Paramount Pictures has released (via Fandango) a brand new clip from their upcoming live-action Dora the Explorer movie, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, featuring our titular explorer along with her cousin Diego and their friends as they try to run away from some flying arrows. Check out the clip by hitting play on the video player below!
Dora’s going on her biggest adventure yet in Dora the Explorer, inspired by Nickelodeon's beloved animated preschool series Dora the Explorer, swinging into theatres across the U.S. from Friday, August 9! #DoraMovie
Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora (Isabela Moner) for her most dangerous adventure ever – High School. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots (her best friend, a monkey), Diego (Jeffrey Wahlberg), a mysterious jungle inhabitant (Eugenio Derbez), and a rag tag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents (Eva Longoria, Michael Peña) and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost city of gold.
Tickets for Dora and the Lost City of Gold are available to purchase now!
To celebrate the brand-new movie, Nickelodeon has launched a Dora the Explorer-themed pop-up channel Dora TV on Pluto TV! Launched on Wednesday, July 17, Dora TV is airing episodes of Dora the Explorer 24/7. Nickelodeon’s animated adventure series (179 x 22-minutes) revolves around a young bilingual Latina who ventures through tropical settings and overcomes obstacles to reach her goals. Aimed at kids two to five, the preschool-skewing pop-up channel is the most recent addition to Pluto TV’s lineup since the streamer was acquired by Viacom earlier this year. The kidcaster announced its plans to launch branded channels on the network for its classic shows, including All That, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Fairly OddParents. Dora TV joins the Nickelodeon-branded Nick Pluto TV and Nick Jr. Pluto TV on the ad-supported free streaming service.
First launched in 2000, Dora the Explorer is now viewed by more than 100 million people in 150 countries and territories, according Pluto.
To further celebrate the movie, Nickelodeon and Paramount have launched the "What's In My Backpack" (#WhatsInMyBackpack) sweepstakes, in which fans can win awesome prizes, including: Herschel daypack, a Dora and the Lost City of Gold T-shirt, a Mini Maglite Pro LED Flashlight in Rose Gold, a pack of Yambas Plantain Chips with Chilli and Lime, and a Dora and the Lost City of Gold yo-yo! To enter, record yourself showing what you keep in your backpack, and upload it to Facebook (in this post), Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #DoraMovieGivaway! The contest closes Friday, August 9, 2019 at 8:59 a.m. (PT). Visit http://whatsinmybackpacksweeps.com/ for more information. Good luck! :)
Hasbro has just released brand new additions to the Power Rangers toy line at San Diego Comic-Con: the Power Rangers Lightning Collection Fighting Spirit Green Ranger and Mighty Morphin Putty 6-Inch Collectible Action Figure 2-Pack! The new collectables were unveiled by Hasbro during San Diego Comic-Con’s Press Breakfast. See below for more details!
POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION FIGHTING SPIRIT GREEN RANGER AND MIGHTY MORPHIN PUTTY 6-INCH COLLECTIBLE ACTION FIGURE 2-Pack (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2019)
It’s Morphin Time! Introducing a new era of POWER RANGERS collectibles with Hasbro’s POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” Figures! The LIGHTNING COLLECTION features over two decades of iconic characters from this storied franchise, and Hasbro is excited to bring its own take to this premium line. The LIGHTNING COLLECTION’s highly-articulated, 6-inch figures will have best-in-class detailing and design, and will feature Photo Real technology for realistic actor likenesses. Trapped inside his own mind, Dr. Tommy Oliver must prove his courage by facing his former Ranger forms in a battle for his life, including his Mighty Morphin Green Ranger form, who faced off against Putty Patrollers. In the LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6-INCH COLLECTIBLE ACTION FIGURE 2-Pack, fans can look forward to the FIGHTING SPIRIT GREEN RANGER, inspired by POWER RANGERS DINO THUNDER, and the MIGHTY MORPHIN GREEN RANGER. Each figure in this 2-pack comes with character-inspired accessories. The Green Ranger figure includes an alternate head – one with his helmet on and one in human form. Look for other collectible POWER RANGERS figures, including characters from MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS, POWER RANGERS DINO CHARGE, POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS, and more! Each sold separately. Available for pre-order on HasbroPulse.com and major online toy retailers including GameStop, Big Bad Toy Store and Entertainment Earth.
POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” BEAST MORPHERS GOLD RANGER Figure (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2019)
It’s Morphin Time! Introducing a new era of POWER RANGERS collectibles with Hasbro’s POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” Figures! The LIGHTNING COLLECTION features over two decades of iconic characters from this storied franchise, and Hasbro is excited to bring its own take to this premium line. The LIGHTNING COLLECTION’s highly-articulated, 6-inch figures will have best-in-class detailing and design, and will feature Photo Real technology for realistic actor likenesses. The BEAST MORPHERS GOLD RANGER Figure features over 20 points of articulation for high poseability and includes two different heads that can be swapped, one of the Ranger in his mask, and another unmasked as Nate Silva, as seen in the POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS Series; figures also include extra hands and 3 accessories. Nate Silva is a genius inventor at Grid Battleforce who joins the BEAST MORPHERS as the beetle-powered Gold Ranger. Look for other collectible figures in this series, including BEAST MORPHERS RED RANGER, MIGHTY MORPHIN PINK RANGER and LOST GALAXY MAGNA DEFENDER. Each sold separately. Available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and all major retailers.
POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” MIGHTY MORPHIN PINK RANGER Figure (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2019)
It’s Morphin Time! Introducing a new era of POWER RANGERS collectibles with Hasbro’s POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” Figures! The LIGHTNING COLLECTION features over two decades of iconic characters from this storied franchise, and Hasbro is excited to bring its own take to this premium line. The LIGHTNING COLLECTION’s highly-articulated, 6-inch figures will have best-in-class detailing and design, and will feature Photo Real technology for realistic actor likenesses. The MIGHTY MORPHIN PINK RANGER Figure features over 20 points of articulation for high poseability and includes two different heads that can be swapped, one of the Ranger in her mask, and another unmasked as Kimberly Hart, as seen in the original MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS Series; figures also include extra hands and 4 accessories. Kimberly Hart calls on the power of the pterodactyl to morph into the original MIGHTY MORPHIN PINK RANGER. Look for other collectible figures in this series, including BEAST MORPHERS RED RANGER, BEAST MORPHERS GOLD RANGER and LOST GALAXY MAGNA DEFENDER. Each sold separately. Available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and all major retailers.
POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” LOST GALAXY MAGNA DEFENDER Figure (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2019)
It’s Morphin Time! Introducing a new era of POWER RANGERS collectibles with Hasbro’s POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” Figures! The LIGHTNING COLLECTION features over two decades of iconic characters from this storied franchise, and Hasbro is excited to bring its own take to this premium line. The LOST GALAXY MAGNA DEFENDER Figure is inspired by the POWER RANGERS LOST GALAXY series and features over 20 points of articulation for high poseability; figures also include extra hands and 3 accessories, including the Magna Defender's Magna Blaster. The MAGNA DEFENDER is the lone warrior seeking vengeance for his family and planet and won't let anyone get in his way, not even the POWER RANGERS. Look for other collectible figures in this series, including BEAST MORPHERS RED RANGER, BEAST MORPHERS GOLD RANGER and MIGHTY MORPHIN PINK RANGER. Each sold separately. Available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and all major retailers.
POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” BEAST MORPHERS RED RANGER Figure (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2019)
It’s Morphin Time! Introducing a new era of POWER RANGERS collectibles with Hasbro’s all-new POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION 6” Figures! The LIGHTNING COLLECTION features over two decades of iconic characters from this storied franchise, and Hasbro is excited to bring its own take to this premium line. The LIGHTNING COLLECTION’s highly-articulated, 6-inch figures will have best-in-class detailing and design, and will feature Photo Real technology for realistic actor likenesses. In the BEAST MORPHERS TV series, the laid-back Devon Daniels prefers a life of video games and no responsibility, but steps up as leader of the BEAST MORPHERS as the Cheetah-powered Red Ranger. The BEAST MORPHERS RED RANGER Figure includes two different heads that can be swapped—one of the Ranger in his helmet, and another without as Devon Daniels from BEAST MORPHERS. Look for other collectible figures in this series, soon to be announced. Each sold separately. Available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and all major retailers.
POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS BEAST-X ULTRAZORD ULTIMATE COLLECTION Pack (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $159.99/Available: Fall 2019)
IT’S MORPHIN TIME! From the BEAST MORPHERS back to the original MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS, the POWER RANGERS have brought teamwork, action, and adventure to generations of fans. The legacy continues with figures, vehicles, collectibles and roleplay toys from Hasbro, celebrating Ranger teams from MIGHTY MORPHIN to the BEAST MORPHERS. Imagine all the action of POWER RANGERS with toys from Hasbro! POWER RANGERS products each sold separately. With the POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS BEAST-X ULTRAZORD ULTIMATE COLLECTION Pack, kids can imagine the ultimate team of POWER RANGERS, as they combine their Zords to take on the toughest enemies. The Pack includes all 5 Converting Zords inspired by the POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS series, so kids and collectors can build any available combination, including the BEAST-X MEGAZORD. Pack includes Beast Wheeler Zord, Beast Chopper Zord, Beast Jet Zord, Beast Racer Zord and Beast Wrecker Zord, along with 5 POWER RANGERS mini figures, plus an elevator platform accessory. Each Zord can change between two or three modes so kids and collectors can display and play. Available exclusively on Amazon.com.
POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION MIGHTY MORPHIN WHITE RANGER PREMIUM COLLECTOR Helmet (Adult/Approx. Retail Price: $79.99/Available: Late Fall 2019)
Go Go POWER RANGERS! Bring part of the POWER RANGERS legacy home with LIGHTNING COLLECTION figures, collectibles and roleplay items. This LIGHTNING COLLECTION MIGHTY MORPHIN WHITE RANGER PREMIUM COLLECTOR Helmet is inspired by Tommy Oliver’s iconic White Ranger Helmet from the original MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS series. The full-scale helmet features a show-inspired detailed design, paint and finish for morphinominal display in a POWER RANGERS collection. The helmet is a wonderful addition to any fan’s collection! It features adjustable straps so it will fit most, making it great to wear for POWER RANGERS cosplay, roleplay or costume. Available for pre-order on HasbroPulse.com and major online toy retailers including GameStop, Big Bad Toy Store and Entertainment Earth.
Nickelodeon's Slime in Space logo looks like a mission patch.
The International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory has announced the aweslime news that Nickelodeon is planning to send its iconic slime to the orbiting International Space Station (ISS) National Lab for a series of science demonstrations that will educate students on the basic principles of fluid flow in microgravity versus normal gravity on Earth! The Nickelodeon Slime will blast off as part of SpaceX's 18th commercial resupply services mission (CRS-18) to the International Space Station.
Update (7/19) - Nickelodeon will be sending six bags of slime (aprominately two liters) to space! More information can be found in Nickelodeon's Slime in Space Instagram Story!
Below is the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory's official press release announcing the slime-tastic news!:
Rise of Private-Sector Research Onboard the ISS National Lab on Display with SpaceX CRS-18 Mission
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., July 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SpaceX's 18th commercial resupply services mission (CRS-18) to the International Space Station (ISS) will include 17 private-sector research projects sponsored by the U.S. National Laboratory. In total, the ISS National Lab is sponsoring 25 separate payloads on SpaceX CRS-18, a new high for a resupply mission.
ISS National Lab Vice President of Business Development and Strategy Christine Kretz comments, "This launch showcases both the potential of the ISS National Lab to reach a wide range of private-sector users and the increased appeal of conducting research in the unique environment of low Earth orbit."
Kretz cited several examples of the diverse private-sector research launching to the ISS National Lab on this mission:
AstraZeneca is sending its second payload sponsored by the ISS National Lab, this time studying monoclonal antibodies for a therapeutic to treat cancer and immune diseases.
adidas intends to launch multiple investigations to station, with this initial experiment examining the dynamic spinning behavior of a soccer ball in microgravity, which could help resolve information gaps in aerodynamic testing.
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company will launch a materials payload to evaluate the creation of novel silica forms and structures in microgravity, and results could inform future efforts to improve tire performance through the development of new manufacturing techniques on the ground.
Nickelodeon, the first American television network for children, plans to send its iconic slime to the orbiting lab for a series of science demonstrations that will educate students on the basic principles of fluid flow in microgravity versus normal gravity on Earth.
