Thursday, November 21, 2013

November 2013 On Nickelodeon UK, NickToons, And Nick Jr.

Here are Nickelodeon UK and Ireland's, Nickelodeon HD UK's, Nickelodeon +1's, Nicktoons UK and Ireland's, Nick Jr. Channel UK and Ireland's, Nick Jr. +1's and Nick Jr. 2's channel highlights and events for November 2013 (better late than never!):

Nickelodeon UK's latest November 2013 schedule highlights and upcoming events will be posted at the top of each Nick channels category in this NickALive! Nickelodeon UK blog post as they are announced.

November is Newvember on Nickelodeon UK, as Nick's got tons of brand new shows and movies and all-new episodes of favourite shows this November!

Nickelodeon

New Show - The Haunted Hathaways!: Get ready to meet a very unique semi-scary family! Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will be conjuring up huge belly laughs with the premiere of Nick's brand-new live-action comedy series, "The Haunted Hathaways", on Tuesday 5th November 2013 at 6:00pm (replayed at 7:00pm on Nick UK's plus-one timeshift channel, Nick+1)! After Nick UK debuts the series, Nickelodeon UK will then continue to air all-new episodes of "Haunted Hathaways" every Tuesday to Friday at 6:00pm (repeated at 7:00pm on Nickelodeon+1).

New Episodes - Sam & Cat: Hold on to your Pear Phones and grab some Bibble, Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will be premiering two brand new episodes of Nick's all-new original buddy comedy series "Sam & Cat", starring Nick Stars Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande, every Monday at 5:30pm and 6:00pm (replayed at 6:30pm and 7:00pm on Nickelodeon+1)! NickALive! is #TEAMSAMANDCAT, are you!?

New Movie - Nicky Deuce: Nickelodeon UK, the number one commercial kids TV network in the UK, has announced the exciting Nick News that Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will premiere and show Nickelodeon's brand new Original TV Movie, "Nicky Deuce", on Friday 22nd November 2013 at 6:30pm (repeated at 7:30pm on Nick UK's plus-one (+1) timeshift channel, Nickelodeon +1), as part of Nick UK's brand new "Nick Flicks" Friday night programming block! Featuring an impressive cast including Noah Munck (Gibby in "iCarly"), as well as "The Sopranos" stars Steve Schirripa, Michael Imperioli, Vincent Curatola, Tony Sirico and the late, great, James Gandolfini, "Nicky Deuce" sees Nicholas Borelli II (Munck), an over-protected teen, become a fish out of water when he gets caught in the adventure of a lifetime when his plans to attend math camp go awry and he is sent to spend the summer with an uncle (Schirripa) he never knew he had in Brooklyn, New York. Nicholas leans on local kids to help him fit in and winds up mistakenly earning a reputation as a tough guy. When confronted with some questionable dealings, Nicky uncovers family secrets and learns that the mean streets of Brooklyn aren't always what they seem. "Nicky Deuce" also stars actor Cassius Crieghtney ("Degrassi: The Next Generation") and actress Rita Moreno ("Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?"). "Nicky Deuce" is based on a popular children's book by Steve Schirripa and Charles Fleming.

New Movie - Swindle: Nickelodeon UK, the number one commercial kids TV network in the UK, has announced the exciting Nick News that Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will premiere and show Nickelodeon's brand new Original TV Movie, "Swindle", on Friday 1st November 2013 at 6:30pm (repeated at 7:30pm on Nick UK's plus-one (+1) timeshift channel, Nickelodeon +1), as part of Nick UK's brand new "Nick Flicks" Friday night programming block! "Swindle" is a 90-minute comedy caper which features an ensemble cast of Nickelodeon fan favorites who have teamed up for the first time ever: Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande from "Sam & Cat"; Noah Crawford and Chris O'Neal from "How to Rock" and "You Gotta See This"; Ciara Bravo from "Big Time Rush" and "Jinxed"; and Noah Munck from "iCarly". "Swindle" is based on the popular children's book by Gordon Korman.

New Block - Nick Flicks: Make an appointment with your friends and family, reserve the best spot on your sofa and grab some popcorn, Nickelodeon UK, the number one commercial kids TV network in the UK, has announced that every Friday evening during November 2013 is movie night on Nick, as Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK launches a brand new "Nick Flicks" movie programming slot! The weekly event features two brand-new Nickelodeon Original TV Movies, "Swindle" and "Nicky Deuce", and the much loved favourites "Fred 3: Camp Fred" and "House of Anubis" - "The Touchstone of Ra"!

