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Nickelodeon Opens Submissions for 2016 Global Animated Shorts Program

Twenty-two pitches selected from 2015 program to be developed into animated shorts.

BURBANK, CA -- Nickelodeon has announced that its 2016 global Animated Shorts Program is now open for submissions through April 15. The annual program, overseen by network development executives, accepts domestic and international pitches that will be developed into animated shorts for the Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. audiences. Designed to mine and cultivate a new generation of creative talent, the Animated Shorts Program aids in Nickelodeon’s mission in making the best and funniest content for today’s kids.

Additionally, Nickelodeon named 22 participants from the 2015 Animated Shorts Program whose projects will be developed into shorts and will have the potential to air on Nickelodeon, appear on www.nick.com, or on the Emmy Award-winning Nick App.

“We continue to garner terrific worldwide response from our Animated Shorts Program, and we look forward to working with this new creative group to develop and bring to life original characters, innovative content and kid-inspired storylines across all of our Nickelodeon platforms,” said Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon’s president of content development and production.

As part of the 2015 Animated Shorts Program, the 22 ideas selected were chosen from almost 950 worldwide pitches. One of them includes Max Wittert’s Best Baddies, chosen from Nickelodeon’s first-ever open call at last year’s Small Press Expo (SPX), a showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books and emerging artists. Another is Rikke Asbjoern’s My Friend Pancake, which follows the fantastic adventures of young Hazel and her best friend, a giant talking cat named Pancake. Together they explore a mystical, living forest where the rules of nature don’t apply and strange things hide in the shadows, shrouded in mystery.

A full list of 2015 Animated Shorts Program participants can be found here, and the videos can be viewed at www.nick.com/short-toons.

Ideas and pitches are accepted from a wide pool of talent, and creators are provided the necessary artistic and production support teams to help complete their fully animated short. Shorts must be original, humor-based and character-driven. Pitches specific to Nick Jr. should come from a child’s POV, and focus on science, technology, and/or family for a preschool audience. Animation styles are encouraged from 2D, stop motion, CG or mixed media. Final pitches should be 2-3 minutes in length. Full program guidelines are available at www.nickshortspitches.com.

This year, Nickelodeon will celebrate 25 years of original creator-driven animation in conjunction with the opening of the new Nickelodeon Studios. This 190,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art complex will serve as a West Coast hub for the network and house the ever-growing number of animated shows, TV movies, live-action productions and events. These significant milestones exemplify Nickelodeon’s decades of rich history and its commitment and mission in bringing fresh innovative content to kids and families around the world.

Source: Nickelodeon

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.