'Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan' Star Dylan Gilmer Dishes on His Hit Show and Aspiring Hip-Hop Career
Saturday, July 04, 2020
Nickelodeon Hosts 'Bikini Bottom Block Party' to Celebrate Fourth of July Weekend
Cool off this Fourth of July Weekend by diving under the sea with Nickelodeon's Bikini Bottom Block Party, featuring three SpongeBob SquarePants marathons packed full of fan-favorite episodes of Nickelodeon's beloved animated series, airing across Friday, July 3 (Noon-10:00pm), Saturday, July 4 (6:00am-8:00pm) and Sunday, July 5 (6:00am-8:00pm)! (all times ET/PT)
Meanwhile, over on Nicktoons, viewers can the Fairly OddParents Marathon, all day on July 4th!
SpongeBob-‘Bikini Bottom Block Party’ Screenbug
SpongeBob-‘Bikini Bottom Block Party’ Bumper #1
SpongeBob-‘Bikini Bottom Block Party’ Bumper #2
Watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon!
Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!: https://spongebobmusical.blogspot.com
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Eleventh Season is released on Tuesday, March 31, 2020!
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is now available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com
More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!
Originally published: Friday, July 03, 2020.
Sources: Primetimer, Anime Superhero Forum /@kanc, Nickstory.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!
Meanwhile, over on Nicktoons, viewers can the Fairly OddParents Marathon, all day on July 4th!
SpongeBob-‘Bikini Bottom Block Party’ Screenbug
SpongeBob-‘Bikini Bottom Block Party’ Bumper #1
SpongeBob-‘Bikini Bottom Block Party’ Bumper #2
Watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon!
Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!: https://spongebobmusical.blogspot.com
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Eleventh Season is released on Tuesday, March 31, 2020!
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is now available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com
More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!
Originally published: Friday, July 03, 2020.
Sources: Primetimer, Anime Superhero Forum /@kanc, Nickstory.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!
Nickelodeon Iberia to Host Thunder Vs. Danger Month During July 2020
It's Thunder Vs. Danger this July on Nickelodeon Iberia this July, when Nickelodeon's iconic superheroes from The Thundermans and Henry Danger takeover Nickelodeon for four weekend marathons! Fans to tune in to Nick for back-to-back episodes of The Thundermans and Henry Danger every Saturday and Sunday from 16:20h on Nickelodeon Portugal and at 17:20h on Nickelodeon Spain (España) from 3rd July 2020!
The Thundermans is locally titled Los Thunderman in Spain and Os Thundermans in Portugal.
Official Nickelodeon España press release, via mundoplus.tv:
Todos los fines de semana de julio, maratones "Thunder contra Danger" en Nickelodeon
¿Quién es más rápido? ¿Quién tiene más poder? El sábado 4 de julio llega al canal Thunder contra Danger, la competición de superhéroes más épica hasta el momento. Henry Danger y Los Thunderman se enfrentarán con sus mejores episodios en cuatro maratones especiales de fin de semana; a partir de las 17:20h, Nickelodeon alternará las aventuras de Kid Danger y Capitán Man con las de la familia de superhéroes. ¿Quién ganará?
Los superhéroes más emblemáticos de Nickelodeon tomarán las riendas del canal los fines de semana de julio con el especial Thunder contra Danger, que incluirá cuatro maratones de fin de semana en los que Los Thunderman y Henry Danger se turnarán para traer toda la diversión al canal con algunas de sus mejores aventuras y retos.
El primer fin de semana arrancará con Los Thunderman y el episodio en el que Hank crea un grupo de vigilancia para el vecindario cuando los crímenes empiezan a suceder, y Max se hace culpable de los mismos parta intentar ocultar su secreto. Por su parte, Henry Danger atacará con episodios como en el que Henry y Ray tienen que lidiar con un nuevo villano especialmente molesto.
Pero aún queda mucho más, ¡porque esta competición entre superhéroes es de lo más completa! El resto del mes los más pequeños de la casa revivirán muchas más aventuras de sus personajes favoritos. En Henry Danger, Charlotte y Jasper tendrán que encontrar una manera de colarse en la Mancueva y liberar a Kid Danger y Capitan Man, Henry intentará celebrar su cumpleaños por todo lo alto pero se complicará cuando una serie de crímenes tienen lugar en la ciudad y, por si esto fuera poco... ¡Capitán Man y Kid Danger se quedan atrapados en un agujero!
En el otro lado del ring, Los Thunderman se enfrentarán a unos de los momentos más difíciles para la familia después de que Cherry accidentalmente publique una foto que revela el secreto de los Thundermans. Después de esto, la Liga de Héroes obliga a Phoebe a hacer lo impensable y poner fin a la relación con su mejor amiga. Pero... ¡también están de aniversario! Phoebe y Max van a cumplir su rescate número 100 y están decididos a convertirlo en algo épico. ¿Les saldrá tal y cómo se han imaginado?
El sábado 4 de julio a partir de las 17:20h, Nickelodeon estrena todos los fines del semana del mes los maratones Thunder contra Danger, una auténtica batalla de aventuras protagonizada por los superhéroes más famosos de la televisión. #MaratonesNickelodeon
N.P.
Esta nota de prensa ha sido enviada por el canal o empresa mencionado. Cualquier equivocación, errata o error de cualquier tipo son responsabilidad del autor del original. Esta nota de prensa se reproduce sólo por difundir la información que contiene.
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon Portugal Celebrates Record Ratings!
Originally published: Saturday, July 4, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Iberia, The Thundermans and Henry Danger News and Highlights!
The Thundermans is locally titled Los Thunderman in Spain and Os Thundermans in Portugal.
Official Nickelodeon España press release, via mundoplus.tv:
Todos los fines de semana de julio, maratones "Thunder contra Danger" en Nickelodeon
¿Quién es más rápido? ¿Quién tiene más poder? El sábado 4 de julio llega al canal Thunder contra Danger, la competición de superhéroes más épica hasta el momento. Henry Danger y Los Thunderman se enfrentarán con sus mejores episodios en cuatro maratones especiales de fin de semana; a partir de las 17:20h, Nickelodeon alternará las aventuras de Kid Danger y Capitán Man con las de la familia de superhéroes. ¿Quién ganará?
Los superhéroes más emblemáticos de Nickelodeon tomarán las riendas del canal los fines de semana de julio con el especial Thunder contra Danger, que incluirá cuatro maratones de fin de semana en los que Los Thunderman y Henry Danger se turnarán para traer toda la diversión al canal con algunas de sus mejores aventuras y retos.
El primer fin de semana arrancará con Los Thunderman y el episodio en el que Hank crea un grupo de vigilancia para el vecindario cuando los crímenes empiezan a suceder, y Max se hace culpable de los mismos parta intentar ocultar su secreto. Por su parte, Henry Danger atacará con episodios como en el que Henry y Ray tienen que lidiar con un nuevo villano especialmente molesto.
Pero aún queda mucho más, ¡porque esta competición entre superhéroes es de lo más completa! El resto del mes los más pequeños de la casa revivirán muchas más aventuras de sus personajes favoritos. En Henry Danger, Charlotte y Jasper tendrán que encontrar una manera de colarse en la Mancueva y liberar a Kid Danger y Capitan Man, Henry intentará celebrar su cumpleaños por todo lo alto pero se complicará cuando una serie de crímenes tienen lugar en la ciudad y, por si esto fuera poco... ¡Capitán Man y Kid Danger se quedan atrapados en un agujero!
En el otro lado del ring, Los Thunderman se enfrentarán a unos de los momentos más difíciles para la familia después de que Cherry accidentalmente publique una foto que revela el secreto de los Thundermans. Después de esto, la Liga de Héroes obliga a Phoebe a hacer lo impensable y poner fin a la relación con su mejor amiga. Pero... ¡también están de aniversario! Phoebe y Max van a cumplir su rescate número 100 y están decididos a convertirlo en algo épico. ¿Les saldrá tal y cómo se han imaginado?
El sábado 4 de julio a partir de las 17:20h, Nickelodeon estrena todos los fines del semana del mes los maratones Thunder contra Danger, una auténtica batalla de aventuras protagonizada por los superhéroes más famosos de la televisión. #MaratonesNickelodeon
N.P.
Esta nota de prensa ha sido enviada por el canal o empresa mencionado. Cualquier equivocación, errata o error de cualquier tipo son responsabilidad del autor del original. Esta nota de prensa se reproduce sólo por difundir la información que contiene.
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon Portugal Celebrates Record Ratings!
Originally published: Saturday, July 4, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Iberia, The Thundermans and Henry Danger News and Highlights!
Nickelodeon's Stacey Carr, Brittany Cope and Nina Hahn to Take Part in the 2020 Banff World Media Festival Virtual Edition
The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) has announced Nickelodeon's Stacey Carr, Brittany Cope and Nina Hahn will be hosting sessions at the 2020 Banff World Media Festival, which will this year be held virtually due to the on-going COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Stacey Carr, Senior Director, Unscripted Development, Nickelodeon and Brittany Cope, Vice President (VP), Live Action Development, Scripted, Nickelodeon will be taking part in a 30 Minutes With... session, taking place on Monday 15th June 2020 at 1:00 PM, whilst Nina Hahn, Senior Vice President (SVP), International Production & Development, Nickelodeon UK will be speaking in the "Quick Draw: Animation Industry Leaders with Lessons for the Future" panel on Tuesday 16th June 2020 at 3:00 PM.
Additionally, BANFF has announced the Peppa Pig episode "Gaston’s Cave" has been nominated for the "Pre-School" award in the "Children & Youth" category of the 2020 Rockie Awards. The hit animated series that airs on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels globally. Winners will be announced during a virtual 2020 Rockie Awards International Program Competition ceremony live-streaming on June 15th at 3:00 pm EST.
Below are details about both sessions along with bios for Carr, Cope and Nahn. BANFF Virtual Edition 2020's full agenda is available online at https://banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca/2020/agenda/.
30 MINUTES WITH... STACEY CARR & BRITTANY COPE, NICKELODEON
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
*Included with your BANFF Virtual Edition Virtual + Networking Pass
Group sessions with influential international network and streaming executives. Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A.
Sign ups open Wednesday June 3 at 11:00am EST and close on Wednesday June 10 at 5:00pm EST.
All Virtual + Networking pass holders can access 30 Minutes With sessions. Sign up is still required, but previous restrictions on numbers for these sessions have been removed. 30 Minutes With sessions will also be recorded and made available exclusively to Virtual + Networking pass holders only on BANFFXchange for 7 days following the session.
QUICK DRAW: ANIMATION INDUSTRY LEADERS WITH LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
When the majority of the entertainment industry ground to a halt this year, animation not only survived, it thrived. Hear tales from top producers and broadcasters who kept the development lights on during the first wave of the pandemic and the way forward for animators beyond 2020. Learn how planning and forethought is as key as experimentation and breaking the rules.
MODERATING:
Agnes Augustin, President & CEO, Shaw Rocket Fund
FEATURING:
Vince Commisso, President & CEO, 9 Story Media Group
Nina Hahn, SVP, International Production & Development, Nickelodeon UK
Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO, Atomic Cartoons/Thunderbird
Pam Westman, President, Nelvana Ltd
SPEED MEETINGS - CBC, NICKELODEON, THE ALPERN GROUP
MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2020 | 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
*Included with your BANFF Virtual Edition Virtual + Networking Pass
BANFF's Speed Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content producers to meet one-on-one with leading decision-makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, this is your opportunity to connect with people who can help take your idea to the next level and put your TV or digital content into development.
Specifically designed to be 8-minute time slots, this program has facilitated thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in new content.
You may submit for one (1) Speed Meeting host, which will be available through our lottery-style selection through BanffXchange.
Lottery opens on Friday, June 19 at 12:00pm ET, and closes on Sunday, June 21 at 5:00pm ET. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Monday, June 22. General sign-ups open Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00am ET, and close on Wednesday, June 24 at 5:00pm ET.
FEATURING:
Jeff Alpern, Table host
President, The Alpern Group
Helen Asimakis, Table host
Senior Director, Drama, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Mandel Ilagan, Table host
VP, Live-Action Development, Unscripted, Nickelodeon
NELVANA PARTNER PRESENTATION: REDEFINING THE NEW ANIMATED PARTNERSHIP MODEL - HOW NELVANA PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL BROADCASTERS
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
With the growing demand of animated content, strategic global partnerships have become increasingly essential in the way animation is developed and created. Corus executives, along with three key global partners, will discuss how their relationships have evolved, the pros and cons of “multiple cooks in the kitchen” and the challenges of creating a mutually beneficial framework in the ever-changing world of kids entertainment.
