After an overnight writing session, Jeff ends up alone in the Nickelodeon Writing Program office:
Follow the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship on Twitter and Facebook, plus, check out these fascinating videos featuring video interviews with participants of the 2013 - 2014 Nickelodeon Writing Program, in which Nick Writing Program alumni talk about their experiences in the program, how the program has helped develop their skills, prepare and inspire them, and to establish connections within the industry!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Writing Program News and Highlights!
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Heffer On Triple 6 - Rocko's Modern Life - The Splat
LIVE* from TV Land, it's time for Heffer Wolfe to play Triple 6! And here's your host, the dark master of malevolence, Peaches!:
Wait... You mean hamburgers aren't made out of ham?!
* Recorded earlier.
Watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on The Splat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! The Splat doesn't question football-shaped heads, but embrace them - along with Reptar bars, a Big Ear of Corn, orange soda, and even slime for Pete (and Pete's) sake. Make your slime-covered Nickelodeon childhood dreams come true every night at 10pm ET/PT, only on TeenNick USA! #TheSplat!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and The Splat News and Highlights!
Wait... You mean hamburgers aren't made out of ham?!
* Recorded earlier.
Watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on The Splat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! The Splat doesn't question football-shaped heads, but embrace them - along with Reptar bars, a Big Ear of Corn, orange soda, and even slime for Pete (and Pete's) sake. Make your slime-covered Nickelodeon childhood dreams come true every night at 10pm ET/PT, only on TeenNick USA! #TheSplat!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and The Splat News and Highlights!
The Thundermans - Get Schooled - Nickelodeon UK
Hank (Chris Tallman) is giving Phoebe (Kira Kosarin) some superhero mentoring in this super video clip from The Thundermans! After using her freeze breathe on the tanker truck, Phoebe forgets to shut down the road and in comes an out of control Cement Truck!:
Watch more The Thundermans on Nickelodeon and TeenNick!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Nickelodeon UK and The Thundermans News and Highlights!
Watch more The Thundermans on Nickelodeon and TeenNick!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Nickelodeon UK and The Thundermans News and Highlights!
Riele & Jace's Secret Language! - Henry Danger - Official Promo - Nickelodeon
Riele Downs and Jace Norman have a funny way of talking to each other when no one's around. Don't miss brand-new episodes of Henry Danger Saturdays at 8:00pm (ET/PT), only on Nickelodeon USA!:
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Henry Danger News and Highlights!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Henry Danger News and Highlights!
Nickelodeon Animation's Ties With Cal State Fullerton Run Deep
Although it's about 50 miles from the Cal State Fullerton campus, Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank is a hub for CSUF students and alumni.
The chance of running into a CSUF alumnus in the hallways of Nickelodeon's animation studio is pretty high. This isn't just a coincidence, but the result of a partnership with the university's animation program that intensified when CSUF alumnus Russell Hicks became president of content development for Nickelodeon in 2012.
Stephen Hillenburg, creator of the cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants,” greets fans during the exhibit at Cal State Fullerton. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
The collaboration has additionally led to the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit currently on display at CSUF's Begovich Gallery.
The exhibit celebrates 25 years of Nickelodeon's animation success by offering a behind-the-scenes view of classic Nickelodeon animated series like Doug, Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold! and SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as new shows, some of which CSUF alumni have worked on.
Through the partnership, CSUF animation students are exposed to the industry by way of internship and outreach programs, on-campus visits and panel discussions by Nickelodeon staff, as well as tours of the studio.
The programs, which are highly competitive, serve as an entryway into the Nickelodeon studio.
Mallory Carlson, a CSUF animation alumna, knows this firsthand.
Last year, Carlson began working at Nickelodeon Animation Studio through the Nick Artist Program, a six-month program in which participants work alongside professional artists.
After completing the program, Carlson was offered the position of background painter for Nickelodeon's animated series Pig Goat Banana Cricket, creating background art for the show about the crazy adventures of four friends nature never intended - a pickle-obsessed Pig, a Goat with musical dreams, a Banana who loves video games and a Cricket with a crazy science lab.
For Carlson, her interest in animation goes back to watching the hit Nicktoon Hey Arnold! as a child. Getting to create content for the shows that today's children watch has been a dream come true.
