Nickelodeon Sign Multi-Year Development Deal With Netflix

[ZariusTwo]

As part of a multiple-year output deal, the Viacom-owned cable network will develop new properties and revive familiar ones.
Viacom's Nickelodeon has come full circle with Netflix.

Years ago, the kids-focused cable network pulled its licensing deals from the streaming giant as the linear network's ratings tumbled. Now, Nickelodeon and Netflix have entered a multiple-year output deal that will see the Viacom-owned cable network create and produce original animated feature films and TV series based on both new and existing IP.

The deal announced Wednesday expands Nickelodeon's relationship with Netflix, which was revived a few years ago with deals for a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series and deals for Rocko's Modern Life, Invader Zim, The Loud House and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, among others.

"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 vp 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.”

Netflix's 'BoJack Horseman' is one of three animated shows its creator, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, has in the works.

The deal strengthens Netflix's kids programming brand at a time when other streamers — Disney+, Apple TV+ and soon HBO Max — are all focused on courting the younger demo and families to their subscription services. The agreement, financial terms of which were not immediately available, should be seen as a win for Viacom. The media behemoth, which is in the process of closing a deal to remerge with CBS, does not have a subscription streaming service of its own. That would have been a natural home for offshoots of its well-known TV franchises.

"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,” Nickelodeon president Robbins said. “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 launched its own in-house animation studio last year as the appetite for both adult animation and kids-focused content continues to rise amid the streaming revolution. Animated shows are cheaper to produce and often wind up seeing secondary revenue streams from merchandising sales.

The Nickelodeon-produced films and TV series join a Netflix animated slate that includes feature Klaus (due Nov. 15), kids animated series Dino Girl Gauko (Nov. 22), adult animated film I Lost My Body (Nov. 29) and DreamWorks' Fast & Furious Spy Racers (Dec. 26), among others.

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https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...series-1254388

[AquaParade]

Now is the time for a kick-ass TMNT animated series aimed at older fans. It's been the time for a while, but it is still that time.

Netflix has no problem aiming animation at adult audiences. Hopefully they can bring Nickelodeon to the party.

I dream of seeing an animated adaption of Mirage's City at War, complete with Jim Lawson/Eastman/laird-inspired art. I dream.

[Vicky82]

I guess thats why Paramount removed the release date for Rugrats movie from schedule. It's probably going to end up on Netflix.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by AquaParade

Now is the time for a kick-ass TMNT animated series aimed at older fans. It's been the time for a while, but it is still that time.

Netflix has no problem aiming animation at adult audiences. Hopefully they can bring Nickelodeon to the party.

I dream of seeing an animated adaption of Mirage's City at War, complete with Jim Lawson/Eastman/laird-inspired art. I dream.

Netflix was already doing a Rise of the TMNT movie for the current show, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up for a Mirage movie.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Netflix was already doing a Rise of the TMNT movie for the current show, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up for a Mirage movie.

Yep, this.

I'd love for something better... but I ain't holding my breath.

[ZariusTwo]

I'm hoping we get Hey Arnold season six out of this. The Jungle Movie is already on Netflix

[Andrew NDB]

My only realistic hope is that if there's a cavalcade of TMNT content going to things like Netflix and the like, that maybe ONE out of the ten things they throw out there is watchable.

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

My only realistic hope is that if there's a cavalcade of TMNT content going to things like Netflix and the like, that maybe ONE out of the ten things they throw out there is watchable.

Yup, I'd take one. My expectations are comfortably low

[ABrown]

I saw that Netflix already has Victorious (I love that show) and Sam & Cat available to watch. I wonder if they end up putting the 4Kids TMNT series on there to watch.

[IndigoErth]

I'd be quite happy to see the 2003 series added.

So what's the likelihood that Nick is jumping on this because Disney is, I assume, leaving?

[AquaParade]

Yeah, it's been quite a while since I've seen 2k3, so I'd definitely go back and watch a few episodes out of curiosity.

It's definitely a show I have mixed feelings about. I think it's one of those things where I'm too close to the material to appreciate what it's going for. I admire the shows desire to honor the Mirage comic, but it's just bogged down in too many restrictions to full succeed with me, whether that be censorship, budgetary issues, or just having to be compared to the original books.

That said, I can enjoy it for what it is, at times.

[sdp]

I'm cautiously optimistic, Netflix has had tons of awesome franchises with potential and they've all ranged from lackluster to bad, you can read my thoughts on their original animated shows for Kong: King of the Apes, Reboot Guardian Code, Carmen Sandiego, Disenchantment, Stretch Armstrong, Voltron: Legendary Defender, Magic School Bus Rides Again, , among others. And trust me I wanted to love these shows, but whether the animation can vary between shows, the writing is consistently bad in all of them, most end up cancelled after two seasons and they're just not compelling shows.

I am not looking forward to a Netflix animated show if it'll follow this format that they're for babies. How are the nicktoon revival movies? Those didn't start as netflix originals though. I really hope Netflix ups their game on cartoons because so far it's been terrible and I don't want Jurasic World Cretaceous Park to have the same faith or a possible new tmnt show. If anything I want Nick's old catalog on Netflix, but it's not on the official press release despite some news outlets mentioning old stuff would come to the service without citation.