MODERATING:
Sangita Patel, Host of HGTV's Home to Win and Entertainment Reporter, ET Canada, Corus Entertainment Inc
FEATURING:
Athena Georgaklis, Head of Development, Nelvana Enterprises
Melanie Grisanti, SVP, Production Management, Sesame Workshop
Chris Rose, VP of Animation Production and Development, Nickelodeon International
Adriano Schmid, Senior Director of Production, Discovery Kids Latin America
Pam Westman, President, Nelvana Ltd
BIOS:
STACEY CARR
Sr. Director, Unscripted Development, Nickelodeon
Stacey Carr currently serves as the Senior Director of Unscripted Development at Nickelodeon. Alongside her team, she develops and oversees a variety of development projects, including specials and series like Top Elf and Kid of the Year. Prior to Nickelodeon, Ms. Carr served as Director of Original Unscripted Development at Endemol Shine North America, developing various projects for broadcast, streamers, and syndication. Ms. Carr also spent 4 years working in Programming and Development for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. She played an integral role in the development of several original series including Ready to Love, Mind Your Business with Mahisha, Released, and OWN Tonight!
In her early career, Ms. Carr also worked for the prolific production company, A. Smith & Company, as well as in the Alternative department at Cartoon Network. In addition to her work in the industry, Ms. Carr is a board member for HollywoodWEST, a networking group that supports rising women executives, and Black & Unscripted, a group for Black professionals working in various roles within the Unscripted genre.
Originally from Reno, Nevada, she received a Sociology degree from Occidental College in 2004.
BRITTANY COPE
VP Live Action Development, Scripted, Nickelodeon
Currently VP of Scripted Development at Nickelodeon, Brittany started her entertainment career working at DreamWorks SKG in the casting department covering animated and live action features and television. She then moved into television development at Amblin TV before joining the Comedy Development team at ABC Network. While at ABC working on broadcast development she also took over responsibilities building, developing and programming for the network’s digital platform. Before joining Nickelodeon, she spent a few years leading development at Abominable Pictures. Some of her favorite projects include How To Train Your Dragon, The Croods, The Americans, Speechless, Blackish, American Housewife, Fresh Off the Boat, All That, Are You Afraid of the Dark and many more.
Brittany is originally from Portland, Oregon and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Otterbein University in 2008.
NINA HAHN
SVP, International Production & Development, Nickelodeon UK
As Senior Vice President, International Production & Development, Nina Hahn oversees international content development and co-production partnerships for Nickelodeon outside of the US.
Based in London, Hahn coordinates and drives the development process, spearheading new production models, managing productions from pilot through to series, and working in direct partnership with Nickelodeon’s content teams around the world. As part of this role, Hahn is responsible for internationally sourced productions, aligning Nickelodeon’s global production and development pipeline, representing Nickelodeon US’s production and development interests abroad and identifying resources and expertise to drive creative partnerships and cultivate talent. As the main international production and development conduit for Nickelodeon’s channels, Hahn also ensures the cultural relevancy of all Nickelodeon production and development for global broadcast.
Hahn also works in direct partnership with Nickelodeon in the UK to source content from UK independent producers for potential global production and development.
Hahn is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in creating and producing content for kids spanning all genres, from pre-school and kid’s animation, to live action and TV movies. Since joining Nickelodeon in 2005, Hahn has been responsible for overseeing the production and development of some of Nickelodeon’s biggest hits including live action favourite House of Anubis and pre-school animation Nella the Princess Knight.
Working closely with Nickelodeon US, Hahn is also the driving force behind establishing the brand as a core international hub for creators and talent, spearheading the international roll-out of creative outreach initiatives designed to unearth and identify new creative talent. These include the Nickelodeon Writers Program, designed to attract, develop and staff writers with diverse backgrounds and experiences on Nickelodeon Network Productions; and the global Nickelodeon Shorts Program, spanning both Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., providing animation and comedy talent with a platform to explore original characters, concepts and innovative styles through short form storytelling.
Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Hahn worked as an independent producer and development consultant for some of the world’s leading kid’s content producers and broadcasters in New York, including HBO and Jim Henson Productions.
MANDEL ILAGAN
VP, Live-Action Development, Unscripted, Nickelodeon
Mandel Ilagan is the VP of unscripted development at Nickelodeon, where he’s helped launch shows such as The Crystal Maze, The Substitute, Top Elf, Paradise Run and the recent reboots of the Emmy® Award-nominated Double Dare and Emmy® Award-nominated Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.
Prior to Nickelodeon, Ilagan served as an exec at Hasbro Studios where he developed and produced the Emmy-winning Hub game show Family Game Night. Over his career, he’s also been a founding executive at Fox Reality Channel and a development executive at Fremantle where his projects included Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck and the creation of the game 1/2 Off for The Price is Right.
The Harvard graduate was also a question writer on the Fox game show Greed and producer on NBC’s The Million Second Quiz.
In addition to his TV work, he was a keyboardist for The Remotes, a TV theme cover band that served as the house band for the Daytime Emmy Awards for five years.
CHRIS ROSE
VP of Animation Production and Development, Nickelodeon International
As VP of Animation Production and Development, Chris Rose heads up animation development and production for Nickelodeon International. In addition to identifying and developing new IP for Nick Toons, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr, Rose works across Nick International’s original animated content production slate and manages the international component of the animated shorts programme.
Rose previously ran the development and production arm of London’s Beano Studios and served as TV Commissioning Editor for ABC ME and ABC KIDS, ABC Australia’s children’s channels.
More Nick: Nickelodeon Upfront 2020 Roundup!
Originally published: Tuesday, June 09, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and The Astronauts News and Highlights!
Stacey Carr, Senior Director, Unscripted Development, Nickelodeon and Brittany Cope, Vice President (VP), Live Action Development, Scripted, Nickelodeon will be taking part in a 30 Minutes With... session, taking place on Monday 15th June 2020 at 1:00 PM, whilst Nina Hahn, Senior Vice President (SVP), International Production & Development, Nickelodeon UK will be speaking in the "Quick Draw: Animation Industry Leaders with Lessons for the Future" panel on Tuesday 16th June 2020 at 3:00 PM.
Additionally, BANFF has announced the Peppa Pig episode "Gaston’s Cave" has been nominated for the "Pre-School" award in the "Children & Youth" category of the 2020 Rockie Awards. The hit animated series that airs on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels globally. Winners will be announced during a virtual 2020 Rockie Awards International Program Competition ceremony live-streaming on June 15th at 3:00 pm EST.
Below are details about both sessions along with bios for Carr, Cope and Nahn. BANFF Virtual Edition 2020's full agenda is available online at https://banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca/2020/agenda/.
30 MINUTES WITH... STACEY CARR & BRITTANY COPE, NICKELODEON
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
*Included with your BANFF Virtual Edition Virtual + Networking Pass
Group sessions with influential international network and streaming executives. Hear the programming needs and priorities of major content investors first-hand, participate in Q&A.
Sign ups open Wednesday June 3 at 11:00am EST and close on Wednesday June 10 at 5:00pm EST.
All Virtual + Networking pass holders can access 30 Minutes With sessions. Sign up is still required, but previous restrictions on numbers for these sessions have been removed. 30 Minutes With sessions will also be recorded and made available exclusively to Virtual + Networking pass holders only on BANFFXchange for 7 days following the session.
QUICK DRAW: ANIMATION INDUSTRY LEADERS WITH LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
When the majority of the entertainment industry ground to a halt this year, animation not only survived, it thrived. Hear tales from top producers and broadcasters who kept the development lights on during the first wave of the pandemic and the way forward for animators beyond 2020. Learn how planning and forethought is as key as experimentation and breaking the rules.
MODERATING:
Agnes Augustin, President & CEO, Shaw Rocket Fund
FEATURING:
Vince Commisso, President & CEO, 9 Story Media Group
Nina Hahn, SVP, International Production & Development, Nickelodeon UK
Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO, Atomic Cartoons/Thunderbird
Pam Westman, President, Nelvana Ltd
SPEED MEETINGS - CBC, NICKELODEON, THE ALPERN GROUP
MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2020 | 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
*Included with your BANFF Virtual Edition Virtual + Networking Pass
BANFF's Speed Meetings are a fantastic opportunity for content producers to meet one-on-one with leading decision-makers. A signature of The Banff World Media Festival, this is your opportunity to connect with people who can help take your idea to the next level and put your TV or digital content into development.
Specifically designed to be 8-minute time slots, this program has facilitated thousands of one-on-one meetings and has led to many millions of dollars in new content.
You may submit for one (1) Speed Meeting host, which will be available through our lottery-style selection through BanffXchange.
Lottery opens on Friday, June 19 at 12:00pm ET, and closes on Sunday, June 21 at 5:00pm ET. Lottery results will be emailed to participants on Monday, June 22. General sign-ups open Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00am ET, and close on Wednesday, June 24 at 5:00pm ET.
FEATURING:
Jeff Alpern, Table host
President, The Alpern Group
Helen Asimakis, Table host
Senior Director, Drama, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Mandel Ilagan, Table host
VP, Live-Action Development, Unscripted, Nickelodeon
NELVANA PARTNER PRESENTATION: REDEFINING THE NEW ANIMATED PARTNERSHIP MODEL - HOW NELVANA PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL BROADCASTERS
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
With the growing demand of animated content, strategic global partnerships have become increasingly essential in the way animation is developed and created. Corus executives, along with three key global partners, will discuss how their relationships have evolved, the pros and cons of “multiple cooks in the kitchen” and the challenges of creating a mutually beneficial framework in the ever-changing world of kids entertainment.
MODERATING:
Sangita Patel, Host of HGTV's Home to Win and Entertainment Reporter, ET Canada, Corus Entertainment Inc
FEATURING:
Athena Georgaklis, Head of Development, Nelvana Enterprises
Melanie Grisanti, SVP, Production Management, Sesame Workshop
Chris Rose, VP of Animation Production and Development, Nickelodeon International
Adriano Schmid, Senior Director of Production, Discovery Kids Latin America
Pam Westman, President, Nelvana Ltd
BIOS:
STACEY CARR
Sr. Director, Unscripted Development, Nickelodeon
Stacey Carr currently serves as the Senior Director of Unscripted Development at Nickelodeon. Alongside her team, she develops and oversees a variety of development projects, including specials and series like Top Elf and Kid of the Year. Prior to Nickelodeon, Ms. Carr served as Director of Original Unscripted Development at Endemol Shine North America, developing various projects for broadcast, streamers, and syndication. Ms. Carr also spent 4 years working in Programming and Development for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. She played an integral role in the development of several original series including Ready to Love, Mind Your Business with Mahisha, Released, and OWN Tonight!
In her early career, Ms. Carr also worked for the prolific production company, A. Smith & Company, as well as in the Alternative department at Cartoon Network. In addition to her work in the industry, Ms. Carr is a board member for HollywoodWEST, a networking group that supports rising women executives, and Black & Unscripted, a group for Black professionals working in various roles within the Unscripted genre.
Originally from Reno, Nevada, she received a Sociology degree from Occidental College in 2004.
BRITTANY COPE
VP Live Action Development, Scripted, Nickelodeon
Currently VP of Scripted Development at Nickelodeon, Brittany started her entertainment career working at DreamWorks SKG in the casting department covering animated and live action features and television. She then moved into television development at Amblin TV before joining the Comedy Development team at ABC Network. While at ABC working on broadcast development she also took over responsibilities building, developing and programming for the network’s digital platform. Before joining Nickelodeon, she spent a few years leading development at Abominable Pictures. Some of her favorite projects include How To Train Your Dragon, The Croods, The Americans, Speechless, Blackish, American Housewife, Fresh Off the Boat, All That, Are You Afraid of the Dark and many more.
Brittany is originally from Portland, Oregon and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Otterbein University in 2008.
NINA HAHN
SVP, International Production & Development, Nickelodeon UK
As Senior Vice President, International Production & Development, Nina Hahn oversees international content development and co-production partnerships for Nickelodeon outside of the US.
Based in London, Hahn coordinates and drives the development process, spearheading new production models, managing productions from pilot through to series, and working in direct partnership with Nickelodeon’s content teams around the world. As part of this role, Hahn is responsible for internationally sourced productions, aligning Nickelodeon’s global production and development pipeline, representing Nickelodeon US’s production and development interests abroad and identifying resources and expertise to drive creative partnerships and cultivate talent. As the main international production and development conduit for Nickelodeon’s channels, Hahn also ensures the cultural relevancy of all Nickelodeon production and development for global broadcast.
Hahn also works in direct partnership with Nickelodeon in the UK to source content from UK independent producers for potential global production and development.
Hahn is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in creating and producing content for kids spanning all genres, from pre-school and kid’s animation, to live action and TV movies. Since joining Nickelodeon in 2005, Hahn has been responsible for overseeing the production and development of some of Nickelodeon’s biggest hits including live action favourite House of Anubis and pre-school animation Nella the Princess Knight.
