Thursday, November 14, 2019

Netflix and Nickelodeon Form Multi-Year Output Deal to Produce Original Animated Films and Series

Original Netflix and Nickelodeon Press Release:

NETFLIX AND NICKELODEON FORM MULTI-YEAR OUTPUT DEAL TO PRODUCE ORIGINAL ANIMATED FILMS AND SERIES
FOR KIDS & FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD


Hollywood, Calif. - November 13, 2019 - Netflix and Nickelodeon today announced that they have formed a new, multi-year output deal to produce original animated feature films and television series - based both on the Nickelodeon library of characters as well as all-new IP - for kids and families around the world. This marks an expansion of the existing relationship between the companies, which has already brought several popular titles to Netflix, including animated specials Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling and Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus. Also forthcoming are specials based on The Loud House and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

“Nickelodeon has generated scores of characters that kids love, and we look forward to telling wholly original stories that re-imagine and expand on the worlds they inhabit,” said Netflix vice president of original animation, Melissa Cobb. “We’re thrilled to continue collaborating with Brian Robbins, Ramsey Naito, and the creative team at Nickelodeon in new ways as we look to find fresh voices and bring bold stories to our global audience on Netflix.”

“Nickelodeon’s next step forward is to keep expanding beyond linear platforms, and our broader content partnership with Netflix is a key path toward that goal,” said Brian Robbins, President, Nickelodeon.

He added, “The Nickelodeon Animation Studio is home to the world-class artists and storytellers behind some of the most iconic characters and shows ever made, and our head of Animation, Ramsey Naito, has been building on that legacy over the past year by ramping up development and production exponentially. The ideas and work at our Studio are flowing, and we can’t wait to work with Melissa and the Netflix team on a premium slate of original animated content for kids and families around the world.”

Netflix Animation supports the global community of storytellers across all genres, tones, and techniques. The upcoming 2019 animated slate includes family animated feature film Klaus from Sergio Pablos (streaming November 15), kids animated series Dino Girl Gauko from Japan (streaming November 22), adult animated film I Lost My Body from Jérémy Clapin (streaming November 29), and Fast & Furious Spy Racers from DreamWorks (streaming December 26), among others.

About Netflix

Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with 158 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

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).

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Netflix is also in the midst of producing a live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon's beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The news follows Netflix recently adding library Nickelodeon programming to the service, including Victorious and Sam & Cat. In addition to library programming, Netflix also acquired the rights to Nickelodeon's Pinky Malinky, and launched it exclusively on the platform earlier this year.

From The New York Times:

‘SpongeBob’ Spinoff Highlights Netflix-Nickelodeon Deal

Nickelodeon will create and produce original animated content based on its library of characters for the streaming service.

LOS ANGELES — Nickelodeon will make a “SpongeBob SquarePants” spinoff for Netflix as part of a multiyear content-production deal that reflects the pressure on Netflix to fortify itself against new streaming competition, notably Disney Plus.

Netflix and Nickelodeon announced a deal on Wednesday for Nickelodeon to create and produce original animated feature films and television series based on Nickelodeon’s library of characters. Shows based on completely new characters are also part of the agreement. The companies gave no specifics on characters, the number of shows or how many years.

But the partnership involves a music-based project centered on Squidward, the malcontent anthropomorphic octopus on “SpongeBob SquarePants,” according to two people briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss still private details. The people said the overall deal was worth more than $200 million to Nickelodeon.

Disney Plus, Disney’s streaming service, became available on Tuesday. In a statement on Wednesday, Disney said 10 million people had signed up for the service, surpassing analyst expectations.

As the so-called streaming wars heat up, children’s programming has become one of the most competitive fronts. Netflix has ramped up production of cartoons, children’s sitcoms and animated movies, in part to compensate for Disney content that is leaving the service. Disney Plus will be the streaming home for everything Disney, Pixar, Marvel, “Star Wars” and National Geographic. HBO Max, the coming app from WarnerMedia, announced a deal with “Sesame Street” last month that will bring, for the first time, most of the show’s five-decade library to streaming: more than 4,500 episodes.

The deal announced on Wednesday reflects a strategic shift at Nickelodeon and its owner, Viacom, in general. Rather than build a streaming service of its own — and with its cable networks in decline because of cord cutting — Viacom has decided to become a kind of Hollywood arms dealer, producing content for whatever streaming service can pay the most. MTV, also owned by Viacom, has been making shows for online buyers, including a reboot of “The Real World” for Facebook.

“Nickelodeon’s next step forward is to keep expanding beyond linear platforms, and our broader content partnership with Netflix is a key path toward that goal,” Brian Robbins, Nickelodeon’s president, said in the news release.

The two companies have a long history. Nickelodeon licensed hits like “SpongeBob” and “Dora the Explorer” to Netflix starting in 2009, when streaming was in its infancy. Viacom walked away in 2013 — ratings for “SpongeBob” on Nickelodeon had plunged — but made a new deal with Netflix a couple of years ago to supply the service with original content based on Nickelodeon’s “Loud House” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” properties, among others.

“Nickelodeon has generated scores of characters that kids love, and we look forward to telling wholly original stories that reimagine and expand on the worlds they inhabit,” Melissa Cobb, Netflix’s vice president of original animation, said in the news release.

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More Nick: Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!

Originally published: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 16:07 GMT.

H/T: TVKIDS; Additional source: Nerd Site.
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