"It is so much fun," she said of her job as background painter. "This is what I have been dreaming of. Work doesn't feel like work -- it's just fun."
Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
Her favorite part is "just getting to do what I love for a living," she said.
The partnership between Nickelodeon and CSUF is unique and beneficial "because this is a small industry and it is kind of tough to break into," Carlson said. "There are a lot of amazing artists trying to break into the industry, so the competition is very high."
The most valuable advice she can offer to those interested in entering the animation field? Make connections with professionals in the field as a student.
"Get advice and feedback," she said.
Intern to Creator
Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz and her now-husband, Sean Charmatz, became involved with Nickelodeon Animation Studio as interns when they were animation students at CSUF nearly 15 years ago.
Fun fact: her Nick identification badge still displays her internship photo.
Esnaashari-Charmatz, who grew up in Irvine, was one of the first post-production interns at Nickelodeon, an experience she looks back on fondly.
"There was this nostalgic feeling of having grown up on Nickelodeon and on top of that, there was a real sense of family and unity," she said. "The head of the studio knew my name as an intern and made sure to know everybody's names; there was a real sense of belonging."
Shortly after completing her internship, Esnaashari-Charmatz heard of a job opportunity by Charmatz, who had since then been employed by the studio. He now works at Nick as the supervising director of social media production on Pinky Malinky, a mockumentary series following the everyday life of Pinky Malinky, an infectiously positive hot dog living in a human world.
Esnaashari-Charmatz applied and was offered the position of production assistant at the studio, working on My Life as a Teenage Robot.
Soon thereafter, she took on the role of post production coordinator for preschool age-themed shows like Go, Diego, Go! and Dora the Explorer.
She would go on to become a post production supervisor for the shows, as well as work on animation shorts.
In 2008, while on maternity leave, Esnaashari-Charmatz began developing her own animated series. Along with her husband and co-workers, she pitched show ideas.
Being turned down a number of times by the studio didn't discourage Esnaashari-Charmatz – it only further served as motivation to keep creating.
From 2008 to 2012, she brainstormed and created. Then, it happened.
In 2012, Esnaashari-Charmatz's Shimmer and Shine was picked up by the studio.
"There were a lot of different variations of the show until it finally got to a place where it felt right," she said.
The animated series follows the adventures of genie twin sisters and their non-genie best friend. Esnaashari-Charmatz is working on the second season of the show.
Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
"If you want to develop your own show, it's going to be difficult. It is not going to be easy," she said. "You have to have a thick skin."
The creating process involves a lot of "working, reworking and pitching," Esnaashari-Charmatz said. "But that's what it takes."
As a CSUF alumna, she finds herself constantly reminiscing with Nick interns and fellow co-workers about university professors and classes.
"There is so much talent coming out of there that it is a win-win for both," she said of the university's partnership with Nick.
Recently, she visited an animation class at her alma mater to share her experience with students.
"To be honest with you, all of it is surreal. Most days I don't really register it - I'm just doing my job," she said. "It's a very overwhelming feeling, and it's super cool."
Artwork from Shimmer and Shine is on display at the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit, an experience Esnaashari-Charmatz once again describes as "surreal."
"I hope (students) are inspired by the beautiful art that is on the show and the amazing artists that are on the show," she said.
Attendees of the exhibit "Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-Driven Cartoons," view drawings from various Nickelodeon shows at the Begovich Gallery at Cal State Fullerton. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
She advises students to believe in their passion and not be deterred.
"I needed to fail in order to succeed," Esnaashari-Charmatz said. "I believe every experience you have before you get there is what gets you where you are."
Reaching Out
Chris Viscardi is the Senior Vice President of Content Development and Franchise Properties at Nickelodeon. He oversees the strategies for franchises including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.
He believes the studio's partnership with CSUF is beneficial to the students and to the future of Nickelodeon animation.
"It is a really great marriage," Viscardi said.
"We really admire all that Cal State Fullerton does," he said.
Because it wasn't too long ago college students were the children watching animated shows, their opinions are valuable to studio executives, Viscardi said.
"We are a kids network, and we specialize and focus on things that comes from a kid's heart, from a kid's point of view," he said.