Working closely with Nickelodeon US, Hahn is also the driving force behind establishing the brand as a core international hub for creators and talent, spearheading the international roll-out of creative outreach initiatives designed to unearth and identify new creative talent. These include the Nickelodeon Writers Program, designed to attract, develop and staff writers with diverse backgrounds and experiences on Nickelodeon Network Productions; and the global Nickelodeon Shorts Program, spanning both Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., providing animation and comedy talent with a platform to explore original characters, concepts and innovative styles through short form storytelling.
Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Hahn worked as an independent producer and development consultant for some of the world’s leading kid’s content producers and broadcasters in New York, including HBO and Jim Henson Productions.
MANDEL ILAGAN
VP, Live-Action Development, Unscripted, Nickelodeon
Mandel Ilagan is the VP of unscripted development at Nickelodeon, where he’s helped launch shows such as The Crystal Maze, The Substitute, Top Elf, Paradise Run and the recent reboots of the Emmy® Award-nominated Double Dare and Emmy® Award-nominated Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.
Prior to Nickelodeon, Ilagan served as an exec at Hasbro Studios where he developed and produced the Emmy-winning Hub game show Family Game Night. Over his career, he’s also been a founding executive at Fox Reality Channel and a development executive at Fremantle where his projects included Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck and the creation of the game 1/2 Off for The Price is Right.
The Harvard graduate was also a question writer on the Fox game show Greed and producer on NBC’s The Million Second Quiz.
In addition to his TV work, he was a keyboardist for The Remotes, a TV theme cover band that served as the house band for the Daytime Emmy Awards for five years.
CHRIS ROSE
VP of Animation Production and Development, Nickelodeon International
As VP of Animation Production and Development, Chris Rose heads up animation development and production for Nickelodeon International. In addition to identifying and developing new IP for Nick Toons, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr, Rose works across Nick International’s original animated content production slate and manages the international component of the animated shorts programme.
Rose previously ran the development and production arm of London’s Beano Studios and served as TV Commissioning Editor for ABC ME and ABC KIDS, ABC Australia’s children’s channels.
More Nick: Nickelodeon Upfront 2020 Roundup!
Originally published: Tuesday, June 09, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and The Astronauts News and Highlights!
Nick Announces Nickelodeon Artist Program 2021
Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, has announced that they are looking for entrants for the networks 2021 Nickelodeon Artist Program!
The Nickelodeon Artist Program is looking for talented artists with under-represented voices that have original ideas and a passion for animated content, and, new this year, the Nick Artist Program is accepting submission for a CG Generalist Track! CG artists can be focused in either Asset Creation or Post-Production.
Nickelodeon can't create the most awesome kids television in the world without the most awesome artists in the world. Nickelodeon offers aspiring artists, with diverse backgrounds and experiences, the opportunity to hone their artistic skills while getting paid to work on the network's 2D and CG animated television shows. Nick is seeking out talented designers, painters, and story artists with unique and/or under-represented voices to take part in the 2021 Nickelodeon Artist Program, which will provide successful applicants with a full-time job for up to 6 months starting in January 2021. Best. Job. Ever.!
There are three creative avenues to pursue: General Design Track, Storyboard Track, and CG Generalist Track. Each track provides hand-on experience working with directors, supervisors, and lead artists on Nickelodeon productions in your chosen discipline. All tracks are open to any qualified artist who has not yet had production experience.
GENERAL TRACK:
If you love bringing stories to life through characters, backgrounds/environments, props, and color then the General Design Track is for you!
STORYBOARD TRACK:
If your passion lies in visual storytelling, then the Storyboard Track is for you!
CG GENERALIST TRACK:
If you want to add dimension to storytelling through CG Asset Creation or enhance a storyline in CG Post-Production, then the CG Generalist track is for you!
The Nick Artist Program 2021 submission period will open on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 and will close on Saturday, August 1. Nickelodeon will notify each semi-finalist by Wednesday, September 30, with finalists being notified no later than Friday, October 30. Chosen artists will be notified no later than Monday, November 30, with the chosen artists beginning work in January 2021.
Entrants to the 2021 Nickelodeon Artist Program must be 18 years or older to participate. Participation in the Nick Artist Program is a full-time job. You must possess and present evidence of identification and United States employment eligibility (valid for the duration of the Program). If you have previously applied to the Program and have not been selected, you are welcome and encouraged to apply again. However, you are required to submit an updated portfolio or storyboard, supplemental materials, and/or reel each time you apply.
The current artists taking part in the 2019 Nickelodeon Artist Program are India Boeckh (2020 Design Track), Kizzy Whitfield (2020 Storyboard Track), Li Cree Hurt (2020 Storyboard Track), Marisa Torres (2020 Design Track), and Shannon Parayil (2020 Design Track).
Take your talents to the next level! You can find full information, submission guidelines and how to apply to Nick's 2021 Nickelodeon Artist Program on the programs official website, www.nickartist.com. Applicants can send their submission materials to Nickelodeon via the FluidReview submission portal.
The latest Nickelodeon Artist Program news and updates can be found on NAP's official Facebook (@NickArtist) & Instagram (@Nick_Artists) pages.
For more Nickelodeon Animation job opportunities, visit nickanimation.com/jobs
Good luck to everyone who applies! :)
From SanDiegoRed.com:
Abren vacantes para trabajar en Nickelodeon
Si lo tuyo es el arte y te gustaría participar en Nickelodeon para revivir tus mejores momentos, ahora tenemos una excelente noticia
Seguramente muchos de ustedes crecieron viendo la televisión y sobre todo aquellos canales que llenaron de felicidad con sus programas infantiles como Bob Esponja, Doug, Rugrats, La vida moderna de Rocko, Invasor Zim entre otras caricaturas animadas de Nickelodeon.
Si lo tuyo es el arte y te gustaría participar en Nickelodeon para revivir tus mejores momentos, ahora tenemos una excelente noticia.
La empresa de Nickelodeon dio a conocer que actualmente se encuentra ofreciendo diversas vacantes en la empresa. Esta es una oportunidad de perfeccionar las habilidades artísticas mientras trabajan en la gran cadena.
Actualmente están las vacantes de diseñadores, pintores y artistas de cuentos talentosos con voces únicas y / o poco representadas.
Hay tres caminos creativos para seguir: General Design Track, Storyboard Track y CG Generalist Track.
Cada pista proporciona experiencia práctica trabajando con directores, supervisores y artistas principales en la disciplina elegida.
¡Ya puedes empezar a aplicar! A partir del miércoles 1 de julio hasta el 1 de agosto tienes la oportunidad de aplicar para unirte a la familia Nickelodeon. El próximo 30 de noviembre sabrás si quedaste seleccionado.
¿Te gustaría participar? Estos son los requisitos:
- La participación en el Programa Nick Artist es un trabajo a tiempo completo.
- Debe poseer y presentar evidencia de identificación y elegibilidad de empleo en los Estados Unidos (válido durante la duración del Programa).
- Si ya ha presentado una solicitud para el Programa y no ha sido seleccionado, le invitamos a que lo solicite nuevamente. Sin embargo, debe enviar un portafolio actualizado o un guión gráfico, materiales complementarios y / o carrete cada vez que presente la solicitud.
- Haz clic en este enlace para comenzar a aplicar.
More Nick: Nickelodeon Launches New Intergalactic Animated Shorts Program!
Originally published: Thursday, June 25, 2020.
Source: Niki Lopez; H/T: Twitter /@MrStarMan64.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!
The Nickelodeon Artist Program is looking for talented artists with under-represented voices that have original ideas and a passion for animated content, and, new this year, the Nick Artist Program is accepting submission for a CG Generalist Track! CG artists can be focused in either Asset Creation or Post-Production.
Nickelodeon can't create the most awesome kids television in the world without the most awesome artists in the world. Nickelodeon offers aspiring artists, with diverse backgrounds and experiences, the opportunity to hone their artistic skills while getting paid to work on the network's 2D and CG animated television shows. Nick is seeking out talented designers, painters, and story artists with unique and/or under-represented voices to take part in the 2021 Nickelodeon Artist Program, which will provide successful applicants with a full-time job for up to 6 months starting in January 2021. Best. Job. Ever.!
There are three creative avenues to pursue: General Design Track, Storyboard Track, and CG Generalist Track. Each track provides hand-on experience working with directors, supervisors, and lead artists on Nickelodeon productions in your chosen discipline. All tracks are open to any qualified artist who has not yet had production experience.
GENERAL TRACK:
If you love bringing stories to life through characters, backgrounds/environments, props, and color then the General Design Track is for you!
STORYBOARD TRACK:
If your passion lies in visual storytelling, then the Storyboard Track is for you!
CG GENERALIST TRACK:
If you want to add dimension to storytelling through CG Asset Creation or enhance a storyline in CG Post-Production, then the CG Generalist track is for you!
The Nick Artist Program 2021 submission period will open on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 and will close on Saturday, August 1. Nickelodeon will notify each semi-finalist by Wednesday, September 30, with finalists being notified no later than Friday, October 30. Chosen artists will be notified no later than Monday, November 30, with the chosen artists beginning work in January 2021.
Entrants to the 2021 Nickelodeon Artist Program must be 18 years or older to participate. Participation in the Nick Artist Program is a full-time job. You must possess and present evidence of identification and United States employment eligibility (valid for the duration of the Program). If you have previously applied to the Program and have not been selected, you are welcome and encouraged to apply again. However, you are required to submit an updated portfolio or storyboard, supplemental materials, and/or reel each time you apply.
The current artists taking part in the 2019 Nickelodeon Artist Program are India Boeckh (2020 Design Track), Kizzy Whitfield (2020 Storyboard Track), Li Cree Hurt (2020 Storyboard Track), Marisa Torres (2020 Design Track), and Shannon Parayil (2020 Design Track).
Take your talents to the next level! You can find full information, submission guidelines and how to apply to Nick's 2021 Nickelodeon Artist Program on the programs official website, www.nickartist.com. Applicants can send their submission materials to Nickelodeon via the FluidReview submission portal.
The latest Nickelodeon Artist Program news and updates can be found on NAP's official Facebook (@NickArtist) & Instagram (@Nick_Artists) pages.
For more Nickelodeon Animation job opportunities, visit nickanimation.com/jobs
Good luck to everyone who applies! :)
From SanDiegoRed.com:
Abren vacantes para trabajar en Nickelodeon
Si lo tuyo es el arte y te gustaría participar en Nickelodeon para revivir tus mejores momentos, ahora tenemos una excelente noticia
Seguramente muchos de ustedes crecieron viendo la televisión y sobre todo aquellos canales que llenaron de felicidad con sus programas infantiles como Bob Esponja, Doug, Rugrats, La vida moderna de Rocko, Invasor Zim entre otras caricaturas animadas de Nickelodeon.
Si lo tuyo es el arte y te gustaría participar en Nickelodeon para revivir tus mejores momentos, ahora tenemos una excelente noticia.
La empresa de Nickelodeon dio a conocer que actualmente se encuentra ofreciendo diversas vacantes en la empresa. Esta es una oportunidad de perfeccionar las habilidades artísticas mientras trabajan en la gran cadena.
Actualmente están las vacantes de diseñadores, pintores y artistas de cuentos talentosos con voces únicas y / o poco representadas.
Hay tres caminos creativos para seguir: General Design Track, Storyboard Track y CG Generalist Track.
Cada pista proporciona experiencia práctica trabajando con directores, supervisores y artistas principales en la disciplina elegida.
¡Ya puedes empezar a aplicar! A partir del miércoles 1 de julio hasta el 1 de agosto tienes la oportunidad de aplicar para unirte a la familia Nickelodeon. El próximo 30 de noviembre sabrás si quedaste seleccionado.
¿Te gustaría participar? Estos son los requisitos:
- La participación en el Programa Nick Artist es un trabajo a tiempo completo.
- Debe poseer y presentar evidencia de identificación y elegibilidad de empleo en los Estados Unidos (válido durante la duración del Programa).
- Si ya ha presentado una solicitud para el Programa y no ha sido seleccionado, le invitamos a que lo solicite nuevamente. Sin embargo, debe enviar un portafolio actualizado o un guión gráfico, materiales complementarios y / o carrete cada vez que presente la solicitud.
- Haz clic en este enlace para comenzar a aplicar.
More Nick: Nickelodeon Launches New Intergalactic Animated Shorts Program!
Originally published: Thursday, June 25, 2020.
Source: Niki Lopez; H/T: Twitter /@MrStarMan64.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!
NICK NEWS: Meet the Rising Young Stars of the Black Lives Matter Movement
NICK NEWS: Meet the Rising Young Stars of the Black Lives Matter Movement
Across the nation, kids of all ages are standing up for justice and fighting for peace. Alicia Keys interviewed some of the rising young stars championing the message of Black Lives Matter in their home towns and giving back to their local communities. From the Nick News special: Kids, Race and Unity.
Watch Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special in full here: https://bit.ly/KidsRaceAndUnity
For more resources, please visit http://NickHelps.com
More Nick: Nickelodeon and TIME Kick Off Search For One Extraordinary Young Leader to Receive First-Ever Kid of the Year Honor!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!
