Nickelodeon comes to Licensing Show at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City with a brand-new licensing program for AVATAR, Nickelodeon's newest animated series that is already the number-three animated program on television, third only to powerhouses SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS. The network also brings new plans for animated hit show DANNY PHANTOM, live-action tween favorite ZOEY 101 and hotter-than-ever SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.
"AVATAR is a breakaway hit that has tremendous licensing potential for boys and adults," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, president, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. "The show has been embraced by viewers of all ages and compliments our hit property roster that now also includes DANNY PHANTOM and ZOEY 101."
Since its premiere this year, AVATAR is the highest rated show in its timeslot on all of television with kids 2-11 and kids 6-11. The Asian-inspired series tells the story of when the hostile Fire Nation threatens to enslave the Water, Earth, and Air Nations, a reluctant and irresponsible boy must face his destiny as the Avatar, the Chosen One who can restore the world order. Avatar centers on twelve-year-old Aang who must forgo his selfish wandering to learn to master his latent powers over the four elements. Only then can he conquer the Firebenders, the evil magi who threaten the world. Avatar's Consumer Products program will launch with trading cards from Upper Deck in spring 2006.
DANNY PHANTOM, which premiered on Nickelodeon last spring, is from Butch Hartman, the creator of THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS. The show unveils the funny, fantastic action-packed adventures of Danny Fenton, who straddles two worlds as a shy freshman at Casper High and a heroic phantom-fighter with ghostly superpowers. With his best friends, techno-geek Tucker and free-thinking Goth girl Sam, he thwarts the misdeeds of menacing ghosts and stumbles through daily social hurdles.
As for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon brings LAZYTOWN, THE BACKYARDIGANS and the highly anticipated DORA THE EXPLORER spin-off series, GO, DIEGO, GO!.
Were thrilled to add exciting and fresh new animated and live-action shows to our current roster of hit properties available for licensing, said Brodsky. We have seen tremendous success with DORA THE EXPLORER and BLUES CLUES, and now we have even more shows to expand our preschool portfolio to reach this group in 2005 and beyond.
Nick Jr. will premier GO, DIEGO, GO!, an animated play-along series starring Dora the Explorers cousin, Diego Marquez, an eight-year-old, rough-and-tumble action-adventure hero with an intense love of nature and the animals around him, this September. The show will take viewers on high stakes animal rescue missions while encouraging them to jump, clap, cheer and speak in English and Spanish each step of the way. Diego will be joined by his 11-year-old sister Alicia, along with a loving group of loyal animal friends who will encourage kids to use scientific thinking and investigative strategies to help the animal in trouble. DORA THE EXPLORER is the number-one preschool show on all of commercial TV and Dora merchandise generated $1 billion in retail sales in 2004.
THE BACKYARDIGANS is Nick Jr.s animated musical adventure series about five high-spirited preschool friends who rely on their vivid imaginations to embark on epic adventures. In every episode, the backyard transforms into a new fantastic, photo-real landscape that serves as the backdrop for completely original, story-driven musicals. Broadway-caliber music spanning a variety of genres and cutting-edge 3D dance choreography propel the stories forward.
LAZYTOWN is a comic action series about health and fitness for kids. Eight-year-old Stephanie is an optimistic girl living in LazyTown, where she is caught between a charismatic, health-conscious superhero and the world´s laziest bad guy. Superhero Sportacus inspires the kids of LazyTown to play, move and find a healthy balance in their lives. LAZYTOWN is already a household name in Iceland, where existing businesses include publishing, theatrical productions, live events and music. LAZYTOWN product will launch in the fall from master toy licensee Fisher-Price.
Nickelodeon can be found at Licensing Show booth #1317.
Nickelodeon, now in its 26th 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 company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for nine consecutive years. Nickelodeon is owned by Viacom Intl Inc.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
