NickALive!: 05/16/23

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Paramount+ to Premiere Original Soccer Documentary Series 'Destination: European Nights' on June 6

PARAMOUNT+ ORIGINAL SOCCER DOCUMENTARY SERIES “DESTINATION: EUROPEAN NIGHTS” TO PREMIERE EXCLUSIVELY ON JUNE 6

Five-Part Docuseries Follows Journalist Guillem Balagué’s Path Through Europe for the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League Season

Film Expands Paramount+’s “Stories from the Beautiful Game” Soccer Documentary Collection

May 16, 2023 – Paramount+ announced today the five-part original soccer documentary series DESTINATION: EUROPEAN NIGHTS will premiere exclusively in the U.S. on Tuesday, June 6, giving fans an opportunity to catch up on all the UEFA Champions League season’s pulsating action before the final on Saturday, June 10.

Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com.

In DESTINATION: EUROPEAN NIGHTS, award-winning soccer journalist and CBS Sports analyst Guillem Balagué, through his months-long travels crisscrossing Europe, offers an exclusive and intimate look at the world’s most prestigious annual soccer tournament, the UEFA Champions League.

The first four episodes of DESTINATION: EUROPEAN NIGHTS will premiere on Tuesday, June 6, with the final fifth episode premiering in the weeks following the UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday, June 10, airing on the CBS Television Network and streaming live on Paramount+.

Beginning with September’s season-opening kickoff, Balagué travels tens of thousands of miles, from Scotland to Israel to Finland to Georgia as well as all the powerhouse cathedrals of the game. Whether pitch side, in family homes or meeting local heroes in the places that define their towns and fandom, Balagué takes viewers on a unique journey with all of Europe buzzing on UEFA Champions League match nights.

DESTINATION: EUROPEAN NIGHTS is a travelogue covering a passion play unlike any other. It provides viewers with unique access and insight to the scenes, the people and the players that provide the genius, drama and thrills that make the UEFA Champions League a must-see destination for every football fan in the world.

DESTINATION: EUROPEAN NIGHTS is a Paramount+ Original and the latest installment from STORIES FROM THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, Paramount+’s expanding soccer documentary collection that also includes THE ONLY and Paramount+ Exclusives such as SIR ALEX FERGUSON: NEVER GIVE IN and BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES: THE JUVENTUS STORY.

Paramount+ will also release an additional STORIES FROM THE BEAUTIFUL GAME original documentary later in 2023.

About Paramount+

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world’s biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.

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Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Originally published: May 16, 2023.

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Paramount+ to Premiere 'Joe Pickett' Season 2 on June 4; Unveils New Season's Official Trailer

PARAMOUNT+ REVEALS OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “JOE PICKETT” SEASON 2

Produced by Paramount Television Studios, the New Season Premieres

Sunday, June 4 with Two Episodes, Exclusively on Paramount+

May 16, 2023 – Paramount+ today revealed the official trailer and key art for the second season of the hit drama series JOE PICKETT. The second season will premiere with two episodes on Sunday, June 4 in the U.S. and Canada and the following day on Monday, June 5 in Australia. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly exclusively on Paramount+. Premiere dates in additional international markets will be announced at a later date. All episodes of the series’ first season are available to stream on Paramount+.

Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com.

In season two, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett (Michael Dorman) discovers a hunter murdered in the mountains and realizes this is just one of a series of gruesome murders. To solve the case and catch the killer, Joe must navigate a radical anti-hunting activist, a ghoulish set of twins living off the grid and his own tortured past. Joe and his wife, Marybeth (Julianna Guill), discover that the murdered men weren’t as innocent as they seemed. But when they dig too deep, they are forced to go on the run and fight for their very lives.

The series comes from acclaimed directors, showrunners and executive producers John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (WACO, WACO: THE AFTERMATH). Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher serve as executive producers for Red Wagon Entertainment. C.J. Box, author of The New York Times #1 bestselling book series of the same name, also serves as executive producer.

About Paramount+

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.