Across the nation, kids of all ages are standing up for justice and fighting for peace. Alicia Keys interviewed some of the rising young stars championing the message of Black Lives Matter in their home towns and giving back to their local communities. From the Nick News special: Kids, Race and Unity.
Watch Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special in full here: https://bit.ly/KidsRaceAndUnity
For more resources, please visit http://NickHelps.com
More Nick: Nickelodeon and TIME Kick Off Search For One Extraordinary Young Leader to Receive First-Ever Kid of the Year Honor!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!
SpongeBob Teaches You Fry Cooking | Sponge Masters (MasterClass Ad Parody)
SpongeBob Teaches You Fry Cooking | Sponge Masters (MasterClass Ad Parody)
SpongeBob SquarePants is a world famous fry cook from Bikini Bottoms. His signature techniques and fry cooking methods have been secrets...until now. In this Sponge Masters, SpongeBob himself will teach you how to be the best fry cook.
Watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon!
Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!: https://spongebobmusical.blogspot.com
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Eleventh Season is released on Tuesday, March 31, 2020!
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is now available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com
More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!
SpongeBob SquarePants is a world famous fry cook from Bikini Bottoms. His signature techniques and fry cooking methods have been secrets...until now. In this Sponge Masters, SpongeBob himself will teach you how to be the best fry cook.
Watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon!
Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!: https://spongebobmusical.blogspot.com
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Eleventh Season is released on Tuesday, March 31, 2020!
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is now available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com
More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!
Every Pet From The Loud House & Casagrandes 🐶🦜 | The Loud House
Every Pet From The Loud House & Casagrandes 🐶🦜 | The Loud House
The Loud and Casagrandes families have a ton of pets so we decided to show you every single one of them! Here’s every family pet from Sergio the parrot to Charles the dog.
Watch The Loud House & The Casagrandes on Nickelodeon!
Subscribe to the official SpongeBob SquarePants YouTube channel!: https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial
Subscribe to the official The Loud House & The Casagrandes YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/LoudCasaSubscribe
More Nick: Nickelodeon Releases The Loud House “Really Loud Music” Digital Album!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House and The Casagrandes News and Highlights!
The Loud and Casagrandes families have a ton of pets so we decided to show you every single one of them! Here’s every family pet from Sergio the parrot to Charles the dog.
Watch The Loud House & The Casagrandes on Nickelodeon!
Subscribe to the official SpongeBob SquarePants YouTube channel!: https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial
Subscribe to the official The Loud House & The Casagrandes YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/LoudCasaSubscribe
More Nick: Nickelodeon Releases The Loud House “Really Loud Music” Digital Album!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House and The Casagrandes News and Highlights!
6 Things You May Have Missed in Avatar: The Last Airbender! | Avatar: The Last Airbender
6 Things You May Have Missed in Avatar: The Last Airbender! | Avatar: The Last Airbender
Known for genius writing and incredibly deep lore, Avatar: The Last Airbender is full of tiny details that help make the world feel so rich. However, there are some details SO tiny that even the biggest of fans may have missed them! Here are six of Nick's favorite things you may have missed in ATLA - including a hidden Nickelodeon splat logo!
Subscribe to the NEW official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/AvatarSubscribe
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix & CBS All Access and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access!
More Nick: Netflix to Host Open Casting Call for Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, NickRewind, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra News and Highlights!
Known for genius writing and incredibly deep lore, Avatar: The Last Airbender is full of tiny details that help make the world feel so rich. However, there are some details SO tiny that even the biggest of fans may have missed them! Here are six of Nick's favorite things you may have missed in ATLA - including a hidden Nickelodeon splat logo!
Subscribe to the NEW official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/AvatarSubscribe
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix & CBS All Access and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access!
More Nick: Netflix to Host Open Casting Call for Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, NickRewind, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra News and Highlights!
Kel Mitchell Through The Years! 1994-2020 | All That
Kel Mitchell Through The Years! 1994-2020 | All That
Kel Mitchell has made us laugh ever since his debut in All That in the 1990’s. Let’s take a look at Kel Mitchell through the years and all his iconic sketches at Good Burger, as Coach Kreeton and much more!
Watch all your ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s Nickelodeon favorites on NickRewind, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! NickSplat 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 on TeenNick USA, and anytime you want on NickSplat on VRV, Nick Pluto TV, NickHits on Amazon Prime Video Channels and Nick on CBS All Access!
Like NickRewind on Facebook, subscribe to the NickRewind YouTube channel and follow NickRewind on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive digital content from all of your throwback favorites like Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, iCarly, Victorious, Kenan & Kel, CatDog, Doug, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Amanda Show, Clarissa Explains It All, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and so much more!
Join Nickelodeon's official I Was A Nick Kid Facebook Group!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWasANickKid/
More Nick: Nickelodeon and Paramount to Bring 'Rugrats' Back for the Next Generation of Kids!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Classic Nickelodeon and NickRewind News and Highlights!
Kel Mitchell has made us laugh ever since his debut in All That in the 1990’s. Let’s take a look at Kel Mitchell through the years and all his iconic sketches at Good Burger, as Coach Kreeton and much more!
Watch all your ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s Nickelodeon favorites on NickRewind, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! NickSplat 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 on TeenNick USA, and anytime you want on NickSplat on VRV, Nick Pluto TV, NickHits on Amazon Prime Video Channels and Nick on CBS All Access!
Like NickRewind on Facebook, subscribe to the NickRewind YouTube channel and follow NickRewind on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive digital content from all of your throwback favorites like Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, iCarly, Victorious, Kenan & Kel, CatDog, Doug, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Amanda Show, Clarissa Explains It All, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and so much more!
Join Nickelodeon's official I Was A Nick Kid Facebook Group!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWasANickKid/
More Nick: Nickelodeon and Paramount to Bring 'Rugrats' Back for the Next Generation of Kids!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Classic Nickelodeon and NickRewind News and Highlights!
Power Rangers Official | All Victories in Power Rangers Beast Morphers
Power Rangers Official | All Victories in Power Rangers Beast Morphers
Virus Eliminated! Every victory in Power Rangers Beast Morphers.
Connect with Power Rangers: powerrangers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
More Nick: 'Power Rangers' Season 28 to be Titled 'Power Rangers Dino Fury'; To Premiere on Nickelodeon in 2021!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Power Rangers News and Highlights!
Virus Eliminated! Every victory in Power Rangers Beast Morphers.
Connect with Power Rangers: powerrangers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
More Nick: 'Power Rangers' Season 28 to be Titled 'Power Rangers Dino Fury'; To Premiere on Nickelodeon in 2021!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Power Rangers News and Highlights!
Calvin and Kaison's Play Power | Fix Up Mix Up 🛠 | Nick Jr. UK
Calvin and Kaison's Play Power | Fix Up Mix Up 🛠 | Nick Jr. UK
Calvin helps Kaison to fix his car and moves it into the "fast fixing machines". Suddenly the machine gets jammed, but Calvin uses his play power to rescue the car.
Watch Calvin and Kaison’s Play Power! on Nick Jr.!
More Nick: Nick Jr. UK Premieres 'Calvin and Kaison’s Play Power!'!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nick Jr. UK and Nickelodeon Preschool News and Highlights!
Calvin helps Kaison to fix his car and moves it into the "fast fixing machines". Suddenly the machine gets jammed, but Calvin uses his play power to rescue the car.
Watch Calvin and Kaison’s Play Power! on Nick Jr.!
More Nick: Nick Jr. UK Premieres 'Calvin and Kaison’s Play Power!'!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nick Jr. UK and Nickelodeon Preschool News and Highlights!
Nickelodeon's Noggin App to Launch 'Camp Noggin' on July 7
Nickelodeon's Noggin App Launches "Camp Noggin" on July 7
Noggin, Nickelodeon’s interactive learning service for preschoolers, is launching “Camp Noggin,” a content hub on the app offering kids a four-week educational mini-camp experience beginning July 7. With activities including music and play-along videos, e-books, and printable activities, each week will have a different learning theme to encourage kids to experiment, get moving, use their imaginations and problem solve.
Created by educational and creative experts, the “Camp Noggin” summer program features four campsite themes--Scientist, Athlete, Artist and Detective--where kids and parents can engage in fun-filled activities, earn rewards (including special badges) every week, get one-of-a-kind Camper Kits, and share their work in Noggin gallery. A “Camp Noggin” Book Nook will also be launched in the coming weeks. Featuring Nick Jr.’s preschool characters as camp counselors, the content will be accessible in the app and on Noggin.com/Camp.
Additionally, Noggin is extending Noggin Cares, an initiative that offers the subscription service for free to tens of thousands of families in need with the help of national partner organizations, through the end of the year.
Noggin is the interactive learning service from Nickelodeon. In Noggin, learning is led by the Nickelodeon preschool characters kids know and love, and developed by educational and child development experts. Noggin offers an ever-expanding library of books, learning games, activities, exclusive shorts and 1,000+ ad-free episodes of preschool favorites like PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig and Blue’s Clues & You! With Noggin, kids can go on fun learning adventures that explore science, literacy, math, music and more.
More Nick: Nickelodeon Launches #KidsTogether--A Global Prosocial Initiative to Help Kids and Families Stay Informed and Engaged With Activities; Noggin to be Offered Free to Kids in Need in Partnership with National Head Start Association and First Book
Originally published: Friday, July 03, 2020 at 21:25 BST.
Source: belairmommie.com.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Summer on Nick Jr., Nickelodeon Preschool and Noggin News and Highlights!
Aang Grows Up | Avatar: The Last Airbender
Aang Grows Up | Avatar: The Last Airbender
Aang was truly ageless
Subscribe to the NEW official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/AvatarSubscribe
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access!
More Nick: Netflix to Host Open Casting Call for Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, NickRewind, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra News and Highlights!
Aang was truly ageless
Subscribe to the NEW official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/AvatarSubscribe
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access!
More Nick: Netflix to Host Open Casting Call for Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, NickRewind, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra News and Highlights!
JoJo Siwa WORLDWIDE LIVE 9.0 (4th of July!)
JoJo Siwa WORLDWIDE LIVE 9.0 (4th of July!)
Watch: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
GET JOJO SIWA MERCH!! - JoJoSiwaMerch.Com
More Nick: JoJo Siwa Entertains Fans from Her Backyard with First *WORLDWIDE LIVE* Performance!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and JoJo Siwa News and Highlights!
Watch: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
GET JOJO SIWA MERCH!! - JoJoSiwaMerch.Com
More Nick: JoJo Siwa Entertains Fans from Her Backyard with First *WORLDWIDE LIVE* Performance!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and JoJo Siwa News and Highlights!
Fan Gives 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Intro An Epic 'Game of Thrones' Twist
A fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender has recreated the beloved Nickelodeon animated series iconic intro in the style of the Game of Thrones opening sequence! The epic VFX project re-imagines the animated series like you've never seen before.
Avatar: The Last Airbender originally premiered on Nickelodeon 2005 to the critical acclaim, and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to being re-added to Netflix's programming library. The epic story of Avatar: The Last Airbender follows the journey of Aang, a 12-year-old boy torn between fulfilling his fate as the long-awaited Avatar, who can master all four elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air - and bring balance to the world, and just wanting to be a regular kid.
The show's intro has become iconic in its own right, and is a staple of pop culture. A talented VFX artist took the segment and brought it to life using Game of Thrones' mind-blowing opening sequence.
The video was posted on Reddit, and went viral with over 4.1k likes at the time of writing. While the project was re-discovered on June 2, the jaw-dropping creation was originally made back in 2015 by creator 'Ramsey VFX Shows.'
The artist meticulously re-imagined Avatar's 2D animated intro into the style of Game of Thrones iconic opening which made its debut in 2011 on HBO. The video opens up showing the Southern Water Tribe, before panning to the Air Temples and the Nomads' spiraling towers in the sky.
In the story, the massive city of Ba Sing Se is the center of the Earth Kingdom. The incredible clip brings the massive location to life by showing its lower, middle, and upper rings rising up from the ground. The fan intro then pans to the great Northern Water Tribe, and their ice wall defenses.
Finally, the epic recreation moves to the Fire Nation, which is tucked away between mountains and surrounded by volcanic islands in the West. The video truly brings the animation's map to life, and gives viewers a true scale and scope of how detailed the world actually is.
Those in love with Aang's adventure are in luck, as Netflix has also announced they have plans to bring The Last Airbender to life in the form of a live-action adaptation.
Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't the only Nickelodeon series that has received the Game of Thrones treatment. In 2013, Nick Jr. UK reimagined Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom in the style of Game of Thrones.
Subscribe to the NEW official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/AvatarSubscribe
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access!
More Nick: Netflix to Host Open Casting Call for Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series!
Original source: Dexerto.com.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, NickRewind, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra News and Highlights!
