Becca's Bunch takes flight on Nick Jr. US
Innovative new preschool series Becca's Bunch launches September 24
DUBLIN, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Becca's Bunch, an innovative new preschool series from award-winning Irish producer JAM Media, will take flight across the US on the Nick Jr. channel, beginning September 24, at 3 p.m. (ET/PT). Episodes will also be available on Nickjr.com and the Nick Jr. App.
Already a hit on Nick Jr. in the UK, Becca's Bunch (52 x 11 minutes) stars a cast of handmade puppet characters and features over 4,000 individually crafted props and set pieces. The series merges live-action footage, puppetry, 2D and CG animation to create a unique textured world.
Becca’s Bunch, the brand-new mixed-media preschool series from Ireland’s JAM Media, debuts on Nick Jr. US, September 24. (CNW Group/ChizComm Ltd.)
[WATCH: The Making of Becca's Bunch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSAq9D0fDsA]
The show centers around Becca, a little bird with a big appetite for adventure, who loves helping her Wagtail Woods neighbors. Though she sometimes bites off more than she can chew, Becca knows that with her friends Russell, Sylvia and Pedro by her side, nothing is impossible. Thinking on their feet, Becca and her Bunch will urge kids to never give up, aim high and have big ideas—because once they do, like Becca, every day will become an adventure.
"Becca's Bunch is our most ambitious preschool series yet, taking years to develop and get just right for preschoolers around the globe," said JAM Media CEO, John Rice. "We could not be more excited to bring this truly extraordinary series to the US. We're sure American preschoolers will fall in love with Becca and her bunch, just as they have already in the UK."
Nickelodeon has secured exclusive broadcast rights to the series in the US and pay-TV rights for the rest of the world. Becca's Bunch premiered on Nick Jr.'s international channels and platforms in July.
ABOUT JAM MEDIA
JAM Media (www.jammedia.com), with operations in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, is one of the leading creators and producers of multi-award winning animated and live-action content for the children's and preschool audience. We pride ourselves on delivering high quality, innovative, story-driven brands across multiple platforms based around engaging characters with humor at its heart. The company was founded in 2002 by animator friends John Rice, Alan Shannon and Mark Cumberton.
About Nick Jr.
Nick Jr., the 24-hour network from Nickelodeon dedicated to preschoolers and parents, currently reaches almost 73 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nick Jr. and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. (NASDAQ :VIA , VIAB).
SOURCE ChizComm Ltd.
Related Links
www.chizcomm.com
Original post:
Nick Jr. USA will premiere Becca's Bunch, a brand-new animated preschool series that follows the adventures of a unique little bird who has a big heart on Monday 24th September 2018 at 3:00 p.m. (ET/PT)! Following takeoff, Becca's Bunch will continue to air weekdays at 3:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nick Jr. USA.
Update (9/12): To celebrate the launch of Becca's Bunch, NickJr.com has launched Nick Jr. USA's official Becca's Bunch show page, nickjr.com/becca-s-bunch! Nick Jr.'s official Becca's Bunch website currently features information about the show and two exclusive video clips: a meet the characters video and the shows official theme song!
In Wagtail Woods a little bird called Becca and her bunch of friends are always ready for action! Becca has a innate curiosity and a wonderful way of looking at things. She sees adventure in every situation and as a result often bites off more than she can chew, landing herself and the bunch - Russell, Sylvia and Pedro - in some sticky situations. Thinking on her feet, Becca will urge a generation of kids never to give up, aim high and have big ideas, because once they do every day will be an adventure!
From her quirky dress sense to her hobbies, Becca is a bird like no other and chirps to her own tune. Her can-do attitude allows her big ideas to take flight on the most fantastical adventures with her three best friends. Becca’s infectious enthusiasm encourages her besties, aka The Wild Bunch, to seek out adventure in Wagtail Woods and boldly go where no bird, worm, squirrel and fox have gone before. The Wild Bunch haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on Becca’s list! With unique ideas, heart and positive thinking, the gang always manage to overcome any challenge they encounter in Wagtail Woods.