"We want their points of view," he said. "It is a great way to stay in touch with our current audience and most recent audience."
The "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit allows Nickelodeon to connect with CSUF students and the community.
"It is a culmination of all of the things Nick has done over the years and the creativity that went into those shows," Viscardi said.
"If you are a creator and have a vision for what is wonderful and unique, this exhibition is really inspiring," he said.
The exhibit will be on display at CSUF through May 22.
"There is so much millennial love for these classical cartoons," Viscardi said of the exhibit. "It is great to share the making of those things with that audience."
"I think they will really see that Nickelodeon has been influential in the way kids animation was made in the past and how it is made now," he said.
Since 2013, Nickelodeon Animation Studio has reached about 500 CSUF students through its outreach programs.
Programs and internships allow students to dispel misconceptions about the industry and expose them to the different areas of the animation industry, Viscardi said.
"It puts you in the moment and the kind of scenario you are going to be in," he said. "It is impossible to duplicate that in school. It is a great learning experience."
Nickelodeon's 'Happy Happy Joy Joy' exhibit at CSUF
When: From noon to 4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays, through May 22
Where: Begovich Gallery, Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd.
Cost: Free
Information: 657-278-3471 and fullerton.edu/arts
Check out the official 25 Years of Nickelodeon Animation Tumblr blog for more fantastic Nickelodeon memories, and remember to watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on The Splat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows!
Original source: The Orange County Register.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon's 25 Years of Animation News and Highlights!
The chance of running into a CSUF alumnus in the hallways of Nickelodeon's animation studio is pretty high. This isn't just a coincidence, but the result of a partnership with the university's animation program that intensified when CSUF alumnus Russell Hicks became president of content development for Nickelodeon in 2012.
Stephen Hillenburg, creator of the cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants,” greets fans during the exhibit at Cal State Fullerton. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
The collaboration has additionally led to the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit currently on display at CSUF's Begovich Gallery.
The exhibit celebrates 25 years of Nickelodeon's animation success by offering a behind-the-scenes view of classic Nickelodeon animated series like Doug, Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold! and SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as new shows, some of which CSUF alumni have worked on.
Through the partnership, CSUF animation students are exposed to the industry by way of internship and outreach programs, on-campus visits and panel discussions by Nickelodeon staff, as well as tours of the studio.
The programs, which are highly competitive, serve as an entryway into the Nickelodeon studio.
Mallory Carlson, a CSUF animation alumna, knows this firsthand.
Last year, Carlson began working at Nickelodeon Animation Studio through the Nick Artist Program, a six-month program in which participants work alongside professional artists.
After completing the program, Carlson was offered the position of background painter for Nickelodeon's animated series Pig Goat Banana Cricket, creating background art for the show about the crazy adventures of four friends nature never intended - a pickle-obsessed Pig, a Goat with musical dreams, a Banana who loves video games and a Cricket with a crazy science lab.
For Carlson, her interest in animation goes back to watching the hit Nicktoon Hey Arnold! as a child. Getting to create content for the shows that today's children watch has been a dream come true.
"It is so much fun," she said of her job as background painter. "This is what I have been dreaming of. Work doesn't feel like work -- it's just fun."
Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
Her favorite part is "just getting to do what I love for a living," she said.
The partnership between Nickelodeon and CSUF is unique and beneficial "because this is a small industry and it is kind of tough to break into," Carlson said. "There are a lot of amazing artists trying to break into the industry, so the competition is very high."
The most valuable advice she can offer to those interested in entering the animation field? Make connections with professionals in the field as a student.
"Get advice and feedback," she said.
Intern to Creator
Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz and her now-husband, Sean Charmatz, became involved with Nickelodeon Animation Studio as interns when they were animation students at CSUF nearly 15 years ago.
Fun fact: her Nick identification badge still displays her internship photo.
Esnaashari-Charmatz, who grew up in Irvine, was one of the first post-production interns at Nickelodeon, an experience she looks back on fondly.
"There was this nostalgic feeling of having grown up on Nickelodeon and on top of that, there was a real sense of family and unity," she said. "The head of the studio knew my name as an intern and made sure to know everybody's names; there was a real sense of belonging."