Avatar: The Last Airbender originally premiered on Nickelodeon 2005 to the critical acclaim, and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to being re-added to Netflix's programming library. The epic story of Avatar: The Last Airbender follows the journey of Aang, a 12-year-old boy torn between fulfilling his fate as the long-awaited Avatar, who can master all four elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air - and bring balance to the world, and just wanting to be a regular kid.
The show's intro has become iconic in its own right, and is a staple of pop culture. A talented VFX artist took the segment and brought it to life using Game of Thrones' mind-blowing opening sequence.
The video was posted on Reddit, and went viral with over 4.1k likes at the time of writing. While the project was re-discovered on June 2, the jaw-dropping creation was originally made back in 2015 by creator 'Ramsey VFX Shows.'
The artist meticulously re-imagined Avatar's 2D animated intro into the style of Game of Thrones iconic opening which made its debut in 2011 on HBO. The video opens up showing the Southern Water Tribe, before panning to the Air Temples and the Nomads' spiraling towers in the sky.
In the story, the massive city of Ba Sing Se is the center of the Earth Kingdom. The incredible clip brings the massive location to life by showing its lower, middle, and upper rings rising up from the ground. The fan intro then pans to the great Northern Water Tribe, and their ice wall defenses.
Finally, the epic recreation moves to the Fire Nation, which is tucked away between mountains and surrounded by volcanic islands in the West. The video truly brings the animation's map to life, and gives viewers a true scale and scope of how detailed the world actually is.
Those in love with Aang's adventure are in luck, as Netflix has also announced they have plans to bring The Last Airbender to life in the form of a live-action adaptation.
Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't the only Nickelodeon series that has received the Game of Thrones treatment. In 2013, Nick Jr. UK reimagined Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom in the style of Game of Thrones.
Subscribe to the NEW official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!: https://at.nick.com/AvatarSubscribe
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix and The Legend of Korra on CBS All Access!
More Nick: Netflix to Host Open Casting Call for Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series!
Original source: Dexerto.com.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon, NickRewind, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra News and Highlights!
Animation Magazine Names Niki López as One of 2020's Rising Stars of Animation
Animation Magazine has announced Niki López, the Creator and producer of Nickelodeon's upcoming Latino animated preschool series Santiago of the Seas, as one of 2020's Rising Stars of Animation!
Animag’s 2020 Rising Stars of Animation feature also honors Sunil Hall, Co-Creator/Executive Producer of The Mighty Ones for DreamWorks Animation, whose first long-term job was as prop designer on Nickelodeon’s My Life as a Teenage Robot, Katie Rice, Director, Animaniacs for Warner Bros. Animation/Hulu, who worked on El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera and credits Nickelodeon's original Nicktoons as inspiring her to pursue a career in animation, and Priscilla Wong, Visual Development Artist on Trolls World Tour for DreamWorks Animation, who counts Hey Arnold!, Rugrats and SpongeBob SquarePants as some of her earliest influences!
Animation Magazine will profile each of their 14 2020 Rising Stars of Animation honorees in their April 2020 issue. The 14 women and men come from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. What they share is a passion for the art and craft of animation and storytelling, deep respect for the trailblazers before them and a burning desire to make a difference in their specific field of expertise.
A huge congratulations to Niki López, Sunil Hall, Katie Rice, Priscilla Wong, and everyone honored in Animation Magazine's 2020 Rising Stars of Animation feature! You can read more about each honoree at animationmagazine.net.
Santiago of the Seas (formerly The Swashbuckling Adventures of Capitán Calavera) is a interactive animated series that follows the adventures of 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe from villains in a fantastical Caribbean world. The series is created by Niki Lopez, Leslie Valdes and Valerie Walsh Valdes (Dora the Explorer), and infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum. Nickelodeon announced the series (20 episodes) during Nickelodeon Upfront 2018.
Niki López
Creator/Producer, Santiago of the Seas, Nickelodeon
A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Niki López put a lot of her own cultural heritage and background into the world of Nickelodeon’s upcoming series Santiago of the Seas. The colorful toon, which is infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum, centers on the adventures of a brave and kind-hearted pirate who searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe from villains.
López, who grew up watching Disney movies such as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, says she was also deeply influenced by the 1992 feature FernGully: The Last Rainforest. “I guess that inspired the little environmentalist in me as a kid,” she says. “I studied illustration and computer animation at Ringling, and I really wanted to further develop my skills and dig deeper into doing creative work, but I was open to anything.”
After a brief stint in advertising, López decided to really start exploring her options in animation. A meeting with a Nickelodeon recruiter at an animation event led to her landing an internship at the studio in 2009. “I grew up a Nickelodeon kid and the energy and personality of the studio really resonated with me, so I really wanted to be part of it,” she recalls.
The internship led to gigs on Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Fairly OddParents and Harvey Beaks. “I was really inspired by what edgy and fun shows the preschool team was working on. Because the studio has an open-door pitching policy from the staff, I decided to pitch them some ideas, too. After all, what was the worst that could happen? I even took a month’s sabbatical and traveled to Puerto Rico and New Orleans to get the right inspirations for the pitch.”
The development execs at Nick really liked her pitch, and Lopez’s show is set to debut on the cabler later this year. “I am really proud of how cinematic the series looks,” she admits. “I love the rich greens and blues, and how the colors are so vibrant and dynamic.” She also says that she has learned a lot of great lessons along the way. “As a first-time showrunner, you discover that there are lots of challenges, but they can be huge lessons to help you in the future,” says the wise and brilliant 35-year-old artist. “The most important thing is to trust your gut. It’s easy to get off track and forget the reason you decided to do something in the first place. Animation is a team effort, but you have to make sure that your voice doesn’t get lost. Always be open to collaboration, but don’t lose sight of the real core of your vision.”
From Latin Heat:
Niki Lopez: Running The Show At Nickelodeon
Selected by Variety To Its 10 Animators to Watch in 2018
By Justina Bonilla
Nickelodeon is a pioneer of children’s television, especially with trailblazing Latino themed programs, such as Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Tiana, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, and The Casagrandes. Another animated Latino oriented program to join this esteemed class of Nickelodeon programming, is Santiago of the Seas, by one of Nickelodeon’s newest showrunner, Niki Lopez.
Lopez gained attention within the animation industry as an up and coming talent and in 2018 was recognized as a part of Variety’s esteemed list of 10 Animators to Watch. Recently, she was also listed in Animation Magazine’s Rising Stars of Animation in April 2020.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lopez had a profound love and fascination with animation, especially on television. As a child Lopez loved television especially Nickelodeon, identifying as a “Nick Brat”. Her favorite Nickelodeon programs including Rocko’s Modern Life, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, and Are You Afraid of the Dark?.
At a young age, Lopez unknowingly began crafting her talent for animation by doodling on paper a world of characters with backstories. She carried on this talent into her education, obtaining her BFA in Illustration from the private Ringling College of Art and Design of Florida. After working as a graphic designer for an ad agency and as a freelance Inker and colorist, she went to pursue her passion for animation with Nickelodeon.
In 2010, Lopez began her career at Nickelodeon as an intern, aka a “Nicktern”. From this experience, she became a full-time production assistant for two years on the animated show Kung fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness. She then worked for five years on a variety of animated shows, including The Fairly OddParents as a color designer.
At Nickelodeon, Lopez was inspired by the “Edgy and fun shows the preschool team was working on and it’s open-door pitching policy,” Lopez said. Taking advantage of that, Lopez pitched a few ideas which were turned down. This would lead her to fine tune the pitch that would make her a first-time showrunner on Santiago of the Seas.
Santiago of the Seas, centers around 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate and his swashbuckling adventures. The series is created by Niki Lopez, Leslie Valdes and Valerie Walsh Valdes (Dora the Explorer) is set to premiere later this year on Nick Jr. as a 20-episode preschool program with a mix of education in Latino-Caribbean culture (Puerto Rico, Dominican, and Cuban) with a Spanish-language curriculum.
Although Puerto Rico is a United States territory, with well known Puerto Rican celebrities (Rita Moreno, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Bruno Mars), many still do not know much about the Puerto Rican culture. What Dora the Explorer and The Casagrandes have done by representing the Mexican culture, Lopez hopes to do the same with Santiago of the Seas for Latino-Caribbean culture.
One of the ways Lopez highlight the culture is by introducing the deliciousness of Puerto Rican Food. Santiago of the Seas audiences will be introduced to piragua, a shaved ice Puerto dessert and other mouthwatering Puerto Rican foods will make an appearance, such as bacalaito (fried codfish), arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas), and Mofongo (fried plantains).
“Santiago of the Seas as an opportunity empower more underrepresented voices. Not just from one perspective, it’s diverse, and that includes the Afro-Latino perspective,” Lopez siad. “The cultural influences that exist in Puerto Rico wouldn’t exist if we didn’t include the African side. All that is being shown through the show.”
Stressing the importance of children seeing authentic voices they can relate to, Lopez worked to, “Make sure the characters are aspirational. And that when little kids see the show and see these characters, [they] see themselves in them. They see a friend.”
“Little kids are agent of change,” Lopez noted. “And, it is our responsibility as content creators to give them the tools and the examples to go out there and care about the community. [To] stand up for what’s rights and learn to respect everybody.” She talked about her instilling in the kides a need to be “good people”. Especially now, “We need to champion kindness…it’s so important,” Lopez told us.
LXiA is a Signature Program of LFI that focuses on empowering diversity in Animation, VFX, and Gaming Features Nikki Lopez
Pouring her heart and soul into Santiago of the Sea, Lopez has created an animation gem waiting to glisten. With the amount of sincerity and talent she possesses, there is no doubt this rising star will shine through, going where her imagination can take her.
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon Upfront 2020 Roundup!
Originally published: Saturday, March 21, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and Santiago of the Seas News and Highlights!
Animag’s 2020 Rising Stars of Animation feature also honors Sunil Hall, Co-Creator/Executive Producer of The Mighty Ones for DreamWorks Animation, whose first long-term job was as prop designer on Nickelodeon’s My Life as a Teenage Robot, Katie Rice, Director, Animaniacs for Warner Bros. Animation/Hulu, who worked on El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera and credits Nickelodeon's original Nicktoons as inspiring her to pursue a career in animation, and Priscilla Wong, Visual Development Artist on Trolls World Tour for DreamWorks Animation, who counts Hey Arnold!, Rugrats and SpongeBob SquarePants as some of her earliest influences!
Animation Magazine will profile each of their 14 2020 Rising Stars of Animation honorees in their April 2020 issue. The 14 women and men come from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. What they share is a passion for the art and craft of animation and storytelling, deep respect for the trailblazers before them and a burning desire to make a difference in their specific field of expertise.
A huge congratulations to Niki López, Sunil Hall, Katie Rice, Priscilla Wong, and everyone honored in Animation Magazine's 2020 Rising Stars of Animation feature! You can read more about each honoree at animationmagazine.net.
Santiago of the Seas (formerly The Swashbuckling Adventures of Capitán Calavera) is a interactive animated series that follows the adventures of 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe from villains in a fantastical Caribbean world. The series is created by Niki Lopez, Leslie Valdes and Valerie Walsh Valdes (Dora the Explorer), and infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum. Nickelodeon announced the series (20 episodes) during Nickelodeon Upfront 2018.
Niki López
Creator/Producer, Santiago of the Seas, Nickelodeon
A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Niki López put a lot of her own cultural heritage and background into the world of Nickelodeon’s upcoming series Santiago of the Seas. The colorful toon, which is infused with a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum, centers on the adventures of a brave and kind-hearted pirate who searches for treasures and keeps the high seas safe from villains.
López, who grew up watching Disney movies such as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, says she was also deeply influenced by the 1992 feature FernGully: The Last Rainforest. “I guess that inspired the little environmentalist in me as a kid,” she says. “I studied illustration and computer animation at Ringling, and I really wanted to further develop my skills and dig deeper into doing creative work, but I was open to anything.”
After a brief stint in advertising, López decided to really start exploring her options in animation. A meeting with a Nickelodeon recruiter at an animation event led to her landing an internship at the studio in 2009. “I grew up a Nickelodeon kid and the energy and personality of the studio really resonated with me, so I really wanted to be part of it,” she recalls.
The internship led to gigs on Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Fairly OddParents and Harvey Beaks. “I was really inspired by what edgy and fun shows the preschool team was working on. Because the studio has an open-door pitching policy from the staff, I decided to pitch them some ideas, too. After all, what was the worst that could happen? I even took a month’s sabbatical and traveled to Puerto Rico and New Orleans to get the right inspirations for the pitch.”
The development execs at Nick really liked her pitch, and Lopez’s show is set to debut on the cabler later this year. “I am really proud of how cinematic the series looks,” she admits. “I love the rich greens and blues, and how the colors are so vibrant and dynamic.” She also says that she has learned a lot of great lessons along the way. “As a first-time showrunner, you discover that there are lots of challenges, but they can be huge lessons to help you in the future,” says the wise and brilliant 35-year-old artist. “The most important thing is to trust your gut. It’s easy to get off track and forget the reason you decided to do something in the first place. Animation is a team effort, but you have to make sure that your voice doesn’t get lost. Always be open to collaboration, but don’t lose sight of the real core of your vision.”