Becca's Bunch is an exciting, new entertainment show for preschoolers which merges live action, puppetry and 2D and 3D animation to create a textured world that the audience will want to reach out and touch!
Below is a list of currently announced brand-new episodes of Becca's Bunch set to debut on Nick Jr. in September 2018:
Monday 24th September 2018 - Beddy, Set, Go/Mayor for a Day: Pedro decides to have a nap, rather than race Casper and Jasper, so Becca turns Pedro's bed into a go-cart!; When Becca volunteers to be Mayor for the Day, she answers everyone's requests with a "yes," creating havoc in Wagtail Woods. (#101; series premiere)
Tuesday 25th September 2018 - Rockin' the Wood/Mail Mayhem: When the opening act of the biggest concert of the year, Woodrock, drops out, Becca's Bunch offers to play; After Sylvia accidentally knocks a letter out of MJ's delivery bag, Becca and the Bunch decide to deliver the letter themselves. (#102)
Wednesday 26th September 2018 - Party, Party/Tree Talk: Becca commits to helping out at two parties, but when she can't be in two places at once, she brings the two parties together; The biggest and oldest tree in Wagtail Woods is at risk of drying up and falling over, so the Bunch unite their fellow Wagtailers to save Big Wood. (#103)
Thursday 27th September 2018 - Junior Lifeguard/Tent Trouble: On Junior Lifeguard Day, Casper and Jasper want to be first to earn a Junior Lifeguard Certificate. Becca and the Bunch follow Steven Se'Gull's training to keep the beach safe; Becca, the Bunch and Pops forget to take a tent on their camping trip, so they use their creativity to solve the problem. (#104)
Friday 28th September 2018 - Acorn King/Woodness Book of Wagtail Woods: When the Bunch find an old map, they try to track down the secret cave of the Acorn King. With Casper and Jasper on their heels, the Bunch try to discover the Acorn King's lost treasure; Becca's Bunch set out to break the Woodness Book of Wagtail Records for the biggest sand sculpture ever built. (#105)
Fans can like the official Nick Jr. Facebook page and follow the official Nick Jr. Instagram page for the latest Nick Jr. news, highlights, video clips, contests and more.
Becca's Bunch (52 x 11') is produced by Dublin-based creative production, distribution and licensing company JAM Media. Nickelodeon acquired the exclusive broadcast rights to the series in the US and Pay TV rights for the rest of the world in October 2016. Becca's Bunch made its world debut on Nick Jr. UK & Ireland on Monday 2nd July 2018, and will roll out the series onto Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels around the world in the coming months. The show has also been picked up by ABC KIDS in Australia, France Télévisions in France and CBC in Canada.
Talking about the series, Nickelodeon Senior Vice President (SVP) of International Production and Development Nina Hahn says the project was introduced to her and Nick’s Vice President (VP) of Content Acquisitions, Layla Lewis, at a very early stage. And it was love at first sight.
“[JAM Media] showed us the short even before they did the formal pitch into our larger group, which allowed us to give them feedback from multiple different filters on what we wanted to see,” Hahn says. “The content itself had a lot of the DNA of Nickelodeon, from the visual quirkiness, to the way the characters were developed and its strong female lead at the center. It really tapped into the kind of broad, emotional and simple ideas that we like to work with.”
Jam Media, which has studios in both Dublin and Belfast in Northern Ireland, pitched the series at Cartoon Forum in 2013 under the title Early Bird.
About JAM Media:
JAM Media, with operations in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, is one of the leading creators and producers of multi-award winning animated and live action content for the children’s and pre-school audience. The company pride themselves on delivering high quality, innovative, story-driven brands across multiple platforms based around engaging characters with humour at its heart. Shows include Becca's Bunch, PICME, Roy, The Slimefoots, Jessy and Nessy and Zig & Zag. The company was founded in 2002 by animator friends John Rice, Alan Shannon and Mark Cumberton. Visit http://www.jammedia.com to find out more about the company.
