Nickelodeon today announced its first-ever international development slate, a raft of five new animated projects being co-developed in partnership with some of the world’s leading animation producers and co-creators. Several of the titles represent Nickelodeon International’s new creative process, which involves delivering a number of shorts with a long-form series bible and pilot script.
The first properties in development are Hiro, Oasis, Bacon and Bunk, Super Charlie and Super Lauren and Noodles! When completed, the shorts will be made available to Nickelodeon’s channels and broadcast partners around the world.
Inspired by Japanese themes, Hiro is created by Italy’s Alessandro Ferrari and consists of five one-minute shorts following the comical adventures of a naughty snowboarder desperate to get to the bottom of the run without getting caught by the Ranger.
Oasis is described as ‘a non-verbal animated romp following the endless attempt of five squash-and-stretch characters as they tirelessly search for their dream oasis in the dust and expanse of a great desert.’ Fennic the Ferret, Hacithe Hyena, Voo the vulture and his offspring, Boogie and Woogie, all co-exist in a delicate love-hate balance as they compete to reach utopia. The seven one-minute shorts are created by Tuba Ent. in Korea and co-produced by Nickelodeon, France’s TF1 and TeamTo.
Bacon and Bunk was initially piloted out of Nickelodeon in the U.S. and will be further developed by Nickelodeon International with new concepts and storylines that follow two billy goats who share an apartment in a flop house shaped like a sardine can. The property is created by Luke Brookshier and Debbie Cone, and co-developed with long-time partners Nickelodeon, YTV and TFI.
Sibling rivalry is at the centre of Super Charlie and Super Lauren, which is also being expanded from an existing pilot. Developed with the U.K.’s Brothers McLeod, the series aims to offer a funny and unique look at a brother and sister often at war with each other and with the world at large.
Based on a comic-book, Noodles! follows the adventures of a feisty young girl and her friends’a giant panda, a Vietnamese potbellied pig, a flightless dragon and a wannabe ninja monkey’as they try and live like everyday kids. The concept is co-created by S’verine Gauhtier, Thomas Labourot and Christian Lerolle and is being developed in partnership with TV Loonland.
‘Nick is really proud of this development slate as it represents the voice and vision from creators around the globe and continues to promote Nick International’s ongoing mission to find the kid voice lurking in all of us,’ says Nina Hahn, VP of development for Nickelodeon International.
In addition to the five projects detailed today, Nickelodeon previously announced other individual projects to be developed with international partners. These include DOMO-kun, developed with The Domo Production Committee, an affiliate of Japanese television station NHK, and produced by by Media International Corp.; and Akihabara@deep, a co-production of Polygon Pictures based on the manga by Ira Ishida.
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