Host of new films and series coming from Nickelodeon Animation build on popular franchises; ‘Transformers: Earthspark,’ ‘Blue’s Big City Adventure’ and a brand-new ‘Dora the Explorer’ bolsters streamer’s original kids and family programming.
Paramount+ has announced an extensive slate of exclusive animated original kids and family programming including several new movies and series produced by Nickelodeon Animation. Additionally, with iCARLY’s success last year, the streamer plans to further serve the Young Adult (13-34) audience with a slate of forthcoming Y/A original movies and series. The announcements were made by Brian Robbins, Chief Content Officer, Movies and Kids & Family for Paramount+, during the ViacomCBS Investors Event.
“As we’ve known with Nickelodeon’s long-standing success, the kids and family audience is incredibly loyal, and we see that on Paramount+ as well, with kids and family ranking as one of the strongest genres on the service in terms of both engagement and subscriber acquisition,” commented Robbins. “So, as they stay for our shows and look for even more of them, we’re doubling down on giving them what they want by expanding the universes of the characters they love the best.”
“Our Kids and Family content is not only bringing young audiences to Paramount+ but it’s also a key component in retaining our existing subscriber base and expanding their viewership habits,” added Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer, ViacomCBS Streaming. “Paramount+ is a service for the whole household and we’re now seeing nearly half of our subscribers engaging with kids and family content on the service, a double-digit gain over last year.”
Franchise-expanding titles for Paramount+ in animation include:
SpongeBob Squarepants:
Following the success of Kamp Koral on Paramount+ and The Patrick Star Show (Season 1 coming to Paramount+) on Nickelodeon, the SpongeBob universe is expanding to the service with three brand-new movies based on the show’s original characters, with the first dropping in 2023. In addition, a fourth SpongeBob release from Nickelodeon Animation is currently in development for theatrical release.
Transformers:
Co-produced by Nickelodeon Animation and Hasbro’s Entertainment One (eOne), the series, Transformers: Earthspark (coming to Paramount+ and Nickelodeon), follows a new species of Transformers that must find its place and purpose among Autobots, Decepticons, and the human family who adopts them. A previously announced Untitled Animated Transformers film, with Josh Cooley attached to direct, will debut in theaters on July 19, 2024 for Paramount Animation and eOne, Hasbro’s entertainment studio.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:
A new era of TMNT is coming in 2023 with an animated take on the Turtles coming to theaters, produced by Point Grey Pictures’ Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and directed by Jeff Rowe. Nickelodeon Animation will fast follow that film with a series of exclusive movies for Paramount+ beginning in 2023, each centering on one of the property’s storied villains in never-before-told tales.
Franchise-Expanding titles in preschool animation:
Dora The Explorer:
The preschool return of the popular Latina heroine in an all-new CG-animated series produced by Nickelodeon Animation, and featuring the beloved characters, plus key modernization to the storytelling, debuts in 2023.
Blue’s Big City Adventure:
The animation/live-action hybrid movie spinoff from the popular Blue’s Clues & You! franchise, is set to premiere later this year and follows host Josh and Blue as they head to New York City, with the help of Steve and Joe, to audition for a big Broadway musical. The movie is being produced by Nickelodeon Animation.
Source: Nickelodeon/Paramount+
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