Also launching on SpaceX CRS-18 is the BioFabrication Facility, which will enhance bioprinting capabilities available on the space station. Additionally, two startup companies awarded through the MassChallenge startup accelerator program are sending research to the ISS National Lab to help advance the development of their new business models. These projects were funded through a MassChallenge "Technology in Space Prize" awarded in collaboration with Boeing.
SpaceX CRS-18 is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station no earlier than July 21 at 7:35 p.m. EDT.
About the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory:
In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the ISS as the nation's newest national laboratory to optimize its use for improving quality of life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users, and advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by non-NASA U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The ISS National Lab manages access to the permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space.
SOURCE International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory
In the Nickelodeon universe, slime gets everywhere: in your face, in your hair, on your lap. The astronauts on the ISS will try to keep the slime from turning their orbital home green. They have a very specific set of experiments on the schedule.
The crew will play slime pong with hydrophobic paddles, toss slime-filled balloons, make slime bubbles and even spray each other with slime.
This will be the first ever sliming in space, Nickelodeon said in a media advisory.
We don't know who the lucky crew member will be just yet. NASA's Christina Koch and Nick Hague are currently on the ISS along with cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin. Three new crew members are set to arrive later in July on a Roscomos Soyuz flight.
It all sounds like fun and games, but there's an educational component. The astronauts will be demonstrating how a non-Newtonian fluid behaves in microgravity.
A non-Newtonian fluid is "a material in which its viscosity (resistance to flow) changes based on the amount of shear stress applied to it—for example, through squeezing or stirring," the ISS US National Laboratory explained in a statement:
Non-Newtonian Fluids in Microgravity: Slime in Space Nickelodeon PI: Dr. Mark Weislogel
This project aims to develop educational videos and other digital content on slime experiments in space. Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid, a material in which its viscosity (resistance to flow) changes based on the amount of shear stress applied to it—for example, through squeezing or stirring. The videos will show International Space Station (ISS) crew members conducting slime experiments related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts commonly covered in elementary and middle school. The content is meant to spark an interest in microgravity research and help students learn about STEM topics such as fluid flow and materials engineering. The content will be shared online and on Nickelodeon’s television and streaming platforms.
The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to expand once more in a series of original novels!
EW has announced that Nickelodeon has partnered with Abrams Children’s Books for a new series of YA novels set in the universe of The Last Airbender, and centered on Avatar Kyoshi, the longest-living human Avatar in history at over 230 years old, whom fans know very little about. The two books included in the deal will be written in consultation with Michael Dante DiMartino, the co-creator and executive producer of Avatar: The Last Airbender and its follow-up The Legend of Korra. F.C. Yee (The Epic Crush of Genie Lo) serves as author.
The first of the two books, The Rise of Kyoshi, will be explore her origin story as she established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors, but also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of the Earth Kingdom. “Avatar Kyoshi is one of the characters fans often ask me about, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to help expand on her legend,” DiMartino said in a statement.
Avatar: The Last Airbender ran for three seasons on Nickelodeon, from 2005 to 2008, eliciting acclaim for its animated design, characterization, and world-building; it went on to win Emmy and Peabody Awards, and has built a significant fandom in the decade since it went off the air. A sequel, The Legend of Korra, ran from 2012 to 2014, and several comics and graphic novels based on the original series have been published, including the series The Lost Adventures (2005-2011), which took place between events of the show.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Michael Dante DiMartino, Nickelodeon, and critically acclaimed author F.C. Yee to add to the canon of Avatar: The Last Airbender,” said Andrew Smith, senior vice president and publisher of Abrams Children’s Books. “Bringing Kyoshi’s previously untold story to life in original novels will be a major pop culture event, not only for fans of the show, but also for readers hungry for a new epic YA saga. The Rise of Kyoshi has all the hallmarks of what YA readers love — bold storytelling set in a rich landscape with a strong heroine at the forefront!”
Avatar: The Rise of Kyoshi will publish under Abrams Children’s Books' Amulet Books imprint on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 and will cost $18.99 (USD). The hardback book will contain 336 pages, and the title will also be available to purchase as a eBook. You can pre-order the book here.
Below is Abrams Children’s Books' official product description for The Rise of Kyoshi:
"F. C. Yee’s The Rise of Kyoshi delves into the story of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom–born Avatar. The longest-living Avatar in this beloved world’s history, Kyoshi established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors, but also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of her own nation. The first of two novels based on Kyoshi, The Rise of Kyoshi maps her journey from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
F. C. Yee grew up in New Jersey and went to school in New England. His first book with Abrams, The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, released in 2017 to critical acclaim and four starred reviews. He currently lives and writes in Denver, Colorado. Michael Dante DiMartino is co-creator and executive producer of the Avatar series and the author of Rebel Genius.
Every fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender knows that no matter how mighty an Avatar may become, they are only the latest in line... and unlikely to ever match the legendary Kyoshi; one of the strongest, greatest, and most fearsome Avatars that had ever lived. Now thanks to her very own prequel novel, the story of The Rise of Kyoshi will finally be told.
The Last Airbender series allowed its hero, Aang, to commune with the previous incarnations of the Avatar. Aang relied mainly on Avatar Roku, his immediate predecessor. But as his story, and later The Legend of Korra offered a glimpse of the Avatar before Roku--an imposing woman named Kyoshi of the Earth Kingdom--it was clear one of the most intriguing stories in the Airbender universe was being held for a later date. Thanks to writer F.C. Yee, that time has come, with The Rise of Kyoshi and the announced Shadow of Kyoshi recounting the origins of the Avatar. And based on our time with the book and our interview with Yee, fans are going to have a LOT to talk about when the book arrives on July 16th, 2019.
Reading through the accomplishments of Kyoshi's life, the shadow she casts over the future that followed only grows longer. The longest-living Avatar (and human) after dying at the age of 230. The one person Chin the Conqueror couldn't overcome. The founder of the Kyoshi Warriors, who make their home on the island Kyoshi forced free from the mainland--one of the most stunning uses of Earthbending fans will ever find. Screen Rant had the chance to speak with F.C. Yee about shaping this origin story with Avatar co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino, building out the world before The Last Airbender begins, and much, much more.
You've made it no secret that you were a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender before tackling this novel. There don't seem to be too many 'casual' fans of Avatar, but can you tell us a bit about how this project first came to your attention, and how being a fan factored into your response? Was it a matter of seconds before you were on board with telling Kyoshi's story?
During a conference where I was promoting my debut novel The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, the publisher at Abrams, Andrew Smith, turned to me and cryptically asked “Are you a fan of Avatar by any chance?” Of course I told him yes, but after that we didn’t say anything further about it. I knew that Abrams had a prior working relationship with Nickelodeon on some children’s books so I may have had some inkling why he’d ask that out of the blue, but I never brought it up again (probably out of fear of jinxing whatever project might be brewing).
Months later, I found out that Abrams had submitted a proposal to Nickelodeon for a prequel novel series about Avatar Kyoshi, and that all parties were game for it if I was. I was shocked at the size of the project and thrilled that it was focused on my favorite of the pre-Aang Avatars. The fan in me said YES, immediately. My agent translated my enthusiasm into a calmer, more rational response, and from there, we moved forward.
The Rise of Kyoshi is a story that you shaped with Avatar co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino, a driving force in building and expanding the lore to begin with. What was that collaboration like when it came to sketching out Kyoshi's story--and at what point did you get to take the reins and start putting words to paper?
Mike, Nickelodeon Editor Joan Hilty, Abrams Editor Anne Heltzel, and I did a significant amount of outlining and “axe-sharpening” before I started writing. Mike is a master storyteller, so in those first few calls he was less concerned with technical lore and more focused on giving me guidance about characters, motivations, and forces of antagonism. He let me pitch a lot of different ideas and follow their progressions in outline form. Eventually, we came to a story direction that we thought worked for the character and the universe, and I started writing on my lonesome.
The amount of time we spent up front was immensely valuable. Because we made the creative investment, I clocked my production rate at four times my historical average (I am a tech nerd; this is how we talk). Mike and the other parties involved gave me the perfect combination of feedback and hands-off trust to run with the story. I didn’t stick perfectly to the outline, but the skeleton allowed me to build the rest of the book with confidence.
It's almost funny to watch the series now, and see Kyoshi introduced as what must be one of the most intriguing Avatars and characters in the world of Avatar... and then realize her full story hasn't actually been told! Were you one of the fans who wanted to know more about her when the opportunity first arose? Was that a 'dream come true' scenario or added pressure, knowing you're the one who's finally telling it?
Years ago, I adored the glimpses of Avatar Kyoshi we got in the series since so much was conveyed about her in a small number of scenes. She was almost like a Boba Fett whose actions and attitude backed up her reputation. For me, watching the shows, her appearances as a foil to Aang were so effective and satisfying that I honestly hadn’t given that much thought into wondering more about her personally until I started writing these books.
Once I had the opportunity to write her backstory though, the possibilities exploded, and I became eager to figure out what paths led her to become the person we see in the show. It was both a dream and a terrifying, pressure-filled experience. If I botched her story, I’d never forgive myself as a fan, not to mention disappointing the community that loves this universe.
To travel back to the start of Kyoshi's story, readers are brought into a different world than the one they know from Avatar and Korra. Without spoiling anything, what should readers be prepared for, or know heading in? Because the temptation to pause on just about every page and dive into the Avatar wiki is going to be hard to resist (...I may be speaking for myself here).
I drew upon history for thematic inspiration (more so than direct events), which meant the setting of this book is woven with a lot of internal turmoil. Nothing is monolithic, and the greatest threats are often the ones closest by. I wanted to capture that feeling when you read about a crisis that happened in the past and marvel at how people back then managed to keep everything together. Institutions and beliefs that we’re used to from “current” times may not have formed or solidified yet. It’s a bit darker in parts than the shows, hopefully not gratuitously so. Some of that is due the above, and some due to its category as a YA novel.
The Rise of Kyoshi also expands on the mythology and history in ways that open up new stories. Was that part of the goal, or an added bonus in the process? I think The Fifth Nation in particular is going to be a prime example.
Those new possibilities are more of an added bonus since the primary purpose of their inclusion was to support Kyoshi’s story. In order for them to feel sufficiently rich though, they got a level of detail that could be fruitful for whatever creator that might want to use them.
The Fifth Nation, for example, is loosely based off the forces of the pirate queen Ching Shih, plus a lot of pirate history in general. While I simply wanted them to be effective and believable seaborne marauders, it meant hinting at more stories the reader isn’t seeing.
Kyoshi is noteworthy for more than just her status, since she is one of the few, and likely the most influential LGBTQ+ character in the larger Avatar universe. I'm sure there are fans of the series who will only now discover that, so was it something you felt important to include?
I did feel that was very important to include. Kyoshi is mentioned to be bisexual in the Legend of Korra: Turf Wars comic. Some readers will be coming into the book already knowing that and looking for how her love life is portrayed, and others might be discovering it in the novel itself. Either way, since since media representation is so important, it felt crucial not to leave her relationships out.
Kyoshi feels particularly timely, and complex in this novel: she's underestimated, strong, formidable, and feared, but she isn't perfect, either. Fans know her legacy is a mixed one, with massive successes and questionable or even bad calls. Since her origin story can't really address that legacy directly, did it still factor into the start of her journey?
Absolutely. One of the main goals of this story was to convince readers how it was possible for Kyoshi to create the mixed legacy she did. If I wasn’t going to show her dropping Chin the Conqueror as an adult, I was going to try to show how she became the type of person that would do so without remorse. She starts out very different than the person we see in the show; since narrative arcs demand change, her end affects her beginning from a creative standpoint.
The Avatar fans who can't stand the wait for The Rise of Kyoshi can also dive into your Genie Lo novels (Epic Crush and the upcoming Iron Will), to see another fierce young woman chosen for greatness. Was the transition from those books to Kyoshi as almost 'fated' as it now seems?
There is admittedly a great deal of overlap. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is about a nigh-invulnerable young woman who hates injustice and isn’t afraid of confrontation. I believe that part of the Avatar pitch was pointing at the existing book I’d written as a demonstration I could handle Kyoshi’s story. The humor and action-comedy nature of ATLA was undoubtedly a big influence on the Genie Lo series.