Shortly after completing her internship, Esnaashari-Charmatz heard of a job opportunity by Charmatz, who had since then been employed by the studio. He now works at Nick as the supervising director of social media production on Pinky Malinky, a mockumentary series following the everyday life of Pinky Malinky, an infectiously positive hot dog living in a human world.
Esnaashari-Charmatz applied and was offered the position of production assistant at the studio, working on My Life as a Teenage Robot.
Soon thereafter, she took on the role of post production coordinator for preschool age-themed shows like Go, Diego, Go! and Dora the Explorer.
She would go on to become a post production supervisor for the shows, as well as work on animation shorts.
In 2008, while on maternity leave, Esnaashari-Charmatz began developing her own animated series. Along with her husband and co-workers, she pitched show ideas.
Being turned down a number of times by the studio didn't discourage Esnaashari-Charmatz – it only further served as motivation to keep creating.
From 2008 to 2012, she brainstormed and created. Then, it happened.
In 2012, Esnaashari-Charmatz's Shimmer and Shine was picked up by the studio.
"There were a lot of different variations of the show until it finally got to a place where it felt right," she said.
The animated series follows the adventures of genie twin sisters and their non-genie best friend. Esnaashari-Charmatz is working on the second season of the show.
Students and visitors explore “Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-driven Cartoons” at Begovich Gallery. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
"If you want to develop your own show, it's going to be difficult. It is not going to be easy," she said. "You have to have a thick skin."
The creating process involves a lot of "working, reworking and pitching," Esnaashari-Charmatz said. "But that's what it takes."
As a CSUF alumna, she finds herself constantly reminiscing with Nick interns and fellow co-workers about university professors and classes.
"There is so much talent coming out of there that it is a win-win for both," she said of the university's partnership with Nick.
Recently, she visited an animation class at her alma mater to share her experience with students.
"To be honest with you, all of it is surreal. Most days I don't really register it - I'm just doing my job," she said. "It's a very overwhelming feeling, and it's super cool."
Artwork from Shimmer and Shine is on display at the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit, an experience Esnaashari-Charmatz once again describes as "surreal."
"I hope (students) are inspired by the beautiful art that is on the show and the amazing artists that are on the show," she said.
Attendees of the exhibit "Happy Happy Joy Joy: Art and Artifacts from 25 Years of Creator-Driven Cartoons," view drawings from various Nickelodeon shows at the Begovich Gallery at Cal State Fullerton. / Nick Agro, Staff Photographer.
She advises students to believe in their passion and not be deterred.
"I needed to fail in order to succeed," Esnaashari-Charmatz said. "I believe every experience you have before you get there is what gets you where you are."
Reaching Out
Chris Viscardi is the Senior Vice President of Content Development and Franchise Properties at Nickelodeon. He oversees the strategies for franchises including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.
He believes the studio's partnership with CSUF is beneficial to the students and to the future of Nickelodeon animation.
"It is a really great marriage," Viscardi said.
"We really admire all that Cal State Fullerton does," he said.
Because it wasn't too long ago college students were the children watching animated shows, their opinions are valuable to studio executives, Viscardi said.
"We are a kids network, and we specialize and focus on things that comes from a kid's heart, from a kid's point of view," he said.
"We want their points of view," he said. "It is a great way to stay in touch with our current audience and most recent audience."
The "Happy Happy Joy Joy" exhibit allows Nickelodeon to connect with CSUF students and the community.
"It is a culmination of all of the things Nick has done over the years and the creativity that went into those shows," Viscardi said.
"If you are a creator and have a vision for what is wonderful and unique, this exhibition is really inspiring," he said.
The exhibit will be on display at CSUF through May 22.
"There is so much millennial love for these classical cartoons," Viscardi said of the exhibit. "It is great to share the making of those things with that audience."
"I think they will really see that Nickelodeon has been influential in the way kids animation was made in the past and how it is made now," he said.
Since 2013, Nickelodeon Animation Studio has reached about 500 CSUF students through its outreach programs.
Programs and internships allow students to dispel misconceptions about the industry and expose them to the different areas of the animation industry, Viscardi said.
"It puts you in the moment and the kind of scenario you are going to be in," he said. "It is impossible to duplicate that in school. It is a great learning experience."