About Paramount Television Studios

Paramount Television Studios (PTVS) is a leading content studio, developing and financing a wide range of cutting-edge and entertaining television programs across all media platforms for distribution worldwide. Next for PTVS to air on Paramount+ will be the musical event series GREASE: RISE OF THE PINK LADIES and the reimagining of the 80s cultural touchtone FATAL ATTRACTION, as well as the second season of JOE PICKETT. For Prime Video, PTVS is producing the highly anticipated final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” starring John Krasinski, as well as “Reacher” and the upcoming “Cross.” PTVS is also producing “The Spiderwick Chronicles” for Disney+ and “Time Bandits” for AppleTV+. Past series for PTVS include THE OFFER (Paramount+), AMERICAN GIGOLO (Showtime), “Station Eleven” (HBO Max), “Shantaram” (Apple TV+), “Defending Jacob” (Apple TV+), “Home Before Dark” (Apple TV+), “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (Netflix) and “The Haunting of Hill House” (Netflix). Paramount Television Studios is a subsidiary of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA; PARAA), a global content company with premier television, film, and digital entertainment brands. 

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Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Originally published: May 16, 2023.

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Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for May 16, 2023 | Nickelodeon

Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for May 16, 2023 | Nickelodeon

Stream the classic and the all new CG-animated Rugrats series on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Rugrats, provided to Creators Syndicate by Nickelodeon, based off the popular animated television series has been created for children and family's to laugh and enjoy together.

Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.

Read more Rugrats comic strips!: https://www.creators.com/features/rugrats

More Nick: Paramount+ Renews 'Rugrats' For Season 3!

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Aang & Kyoshi's Relationship In Netflix's Live-Action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Addressed By Star

Yvonne Chapman, star of Netflix's upcoming live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, teases the unique dynamic between Aang and her character, Kyoshi.

Yvonne Chapman, who will portray Avatar Kyoshi in Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation, has revealed how her character's relationship with Aang stands out. In the original Nickelodeon animated series, Kyoshi is one of the longest-living Avatars in history, having a complex past and a legacy that Aang must eventually contend with. In Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender, Gordon Cormier is set to take on the role of the young Air Nomad tasked with restoring balance to the world.

Chapman recently spoke to Cliché Magazine (via Avatar News) about how Kyoshi will interact with Aang on Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender. While Kyoshi will guide the young boy in his journey to master the elements, the star teases that she will stand apart from other former Avatars due to her bolder, more pragmatic perspective on his journey, providing him with some tough love. Check out Chapman's full response below:

"She sometimes has a different perspective from the other Avatars. She’s a very fierce person, and she is going to be able to guide Aang in what needs to be done in his circumstances. Kyoshi is going to be able to give Aang the advice that he needs to hear at the time that he needs to hear it."

Kyoshi is indeed known as one of the more assertive Avatars in history. She was a fan favorite in the original animated series, so fans will be looking forward to seeing what they do with the character in the live-action remake.

Avatar: The Last Airbender remake respects that the audience “has grown up with the show”

There’s been some trepidation among fans about the remake, especially since original since DiMartino and Konietzko were originally going to work on it but left over creative differences. If the Netflix series was going in a direction that the original creators didn’t like, should we be worried?

According to Chapman, no. “The showrunners and creators have such a passion for the story,” she said. “They were all fans of it growing up, so there is a great deal of respect for the source material, and they’ve kept in mind the audience that is going to be watching has grown up with the show. I think it’s going to be really great, and I can’t wait to see it.”

How Kyoshi Impacted Aang's Journey In Avatar: The Last Airbender

In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Kyoshi was the Avatar before Aang's predecessor, Roku, and an orphan child from the criminal underworld of the Earth Kingdom. When her adoptive family was killed after her Avatar status was exposed, Kyoshi would join her future partner Ragni's criminal group, the Flying Opera Company, and take up arms against the leader of the Earth Kingdom. Dedicated to enacting peace through justice by any means necessary, Kyoshi brought both stability and prosperity to the Earth Kingdom, but also left it with a number of flawed systems and conflicts that would linger until Aang's arrival.