In some sense it felt similar going from Genie Lo to Kyoshi. Both protagonists would rather move mountains than let evil get its way. But ultimately I found myself focusing on their uniqueness. Genie is hot-tempered and quippy but deep down, a big softy inside. Kyoshi is level-headed, a woman of few words, and well, we all know how soft her personality ends up being.
Rise is just the first of two novels diving into Kyoshi's story in the larger Avatar universe, so in that sense, the ending isn't really 'the end.' Without spoiling, how do you hope readers will feel once they put down The Rise of Kyoshi after that final page?
I guess I hope readers feel a bit like Kyoshi herself- struck by the sudden realization that while the beginning may have ended, there’s so much more business to take care of and story to tell.
The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee arrives on Tuesday, July 16th, with the second book in the series The Shadow of Kyoshi to follow.
How The Rise of Kyoshi YA novel finds new things to love about Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Avatar lives again! Just as the titular character of Avatar: The Last Airbender is constantly reincarnated from one elemental nation to the next, so too has the Avatar universe grown — from its beginnings as an animated TV show, to a live-action movie, then to tie-in graphic novels, and now to prose novels.
This week sees the release of The Rise of Kyoshi, the Avatar universe’s very first canonical prose novel. Written by F.C. Yee (The Epic Crush of Genie Lo) with advisement from Michael Dante DiMartino (who originally co-created Avatar: The Last Airbender with Bryan Konietzko), The Rise of Kyoshi is a stunning revitalization of Avatar storytelling that uses the YA novel format to explore new depths within its world, exploring the internal mental state of element-bending and developing a compelling same-sex romance.
FRONT AND CENTER, FINALLY
True to its title, the new novel focuses on Avatar Kyoshi. Born into the Earth Kingdom (one of the four nations of the Avatar world, each matched to one of the classic elements), Kyoshi held the Avatar mantle two generations before Aang, the famed “last airbender.” Longtime Avatar fans may have first heard of Kyoshi in one of the earliest episodes of The Last Airbender, “The Warriors of Kyoshi,” in which Aang and his friends first encountered the Kyoshi Warriors of Kyoshi Island. The all-female group were capable fighters who protected their ancestral homeland while dressed in the kabuki makeup of their namesake idol and wielding her trademark weapons: Fans.
Kyoshi’s unique look made her a visual stand-out whenever Aang was greeted by visions of his past lives. But The Rise of Kyoshi looks at the woman behind the makeup, showing how she went from a dirt-poor nobody to an inspiring legend. Thanks to the prose format, Yee’s novel has the space to expand on mythology that was only hinted at in previous works. Readers don’t get to see Kyoshi bend the elements with martial arts the way Aang did on screen, but they do get to live inside her head and see the Avatar world from a whole new angle.
As The Last Airbender unfolded, it occasionally granted additional pieces of information about Kyoshi. Fans learned she was renowned as one of the most powerful Avatars ever, who lived to 230 years of age. Whenever she manifested herself to speak through Aang (as all past Avatars can do), she displayed a strong sense of justice. Unlike the peace-loving Aang, Kyoshi possessed an iron will to see justice done at all costs. This attitude clearly produced both good and bad results. Kyoshi’s separation of Kyoshi Island from the Earth Kingdom mainland successfully protected the community for posterity and ended the tyrannical ambitions of Chin the Conqueror, but made her a reviled figure in Chin’s hometown. Kyoshi also founded the elite Earth Kingdom secret police known as the Dai Li, who protected the Earth King’s life at the cost of slowly funneling the monarch’s political power into their own shadowy order.
The character we meet in The Rise of Kyoshi is a long way from all that, though.
“What was appealing to me was how with limited screen time, she was such an effective foil to Aang in the original series. They don’t spend that much time together, but it’s so interesting to watch them play off each other with their different approaches to problem-solving,” Yee tells EW. “That got me into thinking about what could be filled in. What kind of experiences would she have had to go through in order to arrive at the woman we see as an adult, who briefly appears and advises Aang, and owns up to slaying a conqueror, and doesn’t take any BS from anyone? She must have seen some pretty intense stuff to give her that edge.”
Abrams Books
Granted, every Avatar needs years of training to master the four elements and grow into their destiny as the savior of the world, but Kyoshi isn’t even recognized as the Avatar at the beginning of the novel. The earthbending sage Jianzhu and the airbending master Kelsang, friends of the late Avatar Kuruk who have been charged with finding and protecting his successor, have instead misidentified the Avatar, lifting up a man named Yun even though Kyoshi is right under their noses.
This fascinating twist marks a first for the franchise, since both Aang and his successor Korra were identified as the Avatar at an early age and grew up knowing they were meant for greatness. Kyoshi, by contrast, begins as a mere serving girl in the household of the exalted “Avatar Yun.” An orphan since childhood, Kyoshi is used to being reviled by ordinary townspeople. The combination of her potentially earth-shattering powers and her xenophobic reception among average people may remind some readers of N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy. Though when we first meet Kyoshi, her self-esteem is so low she can barely earthbend at all.
“Since the earliest days of Avatar, we’ve always been pitched ideas of a fake Avatar. It seems like a natural thing for writers to glom onto,” DiMartino tells EW. “We never really resonated with that idea, there was never an angle we could figure out that made sense. But the way F.C. did it, it makes sense in this volatile period between Avatars. He came up with a plausible reason they could’ve been misidentified. It’s a great start for Kyoshi specifically: The person who becomes one of the most powerful and legendary Avatars ever starting out where people don’t believe she is and she has to go rogue to learn how to become the Avatar.”
He continues: “It’s a cool angle on the classic Avatar journey of mastering the four elements and having to find your masters and stuff, when she’s treated as an outcast in a way.”
THE KORRA CONNECTION
The Rise of Kyoshi also fleshes out a key part of Kyoshi’s character that fans only learned of very recently. The Legend of Korra, the sequel series to Avatar: The Last Airbender that focused on Aang’s headstrong Water Tribe-born successor Avatar Korra, ended with Korra embracing her romantic feelings for her friend Asami. The final minutes of the show found its two female leads taking each other hand-in-hand before walking off into the sunset.
The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars trilogy of sequel graphic novels, written by DiMartino and illustrated by artist Irene Koh for Dark Horse Comics, further explored this relationship, as Korra and Asami struggled with coming out to friends and family. This is where Aang’s waterbending daughter Kya came in. Kya approached Korra and Asami during Turf Wars, explained that she also loved women, and gave the two young lovebirds a crash course in the state of LGBTQ affairs within the Avatar world. One of the most interesting tidbits was the revelation of Kyoshi’s bisexuality. Just as The Rise of Kyoshi explains how the Earth Kingdom Avatar learned to fight with fans while wearing kabuki makeup, it also explores her first experience of falling in love with another woman.
“In the back of our minds we always thought Kyoshi was probably bisexual,” DiMartino says. “For a YA novel, it just seems quite appropriate to have her explore her feelings toward men and women. In the Korra comic, it’s just a line; there wasn’t time to really get into it, so F.C. took that idea and came up with an awesome character Rangi and it’s great. It’s really the heart of the story, which I really like.”
Dark Horse
Dark Horse
Dark Horse
For a story that’s primarily about martial arts and elemental battles, Avatar has always had a knack for crafting compelling romances. But the blossoming relationship between Kyoshi and her firebending friend Rangi, who start out as co-workers in Yun’s mansion before being drawn together in a daring escape and learning to survive together on the run, also highlights the unique strengths of Yee’s novel. The Avatar shows and graphic novels can visualize the spectacle of bending, but The Rise of Kyoshi gets us into the characters’ heads to see how these elemental powers fuel personalities and relationships.
At one point, as Kyoshi and Rangi are fleeing from attackers, Yee writes, “[Rangi] ran as nimbly as they did on the roof tiles, and when there was a leap too great to make naturally, she stepped on jets of fire that blasted out of her feet, bounding in propulsive arcs across the sky. The sight made Kyoshi’s breath come to a standstill at the very time she needed it flowing. Rangi was so beautiful, illuminated by moon and fire, that it hurt. She was strength and skill and determination wrapped around an unshakable heart.”
ALL ABOUT THE WORDS
Until now, Avatar has primarily been a visual story. Both the animated shows and the tie-in comics have used their formats to broadcast the show’s visceral combination of martial arts techniques with elemental powers. But in scenes like this, Yee finds a way to make the components of Avatar storytelling come alive on the page. Other characters, like Jianzhu, use interesting bending techniques that focus on small projectiles or minor manipulations that maybe wouldn’t pop on screen but come alive in the reader’s imagination.
“I knew it was going to be a challenge capturing the motion and kinetic energy of the series in word form,” Yee says. “If you were going to describe, word for word, everything that happens in a fight scene as complex as the ‘Day of Black Sun’ episode where everyone’s jumping around pillars created by the Dai Li, or the gang’s intrusion on the Earth King’s palace…I felt for me it would be impossible. So I actually drew on a concept from back when I practiced capoeira. For capoeira, when you see two people get into the circle and start moving and it seems like a very fluid thing, the mindset my teachers told me is you’re supposed to be having a dialogue. Rather than doing lots and lots of motions, you’re posing a question to the other person. Then they’re answering and posing one of their own, and you’re interacting that way. That call and response, set up and subversion, was probably better suited for the text form and my own capabilities, so I described fight scenes in that manner.”
The good news is, there’s more where this came from. Kyoshi’s aforementioned 230-year lifespan means there’s lots of room left for additional stories, and Yee is already brainstorming the follow-up novel. He teases, “She is definitely going to be challenged on an intensely personal level, which you might guess from the end of book 1, as well as on the political level, as she goes from the lowest rungs of society and most outcast to the highest levels of the world stage.”
WHAT’S NEXT
That’s not even all that the future holds for the Avatar universe. DiMartino is currently writing a new trilogy of Legend of Korra graphic novels, this one titled Ruins of the Empire and illustrated by artist Michelle Wong, that explores the fate of the villainous Kuvira; part one is available now. A new trilogy of Avatar: The Last Airbender comics is also currently underway, written by Faith Erin Hicks (The Nameless City) and illustrated by Peter Wartman with consultation from DiMartino.
Most interestingly of all, DiMartino and Konietzko are hard at work developing a live-action series version of Avatar: The Last Airbender for Netflix. Not much is known about the project, and it’s still early enough that DiMartino couldn’t speak much about it. But with that on the horizon and The Rise of Kyoshi in bookstores this week, it’s clear that Avatar has become one of the richest and most rewarding fictional universes of 21st-century pop culture.
“It’s pretty crazy,” DiMartino says. “It’s just wild that we created it in 2002, and we’re still working on it. It never went away, even when we weren’t working on the show, because I was working on the book or comics. It’s always been part of my life. But this does feel new. The people who grew up with the show are now older and actually working on the shows, comics, and books, and there’s still the next generation discovering it. That was one of our goals originally: To tell a timeless story that could last generations.”
The adventures of Aang, the Last Airbender, ended years ago in both the original Avatar The Last Airbender series and its sequel, the Legend of Korra, which followed the future incarnation of Aang as she attempted to struggle with her powers and heritage in a much different, futuristic world. While these chapters may be closed in animated format, the world of the Last Airbender is being returned to through various mediums. With sequel series for both franchises being developed in comic book form, a new prose novel dives into a little known avatar, Kyoshi.
The Entertainment Weekly article that chats with the novel's author, and dissects the character of Kyoshi, explores what the story will follow in terms of Kyoshi and the world around her:
How 'The Rise of Kyoshi' finds new things to love about 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'
'The Rise of Kyoshi' author F.C. Yee and 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' co-creator Michael DiMartino explain how the new YA novel builds on the franchise.
The author of the upcoming prose novel, F.C. Yee, dissected the reasoning behind why he wanted to revisit the older incarnation of the "Avatar":
“What was appealing to me was how with limited screen time, she was such an effective foil to Aang in the original series. They don’t spend that much time together, but it’s so interesting to watch them play off each other with their different approaches to problem-solving. That got me into thinking about what could be filled in. What kind of experiences would she have had to go through in order to arrive at the woman we see as an adult, who briefly appears and advises Aang, and owns up to slaying a conqueror, and doesn’t take any BS from anyone? She must have seen some pretty intense stuff to give her that edge.”
Kyoshi had several differences from both Aang and Korra, wherein she originated from the Earth Kingdom and even lived to be over 200 years old. She appeared a few times in the Last Airbender series, offering advice to Aang in spirit form along with the other Avatars that still reside within both him and with Korra later on. If this novel proves to be a success, we're sure this won't be the last we see of this powerful Avatar.
