Nickelodeon's Comic-Con booth this year features a windowed pitch room at its center, where the network's animation development team will hold the open call during select times each day. The team's meetings will be with Comic-Con attendees, as well as with distributors scouted during the convention. Participants seeking appointments must register in advance at www.nickshortspitches.com, where information, guidelines, requirements and restrictions are posted. Deadline to register is Friday 18th July 2014.
Most recently from the network's Animated Shorts Program, the network greenlit 13-episodes of "The Loud House" by first-time creator Chris Savino ("Rocko's Modern Life", "The Powerpuff Girls")--a graduate of the 2013 Program. Inspired by Savino's chaotic life growing up in a huge household, the series will follow 11-year-old Lincoln as he gives an inside look at what it takes to survive in the bedlam of a large family, especially as the only boy with 10 sisters.
Nickelodeon's Animated Shorts Program, which is designed to identify and develop original comedy-driven content for kids, was launched in 2012 and took 600 pitches in its inaugural year. The program became global its second year. Concepts are received in all animation, styles from 2D, digital 2D, stop motion, CG and mixed media. Finalists are provided with the necessary artistic and production support teams to help them complete their fully animated original, humor-based and character-driven shorts.
Additionally, the Nickelodeon Animation Studio has launched a brand-new fan art contest called "The Nickelodeon Tumblr Fan Art Competition", in which NAS are asking super fans to draw their favorite Nickelodeon character, past or present, doing their favourite activity, and upload it to their Tumblr blogs/accounts using the custom hashtag #NICKFANART for the chance to have their art displayed on the screens of the Nick Booth at San Diego Comic-Con International 2014! Full details of The Official Nickelodeon Tumblr Fan Art Competition can be found here on Nickelodeon Animation Studio's official Tumblr blog, nickanimationstudio.tumblr.com.
Original Nickelodeon Press Release:
Nickelodeon Brings Its Animated Shorts Program to San Diego Comic-Con with Open Call for Original Projects
Network for First-Time Ever to Take Meetings from Convention Floor with Goal to Greenlight Pitch from Attendees
June 23, 2014 01:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Comic-Con 2014
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Continuing its mission to open its doors to more creative talent than ever before, Nickelodeon for the first time will hold an open call for original animated projects at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2014 – the biggest fan event of the year. On-site from Nickelodeon’s booth on the convention center floor, the network’s animation development team will take live, in-person pitches from Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26, to greenlight a project for its global Animated Shorts Program. The pitch chosen will be developed into a short with the potential to air on Nickelodeon, appear on www.nick.com or the Nick App, or even be developed into a long-form animated TV series.
“Our Shorts Program helps us source talent and it feeds our content pipeline. It has expanded our relationships with creators who range from budding amateurs to experienced professionals, and we’re looking forward to bringing the program’s energy to the convention.”
"Comic-Con has always been a place to make connections and discover new, original ideas, so we thought we'd use it as a platform to find someone who could be the next big thing in animation," said Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon's President of Content Development and Production. "Our Shorts Program helps us source talent and it feeds our content pipeline. It has expanded our relationships with creators who range from budding amateurs to experienced professionals, and we're looking forward to bringing the program's energy to the convention."
Nickelodeon’s Comic-Con booth this year features a windowed pitch room at its center, where the network’s animation development team will hold the open call during select times each day. The team’s meetings will be with Comic-Con attendees, as well as with distributors scouted during the convention. Participants seeking appointments must register in advance at www.nickshortspitches.com, where information, guidelines, requirements and restrictions are posted. Deadline to register is Friday, July 18.
Most recently from the network’s Animated Shorts Program, the network greenlit 13-episodes of The Loud House by first-time creator Chris Savino (Rocko’s Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls)--a graduate of the 2013 Program. Inspired by Savino’s chaotic life growing up in a huge household, the series will follow 11-year-old Lincoln as he gives an inside look at what it takes to survive in the bedlam of a large family, especially as the only boy with 10 sisters.
The network also has announced 11 finalists from the 2014 Program, which include: "Francine" by writer/comedian Katie Crown; "Meat Pie vs. the Dark Ages" by Nickelodeon director Gabe Swarr; "Shelf Life" by Nickelodeon storyboard artist Robert Iza; "Summer Memories" by writer/director Adam Yaniv; "Ice Station Zedonk" by Nickelodeon director Tom Parkinson; "Night Crew" by independent animators Caitlin Boyle and Tara Helfer; "Planet Claire" by Nickelodeon executive producers Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb; "The Outsiders" by writer Eric Bravo; "Leander, Dre and Cyppy" by Nickelodeon storyboard artist Monica Ray; "Ugly Mutt" by PUNY Entertainment's Shadi Petosky and Dave Hagen; and "Bad News Bunny" by California State University, Fullerton, graduate Tarryn Henderson.
Nickelodeon's Animated Shorts Program, which is designed to identify and develop original comedy-driven content for kids, was launched in 2012 and took 600 pitches in its inaugural year. The program became global its second year. Concepts are received in all animation, styles from 2D, digital 2D, stop motion, CG and mixed media. Finalists are provided with the necessary artistic and production support teams to help them complete their fully animated original, humor-based and character-driven shorts.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 35th 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 company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).
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Nickelodeon's Animated Shorts Program 2014: San Diego Comic-Con International - Creative Guidelines:
Animated shorts must be: character driven, and have kid appeal.
Nickelodeon looks for ideas that feature an original lead character – with about 2 or 3 characters in total. Be prepared to show either through designs, thumbnail storyboards, script, or comic what your two-minute story is.
Characters must be relatable to kids ages 6 to 11 and appeal to both boys and girls.
All submissions must be kid-appropriate in content.
Shorts are limited to 2 minutes in length.
Nickelodeon are open to all animation styles including 2D, digital 2D, CG, Stop Motion, and Mixed Media.
Your pitch materials should include:
* Concept Treatment
* Character Descriptions: designs with written descriptions preferred
* 2 minute rough thumbnail storyboards or 2 minute script/outline
* Resume, Credits or a link to online portfolio and/or work samples (if available)
* Must accept/sign the submission release form (attached)
Your pitch materials can include:
* Character designs – rough sketches are acceptable
* Character layouts
* Link to more pitch content, comics, zines, etc
* Pitches are limited to fifteen minutes so be prepared to quickly introduce yourself, your characters, and your idea!
The following time slot reservation site is for in-person pitches at San Diego Comic Con 2014. In person pitches must take place with the creator or co-creator of the idea and Nick are unable to accept any pitches that will not take place in person at the Nickelodeon Booth from July 24th to the 26th at SDCC.
The deadline for reserving your time slot to pitch to Nickelodeon at San Diego Comic Con 2014 is July 18th 2014.
Time slots are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
If your pitch is selected to be produced as a short, as a condition of such production, you and Nickelodeon will enter into Nickelodeon's customary agreement for the creation of such shorts.
Good luck to everyone who submits an entry into the 2014 Nickelodeon Animated Shorts Program!
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