PRESS RELEASE:
In celebration of Nickelodeon’s 25 years of animation, the network is talking cartoons with its first-ever podcast, Nickelodeon Animation Podcast, launching today on iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube and nickanimationpodcast.com.
The 20-episode weekly podcast gives voice to creators and talent who brought to life some of the most innovative, hilarious, and heart-tugging animation in the history of television. The series will feature Nick-affiliated talent as well as animation visionaries from across the industry. Hosted by Hector Navarro (Geek & Sundry), each episode will discuss creator and talent life stories, careers and the inspirations behind some of the most iconic cartoons.
“It’s the perfect way for Nickelodeon to enter the podcast space by giving these inspiring and funny artists the chance to tell their stories,” said Chris Viscardi, SVP, Content Development, Nickelodeon Franchise Properties. “Every episode is unique as Hector and our guests talk about how their love of animation started, what role their childhood played in becoming the artists they are today, and what inspired them to create the work that is known to Nickelodeon fans throughout the world.”
The first episode features Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creators and executive producers of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. The pair discuss the cartoons that inspired them as kids, their creative partnership, and the highs and lows of producing two of the most fan-favorited animated shows in the history of Nickelodeon animation.
Upcoming guests include: Chris Savino (The Loud House), Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents), Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Arlene Klasky (Rugrats), Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), C.H. Greenblatt (Harvey Beaks), and Jim Jinkins (Doug), as well as notable voice actors Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Billy West (The Ren & Stimpy Show), Andy Richter (Bob’s Burgers) and Maria Bamford (CatDog), among others.
Host Hector Navarro is a self-described “cartoon nerd” who has lived and breathed animation his entire life. He’s a host on Geek & Sundry Twitch Channel, as well as co-host of SuperHero News on YouTube. Hailing from San Diego, Calif., Navarro has a degree in Media Arts and Animation from The Art Institute of California, and is a former Nickelodeon intern. His preferred method of bending is water and his favorite characters include Angelica from Rugrats and Leo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Fans can visit nickanimationpodcast.com to listen to each episode and view special bonus content around each episode, including behind-the-scenes footage and images of the recordings. Follow us on Tumblr and Twitter @NickAnimation for more content.
This August celebrates 25 years of original creator-driven animation for Nickelodeon, marking a significant milestone exemplifying decades of rich history and commitment to bringing fresh innovative content to kids and families around the world. Later in the year, Nickelodeon will open up a 190,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art complex to serve as the West Coast hub for the network, housing the ever-growing number of animated and live-action series, TV movies, and award shows and events seen globally.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 37th 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 United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. 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).