Nickelodeon's 'Happy Happy Joy Joy' exhibit at CSUF
When: From noon to 4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays, through May 22
Where: Begovich Gallery, Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd.
Cost: Free
Information: 657-278-3471 and fullerton.edu/arts
Check out the official 25 Years of Nickelodeon Animation Tumblr blog for more fantastic Nickelodeon memories, and remember to watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on The Splat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows!
Original source: The Orange County Register.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon's 25 Years of Animation News and Highlights!
Nickelodeon Promotes Jaime Dictenberg To SVP Of Consumer Marketing
Hot on the heels of naming a new programming director for the UK and Ireland, Nickelodeon has promoted 15-year company vet Jaime Dictenberg to Senior Vice President (SVP) of consumer marketing.
The former VP of Nickelodeon consumer marketing will now oversee all consumer marketing, advertising and data analytics for the network. She will continue to report to Kim Rosenblum, Executive Vice President (EVP) of marketing and creative at Nickelodeon and TV Land.
During her career at Nickelodeon, Dictenberg has managed successful marketing campaigns for live-action hits Sam & Cat, Henry Danger and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, as well as various TV movies, animated properties and live events.
She started at Nickelodeon in consumer products, where she supported the launch of the first SpongeBob SquarePants licensed line. She went on to hold positions in several departments at the network, including creative resources, integrated marketing and digital advertising.
Original source: Kidscreen.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!
The former VP of Nickelodeon consumer marketing will now oversee all consumer marketing, advertising and data analytics for the network. She will continue to report to Kim Rosenblum, Executive Vice President (EVP) of marketing and creative at Nickelodeon and TV Land.
During her career at Nickelodeon, Dictenberg has managed successful marketing campaigns for live-action hits Sam & Cat, Henry Danger and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, as well as various TV movies, animated properties and live events.
She started at Nickelodeon in consumer products, where she supported the launch of the first SpongeBob SquarePants licensed line. She went on to hold positions in several departments at the network, including creative resources, integrated marketing and digital advertising.
Original source: Kidscreen.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!
The Many Sides of Lincoln Loud - The Loud House - Nickelodeon
Siblings can bring out all different sides of your personality, especially when you've got TEN of them! Check out the full range of Lincolns and don't miss Nickelodeon's brand new show, The Loud House, premiering May 2nd at 5pm/4c on Nick USA!:
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and The Loud House News and Highlights!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and The Loud House News and Highlights!
NYC & Company And Nickelodeon Announce The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles As New York City's Official Family Ambassadors
Original NYC & Company Press Release via NYCandCompany.org:
NYC & COMPANY AND NICKELODEON ANNOUNCE THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES AS NEW YORK CITY'S OFFICIAL FAMILY AMBASSADORS
- New York City Welcomed Approximately 17.5 Million Family Visitors in 2015, Increased by a Third Since the Launch of the Family Ambassador Program in 2009 -
- In Time for Summer Travel, the First Phase of the Campaign Will Encourage Summer Travel to New York City -
New York City (April 20, 2016) - NYC & Company, New York City's official destination marketing organization, together with Nickelodeon, announced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the newest Official NYC Family Ambassadors-part of a yearlong campaign to highlight New York City as a family-friendly destination. In 2015 New York City welcomed an estimated 17.5 million family visitors, a nearly two percent projected increase over 2014, and family travel to NYC is expected to continue to grow in 2016 to reach approximately 17.7 million family visitors. Since the launch of the Family Ambassador program in 2009, family visitation to New York City has grown by 32.6 percent and is currently 30 percent of total visitation to New York City. For kid-friendly NYC travel materials, guides and itineraries, visit nycgo.com/family.
"Last year we saw a record number of visitors here in New York City thanks to our various attractions and the art and entertainment that can be found around every corner of every street in every borough. Most importantly, however, are the 17.5 million family visitors who came to this city to expose their children and relatives to the diverse culture this City offers. Furthermore, the city's public spaces and parks make it an ideal place for families to bond and strengthen their relationships. I invite all families to New York so that we can share with you all we have to offer," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"We're excited to enlist the help of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, four dynamic and adventurous New Yorkers, to welcome family travelers to NYC," said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. "Known by visitors from around the world, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the perfect guides to help families discover the vibrancy and excitement throughout the five boroughs."