During Aang's journey on Avatar: The Last Airbender, he and his friends arrived at Chin Village, a town that vilified the Avatar due to Kyoshi being held responsible for their founder's death. This led to Kyoshi manifesting through Aang in a trial to clarify her conflict with the warlord. Kyoshi would later show Aang how their actions as the Avatar can leave consequences that will last for many years beyond their deaths. The pair also conversed when Aang required guidance about how to stop Ozai, where Kyoshi advised him to do what he felt was necessary and end the Fire Lord's life.

Though she did not appear in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, it is believed Kyoshi will have an expanded role in the live-action series. Chapman's latest comments indicate that Kyoshi and the other previous Avatars may play a greater role in guiding Aang on his journey from an earlier point. And while Chapman's description matches Kyoshi and Aang's animated dynamic, it sounds like it may receive a lot more development now.

A premiere date for The Last Airbender remake is still to be announced.

Stream Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on Paramount+ and Netflix! Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com

Listen to the brand new podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements!

Subscribe to the official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!

Check out the Avatar: The Last Airbender Subscription Box!

More Nick: Three Animated ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Movies In Works From Paramount, Nickelodeon; Lauren Montgomery To Direct The First!

Original sources: ScreenRant, Winter is Coming.

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Paramount and Virgin Media Agree to New Multi-Year Distribution Partnership Deal for UK Streaming Services and Channel Portfolio

Paramount and Virgin Media agree to new multi-year distribution partnership deal for UK streaming services and channel portfolio

Renewed deal will see SVOD service Paramount+ debut on Virgin TV in 2023 and wider distribution of Pluto TV, the leading free, ad-supported TV (FAST) service

LONDON, Nov. 2, 2022 -- Paramount and Virgin Media have today announced a new multi-year distribution agreement, extending their existing long-term partnership across Paramount's streaming services and linear channels in the UK.

The renewed partnership will see Paramount+, the global subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, debut on Virgin TV in 2023. Full app integration on Virgin Media's set-top boxes will offer customers the opportunity to access more than 8000 hours of exclusive originals, blockbuster films, and iconic series across every genre from Paramount's world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME® and Paramount Pictures.

Update (16/5/23) - Virgin Media customers can now access Paramount+ through their TV set top box. Customers will need either a Virgin TV 360 box, or a Stream box, to access the premium channel pack. Paramount+ subscriptions can be added for just £6.99 per month, or a reduced upfront payment of £69.90 for a year.

Under the new deal, Pluto TV, the leading free, ad-supported TV (FAST) service, will also gain wider UK distribution on Virgin Media's cutting-edge TV360 and Stream services, reaching new customers and providing access to more than 100 curated channels, including Hell's Kitchen, CSI: Miami and MTV Movie Hits, seasonal and thematic channels like Pluto TV Halloween and Pluto TV Crime, and a range of movies and on-demand series. 2023 will also see Pluto TV's channel line-up launch on a dedicated FAST section of Virgin TV's electronic programme guide, allowing customers seamless access to the channels.

Virgin Media TV customers will continue to enjoy thousands of hours of entertainment from Paramount's pay TV brands MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon, as well as ongoing distribution of free-to-air brand Channel 5, its digital channel portfolio and Channel 5's on-demand service My5.

Sarah Rose, Chief Operations and Commercial Officer, UK & Canada, at Paramount, said: "Our long partnership with Virgin Media continues to help us unlock the power of Paramount's content. The wider distribution of our SVOD and FAST services, Paramount+ and Pluto TV, will support our ambitious growth plans for streaming in the UK, as well as our popular free-to-air and pay TV channel portfolios."

David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: "We're constantly looking to give our customers even more great entertainment to enjoy whenever and wherever they want to. Our enhanced partnership with Paramount offers access not only to award-winning drama, comedy, music and kids' channels, but also FAST channels via Pluto TV and premium SVOD with Paramount+. This is fantastic news for our customers and gives them even more, to look forward to next year."

