Nickelodeon upfront gives kids more sports, toons and TV movies

Projects from Rob Dyrdek, Breakthrough Entertainment, Spin Master and DHX Media were among the new series unveiled at the kidcaster's upfront presentation yesterday.
March 3, 2016

Two new sports shows from producer Rob Dyrdek, the latest series from Spin Master and DHX Media, and Nick’s first original animated TV movie were among the new content offerings presented at the kidcaster’s upfront presentation yesterday.

Following the success of its hit animated series Wild Grinders, Nick is teaming up again with pro-skateboarder turned TV producer Rob Dyrdek on two new live-action series— Crashletes starring New England Patriots Super Bowl champ Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski and Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life (working title) with 15-year-old skateboard phenom Jagger Eaton.

The former is a viral sports clip series featuring sports and entertainment celebrity guests and run-downs of funny videos and user-generated content. The latter takes a docu-series approach and follows the life of Eaton as he skates around the world spending time with his idols. Production will begin this spring. Both 20-episode series are produced by Dyrdek and Shane Nickerson of Superjacket Productions (Fantasy Factory, Ridiculousness).

Two more new 20-ep live-action series were also announced. Ride, from Canada’s Breakthrough Entertainment and UK-based Buccaneer Media, follows the adventures of a young girl who relocates to England after her dad joins the faculty of an elite equestrian boarding school. The co-production is being shot in Canada and Ireland.

The second new live-action series, The Other Kingdom, is created and executive produced by Thomas W. Lynch and produced by DHX Media. It follows a fairy princess who takes human form and enters the mortal world for 90 days. DHX Media’s Steven DeNure and Anne Loi are executive producing.

Previously announced live-action shows joining Nick’s 2016/17 slate include Paramount Television co-pro School of Rock (12 eps); All In with Cam Newton (20 eps), hosted by Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton; The Dudas (working title, six eps) from creator Kevin Jakubowski; The Ludwigs (20 eps for its English-language version and 20 for its Nickelodeon Netherlands-commissioned Dutch-language production); and I Am Frankie (working title, 20 eps) from producing partner Nickelodeon Latin America.

Nick has also renewed two Dan Schneider series—Henry Danger for season three and Game Shakers for season two—and picked up The Thundermans for season four.

On the preschool side, the network has acquired 26 episodes of brand-new animated preschool series Rusty Rivets from creator and co-producer Spin Master Entertainment (PAW Patrol). Set to debut later this year and inspired by the maker movement, the series follows the adventures of main character Rusty who uses his homemade inventions to solve everyday problems.

It’s also snapped up 40 episodes of Sunny Day, a new toon created and produced by Silvergate Media (Peter Rabbit) that follows the life of a problem-solving hairstylist.

Popular returning preschool series include Shimmer and Shine, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Mutt & Stuff, PAW Patrol, Wallykazam! and Dora and Friends: Into the City!

For kid-targeted animation, long-running hit SpongeBob SquarePants has been renewed for seasons 10 and 11, while Harvey Beaks and Pig Goat Banana Cricket have both earned second seasons.

Among Nick’s previously announced animated series are Bunsen is a Beast! (20 eps) from Butch Hartman; The Loud House (26 episodes); girl-led series Mysticons (40 eps) from Nelvana; digital-based Welcome to the Wayne (20 eps); and mockumentary Pinky Malinky (20 episodes) from Chris Garbutt and Rikke Asbjoern (The Amazing World of Gumball).

Rounding out the 650-episode total of new and returning series are two newly introduced TV movies—three-part original Lost in the West produced by Galdo Media and Nick’s first-ever original animated TV movie, Albert.

Directed by Big Time Rush‘s Carlos Gonzalez, Lost in the West follows two teenage stepbrothers who time-warp back to 1885 after accidently inventing a time machine.

Meanwhile, Christmas-themed Albert tells the story a small Douglas fir tree that longs to become the world’s most famous Christmas tree. The movie will be directed by Max Lang (The Gruffalo) and executive produced by Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb (The Adventures of Pete & Pete).

Previously announced movies Hey Arnold! and Legends of the Hidden Temple (pictured) will also join the lineup.

Nick’s hit TV events the Kids’ Choice Awards, Kids’ Choice Sports and HALO Awards will all return, as well as popular Christmas special Ho Ho Holiday Special.

During the upfront, Nick also outlined an expanded product offering for its partner marketing division, Nickelodeon Velocity (formerly Nickelodeon Inside Out Solutions), which encompasses consumer insights, ad solutions and branded-entertainment opportunities.

 

About The Author
Jeremy is the Features Editor of Kidscreen specializing in the content production, broadcasting and distribution aspects of the global children's entertainment industry. Contact Jeremy at jdickson@brunico.com.

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