based on Schneider’s top-rated live-action comedy Henry Danger.
The third new series is Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (working title, 26 episodes), a 2D-animated reimagining of the global TMNT franchise. Slated for this fall, the series follows the famous half-shell heroes as they discover a magical new world beneath the streets of New York City. Nickelodeon is currently airing the fifth and final season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and will hit international markets soon.
New 20-episode shows Bunsen is a
Beast, Pinky Malinky and the TV version of digital short-form series
Welcome to the Wayne are also
included among Nick’s 2017
animated lineup.
Bunsen is a Beast!, picked up for 20 episodes, follows two unlikely friends attending grade school. On his first day at a human-grade school, Bunsen befriends a classmate named Mikey, who over time guides Bunsen through the ups and downs of life as a human. The original animated comedy is created and executive produced by Butch Hartman. Nick US premiered the show in February 2017 and will hit international markets soon.
Welcome to the Wayne , picked up for 20 episodes, marks Nick's first digital short-form series to be greenlit for television. The series follows the comedic adventures of two 10-year-old boys exploring the crazy, unpredictable world of their New York City apartment building The Wayne. Welcome to the Wayne is created and written by Emmy Award-winning writer and composer Billy Lopez (The Wonder Pets!, Phineas and Ferb).
Pinky Malinky is a brand new mockumentary and reality show that follows the everyday life of Pinky, an infectiously positive hot dog living in a human world. With his best friends Babs and JJ by his side, Pinky reaches for the stars in the small town of Sackenhack. Co-created and co-executive produced by Chris Garbutt and Rikke Asbjoern (The Amazing World of Gumball ) and executive produced by Scott Kreamer (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness). Pinky Malinky will star Lucas Grabeel (Glenn Martin DDS) as Pinky Malinky, Diamond White (The Haunted Hathaways) as Babs Buttman, and Nathan Kress (iCarly) as JJ Jameson.
As for live-action, three new series will launch Lip Sync Battle Shorties (pictured), I Am Frankie and recently announced Hunter Street, as well as 300 all-new episodes from Henry Danger, Game Shakers, The Thundermans, School of Rock and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.
Lip Sync Battle Shorties, picked up for 10 episodes, Viacom-owned Spike’s Emmy-nominated global hit, Lip Sync Battle. The kids version is created and executive produced by Casey Patterson Entertainment and Matador Content, with John Krasinski, Stephen Merchant and Eight Million Plus Productions also serving as executive producers. It will begin production later this year and is set to premiere in the fall. It first aired as one-hour special in December.
I Am Frankie is the story of "Frankie", an experimental android who navigates the perils and wonders of being a teenager. Nickelodeon has ordered 20 x 30 minute episodes. It was originally produced as Yo Soy Franky by Nickelodeon Latin America, the English Version is currently in production.
Hunter Street (formally titled The Ludwigs) is a brand-new comedy-
drama series that follows the comedic adventures of the Ludwig family, a family of five foster children who live in an imposing Amsterdam canal house that also serves as a museum with their parents. When Kate and Erik mysteriously disappear, their five step-children are dragged into a thrilling adventure where the mysterious family history of the Ludwigs is gradually unravelled. Hunter Street is based on Nickelodeon's Dutch television series De Ludwigs (20epsX30min). The international version of the series will star an American cast.
An untitled docu-style special that gives viewers an exclusive look into the life of 13-year-old singer, dancer, performer and social media influencer JoJo Siwa has been greenlit. Nick, in fact, has signed Siwa to a broader multiplatform talent deal encompassing consumer products, original programming, social media,
live events and music.
MOVIES
Rufus 2
What if your dog…became a dude? Manny’s lived that tail! With the help of an enchanted medallion, his loyal dog Rufus is magically transformed into a real boy! Rufus’ top dog antics earn him school-wide pupularity. However – it’s not always a walk in the park, especially with an evil squirrel and an undercover cat on your tail! Can Jace Norman, Jade Petty, and Davis Cleveland use their animal instincts to survive this hair-raising adventure? Find out when the action is unleashed!
Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie
is a brand-new two-part animated Hey Arnold! TV movie that will pick up where the original series ended,
resolving unanswered questions and plotlines, including Arnold finally getting answers about the whereabouts of his missing parents.
Coming in November 2017 in the US and then internationally.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s
Library
Based on author Chris Grabenstein’s acclaimed children’s book of the same name, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is about a group of friends whose overnight stay in their town’s new hi-tech library turns into a daring, dangerous adventure of escape. The 90-minute, live-action TV movie stars Breanna Yde (Nickelodeon’s School of Rock), Casey Simpson (Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn ), Russell Roberts (The Twilight Saga: New Moon) and newcomers AJ Rivera and Klarke Pipkin.
Nick’s hit TV events include the Kids’
Choice Awards and Worldwide Day of Play. The network is already in the
process of signing merchandising
and promotional partners in
categories including apparel, home
furnishings, toys, accessories and
publishing.
ADDITIONAL NEWS
Acquired Programs:
ToonMarty
40epsx11min
In the middle of Toonville, where all cartoons live, sits the Toonmart, where all cartoons hang out. As the Number One (read “only”) employee there, Marty believes his job is to stick his nose in everyone else’s business…And there’s no business Marty likes better than somebody else’s business, except maybe show business! With every bend, bounce, flip and spin, Marty makes a great big cartoony adventure out of everything, and includes everyone in his Marty-Party!
Becca's Bunch
52epsx11 min
Revolves around Becca, a unique little Bird! She has an innate curiosity and a wonderful way of looking at things. From her quirky dress sense to her hobbies to her can-do attitude which allow her big ideas to take flight on the most fantastical adventures with her three best friends - Stewy, Pedro and Sylvia.
Other Programming:
Mysticons
is a brand-new half-hour, animated Girls Action series targeting girls aged 6+. The series tells the epic tale of four girls who transform into legendary warriors and undertake a mythic quest to find a magic tome known as the Codex. They must reach the Codex before Necrafa, the Queen of the Undead, gets to it first and uses it to spread darkness and destruction. The Mysticons come from different walks of life, from princess to street kid, but are brought together by fate to save the world. With their incredible magical weapons and abilities, our masked Mysticons are modern day heroines.
Glitch Techs
is a animated adventure-comedy series that follows two newly recruited kids as they battle video game monsters that come to life in the real world. The brand-new series comes from Eric Robles ( Fanboy & Chum Chum) and Dan Milano (Greg the Bunny, Warren the Ape). The series has been picked-up for 20-episodes.
News:
Nickelodeon Launches All-New On-Air Brand Refresh, Reflecting Playfulness and Imagination of Kids’ Lives
The new look consists of almost 300 deliverables, including bumpers, IDs, promo toolkits and graphic developments that will first roll out across the net’s U.S. linear platform,
followed by online, social media and off-channel. Updated elements for the network’s international channels will then follow.
Harvey Beaks - Ending
Regal Academy
Rainbow is launching a ranch of items later in the year for this top-performing girl-targeted series which bowed out with an epic first season with fans waiting for news on second season of this prestige show.
Henry Danger and Paw Patrol have been renewed for a fourth season.
ALVINNN and the Chipmunks has been commissioned for third and fourth season coming this fall.
The Loud House, School of Rock, Game Shakers, and Shimmer and Shine have all been renewed for a third season.
Pig Goat Banana Cricket viewership has plummeted, possibly with no chance of a third season. In the US, they moved it to Nicktoons for the duration of the second season, not surprised if NickToons in Africa does the same.
AFRICA NEWS
Coming to Nickelodeon in April are Pig Goat Banana Cricket as well as Rufus 2 and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn; with Game Shakers in May.
Blaze and the Monster Machines will air on Nick Jr in May and Shimmer and Shine in June.
NickToons My Life as a Teenage Robot is scheduled to air in June and My Little Pony in July.