About Paramount Global

Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic studios, networks and streaming services, its portfolio of consumer brands includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry's most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, Paramount Global provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions.

For more information about Paramount, please visit www.paramount.com and follow @ParamountCo on social platforms.

PARA-IR

About Virgin Media O2

Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021, combining the UK's largest and most reliable mobile network with a broadband network offering the fastest widely-available broadband speeds. It is a customer-first organisation that brings a range of connectivity services together in one place with a clear mission: to upgrade the nation. Virgin Media O2 is the corporate brand of the 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and one of the UK's largest businesses.

Virgin Media O2 completed its roll out of gigabit broadband speeds across its entire network footprint in 2021 and plans to upgrade its fixed network to full fibre to the premises with completion in 2028. In January 2022, it also announced that it would be the only major mobile network that isn't bringing back roaming charges in Europe.

Today, the business delivers award-winning broadband and WiFi connectivity to homes as well as providing a connected entertainment service. This brings together live TV, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and a wide-selection of apps to customers through a set-top box and on-the-go through tablets and smartphones.

It also provides 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mobile services, and is the network of choice for mobile virtual network operators giffgaff, Sky Mobile and Lycamobile, as well as managing a 50:50 joint venture with Tesco for Tesco Mobile.

Virgin Media O2 Business plays a leading role in supporting the public sector and businesses of all sizes. This includes a variety of managed connectivity services and flexible working capabilities, security, data insight, 5G private networks and cloud solutions, as well as wholesale services to other operators and partners.

Virgin Media O2 is committed to using the power of connectivity to supercharge communities across the UK, taking action to close the digital divide and helping to build an inclusive, resilient, and low carbon economy. The company has set an ambitious commitment to achieve net zero carbon across its operations, products and supply chain by the end of 2040.

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Paramount+ UK & Ireland is HERE! Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favourites! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Paramount+ is also available with Sky Cinema at no extra cost.

More Nick: Gareth Gates and Divina De Campo to Headline 'The SpongeBob Musical' Tour of the UK & Ireland!

Originally published: November 03, 2022.

Additional source: Choose.

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Winnipeg Animation Students Seize 'Once-in-a-Lifetime' Opportunity to Pitch Their Work to Nickelodeon

12 students of Sisler program head to L.A. for 3-day trip to visit studios, pitch projects

Two students sit in their classroom going over their work and laughing.

Mikhylla Dilag and Mary-Anne Guiboche are two students out of 12 who will be going to L.A. to pitch their projects to producers at Nickelodeon next week. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)

Two pirates named Coco and Keg could be the newest animated characters entertaining and teaching young kids if a group of Winnipeggers have their way.

The tale of Coco and Keg — who teach kids about marine and tropical life on a remote island — is one of three stories a group of animation students will be pitching next week in Los Angeles to producers at Nickelodeon, the creators of popular shows like SpongeBob SquarePants and Rugrats.

"When I first heard about it, I actually started crying because I was so excited," Mary-Anne Guiboche, one of the students going on this trip of a lifetime, told CBC.

Guiboche, who's Métis, helped create the pirate series Heave-Ho Coco for children aged five to 12.

"Coco is really funny, his head is detachable," says Guiboche. "As for Keg, he's very grumpy, but I do love his character design and I just love drawing them out."

Guiboche said she was happy to gain more experience in the field of animation through the Orange Tree Project.

She was one of 12 high school graduates who came back for the Orange Tree Project, a post-high school program founded in 2020. The year-long program includes teachers from Sisler High School, studios of the school's Create program and mentors from Nickelodeon who help students develop short films and series.

Now the group is off to L.A. May 25-28 to pitch their two animated cartoon series and short film to Nickelodeon.

From concept to creation

The Orange Tree Project students started off in pre-production in September, refining their story ideas and creating first sketches. The program, which aims to build skills in graphic design, digital media and motion picture arts, teaches students to create a series bible, characters, story arc and pitch deck.