Families visiting NYC during the summer can take advantage of seasonal events including SummerStage Kids, Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks, the US Open Tennis Championships and more. In addition, free and low-cost outdoor activities in NYC's parks, along NYC's waterfronts and beyond add to the attractiveness of visiting NYC during the summer.
"As native New Yorkers, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the perfect choice to encourage visitors from around the globe to find their own adventures in the city that never sleeps," said Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Consumer Products, Nickelodeon. "We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with NYC & Company, which leverages our beloved characters to showcase the best of what New York City has to offer for kids and families."
Currently in its fourth season, Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is seen in over 170 countries and territories and translated in 50+ languages. The series follows four mutant turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo—trained in the art of ninjutsu by their mutant rat sensei, Master Splinter, who teaches them to battle evil from the New York City sewers. The series' executive producers are Ciro Nieli and Brandon Auman, and it is created at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California. Additionally, this summer the turtles will once again defend the streets of New York City in Paramount Pictures' highly anticipated theatrical movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, which arrives in theaters June 3.
The Official NYC Family Ambassador campaign will be promoted through out-of-home media in the five boroughs, Boston, Chicago, and 23 shopping malls in America; social media engagement using the hashtag #nycgofamily; TV commercials running in NYC taxicabs; and additional activations throughout the year.
The Family Ambassador program was created in 2009 to help position New York City as a welcoming family-friendly destination, encourage families to visit year-round and invite those who have already visited New York City to return and enjoy all of the new attractions the City has to offer. The Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles are the eighth Family Ambassador after Dora and Friends in 2015, Curious George in 2014, Where's Waldo? in 2013, The Muppets in 2012, The Smurfs in 2011, Dora the Explorer in 2010 and Sesame Street in 2009.
For more details on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ambassador campaign, visit nycgo.com/family. Follow @nycgo_press on Twitter for the latest information about New York City travel and tourism.
About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.
About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 37th 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 more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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, VIAB).
-30-
As part of the campaign, NYC & Company has designed borough-specifc ads featuring the Heroes in a Half Shell:
NYC & COMPANY AND NICKELODEON ANNOUNCE THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES AS NEW YORK CITY'S OFFICIAL FAMILY AMBASSADORS
- New York City Welcomed Approximately 17.5 Million Family Visitors in 2015, Increased by a Third Since the Launch of the Family Ambassador Program in 2009 -
- In Time for Summer Travel, the First Phase of the Campaign Will Encourage Summer Travel to New York City -
New York City (April 20, 2016) - NYC & Company, New York City's official destination marketing organization, together with Nickelodeon, announced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the newest Official NYC Family Ambassadors-part of a yearlong campaign to highlight New York City as a family-friendly destination. In 2015 New York City welcomed an estimated 17.5 million family visitors, a nearly two percent projected increase over 2014, and family travel to NYC is expected to continue to grow in 2016 to reach approximately 17.7 million family visitors. Since the launch of the Family Ambassador program in 2009, family visitation to New York City has grown by 32.6 percent and is currently 30 percent of total visitation to New York City. For kid-friendly NYC travel materials, guides and itineraries, visit nycgo.com/family.
"Last year we saw a record number of visitors here in New York City thanks to our various attractions and the art and entertainment that can be found around every corner of every street in every borough. Most importantly, however, are the 17.5 million family visitors who came to this city to expose their children and relatives to the diverse culture this City offers. Furthermore, the city's public spaces and parks make it an ideal place for families to bond and strengthen their relationships. I invite all families to New York so that we can share with you all we have to offer," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"We're excited to enlist the help of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, four dynamic and adventurous New Yorkers, to welcome family travelers to NYC," said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. "Known by visitors from around the world, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the perfect guides to help families discover the vibrancy and excitement throughout the five boroughs."
Families visiting NYC during the summer can take advantage of seasonal events including SummerStage Kids, Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks, the US Open Tennis Championships and more. In addition, free and low-cost outdoor activities in NYC's parks, along NYC's waterfronts and beyond add to the attractiveness of visiting NYC during the summer.