New Episodes - Big Time Rush: British and Irish Rushers get ready, the all-singing, all-dancing, all American boys are back! Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will start to premiere more brand new episodes of Nickelodeon's hit live-action original musical comedy series "Big Time Rush" and debut the fourth and final season of BTR in November 2013 as part of Nickelodeon UK's Autumn/Winter 2013 highlights!

New Episodes - Life with Boys: Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will be premiering and showing more brand new episodes from the all-new second season of the popular Canadian teen sitcom "Life with Boys" in November 2013, as part of Nick UK & Eire's Autumn/Winter 2013 programming highlights!

New Episodes - Power Rangers Megaforce: Nick UK's animation and action channel, Nicktoons UK and Ireland, will continue to premiere and show brand new episodes of Saban's "Power Rangers Megaforce", the 20th and latest series in the long-running "Power Rangers" franchise, this November!

NickToons

New Show - Sanjay and Craig: Grab your Best Friend and Hold on to your Butt! Nickelodeon UK, the number one commercial kids TV network in the UK, has announced and confirmed in the following Press Release the exciting Nickelodeon UK News that Nick UK's animation and action channel, Nicktoons UK and Ireland, will start to premiere and show Nickelodeon's brand new original animated series (Nicktoon) "Sanjay and Craig" weekdays at 4:30pm from Monday 4th November 2013, as part of "November 2013 on Nicktoons UK"! Repeats of each episode will be shown later the same day at 6:30pm. "Sanjay and Craig" follows the misadventures of Sanjay, a cheeky 12-year-old boy (Maulik Pancholy, "30 Rock") and his best friend Craig, a smooth-talking snake (Chris Hardwick, Nerdist, "Back at the Barnyard") who is a master of disguise. Together they embark on epic quests that are regularly ridiculous, hilarious and fantastical. This dude-snake duo are in The Best Friends Hall of Fame*!

* There is no Best Friends Hall of Fame, they made it up!

New Show - Monsters vs. Aliens: Nickelodeon UK has announced the NickToons news that Nick UK's animation and action channel, Nicktoons UK and Ireland, will start to premiere and show Nick and DreamWorks Animation's brand new CG-animated Nicktoon series "Monsters vs. Aliens" from Monday 18th November 2013 at 6:00pm, a week later than originally scheduled, as part of "November 2013 on Nicktoons UK"!

Season One Finale - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: It all leads up to this... Nicktoons UK and Ireland will premiere and show the special two-part season one finale episode of Nickelodeon's hit CG-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" television series, titled "Showdown", in November 2013, as part of Nicktoons UK's Autumn/Winter 2013 highlights! Nicktoons UK & Eire will premiere "Showdown" part one on Saturday 9th November 2013 at 9:30am, with a encore at 4:30pm, and "Showdown" part two on Saturday 16th November 2013 at 9:30am, with a repeat at 4:30pm. Following part one of the epic finale, British and Irish NickHeads can visit nicktoons.co.uk/kraang to take on the Kraang in the brand new online game "Kraang Attack". Fans have just four days to choose their favourite Turtle and fight the Kraang in different locations around the world. Once the Kraang have been defeated, visitors will be rewarded with part two of the finale, available to watch exclusively online for 48 hours from the Wednesday 13th November 2013! Nickelodeon UK has also announced in the same press release the very exciting Nick UK news that UK and Irish fans will then be able to see the next chapter in the New Year, as the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" returns to Nicktoons for the explosive second season in January 2014. NickToons UK will also be airing a special sneak peek preview of season two straight after the debut of "Booyaka Showdown" part two on Saturday 16th November 2013!

New Episodes - The Fairly OddParents: NickToons UK and Ireland will be premiering and showing more brand new episodes of "The Fairly OddParents", featuring more magic and mayhem, every Monday to Thursday Throughout November, including the all-new episodes "Fairly OddPet", which introduces Timmy Turner's fairy puppy named Sparky, "Escape from Unwish Island", "The Grand Plan", and "Back to the Norm"!

Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. 2

New Show - PAW Patrol: Nick Jr. UK and Ireland has announced that they will start to premiere and show Nickelodeon Preschools brand new CGI-animated preschool series "PAW Patrol" weekdays at 4:00pm (repeated at 5:00pm on Nick Jr. UK's plus-one (+1) timeshift channel, Nick Jr.+1) from Monday 4th November 2013, as part of Nick Junior UK's Autumn/Winter 2013 programming highlights!

Brand New Episodes - Dinosaur Train: Nick Jr. UK and Ireland will be premiering and showing more brand new episodes of the Emmy Award-nominated "Dinosaur Train", a popular CG-animated preschool series created by Craig Bartlett, the creator of the popular Classic Nickelodeon original animated series (Nicktoon) "Hey Arnold!", this November! In new episode "Dinosaur Big City, Part One", Buddy and the Pteranodon family begin their journey on the Dinosaur Train. They gather all their Theropod friends together to travel to a really big Theropod Club Convention which is being held in Laramidia – the 'Dinosaur Big City'. Then in part two, among the Theropod dinosaurs that ride the Train with them is King Cryolophosaurus, who sings his songs "Big Ol' Whistle-Stop Rock-n-Roll Dinosaur Tour" and "Whole Lotta Theropods". In part three, the Dinosaur Train arrives in Laramidia and Buddy and the Pteranodon family explore the crowded dinosaur metropolis. Finally, in part four Buddy and Tiny help King Cryolophosaurus overcome his fear of performing in front of his biggest audience ever.

Brand New Episodes - Max & Ruby: November sees brand-new episodes of animated series "Max & Ruby", based on the popular children's books by Rosemary Wells. Each episode centres on Max, a determined three-year-old bunny and his big sister, Ruby, a smart, goal-oriented seven-year-old, as they play and go on adventures together. In new episode "Max's Big Dig", Ruby and Louise decide to become junior palaeontologists and look for dinosaur bones in the garden. Max wants to dig for dinosaur bones too, but the girls think he'll just get in the way – that is until he helps them find a toy dinosaur. Then in "A Toy for Baby Huffington", Mrs. Huffington brings Baby H for a visit, so Ruby tries to find baby toys for him to play with. Max offers several of his robots but none of them are suitable for a baby, so he uses all the toy boxes and entertains Baby H with his own homemade robot instead.

Nick Jr Peppa: Nickelodeon UK has announced that following the success of "Nick Jr Peppa" on Nick Jr. 2 during October 2013, Nick Junior will be continuing the special "Peppa Pig" programming initiative throughout November 2013, where, everyday between 3:00am and 11.59pm, Nick Jr. 2, rebranded as Nick Jr Peppa, will be showing even more back-to-back episodes of the massively popular animated preschool series "Peppa Pig"! Oink!

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon UK News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon Spain To Premiere "Rabbids Invasion" On Monday 2nd December 2013

Nickelodeon Spain (Espana) has announced the exciting Nickelodeon Europe News in the news slider on the homepage of their official website that Nick Spain will start to premiere and show Nickelodeon and Ubisoft's brand new CG-animated series "Rabbids Invasion", locally titled "Rabbids: La Invasión" ("Rabbids: Invasion"), from Monday 2nd December 2013 at 8:35pm (20:35h), as part of the channels Winter 2013 highlights!:

RABBIDS: LA INVASIÓN
El lunes 2 de diciembre @20.35h

RABBIDS: INVASION
On Monday 2 [December] @ 20.35h

[Spanish to English translation provided by Google Translate]

To celebrate the Spanish debut of "Rabbids Invasion" on Monday 2nd December 2013, Nick Spain has unveiled the networks brand new official "Rabbids Invasion" webpage, which you can visit here at nick.es!

Nickelodeon Espana's all-new "Rabbids Invasion" show website features information about the brand new show, a 'Meet the Characters' ('Personajes') section featuring bios and animated GIF's of each character in the series, and a exclusive online streaming video clip featuring a exclusive sneak peek preview of "Rabbids: La Invasión"!

"Rabbids Invasion" is a all-new 26 half-hour episode series that follows the Rabbids as they discover, explore, and often wreak havoc in the human world. For the Rabbids, everything is a source of wonder and amusement, and these indestructible and uncontrollable creatures have absolutely no respect for the social rules that govern society. There are no laws, no rules of the road. They are all about having fun and their only language is a crazy-sounding "Bwaaaaaah!". The show is based on Ubisoft's popular "Raving Rabbids" video game franchise.