Will you be picking up The Rise of Kyoshi? What was your favorite incarnation of the Avatar? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly on Twitter @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime!
For those of you unfamiliar with The Last Airbender, the series screened on Nickelodeon between 2005 and 2008. Its complex story and diverse stars earned the series’ acclaim. The Last Airbender’s story coupled with its anime-inspired artwork has helped it grow a loyal fanbase, and the series has continued to expand with various comics over the years. A new live action series is in the works for Netflix from the original creators of the Nickelodeon series.
It's COWABUNGA time! The TMNT-universe celebrated its 35th anniversary with fans at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 18. There wasn't pizza, but there were a lot of details about how the Turtle's have changed over the years, and what keeps fans coming back for more.
The panel united co-executive producers Andy Suriano and Ant Ward (Nickelodeon's Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), executive producer Ciro Nieli (Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and legendary TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman to talk about how they've kept the franchise going so strongly all these years.
Moderator Mike Cecchini asked each panelist how they first discovered the TMNT universe. For some, like Nieli, it was with the very first comic. Andy Suriano said his first brush with the turtles was with the 1989 arcade NES video game by Konami, which inspired him to go back and read all the comics. Ant Ward remembered being in a toy store and seeing the mustard-green color of Donatello. Ward remembered throwing a massive tantrum over not being allowed to buy the toy.
Eastman paid homage to the folks sharing the stage with him for helping to revitalize and bring the turtles back to life. Nieli recalls Nickelodeon's acquisition of the franchise, and the challenges he faced in creating a universe that was ubiquitous and easy enough to follow. This enabled other creators, like Ward, to come in and take the TMNT universe in a weird and new direction.
For Nickelodeon's Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Suriano and Ward spoke about their desire to create something new and different for fans. "We wanted to explore the brothers in a completely new environment and see how that sibling bond can travel," Ward said.
Nieli noted that since the show takes place after the death of Master Splinter, it gave them the chance to take the turtles out of the sewers and into the streets of New York City. Scientist April O'Neil is also portrayed in a different light, now serving as the emotional surrogate for the turtles. O'Neil has always been a vital character to the series, especially for Eastman who said strong female characters were important to him and co-creator Peter Laird.
This concept of family is really the core of TMNT, so much so that Nieli says he used to write "The family that mutates together, stays together" on his early artwork. An exciting (and very recent) addition to the turtle-verse is the new female ninja-turtle who first appeared in issue #95. The future of TMNT is further evolving the family dynamic and putting the turtles into new environments..
Everyone has their favorite turtle, it is law. What makes their personalities work? Eastman recalled being inspired by the dynamic of the characters from the X-Men series: "They may have different personalities, different likes, but they've still got to come together to overcome a foe."
"We wanted to make another reason to love Leo besides being the leader," said Ward while talking about the leadership shift in Rise of the TMNT. "Now, he’s letting Raph be the leader because he’s just not ready for that role yet."
One of 2019's most exciting announcements was news of the Batman and TMNT animated movie crossover. First revealed back in February, the animated film is based on the Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics miniseries by James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II. It's as clear an indication as any that fans of the TMNT universe want to see the turtles in new adventures with new characters. The panelists promised as such and told everyone to keep an eye out for the Rise of the TMNT Netflix film, which will feature characters everyone knows and loves, as well as some new ones (no word on what new characters they were referring to).
In 2017, TMNT celebrated its 75th issue with an epic release from IDW Publishing. Series writer Tom Waltz and Eastman have been working together since the IDW run began back in 2011.
Ultimately the TMNT universe has always been about having fun, exploring family relationships, and those bonds that bring us together to overcome the impossible. This fellowship is the magic that keeps fans coming back year after year. Okay, the gratuitous inclusion of pizza doesn't hurt either.
“We realized Donatello was all our very first Ninja Turtles figure.” @SuperRobot74@wolfboy74@Ward_Ant collectively discuss how Donnie was the first mutant in their collection as kids.#NickSDCC#TMNT35
“We wanted to make another reason to love Leo besides being the leader. Now, he’s letting Raph be the leader because he’s just not ready for that role yet.” @Ward_Ant on the leadership shift in Rise of the TMNT#NickSDCC#TMNT35pic.twitter.com/9gu3R9X3xc
Original source: SYFY Wire.Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News and Highlights!
Poland - Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Polska has partnered with BrandBuddies, a community of creators (influencers) and brands (companies) which aims to establish and maintain longer relationships between parties, to launch Follovers, a brand-new initiative which aims to recruit fresh talent from social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to create content that will feature on Follovers's newly launched digital channels on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, as well as on the linear and digital platforms of VIMN Polska channels, such as MTV.
Viacom is currently recruiting participants to join the project, with the initiative being supported by a promotional campaign airing on MTV, MTV Music, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, as well as on the social media channels of Viacom channels.
Startuje Follovers - wspólny projekt Viacom i BrandBuddies. „Stawiamy na młodych twórców z TikToka i Instagrama”
Viacom International Media Networks wspólnie z BrandBuddies uruchomił projekt Follovers, do którego angażowani są młodzi twórcy ze środowiska TikToka i Instagrama. - Dzięki tej współpracy możemy poszerzyć spektrum naszych działań i zaoferować twórcom i naszym partnerom komercyjnym zupełnie nową wartość - mówi portalowi Wirtualnemedia.pl Monika Wysocka, wiceprezes ds. licencji, projektów niestandardowych i mediów cyfrowych w VIMN Polska.
Follovers to format stworzony wspólnie przez Viacom i BrandBuddies. Adresowany jest do młodych twórców internetowych związanych ze środowiskiem TikToka i Instagrama. Uczestnicy tego projektu stworzą różnego rodzaju treści, które będą na bieżąco udostępniane w krótkich materiałach na nowo powstałych kanałach Follovers, a także na platformach z portfolio Viacom - zarówno w kanałach linearnych, jak i w social mediach tego nadawcy.
- W naszych działaniach stawiamy na maksymalnie efektywne dotarcie do naszej młodej grupy odbiorców, zarówno w obszarze telewizji linearnej, jak i w świecie cyfrowym. Nasze dotychczasowe doświadczenia we współpracy z twórcami internetowymi w zakresie marketingowym przy promocji naszych marek lub przy projektach komercyjnych dla naszych klientów były bardzo pozytywne i umożliwiały nam dotarcie do naszych widzów na wielu platformach. Dzięki współpracy między Viacom, BrandBuddies i TikTokiem, możemy poszerzyć spektrum naszych działań i zaoferować młodym twórcom i naszym partnerom komercyjnym zupełnie nową wartość - komentuje portalowi Wirtualnemedia.pl Monika Wysocka, wiceprezes ds. licencji, projektów niestandardowych i mediów cyfrowych w polskim oddziale Viacom International Media Networks. - W ten sposób łączymy wiedzę i doświadczenie Brand Buddies oraz TikToka z pełnią możliwości Viacom - siłą naszych marek, czy dostępem do lokalnych i międzynarodowych eventów - dodaje.
Projekt stawia na twórców, którzy realizują różnego rodzaju pasje. - Łączymy ich w jedną ekipę wspólnie podejmującą się różnorodnych zadań. Społeczność będzie mogła śledzić ich działania w internecie, a wybrane fragmenty pojawią się na antenie MTV. Obecnie w ekipie jest już 10 twórców, kolejnych 15 zostanie wybranych w ogólnopolskim castingu, który ruszył w czerwcu - informuje nas Wysocka.
Nabór uczestników do projektu nadal trwa - jest on wspierany kampanią promocyjną w telewizji (MTV, MTV Music, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon) oraz w kanałach social media Viacomu. - Projekt ten jest ważny nie tylko z punktu widzenia wizerunku, czy ciekawych działań marketingowych, lecz ma wszelkie predyspozycje, by w długofalowej perspektywie stanowić nową linię biznesową. Poza działaniami związanymi z budowaniem świadomości marki, czy jej pozytywnego wizerunku, jest to świetne narzędzie dla naszych partnerów komercyjnych poszerzające możliwości dotarcia do młodych odbiorców - zdradza w rozmowie z nami wiceprezes ds. licencji, projektów niestandardowych i mediów cyfrowych w VIMN Polska.
Follovers z założenia jest projektem długofalowym, a z czasem skład ekipy może się zmieniać, ponieważ będą dochodzić nowe osoby. Jak zapewnia nas Monika Wysocka, jeśli pojawi się w projekcie rywalizacja, będzie ona jedynie pozytywna. - Nikogo nie będziemy wykluczać, a jedynie nagradzać zwycięzców danych wyzwań. Głównym założeniem formatu jest współpraca uczestników, aby wspólnie budować społeczność wokół marki Follovers. Na bieżąco wraz z twórcami będziemy podejmować, jakie treści produkować i udostępniać naszym odbiorcom - komunikuje nam.
Projekt zapewni także management młodym twórcom oraz kompleksową obsługę kampanii reklamowych z ich udziałem. Za sprzedaż oferty odpowiedzialny jest zespół BrandBuddies oraz zespół Brand Solutions, który w strukturze Viacom odpowiada za niestandardowe kampanie reklamowe.
- W Follovers proponujemy markom wpisanie ich produktów w pozytywny świat pasji, przyjaźni oraz wyzwań. Marki będą mogły proponować ekipie ciekawe wyzwania, których realizacji podejmą się nie tylko uczestnicy Follovers, ale i cała zaangażowana społeczność. To zupełnie nowe podejście - komentuje nam z kolei Kamil Sokołowski, CEO BrandBuddies.
- Od początku roku obserwujemy wzmożone zainteresowanie marek kampaniami w aplikacji TikTok. Dla wielu marketerów dotychczasowym problemem był brak wiarygodnych statystyk. Dodanie przez aplikację narzędzi analitycznych znacząco ułatwi pozyskanie reklamodawców. Dzięki współpracy z TikTokiem możemy zaoferować naszym partnerom dostęp do oficjalnych danych, które nierzadko różnią się od tych zebranych na podstawie deklaratywnych ankiet - informuje portal Wirtualnemedia.pl Sokołowski.
Według danych z drugiego kwartału 2019 roku, TikTok ma w Polsce ponad 2 mln użytkowników, z podziałem 73 proc. kobiet do 27 proc. mężczyzn. Średnio użytkownicy spędzają w aplikacji 45 min w 9 sesjach. Aplikacja w ostatnim czasie wprowadziła szereg rozwiązań biznesowych. Dostępna jest już analityka kont twórców. - Wszyscy twórcy Follovers posiadają konta Pro (biznesowe). Kampanie z twórcami można wspierać dodatkowo oficjalnymi formatami reklamowymi, które zadebiutowały także w Polsce - informuje nas Kamil Sokołowski.
[Zdjęcie: Monika Wysocka i Kamil Sokołowski podczas konferencji projektu Follovers; fot. Michał Kurdupski]
Follovers – influencerzy będą mieli własny reality-show
Nadawca stacji telewizyjnych MTV i Comedy Central rozpoczyna nowy projekt - Follovers. Wystąpią w nim młodzi twórcy znani z TikToka i Instagrama.
Projekt Follovers powstał we współpracy Viacom z platformą marketingową BrandBuddies. Program nie będzie mieć sztywnych ram a większość materiałów będzie trafiać na popularne portale społecznościowe.
W Follovers weźmie udział 25 internetowych twórców, którzy będą musieli wykonywać zadania i wyzwania. Projekt będzie można śledzić przede wszystkim w social mediach, ale częściowo też w telewizji. Stacje chcą w ten sposób zmniejszyć tendencję spadkową oglądalności telewizji, zwłaszcza przez młode osoby.
Follovers – zapisy przez TikToka Do udziału w programie wybrano 10 twórców. Pozostała 15-tka zostanie wyłoniona w castingu. Aby się zgłosić należy wypełnić internetowy formularz i nagrać TikToka.
TikTok, mimo afery z nielegalnym zbieraniem danych osób niepełnoletnich, wciąż jest prawdziwym hitem wśród młodzieży. Aplikacja daje możliwość wyrażania siebie za pomocą tworzenia własnych treści wideo. Możemy się więc spodziewać dużego zainteresowania castingiem.