"As native New Yorkers, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the perfect choice to encourage visitors from around the globe to find their own adventures in the city that never sleeps," said Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Consumer Products, Nickelodeon. "We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with NYC & Company, which leverages our beloved characters to showcase the best of what New York City has to offer for kids and families."
Currently in its fourth season, Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is seen in over 170 countries and territories and translated in 50+ languages. The series follows four mutant turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo—trained in the art of ninjutsu by their mutant rat sensei, Master Splinter, who teaches them to battle evil from the New York City sewers. The series' executive producers are Ciro Nieli and Brandon Auman, and it is created at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California. Additionally, this summer the turtles will once again defend the streets of New York City in Paramount Pictures' highly anticipated theatrical movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, which arrives in theaters June 3.
The Official NYC Family Ambassador campaign will be promoted through out-of-home media in the five boroughs, Boston, Chicago, and 23 shopping malls in America; social media engagement using the hashtag #nycgofamily; TV commercials running in NYC taxicabs; and additional activations throughout the year.
The Family Ambassador program was created in 2009 to help position New York City as a welcoming family-friendly destination, encourage families to visit year-round and invite those who have already visited New York City to return and enjoy all of the new attractions the City has to offer. The Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles are the eighth Family Ambassador after Dora and Friends in 2015, Curious George in 2014, Where's Waldo? in 2013, The Muppets in 2012, The Smurfs in 2011, Dora the Explorer in 2010 and Sesame Street in 2009.
For more details on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ambassador campaign, visit nycgo.com/family. Follow @nycgo_press on Twitter for the latest information about New York City travel and tourism.
About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.
About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 37th 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 more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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, VIAB).
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As part of the campaign, NYC & Company has designed borough-specifc ads featuring the Heroes in a Half Shell:
First-Look At "The SpongeBob Musical"
Krabby Patty juggling! Tap dancing sea anemones! Underwater bicycles, skateboards, and electric guitars!
The eagerly awaited The SpongeBob Musical is heading your way, and it'll be hard to ignore the bubbles it will make when it hits the stage this summer for its debut, pre-Broadway run!
Ahead of its June premiere in Chicago, Entertainment Weekly has unveiled an exciting first look behind the scenes at what will easily be the best underwater piece of musical theater hitting a stage this summer!
SpongeBob SquarePants | 'The SpongeBob Musical' Official Sneak Peek | Nick
Go inside Bikini Bottom with this first look at 'The SpongeBob Musical,' making its world premiere this June in Chicago! Director Tina Landau, book writer Kyle Jarrow, designer David Zinn, and choreographer Christopher Gattelli are among the creators featured in this video, along with musical sneak peeks from Aerosmith, T.I., They Might Be Giants, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco, Lady Antebellum, Jonathan Coulton, The Flaming Lips, Plain White T's, and Sara Bareilles!
'The SpongeBob Musical' stars Ethan Slater as SpongeBob, Danny Skinner as Patrick, Lilli Cooper as Sandy, and Gavin Lee as Squidward.
Director Tina Landau, book writer Kyle Jarrow, designer David Zinn, and choreographer Christopher Gattelli are among the creators who pop up in the video and share their passion for the ambitious project, which is almost a decade in the making, as Landau revealed back in January.
The SpongeBob Musical follows an average day in Bikini Bottom turned wholly un-average, when the threatening eruption of a nearby underwater volcano called Mount Humongous flips the entire town on its head. With just 24 hours until the purported end of days, SpongeBob (newcomer Ethan Slater) takes the hero's quest upon himself to save the town and rescue his friends from certain volcanic doom.
Among its treasures, the video betrays a first glimpse at how the characters of Bikini Bottom will come to life on stage, including Mr. Krabs (Carlos Lopez), Patrick (Danny Skinner), and Sandy (Lilli Cooper). Though not directly featured here, the show also stars Nick Blaemire as Plankton and Gavin Lee as Squidward.
The musical's set, designed by David Zinn, shows off Landau's aesthetic approach to building Bikini Bottom out of salvaged materials and, as Zinn points out, "found objects or things that could float to the bottom of the ocean." Cue the hula hoops, kiddie pools, rubber tires, and sea noodles.