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Spain and "Rabbids Invasion" News!

Nickelodeon Italy To Premiere "Rabbids Invasion" On Monday 9th December 2013

UPDATE (Sunday 8th December 2013) - Nickelodeon Italy will premiere "Rabbids Invasion" on Monday 9th December 2013 at 5:30pm!

Nickelodeon Italy (Italia) has announced the exciting Nickelodeon Europe News in the news slider on the homepage of their official website that Nick Italy will start to premiere and show Nickelodeon and Ubisoft's brand new CG-animated series "Rabbids Invasion" from Monday 9th December 2013 at 5:30pm (17:30) as part of the channels Winter 2013 highlights!

I RABBIDS INVADONO IL MONDO!
E dal 9 dicembre invaderanno anche Nickelodeon!

THE RABBIDS INVADE THE WORLD!
And from Dec. 9 invade even Nickelodeon!

[Italian to English translation provided by Google Translate]

To celebrate the Italian debut of "Rabbids Invasion" on Monday 9th December 2013, Nick Italy has unveiled the networks brand new official "Rabbids Invasion" webpage, which you can visit here at nicktv.it!

Nickelodeon Italia's all-new "Rabbids Invasion" show website features information about the brand new show, a 'Meet the Characters' ('Personaggi') section featuring bios and animated GIF's of each character in the series, a exclusive online game called "Caccia Al Rabbid" ("Hunt for the Rabbid"), and a photo gallery featuring pictures of the "Raving Rabbids" taking over the world (Planet Nickelodeon / Planet Orange)!

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Italy and "Rabbids Invasion" News!

An In-Depth Look At The Animation Industry In Belfast, Northern Ireland

In a brand new article, the official website of the television industry magazine Broadcast takes a in-depth look at how the arrival of the UK animation tax credit, investment from government-backed agency Northern Ireland Screen and a new emphasis on vocational education have created a buzz in Belfast, Northern Ireland's animation community. The article also talks about the Belfast-based independent children's television production company Sixteen South Television, who are currently producing "Driftwood Bay", a brand new mixed media animated preschool series that Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, Nick Jr. UK and Ireland, commissioned in 2012, and is due to premiere on Nick Jr. UK in Spring 2014, as part of 2014 on Nickelodeon UK, and features a small interview with Colin Williams, the Creative Director at Sixteen South:

Northern Ireland: Animation

Tax breaks and investment have created a buzz in Belfast’s animation community

There was a time when the animation community in Belfast would have looked enviously over the border at the thriving scene in Dublin.

But thanks to the arrival of the UK animation tax credit, investment from government-backed agency Northern Ireland Screen and a new emphasis on vocational education in the region, Belfast is fast creating an enviable sector of its own – one it will be showcasing as it plays host to the annual Cartoon Finance Forum next week.

“This is a really opportune moment for animation in Northern Ireland,” says Tim Bryans, head of production at Waddell Media’s animation arm, Flickerpix, which was set up in 2003 by Joel Simon. “It’s time for us to put our collective heads together and pitch Northern Ireland as a place where there is a lot happening in animation. There are some successful companies and nice projects for the international market.”

As well as producing a semi-animated Harry Hill A-Ha pastiche for this year’s Children In Need, Flickerpix is currently in production on Five Fables, a five-part animation series based on a collection of 14th-century medieval Scots poems, translated by the late Seamus Heaney.

Each episode is narrated by Billy Connolly and will also feature live action sequences including some of the last footage shot with Heaney. Commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland, the project has been funded by NI Screen’s Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund.

Five Fables was one of the first projects to benefit from the newly created UK animation tax credit in April this year, which has been instrumental in creating the current buzz surrounding the Northern Irish sector.

Cash injections

“Previously, people went to Ireland or Canada because they had the tax breaks,” says Bryans. “We’ve always had the talent here. Now we have the benefits to go with that to make us a really viable co-production partner.” “The animation tax credit has revolutionised the sector,” agrees Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, who views the sector as a key part of the funding body’s ongoing strategy.

“Eighteen months ago, we had to agree that animation created in Northern Ireland would be produced down south,” adds Williams. “Now, we can be confident that we can hold a decent chunk of activity here.”