W projekcie „Follovers” naszym celem jest stworzenie ekipy utalentowanych twórców, którzy w swojej komunikacji z fanami, użytkownikami TikToka i pozostałych kanałów social media, pokazują swoje pasje – często zresztą bardzo różne. – mówi Monika Wysocka, wiceprezes VIMN w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej
Follovers – na czym będzie polegał program? Uczestnicy projektu będą wspólnie podejmować się różnych wyzwań i wykonywać niestandardowe zadania.
Teraz nagrywane są warsztaty ze sztuki improwizacji, uczestnicy pod okiem trenera uczą się w jaki sposób występować na scenie. Widzowie będą mogli ocenić, kto poradził sobie na tych warsztatach najlepiej. Uczestnicy będą też projektować własną kolekcją modową z pomocą projektanta. W każdym miesiącu na ekipę czekają wyzwania, o których współdecydować będzie publiczność – Kamil Sokołowski, CEO BrandBuddies
Pierwsze relacje wideo z udziałem uczestników Follovers pojawią się na początku sierpnia. Będzie się można śledzić na TikToku, Instagramie i YouTube. Fragmenty trafią także do stacji telewizyjnych Viacomu (MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon).
Oto "telewizja" XXI wieku. Influencerzy będą mieć własny reality-show, emisja m.in. na TikToku
Nadawca stacji MTV i Comedy Central rozpoczyna projekt "Follovers". Ma to być format typu reality, w którym wystąpią polscy młodzi twórcy znani z TikToka czy Instagrama. Program nie będzie jednak mieć sztywnych ram jak produkcje telewizyjne, a większość materiałów trafi do popularnych aplikacji społecznościowych. Projekt powstaje we współpracy z platformą influencer marketingową BrandBuddies.
"Follovers" to nowy projekt związany z influencer marketingiem stworzony przez Viacom i BrandBuddies Weźmie w nim udział 25 twórców internetowych, którzy mierzyć się będą z zadaniami i wyzwaniami Projekt śledzić będzie można głównie w social mediach, a częściowo też w telewizji Oglądalność telewizji z roku na rok maleje, a dzisiejsi nastolatkowie oglądają jej znacznie mniej niż ich starsi koledzy jeszcze kilka lat temu. Stąd firmy telewizyjne coraz mocniej szykują innych źródeł przychodów - nie tylko inwestują w serwisy VoD, ale chcą wykorzystywać również potencjał drzemiący w social media.
- Obecnie widzowie konsumują treści wideo nie tylko w tradycyjnej telewizji. Niestandardowe połączenie mediów telewizyjnych i cyfrowych z kanałami influencerów daje nam możliwość poszerzania zasięgu naszych działań reklamowych i budowania zaangażowania wśród widzów i użytkowników, którzy mają kontakt z komunikacją marki - mówi Business Insider Polska Monika Wysocka, wiceprezes VIMN w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej, odpowiedzialna za dział Brand Solutions.
Dział ten zajmuje niestandardowymi rozwiązaniami reklamowymi, niezwiązanymi ze sprzedażą tradycyjnych spotów reklamowych, które znamy z kanałów telewizyjnych. Przychody z tej działalności rosną z roku na rok dwucyfrowo, ale szczegółów firma nie ujawnia.
Mocno niestandardowy charakter ma mieć format "Follovers", stworzony wspólnie przez Viacom i BrandBuddies. Adresowany jest do młodych twórców internetowych o dużym potencjale związanych ze środowiskiem TikToka oraz Instagrama. Do udziału w programie zaproszono 10 twórców znanych z sieci, kolejną piętnastkę mają wyłonić castingi, które właśnie ruszyły.
Do "Follovers" zgłosić się można tylko przez TikToka - Wyłącznym partnerem na etapie rekrutacji jest aplikacja TikTok. By zgłosić się do „Follovers” trzeba wypełnić internetowy formularz i nagrać tzw. TikToka - mówi Business Insider Polska Kamil Sokołowski, CEO BrandBuddies.
Dlaczego do rekrutacji wykorzystywana jest ta aplikacja? Od pewnego czasu to już nie Snapchat czy Instagram, ale TikTok jest prawdziwym hitem wśród młodzieży. To nie tylko platforma rozrywkowa, która pozwala oglądać krótkie filmiki. Można za jej pomocą też tworzyć własne treści wideo. To miejsce, gdzie mogą młodzi ludzi wyrazić siebie, tworząc wideo z artystycznym zacięciem.
- Przewaga TikToka wynika z zaangażowanej społeczności, która już teraz liczy ponad pół miliarda osób, oraz idealnego dostosowania treści do potrzeb i zainteresowań grupy docelowej - mówił kilka miesięcy temu Tobiasz Wybraniec, prezes agencji GetHero, która przygotowała badanie dotyczące popularności aplikacji w Polsce. Wynika z niego, że z TikToka w Polsce korzystają głównie osoby w wieku od 13 do 15 lat.
- W projekcie "Follovers" naszym celem jest stworzenie ekipy utalentowanych twórców, którzy w swojej komunikacji z fanami, użytkownikami TikToka i pozostałych kanałów social media, pokazują swoje pasje - często zresztą bardzo różne - opisuje Monika Wysocka.
Na ekipę "Follovers" czekają wyzwania i zadania Uczestnicy rozpisanego na wiele miesięcy projektu wspólnie podejmą się różnych wyzwań czy wykonania niestandardowych zadań.
- Teraz nagrywane są warsztaty ze sztuki improwizacji, uczestnicy pod okiem trenera uczą się w jaki sposób występować na scenie. Widzowie będą mogli ocenić, kto poradził sobie na tych warsztatach najlepiej. Uczestnicy będą też projektować własną kolekcją modową z pomocą projektanta. W każdym miesiącu na ekipę czekają wyzwania, o których współdecydować będzie publiczność - mówi Sokołowski.
Pierwsze relacje wideo z udziałem ekipy "Follovers" pojawić się mają na początku sierpnia. Będzie je można na bieżąco śledzić w krótkich materiałach na TikToku, Instagramie, YouTube, a fragmenty trafią też do stacji telewizyjnych Viacomu, który ma takie kanały jak m.in. MTV, Comedy Central czy Nickelodeon. Nie będzie jednak odcinków nadawanych zwykle co tydzień jak to miejsce w przypadku klasycznych reality-shows jak np. „Warsaw Shore”.
- Wiemy, że konsumpcja telewizji i mediów cyfrowych różni się od siebie - po inne treści widzowie kierują się do telewizji linearnej, a innego kontentu oczekują od social mediów. Chodzi tu o nie tylko długość formatów, częstotliwość produkowania czy tworzenia, ale i treść samą w sobie. Każde medium ma swoją specyfikę i wierne audytorium - mówi Wysocka.
Obie firmy liczą na pozyskanie przede wszystkim odbiorców w wieku od 16 do 24 lat. Projekt ma zarabiać na na reklamodawcach, którzy np. będą sponsorować wyzwania rzucone uczestnikom "Follovers". - Mamy już pierwsze duże marki zainteresowane projektem, ale nie możemy ich jeszcze ujawnić. Jesteśmy otwarci nie tylko na brandy typowo produktowe, ale też na parki rozrywki, parki wodne, miasta czy galerie handlowe - mówi Kamil Sokołowski.
TikTok otwiera się na reklamodawców CEO Brand Buddies podkreśla, że dotąd na działanie komercyjne TikToku decydowały się głównie duże globalne marki, które lubią eksperymentować. - Jednak dla większości reklamodawców problemem był brak wiarygodnych statystyk. Marketerzy mieli obawy, że influencerzy mają na TikToku odbiorców głównie z zagranicy. Dodanie przez aplikację narzędzi analitycznych znacząco ułatwi pozyskanie reklamodawców - mówi Sokołowski.
"Follovers" to nie tylko produkcja internetowa. Projekt zapewni także management młodym twórcom oraz kompleksową obsługę kampanii reklamowych z ich udziałem. Jego celem jest bowiem też wyłonienie nowych gwiazd wśród twórców i pomaganie im w budowaniu karier.
Update (7/19) - Nickelodeon has had a change of heart, and is now increasing NickRewind's hours again! Starting tonight (Friday, July 19), NickRewind will now broadcast nightly between 1:00am - 6:00am. Here's the line-up for the next couple of days:
Friday, July 19: Hey Arnold! Marathon Saturday, July 20: Rugrats - 2 movies + episodes Sunday, July 21: Rocko's Modern Life marathon
Then, starting Monday, July 22nd:
Then starting Monday: 1-2am Rugrats 2-3am Arnold 3-4am Rocko 4-5am Rugrats 5-6am Arnold
Original post:
Nickelodeon USA is set to significantly reduce the amount of hours its NickRewind programming block, Nickelodeon's television destination for the most loved Nick content from the 1990s and beyond, airs on TeenNick each night. Currently airing every night for seven hours between 11:00 p.m - 6:00 a.m. (ET/PT), beginning Monday, July 15, 2019, Nick will reduce NickRewind's broadcast hours to just two hours per night, airing between 4:02 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. (ET/PT) during the early hours of each morning.
In lieu of classic Nickelodeon programming, TeenNick will air more teen-centric programming from MTV and Awesomeness - a media company that focuses on creating original content for Gen Z which Viacom acquired in 2018.
Shows from MTV include: the teen reality series Made (weekdays at 12pm, 3pm and 8pm), the 2011 live-action supernatural drama Teen Wolf (starting with season 4; weeknights at 9pm), reality series My Super Sweet 16 (weeknights from 12-1am) and Parental Control (weeknights from 1-2am). The series will air as part of a 'MTV on TeenNick' style block.
Shows from AwesomenessTV, which have mostly ran on streaming services in the U.S. up until this point, includes: Betch, Guidance, Zac & Mia, Love Daily. All four series run weeknights from 10pm-midnight and encore from 2-4am as part of an "AwesomenessTV on TeenNick" branded programming block.
Below is NickRewind's revised line-up, commencing Monday, July 15, 2019:
4:02 a.m. - Hey Arnold!: It Girl; Deconstructing Arnold 4:31 a.m. - Rugrats: Happy Taffy; Imagine That 5:01 a.m. - Rocko's Modern Life: Carnival Knowledge; Sand in Your Navel 5:30 a.m. - Doug: Doug Gets His Ears Lowered; Doug on the Wild Side
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 at 4:00 a.m. ET/PT on TeenNick USA, and anytime you want on NickSplat on VRV AND NOW ON Nick Pluto TV!
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!
How Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob meme toys were birthed by the internet
Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge
Nickelodeon’s Creative Director of Toy Design, Freddy Tutiven, explains to The Verge!
To celebrate SpongeBob SquarePants turning 20 this year, Nickelodeon partnered with Alpha Group to release a “Masterpiece Memes” vinyl figurine collection featuring the most beloved memes birthed from the iconic show, including “Imaaagination SpongeBob” and “Handsome Squidward.” The 8-inch figurines, retailing for around $20 each, immediately sold out when they were first released, speaking to the enduring popularity of the show and how closely it mirrors the internet’s language.
“The SpongeBob memes are a top seller. It’s just that pop culture, that older audience,” says Freddy Tutiven, Nickelodeon’s creative director of toy design. Now Nickelodeon is working on the second wave of SpongeBob meme toys. Like the first wave, which memes are chosen will be determined by fan demand.
There aren’t a lot of other shows that have a natural connection to memes to the degree that SpongeBob has, but the success of the line has given Nickelodeon some ideas for other meme collections. “I think the next one, I might be talking too soon, but it might be Rugrats,” Tutiven says.
Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge
Throughout his 10 years at Nickelodeon, Tutiven has supervised the designs and development of thousands of toys, ones created both internally and through licensees. He also teaches toy design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a two-year BFA program that covers everything from traditional model making to technical engineering and product safety. Tutiven showed The Verge's Dami Lee around Nickelodeon’s Consumer Products division where she got to see concept art, one-of-a-kind prototypes, and rare art toy collections.
An anatomical Patrick sculpture from artist Jason Freeny’s Hidden Dissectibles line. Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge.
How does a toy become a collector’s item? “It’s all fan-based. A lot of pop culture artists, they gravitate to certain characters, and then they approach us, or we find them and say, ‘Hey, it’d be great to do a collaboration.’”
Inktober sketches from the design team. “We had a basket of words, where we just took out two words and then made new sketches out of that.” Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge.