Now they're close to being done with an almost 50-page bible that outlines their entire series.

Before joining the program, Guiboche was unsure about how she was going to get into the animation field.

"I was just really happy about that because it meant I could focus on like just drawing and doing something that I love," said Guiboche.

The other animated series being pitched, called Hero's Ernie, is about a boy named Ernie whose peaceful life is disturbed by a wizard named Mento who wants to make Ernie the greatest hero of all time.

Inspired by cartoons

Mikhylla Dilag started learning about animation in Grade 9. Cartoons she'd watched as a young girl inspired her to sketch, she says.

After she finished her first animation classes, she felt like she wanted to do it forever, and joined the Orange Tree Project to refine and enhance her skills as an artist. She was shocked when she first heard they were going to L.A.

"It's like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So I feel pretty honoured to be going on the trip with a lot of my classmates," she said.

During the students' three-day trip they will also be touring studios at Disney and Sony.

"I want to see the inner workings of studios, see how production looks like, how objects and made, what projects are being made right now," Dilag said.

Dilag is a part of the group making a short film called Long Exposure, a story about two friends whose relationship is tested after graduation.

Each student had a hand in every single step of the project she says, from pitching to storyboarding, music and the animation.

Dilag looks also forward to meeting the many mentors they've been working with all year long, including Carson Smith and Arnon Manor, who were both instrumental in sustaining the project's momentum.

"Their feedback did resolve a lot of the issues that we were facing," she said. "It really helps us to grow as artists and storytellers."

Program growing each year

Jaimie Leduc teaches animation at Sisler High school, and is the department head of the Create program. As a teacher for almost 13 years, he's noticed the rise in interest in interactive media.

He says the Nickelodeon partnership launched in 2020 thanks to a lot of hard work from a lot of great people, and the trip is funded by the Schroeder Foundation.

"The goal was to eventually start connecting students to like local industries and ... for them to realize that there's actually jobs in the arts," says Leduc.

Animation teacher Jamie Leduc stands in front of his students storyboard

Jamie Leduc is an animation teacher at Sisler High School, and is head of the Create department. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)

One of his favourite parts of this work is watching the students grow and develop knowledge.

"The mentors provide a lot of guidance, but also provide challenges for the students to think outside the box and and really make stories their own," said Leduc.

While this is great opportunity for the students, Leduc says the collaboration works both ways as the students give Nickelodeon insight into the audience for their products too.

"I'm just so happy that students are really excited about animating here in Manitoba and Winnipeg and and telling those stories," said Leduc.

The Orange Tree Project students will be also presenting their work locally on June 22 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Originally published: May 16, 2023.

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon Animation News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon to Premiere New 'Erin & Aaron' Episode 'Born in the U.S.A.' on May 18

Tune into the brand new Erin & Aaron episode "Born in the U.S.A.", premiering Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT), straight after an all-new Danger Force at 7:00, only on Nickelodeon! Check out the promo below!

In the brand new Erin & Aaron episode "Born in the U.S.A.," Erin (Ava Ro) and Aaron (Jensen Gering) are excited to compete in the music competition between band and chorus with the winning team getting a trip to New York City; Erin's laid-back ways causes Aaron to kick her out of band, driving her to battle it out by joining chorus. Also starring Larisa "Alex Mack" Oleynik. (#105)

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Originally published: May 12, 2023.

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon and Erin & Aaron News and Highlights!

STA Unveils 'Baby Shark' Swimming Awards

Launching to celebrate International Learn to Swim Week’s Baby Swimming Day, the awards feature characters from Pinkfong’s Baby Shark Dance.

In partnership with Paramount, Nickelodeon and The Pinkfong Company, STA (The Swimming Teachers’ Association) has created an official range of Baby Shark swimming milestone awards featuring characters from Pinkfong’s Baby Shark Dance. The awards were launched on May 11th to celebrate International Learn to Swim Week’s Baby Swimming Day.

Zoe Cooper, STA’s commercial director said: “Baby Shark is a power brand and because of the success of the children’s TV show on Nickelodeon, and the popularity of Pinkfong’s Baby Shark Dance, the most-viewed YouTube video of all time, its appeal to new parents continues to skyrocket. We are therefore thrilled to have secured the opportunity to work with Paramount on the creation of these STA-unique awards, so that swim schools in the UK can benefit from this exciting marketing phenomena and offer their customers official Baby Shark branded swimming milestone awards.”

There are three designs in the STA Baby Shark awards series, featuring Baby Shark, Mommy Shark and Daddy Shark and each certificate and badge can be used to reward special baby swimming milestones.

The flexibility of the awards mean that they can be awarded multiple times to represent all ‘first’ baby swimming milestones, such as First Swimming Lesson, First Jump In and First Splash and a blank space on the certificates also means swimming teachers can add in their own milestones, such as First Floatation, First Bubbles, First Swim with Adult, First Little Swim, First Safe Entry, First Roll onto Back, and First Roll onto Front.

Because these are standalone awards, the Baby Shark certificates and badges can be used to support all baby and pre-school programmes, not just STA.

Venetia Davie, vice president, Consumer Products, UK & Ireland at Paramount said: “We are pleased to be partnering with a highly reputable national governing body such as the STA. The Baby Shark swimming awards will harness the power of one of our most popular properties and encourage younger children to take their first steps in achieving breakthrough moments in the water.”

STA works alongside a vast mix of swim school and leisure customers, both in the UK and internationally, which deliver STA’s International Learn to Swim Programme to people of all ages and abilities, from babies to adults.

The STA previously partnered with Paramount for a PAW Patrol Swimming Awards range.

For more information about STA's Baby Shark range, visit https://shop.sta.co.uk/categories/miscellaneous/groups/baby-shark/.

Paramount+ UK & Ireland is HERE! Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favourites! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Paramount+ is also available with Sky Cinema at no extra cost.

More Nick: Gareth Gates and Divina De Campo to Headline 'The SpongeBob Musical' Tour of the UK & Ireland!

Originally published: May 16, 2023.

Original source: Licensing.biz.

'Smurfs Kart' to Race Onto PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on August 22, 2023

Smurfs Kart is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on August 22, 2023!

Race friends as your favorite Smurf!

Paris, May 15th 2023 – Publisher Microids and IMPS, the Smurfs license holder, are thrilled to announce that Smurfs Kart will be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on August 22nd, 2023. Developed by the studio Eden Games, known for their iconic racing games (Gear.Club Unlimited, Test Drive Unlimited, V-Rally), Smurfs Kart is already available on Nintendo Switch.

It’s time to make engines roar. Pick a Smurf with their individual kart and unique super power, and get ready for some frantic races with the whole family! Get a head start, take shortcuts, master the Smurf’s super powers and use bonuses to rise in the rankings. Alone or with others, new beginner, or experienced driver… Everyone can win the Smurf place and drive wild races with friends and family!

KEY FEATURES

12 tracks set in the Smurfs’ universe: The village, the forest, the dam, the swamps… even Gargamel’s house!
12 iconic playable Smurfs: Handy, Hefty, Smurfette, Papa Smurf, Jokey… choose your favorite Smurf and get ready to race! Each Smurf has their own kart and a very handy special item to help you breeze past your opponents.
Use the world around you: Bonus items, boosts, ramps, destructible boxes, shortcuts and more!
Finish 1st in the races where 8 Smurfs compete in frantic races.
Smurf together: Play solo or with family and friends, with support for up to four players in split-screen local multiplayer!
“Time Challenge” mode: Try to beat every Smurf at their own racetrack and reach the top of the online leaderboard with your quickest time!
Unlock bonuses as you play and try to Smurf them all in your personal album!

2023 marks the Smurfs’ 65th anniversary! Stay tuned for upcoming cool Smurfs-related news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or by checking out their website!

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More Nick: Rihanna to Voice Smurfette in ‘The Smurfs’ Movie!

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