Studio marks its 50th anniversary by teaming up with Telefilm Canada and the Youth Media Alliance to celebrate the Canadian animation and children’s media industries.
Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, has teamed up with Telefilm Canada and the Youth Media Alliance to announce the proclamation of July 26, 2021, as the first Canadian Children’s Media Day. In honor of Nelvana’s 50th anniversary and the studio’s impact on Canada’s media industry, Canadian Children’s Media Day was established to celebrate Canada’s successes and growing position as a trailblazer in the global animation and children’s media industry.
To inspire the next generation of animators and kids’ content creators, Canada’s most recognizable icon, the CN Tower, will light up the sky on July 26 in blue and gold, colors inspired by Nelvana’s golden jubilee. Nelvana will also host a panel event that evening on Canada in the animation and children’s media industry. The free-to-attend virtual event will feature a panel discussion, moderated by The Globe and Mail’s executive editor Angela Pacienza, with Nelvana’s head of development, Athena Georgaklis; Telefilm’s vice president, Promotion, Communication and International Relations, Francesca Accinelli; Sheridan College’s Dean of Animation, Arts and Design Ted Gervan; and The City of Toronto’s program manager, Film Sector Development, Magali Simard.
Nelvana is also collaborating with several organizations across Canada, such as the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Animaze Montreal International Animation Film Festival, and Vancouver’s Spark CG Society, to host a series of virtual events celebrating its 50th anniversary, starting the week of July 26.
“As Nelvana celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer and throughout the coming year, we are extremely excited to partner with our dear friends at Telefilm Canada and the Youth Media Alliance to proclaim the first-ever Canadian Children’s Media Day,” commented Nelvana president Pam Westman. “Nelvana’s legacy has helped cement Canada’s position as an innovator in animation and we hope that by establishing Canadian Children’s Media Day as an annual day of recognition and celebration, we can help inspire the next generation of ground-breaking storytellers.”
Founded in 1971 by Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert, and Clive A. Smith, Nelvana is one of Canada’s oldest animation studios, producing over 4,800 episodes of programming airing in over 180 countries. It has earned over 70 major international awards including Emmys and Canadian Screen Awards.
“As we look back on Nelvana’s 50-year history, and how the Toronto-based studio has contributed to the success of the Canadian screen-based sector, we are a proud partner of this exciting initiative in celebration of Canada’s thriving children’s media industry,” noted Telefilm Canada executive director & CEO Christa Dickenson.
"Canadian children's media is, without a doubt, a source of great pride for the industry and the city as a whole,” added Mayor John Tory, City of Toronto. “I am pleased to proclaim Canadian Children's Media Day on July 26 to celebrate the achievements of our homegrown studios and look forward to the future filled with more Canadian content.”
Nelvana’s 50th Anniversary and Canadian Children’s Media Day Celebratory Events (times in EDT)
Monday, July 26
10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Corus Entertainment’s top kids’ networks, YTV, Treehouse and TELETOON, will be featuring the best of Canadian content with back-to-back episodes of fan-favorite series, including:
10:10 a.m. - 1:30pm
- Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Toon Bops, Max & Ruby, Franklin and Friends, Esme & Roy, and Miss Persona on Treehouse.
12:50 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Hotel Transylvania, Detentionaire, and D.N. Ace on TELETOON.
1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Grossology, Scaredy Squirrel, Ollie’s Pack, and Go Away Unicorn on YTV.
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.:
Northern Star: How Canada Shines in Animation & Children’s Media – Canadian Children’s Media Day panel event with:
- Moderator: Angela Pacienza – Executive Editor, The Globe & Mail
- Athena Georgaklis – Head of Development, Nelvana
- Francesca Accinelli – Vice President, Promotion, Communication and International Relations, Telefilm
- Ted Gervan – Dean, Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design, Sheridan College
- Magali Simard – Program Manager, Film Sector Development, The City of Toronto
Register for the Canadian Children’s Media Day panel here.
After sunset: CN Tower Lighting in Blue and Gold for Canadian Children’s Media Day
Wednesday, July 28
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.:
Animation Coffee Break with Nelvana’s Past & Present Talent with Ottawa International Animation Festival
Thursday, July 29
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.:
A Behind-The-Scenes look at Nelvana’s Daytime Emmy Nominated Series, Esme & Roy with Animaze Montreal International Film Festival
Tuesday, August 10
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.:
Get a Head Spark on Your Career in Animation! with Spark CG Society
More events to be announced - more information on Nelvana’s 50th Anniversary is available here.
Source: Nelvana