A wall of concept art featuring other Viacom properties like 'Top Gun' (which gets licensed to other toy companies like Funko), 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', and 'Paw Patrol', as well as YouTube star JoJo Siwa. Siwa has an exclusive licensing deal with Nickelodeon and has sold 35 million bows alone since 2016. “What’s amazing about her, is that she does a lot of her own network. Anytime we make a product, she is a promoter of her own brand,” Tutiven says. Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge.
A traditional maquette of CatDog, which was first sculpted in clay, then created into a mold and completed with resin. Maquettes are used as “rough sketches,” in a sense, to get a feel for what a toy will look like, as well as provide the manufacturing partners with a model to work off of. “Now with technology, we don’t send these anymore. We just send the rigs and the 3D files to our partners, but it’s a great starting point.” Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge.
A maquette for a TMNT Krang figurine that never made it to production, for being too large and expensive. Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge.
An entire closet full of maquettes, featuring characters from shows like 'The Fairly OddParents', 'Dora the Explorer', 'Rugrats', 'All Grown Up!', 'Jimmy Neutron' and Rocket Power'. Photo: Dami Lee / The Verge.
Stuffed plush toys are considerably harder to make than hard figurines, because they first have to be stitched by hand. “This helps us with the consistency of our brand characters,” Tutiven says. On the left is the one-of-a-kind, handmade rough of a Raphael 'Rise of the TMNT' toy, which serves as the model to replicate for the mass-production version sold in stores. All students in the FIT toy design program have to take a sewing course.
'SpongeBob'-themed kitchen accessories: slow cookers, measuring cups, and a Krusty Krab ceramic butter dish, where the sign also doubles as a butter knife.
Eric Robles Shares New Sneak Peeks of 'Glitch Techs'
Update (7/19) - It's been a while since we've last heard any news about Glitch Techs, however, that may soon change! Glitch Techs co-creator Dan Milano has revealed that plans are already in motion to get the show to viewers' eyeballs "literally ASAP"!
Unfortunately, Glitch Techs didn't have a presence at Comic-Con this year, and "things are too quiet right now", but Dan reassures us that "happy announcements will indeed be coming"!
Although Glitch Techs doesn't have a presence at SDCC this year, Eric Robles, who created Glitch Techs with Dan, revealed that he would will walking the floor there with his Glitch Techs shirt on and he may have footage on my phone to show off if he is asked.
Update (4/7) - Although Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand aren't airing Glitch Techs just yet, Foxtel, Nickelodeon's Australia's carrier, is revealing the titles of episodes!:
Episode 1 - Age of Hinobi Pt. 1 Episode 2 - Age of Hinobi Pt. 2 Episode 3 - Tutorial Mode
Update (4/23) -The Loud House voice actor Tex Hammond (Lincoln Loud) has revealed that he'll be guest starring in an episode of Glitch Techs!
Eric Robles, the co-creator of Nickelodeon's upcoming animated series Glitch Techs, has shared some more fantastic sneak-peeks from his brand-new Nick show on his official Instagram! Check them out below!:
In additional news, Eric has announced that he's now on Twitter! Make sure to give him a follow @LegitEricRobles for more awesome Glitch Techs updates!
Update (2/24): Eric Robles has revealed in a tweet that Glitch Techs will feature a story arc!
That’s the goal because we have a story arc to tell!!!
Update (2/24): Eric Robles has revealed that the series premiere of Glitch Techs will be a 44-minute (which will air as an hour-long special) episode!:
Writing is hard. @LegitEricRobles and I are grateful to every writer who contributed ideas and persevered through the heavy distillation process on #Glitchtechs I learned so much in hindsight. pic.twitter.com/L0KkDmsgS2
Each #GlitchTechs ep went through 3 animatic stages starting with thumbnails. Screenings were followed by exhaustive self-noting sessions of every sequence, attended by writers, board artists and episode director in collaboration with producers. #ThinkTank#StrongerTogetherpic.twitter.com/GV4XU3wDlB
Guys, I'm honored to bring you a VERY SPECIAL part one of a two part Q and A, with THE CREATORS OF GLITCH TECHS! Dan Milano, and Eric Robles! Dan's will be today, Eric's will be tomorrow at the EXACT SAME TIME.
Glitch Tech's is a new series coming to Nickelodeon, which they've co-created. And t find out more about the creators, and the show themselves, I won't wait any longer. Here is my Q and A, and a definite must read, with Dan Milano.
Q: What was your start in the Animation Industry?
A: My start in the entertainment industry in general was back in 1998, co-creating and performing the puppet character “Greg the Bunny,” for New York City public access TV. This led to writing/producing short films featuring Greg and other puppets for the Independent Film Channel and adapting it as a prime time series for Fox (and later, MTV.) The experience led to many opportunities in features and television, including writing and performing for the animated series, ROBOT CHICKEN. Many of the relationships forged at RC would lead me to more animation jobs, writing and performing on shows like Sonic Boom, Star Wars Detours, King Julien and Dawn of the Croods.
Q: What was your first big Project in the Animation Industry?
A: Star Wars Detours was a huge opportunity to work on a major franchise and also involved a lot of detailed world-building. Due to my involvement on Seth Green’s Robot Chicken Star Wars specials, I’d been offered a Story Editor position on the show. Unfortunately it required leaving LA, (which I was unwilling to do,) so the job went to Brendan Hay, who was kind enough to bring me on as a writer. Season one was the greatest summer camp in the universe - going on writers retreats at Skywalker ranch with amazing people like Jane Espenson (Buffy,) Chris McCullough (Venture Bros,) Jessica Gao (Rick & Morty,) and my pals from Robot Chicken. We’d write all day in the main house and hang at night watching movies in George’s screening room. Brendan Hay presided over writers room with Seth Green and George himself would join us to hang out a few hours each day.
I cannot divulge details of the show, which got locked in the Lucasfilm vault after the Disney buyout, but it definitely had more sophistication to it than most of the trailers online were making it appear. The job required building, expanding and re-imagining aspects of the Star Wars universe, which the detail freak in me really enjoyed. I also observed the pleasures and pitfalls of filtering all those different writers’ tastes and tones (including George’s,) into something cohesive. Although I was just a writer, I paid attention to how the production team was conserving their CGI assets and tried to be sensitive to it in some of the scripts.
After the series was shelved, Brendan Hay went on to develop Dreamworks’ “The Croods” as a 2D animated series for Netflix, which was another world-building experience that expanded on the original movie. Besides being fun, it was another chance to soak up information on how a brand new series develops and manages its assets. This plus my experiences scratching and performing vocals on shows would help me greatly in prepping for my co-production with Eric Robles, which we began developing while I was still at Croods.
Q: Dan, what were your other works that fans might know you from before Glitch Techs? How did each project differ and help your development as a creator, writer, etc.??
A: The original Greg the Bunny productions (IFC, 1999-2006) co-created with director Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine) were down and dirty guerilla-style shorts that we shot, edited and directed ourselves with our friend Spencer Chinoy. There was a lot of discovery just experimenting with different ideas. Some days I’d perform the puppet and improv with people on the streets of New York, other days we shoot them against small sets that we built cheaply in my studio apartment. Just like animation, puppetry requires very deliberate use of your frame, forcing you to really make the most of compositions, backgrounds, props, music and FX to sell your illusion. Like animators, puppeteers also strive to create nuanced movements that simulate life - they just typically do it in real time.
The FOX version of Greg the Bunny, which I still can’t believe was a thing, was a multi-million dollar production (run by Modern Family’s Steven Levitan,) that exposed me to studio machinations, dealing with executives, standards and practices, unions, working with other actors and the management of a massive crew. Unlike the IFC experience, it was an extremely structured process that did not allow for much improvisation. I learned the pros and pitfalls of creative compromise; essential to healthy production but lethal if done without a clear and common goal. I really took away a sense of how I wanted to manage and inspire others going forward and of how generally brief and fleeting studio productions could be. I’d never take one for granted again.
Back in 2004, a friend and I sold a feature script to Sony Pictures that led to years of screenwriting jobs adapting and developing scripts, outlines and pitches for major studios and production companies. (A reboot of Short Circuit being one of the more prominent.) A great deal of that time was spent writing for producers like Laura Ziskin (Spider-Man 1-3,) Lauren Schuler Donner (X-Men,) Stan Winston (FX creator,) and Jenna Boyd (Nickelodeon,) all of whom drummed into me the hardest lesson, which was the importance of continually refining and rewriting your work. Writing is hard, and screenwriting without a partner can be very lonely. You get antsy, you get desperate for your project to move to the next stage and you loathe sitting back down to rewrite the same script yet again — but until you find the very heart of a story, the reason you are telling it, the reason others will connect with it - you will not have a story worthy of being green-lit. Time and again, the frustration I felt at being forced to rewrite was usually overshadowed by the pride I felt upon completing superior and more detailed versions of each script.
In 2010 MTV bought a spinoff series of Greg the Bunny called, “Warren the Ape,” which was about another puppet character (again performed by me,) who was trying to put his TV career back together while through rehab. The show was largely improvisational, relying on improv acting and editing to shape the stories. Although there were times I wished we’d had more structure, there was nothing like the energy and enthusiasm that came from active, creative collaboration— something I was really missing during the long, solitary process of feature writing. I knew I wanted to work with other artists and to share in the creative process.
This led me to work with friends like Seth Green and Rachel Bloom on a pilot for Adult Swim called “Team Unicorn,” with folks like Brendan Hay on “Star Wars Detours” and “Dawn of the Croods,” and then with this guy Eric Robles on an animated adaptation of a video game called “Monkey Quest,” for Nickelodeon.
Q: How did the idea of Glitch Techs come to be, how did it develop into what it is now?
A: I’d already been working with Eric Robles on another project when he asked me for some feedback on the initial idea he’d had of two friends working a Tech Support job where they go up against real-life video game characters. He was definitely asking the right person, because my whole life I’ve been an obsessed fan (props, cosplay, RPGs) of supernatural comedies like Ghostbusters — so I’d already amassed half a lifetime’s worth of ideas for just that kind of project. After responding with about twelve or so single-spaced pages of notes and suggestions, Eric invited me to partner with him on developing the idea.
The high concept show premise obviously had great commercial appeal, but I’d say the majority of our work in development was to elevate it beyond that. We talked a lot about the shows and movies we loved growing up - how they made us feel and why we still held onto those feelings. We wanted the Glitch Tech world to feel real and attainable to kids. For our characters to feel like people they already knew, people they saw every day. The show needed to be grounded in a plausible reality, so its fantastic elements would seem all the more special. And believe me when I say we both revere animation in all its forms, but I have to admit, there were days when we dared to say the show needed to feel like more than just a “cartoon.”
We brought on collaborators we felt had strengths and skillsets well beyond our own. Our supervising director Ian Graham (a hardcore gamer,) had an amazing eye for board talent and a long history on amazing series such as Avatar the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. He and our astounding lead designer Scott Kikuta already had experience in the gaming industries, but we also wanted a mix of directors, artists and designers with traditional and gaming backgrounds. For writing, I called in every favor I could to put together a think tank containing some amazing collaborators — I don’t think I can say their names until Nickelodeon does an official press release but I’m talking about people who’d already created their own amazing shows like “The Guild,” “Legend of Neil,” “Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin,” “Gortimer Gibbons, Life on Normal Street,” etc. Plus one of the most well-loved programmers/developers in the gaming culture, who has shipped more than 120 games and worked on every platform since the original GameBoy.
Q: Can you give us any potential insight into the plot of the show? Maybe if there are any particular episodes to watch out for without saying anything specific??
A: Since I unfortunately can’t say any more right now on what the show actually is (Nickelodeon has not yet made any kind of official press annoucnement,) I can at least tell you what the show is not. Thanks to the very thoughtful work of everyone involved, literally from the network executive in charge (Megan Casey) down to every one of our amazing production assistants, Glitch Techs is not a show about mindless, monster-of-the-week adventures. It is not about pandering to, or disrespecting nerd culture, gamer culture or the intelligence of its audience. It is not about relying on nostalgia to form a bond with the audience. Glitch Techs is a love letter to both the gaming culture and the movies and shows we all loved growing up, with characters whom many of our collaborators wished they could have had as television role models growing up. Its also definitely not boring. :) You probably can't say much about this next part, but the news broke that Glitch Techs Season 2 had halted production. News sites covered it and the potential it could bring. But is it really as bad as it's been made out to be??