The video also reveals but a few song titles from the score, which is essentially crowdsourced via a roster of big-time artists including David Bowie, John Legend, T.I., Lady Antebellum, The Flaming Lips, and Sara Bareilles. Landau and Jarrow conceived specific story beats for each artist they wanted to pursue, and the artists - all major fans of SpongeBob - bit. Let your imagination run wild with the teased songs, which include a Cyndi Lauper-penned "Hero Is My Middle Name," Panic! At the Disco's "Not a Simple Sponge," the Plain White T's "BFF," and "Bikini Bottom Boogie," as written by Aerosmith.
The SpongeBob Musical, a co-production from Nickelodeon with Sony Music Masterworks and The Araca Group, plays a limited engagement from Tuesday 7th June to Sunday 3rd July 2016 at Broadway in Chicago's Oriental Theatre, before a Broadway run opening in the 2016-17 season. To quote the sponge himself: I'M READY!
And if you're ready you can watch EW's exclusive first look in the Sponge-Tastic video below!:
The eagerly awaited The SpongeBob Musical is heading your way, and it'll be hard to ignore the bubbles it will make when it hits the stage this summer for its debut, pre-Broadway run!
Ahead of its June premiere in Chicago, Entertainment Weekly has unveiled an exciting first look behind the scenes at what will easily be the best underwater piece of musical theater hitting a stage this summer!
SpongeBob SquarePants | 'The SpongeBob Musical' Official Sneak Peek | Nick
Go inside Bikini Bottom with this first look at 'The SpongeBob Musical,' making its world premiere this June in Chicago! Director Tina Landau, book writer Kyle Jarrow, designer David Zinn, and choreographer Christopher Gattelli are among the creators featured in this video, along with musical sneak peeks from Aerosmith, T.I., They Might Be Giants, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco, Lady Antebellum, Jonathan Coulton, The Flaming Lips, Plain White T's, and Sara Bareilles!
'The SpongeBob Musical' stars Ethan Slater as SpongeBob, Danny Skinner as Patrick, Lilli Cooper as Sandy, and Gavin Lee as Squidward.
Director Tina Landau, book writer Kyle Jarrow, designer David Zinn, and choreographer Christopher Gattelli are among the creators who pop up in the video and share their passion for the ambitious project, which is almost a decade in the making, as Landau revealed back in January.
The SpongeBob Musical follows an average day in Bikini Bottom turned wholly un-average, when the threatening eruption of a nearby underwater volcano called Mount Humongous flips the entire town on its head. With just 24 hours until the purported end of days, SpongeBob (newcomer Ethan Slater) takes the hero's quest upon himself to save the town and rescue his friends from certain volcanic doom.
Among its treasures, the video betrays a first glimpse at how the characters of Bikini Bottom will come to life on stage, including Mr. Krabs (Carlos Lopez), Patrick (Danny Skinner), and Sandy (Lilli Cooper). Though not directly featured here, the show also stars Nick Blaemire as Plankton and Gavin Lee as Squidward.
The musical's set, designed by David Zinn, shows off Landau's aesthetic approach to building Bikini Bottom out of salvaged materials and, as Zinn points out, "found objects or things that could float to the bottom of the ocean." Cue the hula hoops, kiddie pools, rubber tires, and sea noodles.
The video also reveals but a few song titles from the score, which is essentially crowdsourced via a roster of big-time artists including David Bowie, John Legend, T.I., Lady Antebellum, The Flaming Lips, and Sara Bareilles. Landau and Jarrow conceived specific story beats for each artist they wanted to pursue, and the artists - all major fans of SpongeBob - bit. Let your imagination run wild with the teased songs, which include a Cyndi Lauper-penned "Hero Is My Middle Name," Panic! At the Disco's "Not a Simple Sponge," the Plain White T's "BFF," and "Bikini Bottom Boogie," as written by Aerosmith.
The SpongeBob Musical, a co-production from Nickelodeon with Sony Music Masterworks and The Araca Group, plays a limited engagement from Tuesday 7th June to Sunday 3rd July 2016 at Broadway in Chicago's Oriental Theatre, before a Broadway run opening in the 2016-17 season. To quote the sponge himself: I'M READY!
And if you're ready you can watch EW's exclusive first look in the Sponge-Tastic video below!: