Nickelodeon USA To Premiere "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Season 1 Finale In August 2013, To Debut Season 2 In September 2013; To Air New Episodes Of "The Legend Of Korra" Later This Year

Eric Goldman, the Executive Editor for IGN TV, is reporting in a series of Tweets on his official Twitter profile page (@EricIGN) the exciting Nickelodeon news that the network has today, Tuesday 7th May 2013, announced at their Nickelodeon Animation press event, where Nickelodeon gives lucky members of the press news and information about Nickelodeon's current and upcoming animated shows, that Nick USA is planning to premiere the season 1 finale episode of Nick's new CGI-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" television series in August 2013, and start to show brand new episodes from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" season 2 from September 2013!

Eric Goldman is also reporting the Nick News that, although they didn't give an exact date or mention a specific month, Nickelodeon did confirm at their Animation press event that Nick USA will be debuting brand new episodes of Nickelodeon's new original animated series (Nicktoon) "Legend of Korra" later this year, and to celebrate, Nick showed attendees of the Animation press event a very special action sequence from "Book Two: Spirits", the second part of season one!:

At Nickelodeon animation press event. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 1 finale in August - Season 2 debuts in September! #TMNT - Tuesday 7th May 2013

No month/date for Korra's return yet, but they showed us an awesome action scene from Book 2, debuting "later this year" #korranation - Tuesday 7th May 2013.

It was announced earlier this year that the North American actress, comedienne, writer, television producer, director and 2012 presidential nominee Roseanne Barr (also known as Roseanne Cherrie Barr) will be a special guest star in the season one finale of Nickelodeon's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Roseanne Barr is expected to voice a TMNT character called 'Kraang Prime'.

Nickelodeon Expands Animated Shorts Program, Announces 2013 Finalists

Kidscreen's children's digital entertainment and media news column iKids is reporting the Nickelodeon news that, after looking at nearly 900 pitches from writers, artists, directors, designers and comedians from around the world, Nickelodeon has picked 12 finalists for its second annual Animated Shorts Program, the Nickelodeon 2013 Animated Shorts Program, which is intended to cultivate creative talent and develop original comedy-driven kids content.

The kids network will develop the 12 concepts into fully realized shorts that could end up airing on Nickelodeon, Nick.com and the new Nick App, which is growing in popularity, attracting more than one million users since launching in February 2013.

With the added distribution platform for shorts and growth of the program (300 more pitches compared to 2012 spanning all styles from 2D, digital 2D and CGI to stop motion and mixed media), Nick plans to further expand the shorts program with an international launch in the coming months.

According to SVP of animation development Jenna Boyd, the network's London-based SVP of international production and development, Nina Hahn, will be extending the entry deadline until Annecy in June 2013 to take internationally born pitches.

Concepts chosen from the 2013 program as finalists include "Bug Salad", "Earmouse and Bottle", "Welcome to Woodstump" and "Broats". "Bug Salad", created by Carl Faruolo (director of the upcoming animated Nick series "Sanjay and Craig", which Nick USA will premiere on Saturday, May 25, At 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT)), follows the story of a naïve fly and his two best friends, while "Earmouse and Bottle", from storyboard artist Brian Morante, follows a revenge story involving an indestructible Earmouse and a fragile bottle character who are cursed by an evil wizard.

Artist Zach Smith's "Welcome to Woodstump" features main character Dennis Deer's epic adventure to get home after realizing he accidentally wore his mom's jeans. Jack Cusamano's "Broats", meanwhile, focuses on three slacker goats that open their own petting zoo.

Looking at the progress of the 2012 shorts program, six of the final 12 created shorts are currently in series development with two set for pilot orders. "Pam and Sid's Port-a-Party" (pictured below, click here to watch a short video), one of the shorts in series development, will head to the Nick App, but it has not been determined which platforms the other shorts will air on.

Meanwhile, in related shorts news, Nickelodeon has launched "SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes", its first ever global SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired short film competition. You can find more information about Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants film festival here on NickALive!:

Nick expands shorts program, announces 2013 finalists


After looking at nearly 900 pitches from writers, artists, directors, designers and comedians from around the world, Nickelodeon has picked 12 finalists for its second annual Animated Shorts Program, which is intended to cultivate creative talent and develop original comedy-driven kids content.

The kidsnet will develop the 12 concepts from their 2013 Animated Shorts Program into fully realized shorts that could end up airing on Nickelodeon, Nick.com and the new Nick App, which is growing in popularity, attracting more than one million users since launching in February.

With the added distribution platform for shorts and growth of the program (300 more pitches compared to 2012 spanning all styles from 2D, digital 2D and CGI to stop motion and mixed media), Nick plans to further expand the shorts program with an international launch in the coming months.

According to SVP of animation development Jenna Boyd, the network’s London-based SVP of international production and development, Nina Hahn, is extending the entry deadline until Annecy in June to take internationally born pitches.

Concepts chosen from the 2013 program as finalists include Bug Salad, Earmouse and Bottle, Welcome to Woodstump and Broats. Bug Salad, created by Carl Faruolo (director of the upcoming animated Nick series Sanjay and Craig), follows the story of a naïve fly and his two best friends, while Earmouse and Bottle, from storyboard artist Brian Morante, follows a revenge story involving an indestructible Earmouse and a fragile bottle character who are cursed by an evil wizard.