From Latin Heat:
Niki Lopez: Running The Show At Nickelodeon
Selected by Variety To Its 10 Animators to Watch in 2018
By Justina Bonilla
Nickelodeon is a pioneer of children’s television, especially with trailblazing Latino themed programs, such as Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Tiana, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, and The Casagrandes. Another animated Latino oriented program to join this esteemed class of Nickelodeon programming, is Santiago of the Seas, by one of Nickelodeon’s newest showrunner, Niki Lopez.
Lopez gained attention within the animation industry as an up and coming talent and in 2018 was recognized as a part of Variety’s esteemed list of 10 Animators to Watch. Recently, she was also listed in Animation Magazine’s Rising Stars of Animation in April 2020.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lopez had a profound love and fascination with animation, especially on television. As a child Lopez loved television especially Nickelodeon, identifying as a “Nick Brat”. Her favorite Nickelodeon programs including Rocko’s Modern Life, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, and Are You Afraid of the Dark?.
At a young age, Lopez unknowingly began crafting her talent for animation by doodling on paper a world of characters with backstories. She carried on this talent into her education, obtaining her BFA in Illustration from the private Ringling College of Art and Design of Florida. After working as a graphic designer for an ad agency and as a freelance Inker and colorist, she went to pursue her passion for animation with Nickelodeon.
In 2010, Lopez began her career at Nickelodeon as an intern, aka a “Nicktern”. From this experience, she became a full-time production assistant for two years on the animated show Kung fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness. She then worked for five years on a variety of animated shows, including The Fairly OddParents as a color designer.
At Nickelodeon, Lopez was inspired by the “Edgy and fun shows the preschool team was working on and it’s open-door pitching policy,” Lopez said. Taking advantage of that, Lopez pitched a few ideas which were turned down. This would lead her to fine tune the pitch that would make her a first-time showrunner on Santiago of the Seas.
Santiago of the Seas, centers around 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate and his swashbuckling adventures. The series is created by Niki Lopez, Leslie Valdes and Valerie Walsh Valdes (Dora the Explorer) is set to premiere later this year on Nick Jr. as a 20-episode preschool program with a mix of education in Latino-Caribbean culture (Puerto Rico, Dominican, and Cuban) with a Spanish-language curriculum.
Although Puerto Rico is a United States territory, with well known Puerto Rican celebrities (Rita Moreno, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Bruno Mars), many still do not know much about the Puerto Rican culture. What Dora the Explorer and The Casagrandes have done by representing the Mexican culture, Lopez hopes to do the same with Santiago of the Seas for Latino-Caribbean culture.
One of the ways Lopez highlight the culture is by introducing the deliciousness of Puerto Rican Food. Santiago of the Seas audiences will be introduced to piragua, a shaved ice Puerto dessert and other mouthwatering Puerto Rican foods will make an appearance, such as bacalaito (fried codfish), arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas), and Mofongo (fried plantains).
“Santiago of the Seas as an opportunity empower more underrepresented voices. Not just from one perspective, it’s diverse, and that includes the Afro-Latino perspective,” Lopez siad. “The cultural influences that exist in Puerto Rico wouldn’t exist if we didn’t include the African side. All that is being shown through the show.”
Stressing the importance of children seeing authentic voices they can relate to, Lopez worked to, “Make sure the characters are aspirational. And that when little kids see the show and see these characters, [they] see themselves in them. They see a friend.”
“Little kids are agent of change,” Lopez noted. “And, it is our responsibility as content creators to give them the tools and the examples to go out there and care about the community. [To] stand up for what’s rights and learn to respect everybody.” She talked about her instilling in the kides a need to be “good people”. Especially now, “We need to champion kindness…it’s so important,” Lopez told us.
LXiA is a Signature Program of LFI that focuses on empowering diversity in Animation, VFX, and Gaming Features Nikki Lopez
Pouring her heart and soul into Santiago of the Sea, Lopez has created an animation gem waiting to glisten. With the amount of sincerity and talent she possesses, there is no doubt this rising star will shine through, going where her imagination can take her.
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon Upfront 2020 Roundup!
Originally published: Saturday, March 21, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and Santiago of the Seas News and Highlights!
Tom Kenny Teases 'SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run' Movie and TV Spinoff 'Kamp Koral'
Nickelodeon's beloved animated series SpongeBob SquarePants quietly passed its 21st anniversary last month, but the long-running cartoon exhibits no signs of sinking into the depths of animation obscurity. With a new movie and spinoff series on the watery horizon, the TV show that's enthralled kids and adults the world over for over two decades is just getting started — and is now ready to take the plunge into an exciting future of oceanic possibilities.
Credit: Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon
Scheduled to hit theaters Friday, Aug. 7, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is the franchise's third feature-length film and the first to be entirely animated with 3D characters. Recently speaking with SYFY WIRE, Tom Kenny (who voices the happy-go-lucky Porifera) described the film as "really wild" and "really fun," also touching on the nature of the CG aesthetic, which was briefly utilized in the climax of 2015's Sponge Out of Water.
"[Series creator Stephen] Hillenburg was always a little cautious about the 3D thing and I think he wanted to use the last film as kind of a test to see how he felt about seeing the characters like that," Kenny says. "Steph was very much a traditional animation person — flat 2D and he didn't know if the characters would work like that and then when he saw it, he really loved it."
Prior to his passing from ALS in 2018, Hillenburg did get to leave his mark on early aspects of Sponge on the Run, which was written and directed by longtime SpongeBob scribe Tim Hill (whose screenwriting credits go all the way back to the series' first movie in 2004).
"[Hillenburg] was able to be involved in the planning of the movie and the writing of the movie," Kenny continues. "It's gonna be interesting to see [the characters] in 3D. I've actually seen some of it, obviously, because we're doing ADR and stuff like that, and it looks really cool, really great. It's a really nice blend of that old school squash-and-stretch flat animation; Looney Tunes meets current CG look. So we're really excited about it. I think fans will really dig it."
The film finds SpongeBob and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) setting off on an epic maritime quest to find the former's pet snail Gary (also voiced by Kenny), who has gone missing once again. As always, Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), Sandy (Carolyn Lawrence), Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), Plankton (Mr. Lawrence), Karen (Jill Talley), Mrs. Puff (Mary Jo Catlett), and Pearl (Lori Alan) are along for the ride. Keanu Reeves, Snoop Dogg, Awkwafina, and Reggie Watts are set to make guest appearances.
As evidenced by the trailers, fans will get to see the very first meeting between SpongeBob and Gary during SpongeBob's prepubescent years at Camp Coral. That glimpse back in time is directly tied to Nick's prequel spinoff show, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (it's a tad confusing, but the two k's are likely in reference to The Krusty Krab).
"I can say that we're recording the spinoff series, which kind of springboards off of some stuff in the movie," Kenny reveals. "Some scenes in the upcoming movie where it's flashback stuff to SpongeBob and his pals at summer camp, at Camp Coral when they're really, really younguns. So, the Kamp Koral TV series takes that and expands on it."
All of the original voice cast is returning for the new project along with Carlos Alazraqui (Rocko's Modern Life, The Casagrandes) and Kate Higgins (Blaze and the Monster Machines), who are voicing a pair of new characters: Nobby and Narlene, narwal siblings who live in the woods around the camp.
Credit: Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon
Animated with CG as well, Kamp Koral was conceived by Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller, who, like Hill, are longtime SquarePants veterans.
"The people that make it have always been a pretty small group. It's Steph and Marc Ceccarelli, Vince Waller, Paul Tibbitt, and Mr. Lawrence. Those are all people that have pretty much been on it, if not since the beginning, then almost since the beginning for many years," Kenny says. "It's definitely got a family feel and it's turned into this part of people's lives that they really like. And in some ways, in times of trouble and stress, it's a go-to for them. It's comfort food, just the way a Krabby Patty would be for people in Bikini Bottom. 'I need to get out of the crazy and watch 11 minutes of an old SpongeBob [episode] that used to make me laugh my head off back in the day.'"
The 13-episode prequel was set to air next month, but may end up delayed after Sponge on the Run had its theatrical opening postponed by the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
In addition to Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, Nickelodeon are currently in development with two other SpongeBob spin-offs for Netflix, including one starring SpongeBob's long-suffering neighbour and Krusty Krab co-worker Squidward.
From Vanyaland:
Reflecting on 40 years of Ding Ho and the legacy of Barry Crimmins
Interview: Ding Ho alumni Mike McDonald, Brian Kiley, and Tom Kenny take a look back at the early days of Boston comedy.
The days of The Ding Ho Comedy Club may be long gone, much like the fashion, haircuts and attraction to illicit substances that ran amuck at the Inman Square stand-up institution during the comedy boom of the early ‘80s. But by no means does that mean the memories and legacy, that of the club itself or of founder and curator Barry Crimmins, have faded along with them.
As evident tonight (July 3) during The Ding Ho 40th Anniversary Reunion, Tribute and Fundraiser, even after all the years of touring, filmmaking, voice acting and joke writing that have followed for a vast group of comics who Crimmins helped get out on the right foot with stage time and livable pay — like Denis Leary, Steven Wright, Lenny Clarke, Tony V, Jimmy Tingle, Bobcat Goldthwait, Tom Kenny, Mike McDonald and many others — the memories are vivid and the appreciation for what Crimmins did at the helm of the club still rings sincere and heartfelt.
Before they sit down for a virtual trip down memory lane and pay tribute to a dear departed friend and help raise support for Crimmins’ widow, Helen, we got on the horn with Boston comedy mainstay Mike McDonald, Conan writer Brian Kiley, and voice actor extraordinaire Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Rick and Morty, Mr. Show) over the last week to chat about what made the club, and Crimmins, such vital parts of their lives. Here’s some of what they had to say.
Jason Greenough: With the Ding Ho 40th Anniversary reunion show coming up, how does it feel being able to celebrate this milestone in this way?
Mike McDonald: Well, none of us can believe it’s 40 years ago. That’s the first thing. It seems like yesterday. The Ding Ho was the crucible that we all came out of, and it was the best place that we were able to train and have a clubhouse where we could get together, field some ground balls and get better at what we wanted to do, which was be comedians. Unbeknownst to us, we were surrounded by people who we knew were good, but we had no idea they’d be 40-year lifers in the business. When you look at the amount of talent that came out of that group, with [Paula] Poundstone, [Kevin] Meaney, [Denis] Leary, Lenny [Clarke], [Steve] Sweeney, Ken Rogerson, Mike Donovan, Jack Gallagher, [Bobcat] Goldthwait, Tom Kenny, they’re all just fantastic comedians.
There would be five or six people on a show per night, traditionally. When you take a lineup like that, you better bring your A-game, because those other people are going to dust you if you don’t. It’s going to be apparent who can’t play if you’re following Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone and Kevin Meaney. You’re up next, and whatever you’re gonna do, it better be fucking funny.
You got better right away, simply because if you didn’t, you were going to embarrass yourself. You had to run hard just to stay in the game with these other people, and they felt the same way. We would watch each other’s acts, and we would help each other. ‘Ya know that thing you’re doing on Turtles? Here’s a tagline’.
Brian Kiley: It’s really bittersweet, because Barry passed away, and we’re doing this show for his widow, who is sick, and all of that is sad, but it’s great that the Ding Ho is being honored. So many great comics So many great comics came from there, and it was such an iconic place. I have to say, there was an innocence to it, where there were people who were so sincere about their acts and making those acts so unique, and creative, and different. It also shows you that creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum, because when you have creative people working together, that energy feeds off each other, and it makes everyone better and more creative, and so on. It was a very special place.
Tom Kenny: The Ding Ho was quite the scene. After moving to town from Syracuse, it was the first place I went to do a set in Boston, pretty much. I moved there to do stand-up when I was 21, and Barry Crimmins was a mentor of mine, after having already met him when I was a teenager in Syracuse. He had become a mentor of mine, then he went to Boston, and became a big wheel in the Boston scene, and I had felt like I was kind of spinning my wheels in Syracuse, so I figured I would give Beantown a try. So, I moved to Allston-Brighton and pretty much the day I hit town, I went to the Ding Ho and did a set there.
As a comedian, what does the Ding Ho, and what it stood for, mean to you today?
McDonald: It was the comedy college we all went to, combined with the clubhouse we all hung out in. I don’t go back to my college reunion. The Ding Ho is my college reunion. Those people are the ones who mean a lot to me. It’s where we got together and learned to be comedians, and that’s really good to have. It’s like being on a sports team. The only thing I can really equate the Boston comedy scene to is, like, the Chicago Blues scene when Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, and all those guys were coming up.