The truth is that situations like these are unfortunately very common in animation, which makes us grateful that we’d had time to develop any second season content (and man do we have some amazing stuff finished already.) From what I saw, the coverage was pretty fair and I’m aligned with Eric Robles and artists like Phil Jacobsen, who have responded to it all in their statements online - we’re genuinely grateful to Nickelodeon for every opportunity we have been given. Our understanding is that the show will get an enthusiastic launch and we will just need to stand on the twenty episodes we’ve created to see if it connects with its audience. Of course none of us can predict the future but I can tell you that I think I speak for everyone involved when I say that Eric and I have never been prouder of anything we have worked on. We can literally do no better, so we are more than happy to rest the fate of the series on these twenty shows.
Q: When news broke about Glitch Techs production halt, an outcry of support came from Animation fans, including when things like the intro were uploaded and shown. How does it make you feel to see such an outcry of support and hope for this series success, when it hasn't even aired an episode yet??
A: It honestly moves me to tears. Losing the crew so suddenly was obviously very emotional. They were also the only people besides Eric, myself and a few Nickelodeon insiders to know this project existed at all. Next only to our families it has been the sole focus of four years of hard, precision work. To see the work embraced so passionately by fans, the exact people we set out to impress in the first place, was frankly just what we needed. Even a good deal of the negative comments were smart and justifiably cynical. I was proud of the artists who politely spoke up to discourse with fans and the fact that so many people seem to thirst for original (non-licensed,) ideas in the marketplace.
As for the leak, even though I’m a fanboy at heart I have to put on my producer cap and say I honestly can’t encourage that kind of thing. It really is playing with fire. I am however deeply honored at the response its gotten. An original IP, with zero awareness in the marketplace being passed around for no reason other than its spirit and quality validates our assumption that people want a show like this in the world as much as we do. And believe me when I say, they haven’t even yet scratched the surface of what the show has in store for them.
Q: What mark do you hope that Glitch Techs leaves on Nickelodeon and the people who watch it?
A: With Nickelodeon and the industry, I hope it leaves the mark that original IP can be just as powerful if not more than a recognizable brand. That it examples what can be accomplished if you tear down the walls both within the production and studio to be inclusive and work together as a whole. I hope it cements the idea that animated shows can be action-packed without sacrificing character, sophisticated without being dark, earnest without being corny and intelligent without losing younger audiences.
With the people watching I hope Glitch Techs makes them feel understood, appreciated, and above all, entertained. We had the time of our lives making it and it’d be a shame if that joy did not translate through to the audience.
Q: Not a question but I really thank you for holding this Q and A with me, it means a lot to talk to people like yourselves, you give a ton of insight and I know people will appreciate it!
A: Thank you so much for asking. We appreciate your interest and in getting the word out for us. Cable is a very insular platform to be on these days. We can only hope enough people hear about us and become willing to come looking for us when the time comes. If not, it wont be for a lack of trying. :)
Best to you, Dan Milano
This was an honor and privilege for me to get to do you guys. I hope you give it the love it deserves, just like Glitch Techs deserves as well. Share it around, comment your thoughts, and as always, thank you guys so much for your support here and on Twitter, for making stuff like this possible, you're all awesome.
Tomorrow, the Q and A continues with the other creative half of the series, Eric Robles!!
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If you would have told me five years ago I'd be doing a Q and A with the creator of Fanboy and Chum Chum, I'd think you were insane... turns out, you aren't, because here it is, my second part of the Glitch Techs Q and A, with Eric Robles!
We talk about his start, Fanboy and Chum Chum and some of the more prominent rumors about the show, and so much more about Glitch Techs, it's a MUST READ, so I hope you take the time to do so. Let's get right into it!
Q: What was your start in the Animation Industry?
A: As a kid all I ever dreamed about was working in animation. As I became a teenager I finally realized there was no way my parents could afford to send me to art college, so I decided to enroll myself in community college and study Law Enforcement. But even during the two years I was taking classes, I never stopped sketching and drawing. So, one day my instructor Joe Dean (a police officer in Burbank, CA) complimented my drawings and asked me why I was majoring in law enforcement when I had such a skill for drawing. I told him I didn’t think I was good enough and that I really had no idea how anybody even got work in animation, so he was nice enough to introduce me to his sister-in-law, who turned out to be the President of Graz Entertainment, the animation studio that then made animated series like the original 90’s X Men , The Tick, Capcom’s Street Fighter and more! She had her people take a look at one of my sketch books and the next thing I knew they offered me my first internship. I was so thankful for the opportunity that I made a vow to myself to commit myself to the work and never stop drawing so that I could always be improving. Because I was always at the office and leaving my work on my boss’ desk for him to see, it actually only took a few weeks before I managed to get hired on full time as a character designer and clean up artist for all those amazing shows.
Q: The first big project we saw from you Eric was Fanboy and Chum Chum. How did the idea for that show develop and come to be??
A: At the time I was working for Nickelodeon on a show created by Carlos Ramos called The X’s. One day I received a call from Fred Seibert of Frederator Studios. He had heard of my work and wanted to meet with me. After a wonderful lunch meeting he asked if I would pitch a show to his shorts program. I was honored but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pitch so I went home and asked myself what type of cartoon I would I love to create with such a great opportunity like this. I wrote a list of all the things I loved about being a kid — Watching cartoons, reruns of the old live action Batman series, hanging out with my friends at the local convenient store, playing arcade games and drinking sugary, frozen beverages all day. So, the initial ideas for Fanboy & Chum Chum were really just built in celebration of all those fun, silly things I loved about being a kid. With all that in mind I began to sketch and write about these kids that lived on their own and loved wearing their Halloween costumes all year round. Once you have the characters you just start to unleash them in all kinds of crazy adventures.
Q: How did you pitch Fanboy and Chum Chum to Nickelodeon? There has been a long standing rumor that they actually chose it for their network over a fledgeling Adventure Time, is there any truth to that?
A: Pitches are done visually so I storyboarded a short pitch of the characters to Frederator, who already had a deal with Nickelodeon that year to produce 39 shorts. Thankfully, my idea was one of the lucky ones to have gotten chosen.
The rumor comes from the fact that the pitch for Adventure Time was in the same batch of ideas, and Nickelodeon passed on it. Looking back, I truly believe it was the best thing that could have happened for both shows. Obviously, I’m happy with how things went for Fanboy and I believe that if things hadn’t gone the way they did for Adventure Time, it might have not turned out to be the same show everyone knows and loves today. It was also so huge for Cartoon Network, who were looking for a new network identity at the time. Who knows what changes they would have made if the success of Adventure Time hadn’t helped them define such a major part of their brand?
Q: Fanboy and Chum Chum of course got some positive reception, but it also did get a lot of negativity towards it for a number of reasons. Some quite brutal, though some constructive criticism. Did you ever see any of that and if so, how did you take it?
A: I’m guessing most of the negative responses came from teens and adults with internet access who wanted a much different kind of show from Nickelodeon than the one we were making. While obviously I would have loved for all ages to have gotten on board with the show, all that really mattered to me was what the kids thought. Fanboy and Chum Chum premiered with a total of 5.8 million viewers and gained a strong following amongst kids 2 to 11 years of age. As far as I knew our weekly ratings we were doing great and Nickelodeon was happy enough to give us a second season. I specifically remember our first Comic Con with the show and the amount of kids that showed up for the Q&A session and signing. You have to remember, the show was about that same little kid I used to be at their age. Fanboy was trying to be on their level and as far as I’m concerned it succeeded at that. You know, as professional artists we are sometimes so disconnected from the fans. But when you are able to see all the positivity and joy you can bring to kids with your silly cartoon, its all you really hold onto. The negativity just fades away.
Q: What are some things you are most proud if with Fanboy and Chum Chum in the end?
A: There are so many things I am proud of with Fanboy and Chum Chum. There were so many challenges the production had to overcome. I’d set out with the goal of creating a real classic Looney Toons squash and stretch look, which was extremely ambitious for CG animation. I’m proud of my amazing crew, who figured ways to accomplish this style without the CG puppet rigs constantly breaking which was a seriously big deal back in those days. It was one of so many things people told us ‘couldn’t be done’ that we ended up finding clever ways of doing. I’m proud the show aired domestically and internationally, managing to sell toys, books, backpacks etc. It won 5 Emmy awards including one for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program. And coming up on TEN years since the show first premiered, I’m not only proud but truly happy that I get so many messages on social media from fans who enjoyed the show when they were kids and still do today.
Q: What was the interim between Fanboy and Chum Chum and Glitch Techs like? What were you doing projects wise? Anything of note??
A: After Fanboy and Chum Chum I was put on an Overall Deal at Nickelodeon, which means I would either help to develop current projects they needed help with, or by developing my own original ideas. One of the projects I was asked to help with was a game property that Nickelodeon owned called ”Monkey Quest.” It already had a pretty decent fan base online so I spent a few months working on it and once I pitched my idea on what a story would be, they liked it and asked me to start interviewing screenwriters to develop the script. This is where I first met Dan Milano, who would become my creative partner on Glitch Techs. Dan was working over at Dreamworks TV on King Julien and Dawn of The Croods at the time but was available to freelance on Monkey Quest with me. Right from the get I knew Dan and I would make a great team. We finished each others sentences and he could look at all my doodles and make sense of the stories I was trying to tell. We developed the project for about six months and it was coming out fantastic, but in that time Nickelodeon let Dan and I know the hype on the game was declining and they didn’t feel as confident about producing a show for it anymore.
As Dan continued with his other work for the time being, the studio asked me to focus on developing an original short for them. At the time these shorts weren’t really meant as series pitches, but as experimental bumpers you might possibly see in-between commercials or online. As I began work on a few ideas, an executive at Nickelodeon named Mary Harrington saw a sketch I’d done of two Zombie Brothers. After pitching her and Jenna Boyd the head of Development the idea, we produced it as my first stop motion short with Screen Novelties.
When that was completed, I spent a few months developing more original ideas for series, including two very cool Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles spin offs that have never seen the light of day, mostly because as they were being developed I also started working on an idea about these two blue-collar game technicians who secretly fought video game monsters that spawned from faulty game consoles...
Q: How did the idea of Glitch Techs come to be, how did it develop into what it is now, and was pitching it to Nickelodeon different from how Fanboy and Chum Chum was pitched??
A: Just like back at Graz Entertainment, I was always drawing, night and day. I’d fill cardboard boxes with sketches and doodles, then store them away and start on the next box. Each time I’d write “Box of Ideas,” on the side and sometimes friends who visited my office would shuffle through it while we hung out. Well one evening, Russell Hicks, the head of the studio, stopped by my office. He’d often come around if he was working late to see who was still in the studio and —surprise— he almost always found me there. Anyway, he asked to dig through the box a bit and he dug up a storyboard that I had sketched up for Glitch Techs. He asked me to pitch it to him, so I did, right there in the moment. Thankfully he loved it and asked me to stop whatever else I was doing to focus on the idea. It was an entirely different situation than how Fanboy got started, showing there is no one way to pitch a show, but the key to both of them was that they were based on ideas I’d been constantly working on and developing. You just never know when the perfect opportunity will strike so you should always be developing your ideas because when that opportunity finally happens, you want to be ready.
Q: How would you tell fans that Glitch Techs is different from your previous works, like Fanboy and Chum Chum?
A: Glitch Techs is very different. Fanboy was a silly, eleven minute comedy with what I call a ‘reset button,’ meaning that no matter what happened in those eleven minute adventures, (even if you blew up the planet,) every thing would be back to normal by the start of the next episode. With Glitch Techs, we really wanted to engage the audience in a different way. I wanted to go back to my action adventure roots and tell twenty-two minute stories that were more meaningful, with plenty of character and story growth throughout the series.
Q: Can you give us any potential insight into the plot of the show? Maybe if there are any particular episodes to watch out for without saying anything specific??
A: Oh man this is gonna be hard. There is so much. There is so much that nearly every episode brings something new that expands the world a bit. The pilot is very much an origin story that builds up the main characters. By the fourth show we’re really rolling along but just when you think you know what’s coming we change things up quite a bit. We have an episode where the Techs meet an outsider who has a completely different view of what glitches are then they do, which is definitely one to look for. We also pull styles and moods from various video games giving so many of them a different flavor. Its definitely not a formula show. Seeing one does not mean you have seen them all, just ask the poor folks doing our art, our music or our effects - every episode is like another little movie they’ve got to create fresh material for. Thankfully, they love it as much as we do and hopefully as much as you guys will. Sorry we can’t give more detail, we need to respect the Network (and the audience!) and wait for now.