Artist Zach Smith’s Welcome to Woodstump features main character Dennis Deer’s epic adventure to get home after realizing he accidentally wore his mom’s jeans. Jack Cusamano’s Broats, meanwhile, focuses on three slacker goats that open their own petting zoo.

Looking at the progress of the 2012 shorts program, six of the final 12 created shorts are currently in series development with two set for pilot orders. Pam and Sid’s Port-a-Party (pictured, click here for video), one of the shorts in series development, will head to the Nick App, but it has not been determined which platforms the other shorts will air on.

Meanwhile, in related shorts news, Nickelodeon has launched SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes, its first ever global SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired short film competition.

Fans of all ages can submit entries from May 6 until June 28 for a chance to win a cash prize and a trip for four to a screening event in Hollywood.

Submissions can be live-action, animation, or stop-motion, but must celebrate SpongeBob’s humor and positivity and be no longer than three minutes in length. Additional details can be found at www.spongebobsquareshorts.com.

Tags: Animated Shorts Program, Bug Salad, Carl Faruolo, Earmouse and Bottle, Jenna Boyd, Nick App, Nickelodeon, Nina Hahn, Pam and Sid’s Port-a-Party, SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes

Nickelodeon Announces First-Ever Global "SpongeBob SquarePants" Film Competition, "SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes"

Nickelodeon, one of the world's leading recognized entertainment brands for kids and families, has announced, in the following press release from TVbytheNumbers, the first-ever global SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired short film competition, called SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes! SpongeBob fans and filmmakers of all ages from around the world (Planet Nickelodeon / Planet Nick) are invited to create original, SpongeBob-inspired short films for a chance to win a cash prize and trip for four people to a screening event in Hollywood, California, USA! The call for entries opened, Monday, May 6 2013 and will run through Friday, June 28 2013. Entries can be submitted in two categories (under 18 years of age, and 18 and over) to www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com.

Films submitted to the "SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes" competition should be themed around SpongeBob, his world and/or his friends, while celebrating his endearing attributes: humor, overflowing happiness and persistent positivity. The short films can be live-action, animation, stop-motion, etc. and should run no longer than three (3) minutes. Entrants videos will be judged on originality and creativity, incorporation of SpongeBob's attributes, and overall appeal.

Following the entry period, finalists will be selected by a panel of judges, and the top 10 in each of the two categories will be announced on Thursday, July 18 2013 as finalists. From July 18 through Friday, August 2 2013, fans will have the chance to vote for their favorite of the finalists at www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com. The winner from each category will be announced in August 2013. For additional details on the submission process and official rules, please visit the contests official website, www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com.

Nickelodeon's hit original animated series (Nicktoon) "SpongeBob SquarePants" is the most widely distributed property in Viacom Media Networks history.

Original Nickelodeon Press Release:

NICKELODEON ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER SpongeBob SQUAREPANTS GLOBAL FILM COMPETITION, SpongeBob SQUARESHORTS: ORIGINAL FAN TRIBUTES

Call for Entries Begins May 6 and Runs Through June 28

NEW YORK – May 7, 2013 – Nickelodeon, one of the world’s leading recognized entertainment brands for kids and families, today announced the first-ever global SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired short film competition, SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes. SpongeBob fans and filmmakers of all ages from around the world are invited to create original, SpongeBob-inspired short films for a chance to win a cash prize and trip for four people to a screening event in Hollywood, Calif. The call for entries opened, Monday, May 6, and will run through Friday, June 28. Entries can be submitted in two categories (under 18 years of age, and 18 and over) to www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com.


“SpongeBob is a global icon and beloved by people of all ages,” said Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer, Nickelodeon Group. “We’re excited to launch a competition that lets fans around the world create compelling short films that showcase the positivity and optimism that SpongeBob brings to audiences everywhere.”

Films submitted to the SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes competition should be themed around SpongeBob, his world and/or his friends, while celebrating his endearing attributes: humor, overflowing happiness and persistent positivity. The short films can be live-action, animation, stop-motion, etc. and should run no longer than three (3) minutes. Videos will be judged on originality & creativity, incorporation of SpongeBob’s attributes, and overall appeal.

Following the entry period, finalists will be selected by a panel of judges, and the top 10 in each of the two categories will be announced on Thursday, July 18 as finalists. From July 18 through Friday, August 2, fans will have the chance to vote for their favorite of the finalists at www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com. The winner from each category will be announced in August. For additional details on the submission process and official rules, please visit www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com.

SpongeBob SquarePants is a world-renowned and beloved character-driven cartoon that chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends. The series is seen in more than 170 countries and territories and in more than 35+ languages. The series consistently ranks as the #1 program in its time slot vs. all other kids’ channels in Brazil, Canada, Spain, Hungary, Mexico, and the Netherland, and is a top 10 program on Nickelodeon in markets including the UK, Russia, Australia, Germany and Italy. It is the most widely distributed property in Viacom Media Networks history.

SpongeBob SquarePants is executive produced by creator Stephen Hillenburg, who previously worked as a writer, director and creative director on Nickelodeon’s animated series Rocko's Modern Life. Paul Tibbitt served as a director and writer on SpongeBob SquarePants for its first three seasons and is currently executive producer. The series is a Nicktoons Production and is produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif.

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