At the time, a comedy club was new to Boston. Downstairs of the Charles Playhouse was the Comedy Connection, and the Ding Ho was across town in Inman Square, and by far, Inman Square was the hippest place in the greater Boston area. Behind the Ding Ho was the 1369 Jazz Club, across the street, you had Ryles, which had two rooms where they’d be playing rock or fusion in one, and blues or jazz in the other, and then across the street from that was the Inn-Square Men’s Bar, which was killer rock and roll and blues. Within a block area, you could see all kinds of fantastic entertainment in one night. Harvard Square wasn’t anywhere near as cool as Inman Square, and there was nowhere in Boston that was as good as that Inman Square area. It was fucking killer.
Kiley: When I was a sophomore in college, there was a comedy show at the school, and Crimmins was headlining, and I thought he was hilarious. I went and talked to him after the show, because I had been writing jokes since I was 12 or 13 and I wanted to tell him how funny I thought the show was. So here I am at 18 or 19 talking to Barry, and telling him how I wanted to be a comedy writer, so he would have me come to the Ding Ho, and he’d have a cup of coffee with me. I’d type up my jokes and show them to him, and he would critique them for me, and he would tell me that I would have to get on stage in order to make money doing comedy Boston, and that I wouldn’t get money by comedy writing in Boston, but the idea of getting on stage was too terrifying. But he told me I was welcomed any time I wanted to come see a show, so he would put me on the guest list, and I would just sit in the back of the room, at least once a month. It was a little hard to get to Inman Square, so I would have to take, like, two trains and a bus, but I did that for a year, and then I took a summer class at Emerson taught by Denis Leary.
At the end of the class, they had us do stand-up, and I was encouraged to go to an open mic, so I go to the Ding Ho, and Barry was hosting, and I went on and did great. Now, I went back the next week and Lenny was hosting, and I went on around quarter of one, and went down in flames. But then when I went back the next week, Lenny saw me and had me back on stage, so I went back there every week, and that’s where my comedy career started. I have such a soft spot in my heart for the Ding Ho, and Barry was my mentor, really up until he died.
Kenny: The reason I moved to Boston was because Bobcat Goldthwait, who is a childhood friend of mine, was leaving Boston for California, and he offered up his apartment and told me how he had a cool roommate, and that Crimmins was booking a show in the city. He wanted me to leave Smallville and come to Metropolis, so I did. For me, the Ding Ho represented that first feeling of ‘I can do this.’ I felt like I didn’t totally suck. It was a validation when I would get up on stage and make people laugh. All the established guys like Tingle, in particular and McDonald were really kind to me. The Ding Ho helped me realize that maybe I could make a living being creative, and not just by sitting in some office or cutting meat or whatever. I never had a plan B. I still don’t actually.
There’s actually kind of a direct line from the Ding Ho to all the voice over work. After I had been doing stand-up for awhile [in Boston], I moved out to San Francisco, and somebody out there saw me doing stand-up and told me how one of his friends was creating this show called Rocko’s Modern Life on Nickelodeon and asked me if I’d be interested in doing voices for it, and through Rocko’s Modern Life, I met Steve Hillenberg, who created SpongeBob, and that was a total life changer for me. All of that really happened because I did stand-up at the Ding Ho.
Are you worried at all about the virtual format of the show taking away from the type of warmth that shows like this generally carry with them?
McDonald: Zoom shows will never be live comedy, but they are a different methodology to meet, talk to, and touch people. It’s okay. It’s different, but it’s going to be funny because these people are funny. I’m sure there are going to be moments where someone is going to go ‘am I supposed to talk? Or is somebody else going to talk?’
Audience members are going to be on mute, and the last thing you want to do is mute the audience. Then again, if it’s a three-hour show, we can’t be listening to kids running around in the background. It’s what we can do under the circumstances.
Kiley: It’s the best we have at the moment. I’ve done a bunch of Zoom shows over the last couple of months, some have been better than others, and I have had some fun ones, but yeah, it’s not as good as the real thing. They’re just simply not, but we’re in a pandemic, so what can you do? When you can get a good sized crowd, even on Zoom, it’s still fun. We would much rather have it sold out at the Somerville Theatre, but the world doesn’t allow that at the moment. Hopefully we can do it again next year, or five years from now, and we can be in a theater, but for now, it’s the best we can do.
Kenny: People are so adaptable, that these kinds of meetings are normalized now, all of a sudden. I’ve been on a few of these Zoom shows, where SpongeBob did one and Mr. Show did one, and people are used to it now. I haven’t done stand-up since 1995, so even if it was in a big theater, I don’t know if I’d be there. I honestly don’t even know what I’m going to be doing for this Zoom show. Tingle told me it would be like a talk show where he interviews me and I can tell some stories about Barry. That I can do, but if I had to come out and do 15 or 20 minutes of killer stand-up, especially up against all of these people who do it a lot, it would probably have me thinking ‘why the hell am I even doing this?’
But if people are interested in hearing about SpongeBob and Rick and Morty, that I can do.
As a friend of Barry’s, how does it feel to be able to pay tribute to a friend and show support for Helen?
McDonald: Well, Barry meant a lot to all of us, because he was the guy who put it all together. The Comedy Connection was going on, and they even had at least one night a week at the Ding Ho, and it was fucking packed. It was doing great, but they decided to move their show to another place, and Barry was smart enough to talk to Shun Lee, who owned the Ding, and asked if he was okay with him keeping comedy there. Then Barry called us all in, and told us he was going to continue doing comedy there, and the first thing he was going to do was double everyone’s pay from what they were getting at the Comedy Connection, and he asked us if everyone was on board. Damn right we were.
Barry came at the management end of a comedy show from a comic’s perspective, where most bookers are trying to get people as cheaply as they possibly can, but Barry was trying to get them to make money out of this.
Kiley: I’m so glad to be a part of the show, because I miss Barry every day. There aren’t any sports right now because of COVID, so I’ve been watching old games, and they showed the 1968 World Series between the Tigers and Cardinals. They’re showing this player, Jim Northrup, hitting a grand slam for the Tigers, and it reminded me of a time where Barry and I were driving somewhere, about 30 years ago and we’re a red light. Now, Jim Northrup was nicknamed “The Silver Fox,” because he was prematurely gray. At the red light, this car pulled up next to us, and this guy had “Silver Fox” stenciled on the driver’s side door. It’s summertime, so our windows are rolled down, and Crimmins starts yelling ‘Northrup! Northrup!’ and the guy has no idea what he’s talking about, and I was dying. It was just so funny, and I had forgotten all about it until I started watching that game last week. There were so many funny, scathing things he said that sometimes, something will just pop into my head and trigger it. He really was a brilliant guy.
Kenny: It feels great. My history with Barry pre-dates my history with Boston and the Ding Ho, because I had met Barry when I was still in high school after he put an ad in the local Syracuse alternative paper that he was starting an open mic night. So, Bobcat and I drove to this bar in a blizzard, but we didn’t tell him we were 16. He was kind of shocked when he saw that we were, but he thought we were funny. Barry was validation for me even before the Ding Ho, and he remained a very good friend of mine, and we stayed in touch over the years. During his last trip to the west coast, he stayed at my house, and that was the last time I saw him in person.
I’d like to know what he thinks about everything going on in the world right now. I feel deprived, because he’s the commentator we need right now.
There’s a lot going on with this show. It’s a tribute to Barry, it’s getting together with these guys and celebrating a huge milestone, and it’s helping out Helen, but what are you looking forward to most about this show?
McDonald: It’ll be nice to watch guys we don’t get to see every day anymore, and it’ll be nice to get together so that time has meaning again. Part of what you’re going to see is a bunch of us telling stories about the Ding, or about Barry. I’m definitely going to tell a story about when Lenny, Barry and I went to Fenway to watch a Yankee-Red Sox game, and we ended up getting into a fight in the stands with a guy who everyone in the surrounding crowd hated and how it turned out.
Kiley: It’s a bummer that we don’t get to hang out in a green room or anything like that, but I’m just looking forward to seeing all these comics again. I remember being a college kid and seeing Steven Wright at the Ding Ho and being blown away, and he really became one of my comedy idols. I love watching him perform, and you have Jack Gallagher, Don Gavin and Jimmy Tingle. There are just so many talented, funny guys that I don’t get to see regularly anymore. I want to have a good set, but even just as a fan, just sitting and watching them is going to be totally enjoyable for me.
Kenny: Since I had gotten pulled into different areas other than stand-up, I haven’t really crossed paths with them a whole lot. I saw them at the memorial service, and that was the first time in years, and it still felt like no time had passed. So, really I’m just looking forward to not only seeing everybody again, but also just listening to them. I don’t want to be the one talking the whole time, I want to be listening and laughing at them.
THE DING HO 40TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, TRIBUTE AND FUNDRAISER :: Friday, July 3 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. via Zoom. $40 suggestion donation + $100 for admission plus virtual afterparty :: Eventbrite :: Jimmy Tingle event page
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!
Originally published: Wednesday, June 10, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!
Credit: Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon
Scheduled to hit theaters Friday, Aug. 7, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is the franchise's third feature-length film and the first to be entirely animated with 3D characters. Recently speaking with SYFY WIRE, Tom Kenny (who voices the happy-go-lucky Porifera) described the film as "really wild" and "really fun," also touching on the nature of the CG aesthetic, which was briefly utilized in the climax of 2015's Sponge Out of Water.
"[Series creator Stephen] Hillenburg was always a little cautious about the 3D thing and I think he wanted to use the last film as kind of a test to see how he felt about seeing the characters like that," Kenny says. "Steph was very much a traditional animation person — flat 2D and he didn't know if the characters would work like that and then when he saw it, he really loved it."
Prior to his passing from ALS in 2018, Hillenburg did get to leave his mark on early aspects of Sponge on the Run, which was written and directed by longtime SpongeBob scribe Tim Hill (whose screenwriting credits go all the way back to the series' first movie in 2004).
"[Hillenburg] was able to be involved in the planning of the movie and the writing of the movie," Kenny continues. "It's gonna be interesting to see [the characters] in 3D. I've actually seen some of it, obviously, because we're doing ADR and stuff like that, and it looks really cool, really great. It's a really nice blend of that old school squash-and-stretch flat animation; Looney Tunes meets current CG look. So we're really excited about it. I think fans will really dig it."
The film finds SpongeBob and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) setting off on an epic maritime quest to find the former's pet snail Gary (also voiced by Kenny), who has gone missing once again. As always, Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), Sandy (Carolyn Lawrence), Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), Plankton (Mr. Lawrence), Karen (Jill Talley), Mrs. Puff (Mary Jo Catlett), and Pearl (Lori Alan) are along for the ride. Keanu Reeves, Snoop Dogg, Awkwafina, and Reggie Watts are set to make guest appearances.
As evidenced by the trailers, fans will get to see the very first meeting between SpongeBob and Gary during SpongeBob's prepubescent years at Camp Coral. That glimpse back in time is directly tied to Nick's prequel spinoff show, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (it's a tad confusing, but the two k's are likely in reference to The Krusty Krab).
"I can say that we're recording the spinoff series, which kind of springboards off of some stuff in the movie," Kenny reveals. "Some scenes in the upcoming movie where it's flashback stuff to SpongeBob and his pals at summer camp, at Camp Coral when they're really, really younguns. So, the Kamp Koral TV series takes that and expands on it."
All of the original voice cast is returning for the new project along with Carlos Alazraqui (Rocko's Modern Life, The Casagrandes) and Kate Higgins (Blaze and the Monster Machines), who are voicing a pair of new characters: Nobby and Narlene, narwal siblings who live in the woods around the camp.
Credit: Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon
Animated with CG as well, Kamp Koral was conceived by Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller, who, like Hill, are longtime SquarePants veterans.
"The people that make it have always been a pretty small group. It's Steph and Marc Ceccarelli, Vince Waller, Paul Tibbitt, and Mr. Lawrence. Those are all people that have pretty much been on it, if not since the beginning, then almost since the beginning for many years," Kenny says. "It's definitely got a family feel and it's turned into this part of people's lives that they really like. And in some ways, in times of trouble and stress, it's a go-to for them. It's comfort food, just the way a Krabby Patty would be for people in Bikini Bottom. 'I need to get out of the crazy and watch 11 minutes of an old SpongeBob [episode] that used to make me laugh my head off back in the day.'"
The 13-episode prequel was set to air next month, but may end up delayed after Sponge on the Run had its theatrical opening postponed by the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
In addition to Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, Nickelodeon are currently in development with two other SpongeBob spin-offs for Netflix, including one starring SpongeBob's long-suffering neighbour and Krusty Krab co-worker Squidward.
From Vanyaland:
Reflecting on 40 years of Ding Ho and the legacy of Barry Crimmins
Interview: Ding Ho alumni Mike McDonald, Brian Kiley, and Tom Kenny take a look back at the early days of Boston comedy.
The days of The Ding Ho Comedy Club may be long gone, much like the fashion, haircuts and attraction to illicit substances that ran amuck at the Inman Square stand-up institution during the comedy boom of the early ‘80s. But by no means does that mean the memories and legacy, that of the club itself or of founder and curator Barry Crimmins, have faded along with them.