Q: When news broke about Glitch Techs production halt, an outcry of support came from Animation fans, including when things like the intro were uploaded and shown. How does it make you feel to see such an outcry of support and hope for this series success, when it hasn't even aired an episode yet??
A: I think Dan and I could write a book on our last four years of trying to get Glitch Techs produced. I can’t stress enough how unique it is to have an original story and character driven show these days, when most studios are only focusing on remakes form their own vaults or from other established properties. We are so grateful to Nickelodeon. The truth is, I actually don’t have any problem with licensed projects, I love so many of these franchises and wouldn’t mind working on some myself. But what I don’t like is the imbalance of it all. That there seem to be ten of them for every one of us.
So when our season two was halted to make room for more pre existing IP, the support that people online showed for the show and for our crew was overwhelming to say the least. Dan and I were moved to know people decided to own Glitch Techs for themselves, which is exactly what we’ve always wanted. We have worked so hard to make the most of this opportunity we were given and are so grateful to partners like Supervising Producer Ian Graham and Art Director Scott Kikuta for gathering the amazing talent they found for this project.
Q: What mark do you hope that Glitch Techs leaves on Nickelodeon and the people who watch it?
A: We’d love to be a show that helps remind studios that original IPs are what audiences crave more than anything. Its great to revisit something that is already loved but what is better than the kind of love you develop for something you discover the FIRST TIME? We hope we leave that kind of mark with people. New discoveries and adventures that open the imaginations of kids and adults alike with brand new characters, worlds and stories they can hopefully invest in, love and relate to.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE Q AND A! I hope you guys loved it, if you did please like, share, and comment these around, they're full of so much info and you really learn a lot about the creators. I can't thank Dan and Eric enough for giving me this time, they're amazing guys, and I really hope you guys give Glitch Techs a chance because it sounds SO PROMISING.
Thank you all so much for reading, and your support to make this kind of stuff happen, and here's to when Glitch Techs comes out, cause I'm HYPED for it!
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Glitch Techs co-creator Dan Milano has share a story blueprint from the wall of the Glitch Techs writers room!:
RESPECT THE TECH! - High Five
When game consoles “glitch” and release video game creatures into your town, the Hinobi company detects the problem and dispatches the GLITCH TECHS! Suited up with an arsenal of fantastic gamer gear, their job is to wrangle the pests and “reformat” any witnesses!
Glitch Techs is an adventure-comedy following two newly recruited kids as they battle video game monsters that come to life in the real world. The series comes from Eric Robles (Fanboy & Chum Chum, The X's, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan) and Dan Milano (Greg the Bunny, Warren the Ape), both hailing from Nickelodeon's Artist Collective, an internal artist-led development program, and is being produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, Calif.
Glitch Techs will boast a multi-ethnic cast, including a Muslim-American female character who will wear a hijab. At a industry panel held late last year, the co-creators explained that when they were developing Glitch Techs, they “recognized the need to incorporate characters reflective of the viewing audience, whether they are background characters or main characters,” and revealed that they had worked with MPAC (Muslim Public Affairs Council) to “figure out how to accurately display an authenticity, even down to little behaviors.” Dan Milano further elaborated, “Even though we’re an animated show and they are trying to catch creatures, we want small things. We want to know that a stray hair came out of that hijab, and she had to tuck it behind her ear because that’s a human moment, that’s a practical moment, from everyday life.”
It was recently announced that Emmy-award winning actor Bryton James (Winx Club, The Young and the Restless) will be voicing a character in Nickelodeon Glitch Techs.
Glitch Techs is set to premiere during 2019 on Nickelodeon USA.
Are you excited for Glitch Techs? Let me know in the comments below!
COWABUNGA! The National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) unveiled a bunch of new retro-themed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2019!
Turtles in Time
Following up on our first arcade game-based TMNT figures, NECA now turns to the second Turtles game! For gamers who have fond memories of playing Turtles in Time on the Super Nintendo back in the day, this reveal is even more Turtley Awesome.
From the classic 1990s Turtles in Time video game, NECA are excited to offer a new line-up of 7” scale action figures. Series 1 includes Donatello, Leonardo, Slash, and a Foot Soldier. Donatello, Leonardo and Foot Soldier come with signature weapons and a brand new hoverboard with display stand that can be used for even more poses. The evil mutant turtle Slash comes with sword accessory.
All feature special deco that recreates the pixilated look of the video game and come in individual window boxes with graphics from the original arcade cabinet. This will allow for collectors to pose the figures in a variety of awesome ways when putting these new TMNT figures on display.
The TMNT: Turtles in Time figures (Item Number: 54104) will ship in Nov. 2019, and will be available only at Mom & Pop stores and Specialty stores, according to NECA. Note that this is just Series 1 of the set, meaning Mike and Raph could be on the way. Check out pics of the collection below!
Retro Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In the tubular world of action figures, nostalgia rules, dude. And who doesn't love the classic 1980s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon? Over at the NECA Toys booth at Comic-Con, the collectible company has plenty of TMNT figures for con-goers to check out. However, the company also gave fans a close-up look at their new collection, based on the the '80s cartoon.
However, unlike those TMNT toys you remember from the past, these soon to be released figures have more articulation, better sculpts, detailed paint jobs, and way more cowabunga-ness. From Raphael to Leatherhead, Series 1-4 of this line has plenty of your favorites so you can relive your childhood.
Series 1 of this collection is already in stores, sold exclusively at Target in 2-packs. Here's who has been released so far:
All of the packs come with two figures, and it contains accessories as well, like extra hands, weapons, and pizza slices. The Turtles are also getting released with new colors.
Below, you'll see figures from the upcoming TMNT Cartoon series from NECA that will be available exclusively at Target, and which are available to see for yourself at San Diego Comic-Con. Series 2 will be available in the fall and Series 3 and 4 will arrive in 2020.
Characters on display were:
Casey Jones April O’Neil Assorted Foot Soldiers Bebop Rocksteady Leonardo Donatello Raphael Michelangelo Metal Head Leatherhead Roadkill Rodney Shredder Krang Robot Unicycle Turtles in Time
Learn to make PURPLE FLURP from Jimmy Neutron! | Feast Of Fiction
This deliciously healthy Purple Flurp will make your BRAIN BLAST!
We have Llamas in our Patreon! Just kidding, but we have other perks that even Carl would enjoy. Be sure to check it out below. https://www.patreon.com/feastoffiction
INGREDIENTS: (makes 4 servings) 1 lb fresh Concord grapes (or another black grape) 1/2 cup water juice of 1/2 lemon 1 Tbsp. cane sugar 1 liter sparkling water ice fresh mint for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
Wash the grapes and put them in a pot with the water and lemon juice.
Bring the pot to a simmer smashing the grapes with the back of a large spoon as they cook.
Simmer for about 20 minutes until the grapes have begun to soften.
Add the cane sugar, stir until dissolved, and remove from heat. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until completely blended. Pass the puree through a mesh strainer pushing with a spoon to get the juice through.
Discard the pulp. Refrigerate the grape syrup until cold. To serve, add ice to a glass and fill with half grape syrup and half sparking water. Garnish with mint leaves.
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 AND NOW ON Nick Pluto TV!
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!
Canada - YTV is set to launch Nickelodeon's reimagined iconic family game show, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader on Friday 9th August 2019 at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT)! Hosted by John Cena, who also serves as executive producer, the new series follows the original premise of kids helping adult contestants put their knowledge to the test with questions taken directly from an elementary school curriculum.
Joining Cena this season is a rotating cast of 12 brainy fifth graders: Amira from Orlando, Fla.; Chloe from Queens, N.Y.; Colin from Dallas; Cooper from Porter Ranch, Calif.; Isabella from St. Cloud, Fla.; Jamir from Atlanta; Mia from New Orleans; Nick from Broomall, Pa.; Patrick from Lehigh Valley, Pa.; Quinne from Los Angeles; Saya from Peachtree City, Ga.; and Tristan from Aurora, Ill.
In an all-new format that places kids in the center of the action, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader contestants must revisit the classroom to answer six questions on a variety of subjects from the first through fourth grade, before moving on to the final round where they must race against the clock to answer five questions taken from the fifth grade. Each time the contestants answer questions correctly, their bank increases with a possible winning of $100,000. Newly-added elements to the show include an additional “cheat” option and new ways contestants can enlist the help of their grade-school classmates.
Nickelodeon's reimagined iconic family game show, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Gradermade its debut on Nick in the U.S. on Monday, June 10, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT), where it became a instant ratings hit, with more than one million total viewers tuning in for its debut. The series also handily won the day with kids, ranking as the number-one program on cable with Kids 2-11 (2.3/540K, +21% vs prior 4 weeks) and Kids 6-11 (2.3/343K, +10%). Additionally, the broad appeal of the series landed the premiere in the top spot for co-viewing on ad-supported TV for the day, and posted double-digit year-over-year and prior 4 weeks gains with Adults 18-49 (+33%).
Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader is part of the programming strategy of new Nickelodeon president Brian Robbins for a content slate, which focuses on co-viewing among kids and parents. Also falling in that category are new British family game show The Crystal Maze, and All That, Nick’s new sketch-comedy series revival which also premiered in June on Nick USA, and is slated to debut on YTV this fall.
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader is executive produced by Mark Burnett, Chairman of Worldwide Television, MGM (Survivor, The Voice) and Barry Poznick, President, Unscripted Television, MGM (Beat Shazam, The World's Best). Production of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader for Nickelodeon is overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content.
Online at YTV.com, viewers can find out more about Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader.
SNEAK PEEK, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grade | YTV
You can get a sneak peek of YTV's NEW SERIES "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" hosted by John Cena!
You can catch Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader this August! on YTV!
About MGM Television:
MGM Television is an award-winning, leading producer and global distributor of premium content for television and digital platforms, with distribution rights to original productions and a robust catalogue of television episodes and feature film titles including such premiere entertainment franchises as James Bond, Rocky, Stargate and The Hobbit trilogy. Current scripted and unscripted projects include Fargo (FX); Vikings (HISTORY); The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu); Get Shorty (EPIX); Condor (AT&T AUDIENCE Network); The Voice (NBC); Survivor (CBS); Shark Tank (ABC); TKO: Total Knock Out (CBS); The Contender (EPIX); Beat Shazam (FOX); and LUCA Underground (The El Rey Network); and through its distribution entity, Orion TV Productions, the syndicated daytime courtroom series Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court and Couples Court with The Cutlers. In addition, MGM owns Evolution Media, producers of The Real Housewives of Orange County, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vander pump Rules, and Botched (E!); and Big Fish Entertainment, producers of A&E’s Live PD, the Black Ink Crew franchise for VH1, Live PD Presents: Women on Patrol for Lifetime and Hustle & Soul for WE TV. MGM’s television programming regularly airs in more than 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.
About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 40th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
About YTV
Celebrating over 25 years on the air, since its launch in 1988, YTV features high quality programming from entertaining live-action comedies and reality series for kids and their families, to night time drama for teens. With hosted dayparts such as the popular after-school block The Zone and weekend movies for the entire family in Big Fun Movies, there are plenty of entertaining options for viewers of all ages. For more information about YTV, please visit www.ytv.com.
Originally published: Wednesday, July 17, 2019.Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Canada and Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader News and Highlights!
Originally published: Saturday, July 20, 2019.Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and JoJo Siwa News and Highlights!
Gary’s Top 20 Moments! 🐌 #SpongeBobSaturdays | SpongeBob SquarePants Official
Artist, philosopher…snail! Nick's celebrating Gary by counting down his top 20 moments as a sponge’s best friend! Did they snail it or fail it with this list? Comment below with your favorite Gary moment!
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!
Motivational Life Quotes from Annie LeBlanc, Jace Norman, JoJo Siwa & More! | Nick
Feel inspired with these moments from Henry Danger, JoJo Siwa, Annie LeBlanc on Cousins for Life, Drake & Josh, School of Rock, The Thundermans, iCarly, Victorious and more! These heartfelt moments include BFF bonding between Henry (Jace Norman) and Jasper (Sean Ryan Fox), family feel-good moments from Max (Jack Griffo) and Phoebe (Kira Kosarin) and moments of pure positivity from Ariana Grande! Which moment gives you the most feels? Let me know in the comments below! And catch more inspiration on Nickelodeon!
Do you have an inspirational quote you live by? Drop it in the comments below! ✨
