NICKELODEON LAUNCHES INTERGALACTIC SHORTS PROGRAM 2.0 FOR ALL NEW GLOBAL SEARCH FOR ANIMATION TALENT
Rock, Paper, Scissors, the First Series to Be Greenlit from Original 2019 Program, Makes Worldwide Short Debut at Annecy International Animation Film Festival
2.0 Program to be Overseen by Nickelodeon Executives Daniel Wineman and Chris Rose
BURBANK, Calif., June 13, 2022 -- Nickelodeon's Intergalactic Shorts Program 2.0 is opening its search for new and diverse creators from across the globe, focusing on new voices and nurturing their vision for original comedy-driven content with an eye toward representation. Today's announcement was made by Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation.
Originally launched in 2019, Rock, Paper, Scissors marks the first finalized short to be greenlit for series from the inaugural program. In the short, the iconic trio of Rock, Paper, and Scissors lovingly compete with one another in this buddy comedy about the joy and messiness of friendship. Six additional projects from 2019 are currently in production at Nickelodeon. Additional information will be available soon.
Nickelodeon will debut Rock, Paper, Scissors during a special Nickelodeon Animation presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Thursday, June 16.
"We knew we were onto something special with creators Kyle Stegina and Josh Lehrman and their hilarious characters in Rock, Paper, Scissors, which we are so proud to bring to series," said Naito. "Finding and growing talent through the process of pitch to hit is what powers our Intergalactic Shorts Program, and we can't wait to get started finding the next great creator in animation through our program's just-launched second phase."
The original Rock, Paper, Scissors short and series are created, written, and executive produced by Kyle Stegina (Robot Chicken) and Josh Lehrman (Robot Chicken), with Conrad Vernon (Sausage Party) and Bob Boyle (The Fairly OddParents) serving as executive producers on the series.
Through the 2022 Program, Nickelodeon will accept ideas from a global pool of storytellers and creative visionaries including artists, writers, and directors. Shorts will run on Nickelodeon's platforms and are in the process of being developed into long-form animated series.
Shorts should feature one-of-a-kind, character-driven comedy and surprising storytelling, combining humor with action-adventure, mystery, sci-fi, and more. In line with Nickelodeon's mission to make the best, original humor-driven content for kids, these creator-driven shorts offer content that is appealing to all members of the family, featuring a co-viewing lens of preschool (K 2-5) and big kids (K 6-11).
Nickelodeon's Intergalactic Shorts Program launched in June 2019 and was overseen by Kari Kim, Vice President, Animation Development, Nickelodeon Animation, with Conrad Vernon serving as the program's executive producer and Paul Watling (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) as co-executive producer. Daniel Wineman, Vice President, Animation Development, Nickelodeon Animation and Chris Rose, Vice President, Production & Development, Kids & Family, Global will oversee the 2022 Intergalactic Shorts Program 2.0.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 43rd 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. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount's (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.
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Creators for the inaugural program have been sourced from the U.S. Those for the 2.0 Program will be sourced around the world, Naito told Variety.
That reflects Nickelodeon’s outreach to global talent under Naito, which was accelerated by the pandemic.
In its drive to hire talent, Nickelodeon launched a virtual recruiting drive during COVID-19 when 9,000 people from across the globe joined a recruiting session. “Going virtual and working off the cloud opened up opportunities for us and for everyone. And it brought us so much closer together in so many ways.”
Pitches for shorts can be made by artists, writers, and directors, Nickelodeon confirmed Monday. Shorts will run on Nickelodeon’s platforms and are in the process of being developed into long-form animated series.
Shorts should feature “one-of-a-kind, character-driven comedy and surprising storytelling, combining humor with action-adventure, mystery, sci-fi, and more,” Nickelodeon added. “In line with Nickelodeon’s mission to make the best, original humor-driven content for kids, these creator-driven shorts offer content that is appealing to all members of the family, featuring a co-viewing lens of preschool (K 2-5) and big kids (K 6-11),” it announced.
The Program’s eye towards representation is crucial, Naito noted. “Nickelodeon’s core audience are kids between the ages of six and 11. More than 50% are non-white.”
“To serve and connect with that audience, we have to be inclusive. We have to hire inclusively and lead with a high level of inclusivity. Top down our leadership is very diverse and our creators are diverse. It’s because the world is diverse.”
At the Annecy Presentation, Naito will share a new clip of Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank as she beats a drum for an upcoming animated feature release state.
People are excited to get out and go to the movies and they’re looking for family events and we have so many movies coming out,” Naito said citing Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, set to bow in July, and three 2023 titles; the Seth Rogan-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, Paw Patrol 2: The Mighty Movie and The Tiger’s Apprentice.
From Variety:
During the pandemic, Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation greenlit over 10 new projects across series and movies, combined Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation and broadened its strategy into theatricals, and hired nearly 1,000 artists to work to support all of their shows, said Naito.
Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation president, she will be world premiering at an Annecy presentation “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” the first short to be greenlit from Nickelodeon’s inaugural 2019 Intergalactic Shorts Program.
Now, distributors want to rev up excitement on their major shows, including big theatrical plays. “People are excited to get out and go to the movies and they’re looking for family events and we have so many movies coming out,” said Naito who at her Annecy Presentation will share a new clip of “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.”
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