About Nick Jr.:
Where every day’s an adventure, Nick Jr. is a top-performing commercial pre-school entertainment brand in cable and satellite homes. Nick Jr.’s programming includes beloved shows PAW Patrol, Thomas & Friends, Shimmer and Shine, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Nella the Princess Knight, Top Wing, Sunny Day, Rusty Rivets and Peppa Pig. Kids and parents can find lots of video clips, games, exclusive activities and downloads featuring their favourite Nick Jr. friends online at nickjr.com and on the free Nick Jr. App.
About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 39th 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, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon is one of the most globally recognized and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family, with 1.2 billion cumulative subscriptions in more than 500 million households across 170+ countries and territories, via more than 100+ locally programmed channels and branded blocks. 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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Also, from Collider:
'Becca's Bunch' Debuts on Nick Jr.
Becca’s Bunch, an innovative new preschool series from award-winning Irish producer JAM Media, will take flight across the US on the Nick Jr. channel, beginning September 24, at 3 p.m. (ET/PT). Episodes will also be available on Nickjr.com and the Nick Jr. App, and Nickelodeon has secured exclusive broadcast rights to the series in the US and pay-TV rights for the rest of the world.
Already a hit on Nick Jr. in the UK, Becca’s Bunch (52 x 11 minutes) stars a cast of handmade puppet characters and features over 4,000 individually crafted props and set pieces. The series merges live-action footage, puppetry, 2D and CG animation to create a unique textured world.
The show centers around Becca, a little bird with a big appetite for adventure, who loves helping her Wagtail Woods neighbors. Though she sometimes bites off more than she can chew, Becca knows that with her friends Russell, Sylvia and Pedro by her side, nothing is impossible. Thinking on their feet, Becca and her Bunch will urge kids to never give up, aim high and have big ideas—because once they do, like Becca, every day will become an adventure.
“Becca’s Bunch is our most ambitious preschool series yet, taking years to develop and get just right for preschoolers around the globe,” said JAM Media CEO, John Rice. “We could not be more excited to bring this truly extraordinary series to the US. We’re sure American preschoolers will fall in love with Becca and her bunch, just as they have already in the UK.”
Here’s what JAM Media’s Chris Dicker and Conor Finnegan, co-creators of Becca’s Bunch, had to say about the series:
“We set out to create a strong unconventional female lead at the heart of Becca’s Bunch, but at the same time a character that would appeal to both boys and girls. There’s a lot of pink princess shows, or ones depicting girls as tomboys. Neither option was appealing to us. From her quirky dress sense to her hobbies, Becca embodies the spirit of a bird that chirps to her own tune! Becca is a celebration of being different, not only tonally but visually. It was important for us to celebrate the unique and unconventional, in her character and in the quirky playful, tactile nature of how the show looks.
Becca not only pushes herself outside her comfort zone, but also those around her. Through her resilience and positivity, the Bunch overcome all kinds of internal and external adventures in the most fantastical ways. We would love to think the show will inspire kids to get outside and find adventures in the everyday things around them.”
In terms of the curriculum, Becca’s Bunch is all about encouraging preschoolers to try new things. It’s focused on helping kids develop/learn how to:
- Curiosity: Honoring one’s adventurous spirit by exploring personal interests (even if unusual!), asking questions, and proactively seeking out new experiences.
- A Positive Attitude: Bringing enthusiasm and excitement to interactions with new places, ideas, activities, and people.
- Gather Information: Observing, asking questions, strategizing, planning, and learning a bit before diving in!
- Cope with Failure: Learning from (inevitable) mistakes, evaluating one’s approach and trying an alternative, asking for help, persevering when faced with challenges or disappointments, and maintaining an optimistic, constructive, resilient attitude.
- Believe in Oneself: Relying on self-confidence and bravery as one ventures into unfamiliar territory.
More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's September 2018 Premiere Highlights!
Originally published: Friday, August 31, 2018.
H/T: Huge thanks to TV Shows Fan for the news!; Original source: TheFutonCritic.com; 'Becca's Bunch' episode descriptions via Digiguide.
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