Another crucial factor has been the introduction of a dedicated animation department at the University of Ulster, headed by Greg Maguire, who has returned to Belfast following a successful career as an animator in Hollywood.

This was one of the factors in Dublin-based animation company Jam Media adding a second office in Belfast in June this year. Currently, it’s producing Bafta-winning children’s animation Roy for CBeebies, buoyed by investment from NI Screen.

“We had looked at Scotland and other locations, but through research and talking to Greg, we found that the talent pool here was really great,” says Jam Media’s David McGrath, who has moved back from New York to head the Belfast operation. “We have the beginnings of a beautiful system in the animation sector, a group of leaders coming through and driving the sector,” adds Williams. “We can also see exactly where the animation roles are being developed.”

Another indie spreading its wings is Dog Ears, which has placed 50% of its show Puffin Rock’s production at Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny and half in Derry in a bid to secure tax breaks on both sides of the border.

The missing piece of the jigsaw, however, is the lack of a local broadcaster, such as RTÉ in Ireland, to secure a home territory pre-sale. Moreover, most in the sector agree that the BBC could be doing more to encourage production in the region.

And the small size of the domestic market means that Irish animation studios have to look abroad. The Cartoon Finance Forum is a welcome contribution to that exposure. “We have to be globally focused,” says Corrina Askin, Derry-based creator of Castle Farm, which airs on Channel 5’s Milkshake!. “The forum is a hands-on introduction to the international players –producers, distributors, legal and financial support.”

Maeve McAdam of Dancing Girl Productions, adds: “If you can’t cover your budget in your home territory, you have to be astute and work on your international networks. We spend a lot of money going to markets each year, which can sometimes be hard to justify, but if you’re not there, you are not seen to be in the business.”

Dancing Girl is currently raising finance for a second series of preschool animated series Joe And Jack, which aired in the UK on TinyPop. Now working on a German dub, the series has proved even more successful internationally. "It has been incredibly successful in Australia, for example, where we are told it is regularly beating Peppa Pig," says McAdams.

Over in Derry, 360’s John Farren notes that 70% of subs to YouTube channel Head Squeeze, plus viral series on Yahoo Finance, How Money Works, are from outside of the UK. He adds: "Things You Need To Know was sold and elements reanimated in French and German markets. Anything like the forum that raises awareness of our skills base and outward ambitions is very useful."

One of the biggest success stories from the Belfast animation sector is Sixteen South, run by Colin Williams, who moved out of commercials into children’s TV production in 2008. After beating 15 other producers to the pitch for a local version of Sesame Street produced with Sesame Workshop, Sixteen South’s subsequent projects included the double Emmy nominee Pajanimals, which has been seen in more than 300 million homes.

Economic boost

The company's first animated project, Driftwood Bay, is now in production, with Williams securing pre sales in 11 territories including the US (Spout) UK (Nickelodeon Jr), and Australia (ABC).

Using a new stop-frame animation technique, the show has the potential to be huge, especially with the Jim Henson company on board as worldwide distributor. Williams is hoping to sell to more than 100 countries.

Crucially, the production has created 75 jobs, providing the NI government with further proof that a strong animation industry is a viable way for the country to grow economically. "Driftwood Bay has taken us onto a different level. It’s our own show, our own intellectual property and we have financed it ourselves. We turned down co-productions and commissions because we were so in love with the concept, we knew we couldn't afford to have it watered down," says Williams.

His mantra of “do some good, have some fun, make some money,” seems to be working on all fronts: he’s one of Ernst And Young’s Entrepreneurs of the year and his company is on Deloitte’s Fast 50 Rising Stars list in both Ireland and the UK.

He uses his expertise to help build the sector further, forging links with the University Of Ulster and organising 2011’s “children’s television day”, which culminated in an open pitching session to commissioners. “People said we were crazy bringing our customers to town and then introducing them to the competition. But we want to create an open community where people can share ideas.”

Meanwhile, having won the Best Animation Award at the Irish Film And Television Awards for short animation Macropolis, Flickerpix is stepping up its ambitions, having been selected as one of 16 UK companies to receive a BFI Vision Award of £50,000 for developing feature animations.

The challenge now, says McGrath, is attracting the next generation of animators in the region. “I don’t think kids here are aware that it’s a career. We need to make it more visible – because this is an industry that is here to stay.”

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