As evident tonight (July 3) during The Ding Ho 40th Anniversary Reunion, Tribute and Fundraiser, even after all the years of touring, filmmaking, voice acting and joke writing that have followed for a vast group of comics who Crimmins helped get out on the right foot with stage time and livable pay — like Denis Leary, Steven Wright, Lenny Clarke, Tony V, Jimmy Tingle, Bobcat Goldthwait, Tom Kenny, Mike McDonald and many others — the memories are vivid and the appreciation for what Crimmins did at the helm of the club still rings sincere and heartfelt.
Before they sit down for a virtual trip down memory lane and pay tribute to a dear departed friend and help raise support for Crimmins’ widow, Helen, we got on the horn with Boston comedy mainstay Mike McDonald, Conan writer Brian Kiley, and voice actor extraordinaire Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Rick and Morty, Mr. Show) over the last week to chat about what made the club, and Crimmins, such vital parts of their lives. Here’s some of what they had to say.
Jason Greenough: With the Ding Ho 40th Anniversary reunion show coming up, how does it feel being able to celebrate this milestone in this way?
Mike McDonald: Well, none of us can believe it’s 40 years ago. That’s the first thing. It seems like yesterday. The Ding Ho was the crucible that we all came out of, and it was the best place that we were able to train and have a clubhouse where we could get together, field some ground balls and get better at what we wanted to do, which was be comedians. Unbeknownst to us, we were surrounded by people who we knew were good, but we had no idea they’d be 40-year lifers in the business. When you look at the amount of talent that came out of that group, with [Paula] Poundstone, [Kevin] Meaney, [Denis] Leary, Lenny [Clarke], [Steve] Sweeney, Ken Rogerson, Mike Donovan, Jack Gallagher, [Bobcat] Goldthwait, Tom Kenny, they’re all just fantastic comedians.
There would be five or six people on a show per night, traditionally. When you take a lineup like that, you better bring your A-game, because those other people are going to dust you if you don’t. It’s going to be apparent who can’t play if you’re following Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone and Kevin Meaney. You’re up next, and whatever you’re gonna do, it better be fucking funny.
You got better right away, simply because if you didn’t, you were going to embarrass yourself. You had to run hard just to stay in the game with these other people, and they felt the same way. We would watch each other’s acts, and we would help each other. ‘Ya know that thing you’re doing on Turtles? Here’s a tagline’.
Brian Kiley: It’s really bittersweet, because Barry passed away, and we’re doing this show for his widow, who is sick, and all of that is sad, but it’s great that the Ding Ho is being honored. So many great comics So many great comics came from there, and it was such an iconic place. I have to say, there was an innocence to it, where there were people who were so sincere about their acts and making those acts so unique, and creative, and different. It also shows you that creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum, because when you have creative people working together, that energy feeds off each other, and it makes everyone better and more creative, and so on. It was a very special place.
Tom Kenny: The Ding Ho was quite the scene. After moving to town from Syracuse, it was the first place I went to do a set in Boston, pretty much. I moved there to do stand-up when I was 21, and Barry Crimmins was a mentor of mine, after having already met him when I was a teenager in Syracuse. He had become a mentor of mine, then he went to Boston, and became a big wheel in the Boston scene, and I had felt like I was kind of spinning my wheels in Syracuse, so I figured I would give Beantown a try. So, I moved to Allston-Brighton and pretty much the day I hit town, I went to the Ding Ho and did a set there.
As a comedian, what does the Ding Ho, and what it stood for, mean to you today?
McDonald: It was the comedy college we all went to, combined with the clubhouse we all hung out in. I don’t go back to my college reunion. The Ding Ho is my college reunion. Those people are the ones who mean a lot to me. It’s where we got together and learned to be comedians, and that’s really good to have. It’s like being on a sports team. The only thing I can really equate the Boston comedy scene to is, like, the Chicago Blues scene when Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, and all those guys were coming up.
At the time, a comedy club was new to Boston. Downstairs of the Charles Playhouse was the Comedy Connection, and the Ding Ho was across town in Inman Square, and by far, Inman Square was the hippest place in the greater Boston area. Behind the Ding Ho was the 1369 Jazz Club, across the street, you had Ryles, which had two rooms where they’d be playing rock or fusion in one, and blues or jazz in the other, and then across the street from that was the Inn-Square Men’s Bar, which was killer rock and roll and blues. Within a block area, you could see all kinds of fantastic entertainment in one night. Harvard Square wasn’t anywhere near as cool as Inman Square, and there was nowhere in Boston that was as good as that Inman Square area. It was fucking killer.
Kiley: When I was a sophomore in college, there was a comedy show at the school, and Crimmins was headlining, and I thought he was hilarious. I went and talked to him after the show, because I had been writing jokes since I was 12 or 13 and I wanted to tell him how funny I thought the show was. So here I am at 18 or 19 talking to Barry, and telling him how I wanted to be a comedy writer, so he would have me come to the Ding Ho, and he’d have a cup of coffee with me. I’d type up my jokes and show them to him, and he would critique them for me, and he would tell me that I would have to get on stage in order to make money doing comedy Boston, and that I wouldn’t get money by comedy writing in Boston, but the idea of getting on stage was too terrifying. But he told me I was welcomed any time I wanted to come see a show, so he would put me on the guest list, and I would just sit in the back of the room, at least once a month. It was a little hard to get to Inman Square, so I would have to take, like, two trains and a bus, but I did that for a year, and then I took a summer class at Emerson taught by Denis Leary.
At the end of the class, they had us do stand-up, and I was encouraged to go to an open mic, so I go to the Ding Ho, and Barry was hosting, and I went on and did great. Now, I went back the next week and Lenny was hosting, and I went on around quarter of one, and went down in flames. But then when I went back the next week, Lenny saw me and had me back on stage, so I went back there every week, and that’s where my comedy career started. I have such a soft spot in my heart for the Ding Ho, and Barry was my mentor, really up until he died.
Kenny: The reason I moved to Boston was because Bobcat Goldthwait, who is a childhood friend of mine, was leaving Boston for California, and he offered up his apartment and told me how he had a cool roommate, and that Crimmins was booking a show in the city. He wanted me to leave Smallville and come to Metropolis, so I did. For me, the Ding Ho represented that first feeling of ‘I can do this.’ I felt like I didn’t totally suck. It was a validation when I would get up on stage and make people laugh. All the established guys like Tingle, in particular and McDonald were really kind to me. The Ding Ho helped me realize that maybe I could make a living being creative, and not just by sitting in some office or cutting meat or whatever. I never had a plan B. I still don’t actually.
There’s actually kind of a direct line from the Ding Ho to all the voice over work. After I had been doing stand-up for awhile [in Boston], I moved out to San Francisco, and somebody out there saw me doing stand-up and told me how one of his friends was creating this show called Rocko’s Modern Life on Nickelodeon and asked me if I’d be interested in doing voices for it, and through Rocko’s Modern Life, I met Steve Hillenberg, who created SpongeBob, and that was a total life changer for me. All of that really happened because I did stand-up at the Ding Ho.
Are you worried at all about the virtual format of the show taking away from the type of warmth that shows like this generally carry with them?
McDonald: Zoom shows will never be live comedy, but they are a different methodology to meet, talk to, and touch people. It’s okay. It’s different, but it’s going to be funny because these people are funny. I’m sure there are going to be moments where someone is going to go ‘am I supposed to talk? Or is somebody else going to talk?’
Audience members are going to be on mute, and the last thing you want to do is mute the audience. Then again, if it’s a three-hour show, we can’t be listening to kids running around in the background. It’s what we can do under the circumstances.
Kiley: It’s the best we have at the moment. I’ve done a bunch of Zoom shows over the last couple of months, some have been better than others, and I have had some fun ones, but yeah, it’s not as good as the real thing. They’re just simply not, but we’re in a pandemic, so what can you do? When you can get a good sized crowd, even on Zoom, it’s still fun. We would much rather have it sold out at the Somerville Theatre, but the world doesn’t allow that at the moment. Hopefully we can do it again next year, or five years from now, and we can be in a theater, but for now, it’s the best we can do.
Kenny: People are so adaptable, that these kinds of meetings are normalized now, all of a sudden. I’ve been on a few of these Zoom shows, where SpongeBob did one and Mr. Show did one, and people are used to it now. I haven’t done stand-up since 1995, so even if it was in a big theater, I don’t know if I’d be there. I honestly don’t even know what I’m going to be doing for this Zoom show. Tingle told me it would be like a talk show where he interviews me and I can tell some stories about Barry. That I can do, but if I had to come out and do 15 or 20 minutes of killer stand-up, especially up against all of these people who do it a lot, it would probably have me thinking ‘why the hell am I even doing this?’
But if people are interested in hearing about SpongeBob and Rick and Morty, that I can do.
As a friend of Barry’s, how does it feel to be able to pay tribute to a friend and show support for Helen?
McDonald: Well, Barry meant a lot to all of us, because he was the guy who put it all together. The Comedy Connection was going on, and they even had at least one night a week at the Ding Ho, and it was fucking packed. It was doing great, but they decided to move their show to another place, and Barry was smart enough to talk to Shun Lee, who owned the Ding, and asked if he was okay with him keeping comedy there. Then Barry called us all in, and told us he was going to continue doing comedy there, and the first thing he was going to do was double everyone’s pay from what they were getting at the Comedy Connection, and he asked us if everyone was on board. Damn right we were.
Barry came at the management end of a comedy show from a comic’s perspective, where most bookers are trying to get people as cheaply as they possibly can, but Barry was trying to get them to make money out of this.
Kiley: I’m so glad to be a part of the show, because I miss Barry every day. There aren’t any sports right now because of COVID, so I’ve been watching old games, and they showed the 1968 World Series between the Tigers and Cardinals. They’re showing this player, Jim Northrup, hitting a grand slam for the Tigers, and it reminded me of a time where Barry and I were driving somewhere, about 30 years ago and we’re a red light. Now, Jim Northrup was nicknamed “The Silver Fox,” because he was prematurely gray. At the red light, this car pulled up next to us, and this guy had “Silver Fox” stenciled on the driver’s side door. It’s summertime, so our windows are rolled down, and Crimmins starts yelling ‘Northrup! Northrup!’ and the guy has no idea what he’s talking about, and I was dying. It was just so funny, and I had forgotten all about it until I started watching that game last week. There were so many funny, scathing things he said that sometimes, something will just pop into my head and trigger it. He really was a brilliant guy.
Kenny: It feels great. My history with Barry pre-dates my history with Boston and the Ding Ho, because I had met Barry when I was still in high school after he put an ad in the local Syracuse alternative paper that he was starting an open mic night. So, Bobcat and I drove to this bar in a blizzard, but we didn’t tell him we were 16. He was kind of shocked when he saw that we were, but he thought we were funny. Barry was validation for me even before the Ding Ho, and he remained a very good friend of mine, and we stayed in touch over the years. During his last trip to the west coast, he stayed at my house, and that was the last time I saw him in person.
I’d like to know what he thinks about everything going on in the world right now. I feel deprived, because he’s the commentator we need right now.
There’s a lot going on with this show. It’s a tribute to Barry, it’s getting together with these guys and celebrating a huge milestone, and it’s helping out Helen, but what are you looking forward to most about this show?
McDonald: It’ll be nice to watch guys we don’t get to see every day anymore, and it’ll be nice to get together so that time has meaning again. Part of what you’re going to see is a bunch of us telling stories about the Ding, or about Barry. I’m definitely going to tell a story about when Lenny, Barry and I went to Fenway to watch a Yankee-Red Sox game, and we ended up getting into a fight in the stands with a guy who everyone in the surrounding crowd hated and how it turned out.
Kiley: It’s a bummer that we don’t get to hang out in a green room or anything like that, but I’m just looking forward to seeing all these comics again. I remember being a college kid and seeing Steven Wright at the Ding Ho and being blown away, and he really became one of my comedy idols. I love watching him perform, and you have Jack Gallagher, Don Gavin and Jimmy Tingle. There are just so many talented, funny guys that I don’t get to see regularly anymore. I want to have a good set, but even just as a fan, just sitting and watching them is going to be totally enjoyable for me.
Kenny: Since I had gotten pulled into different areas other than stand-up, I haven’t really crossed paths with them a whole lot. I saw them at the memorial service, and that was the first time in years, and it still felt like no time had passed. So, really I’m just looking forward to not only seeing everybody again, but also just listening to them. I don’t want to be the one talking the whole time, I want to be listening and laughing at them.
THE DING HO 40TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, TRIBUTE AND FUNDRAISER :: Friday, July 3 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. via Zoom. $40 suggestion donation + $100 for admission plus virtual afterparty :: Eventbrite :: Jimmy Tingle event page
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!
Originally published: Wednesday, June 10, 2020.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!