Nick Jr. announced plans to launch original mini pilots across multiple platforms beginning with a wireless roll-out of three new animated shorts on Tuesday, June 6. Pass the Pinha, Jinny Starfly and All Aboard were incubated in Nick Jr.’s Institute of Applied Play, a creative lab that allows the network to build relationships with emerging talent. The projects range in length from one to three minutes, and will be featured on Nick Jr.’s broadband video service, Nick Jr. Video, and on-air on Nick Jr. television.
Written and directed by Syr-Ivan Bennett, Jinny Starfly blends live action and animation as two kids patiently wait for a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly. When their patience begins to wane, Nick Jr.’s animated science expert, Jinny Starfly, drops by to show them how nature works. The short will launch on Nick Jr. Video on Friday, June 9, and on Nick Jr. television on Monday, June 12.
In the animated short Pass the Pinha, director Elanna Allen introduces viewers to Bing, a musical bird who, along with her siblings, finds a Brazilian fruit that makes a samba Brazilian sound when shaken. The pilot will hit wireless carriers on June 7, followed by debuts on Nick Jr. Video on June 16 and Nick Jr. on June 19.
Created by Nancy Wolff, the animated short All Aboard has a billy goat and a raccoon turning a boring morning into an exciting ride when they get friends together to play choo-choo train. After its June 8 wireless launch, viewers can find it online on June 23 and on air on June 26.
The Institute of Applied Play On average produces more than15 shorts per year. A number of these projects end up becoming regular Nick Jr. series, including the hit show The Wonder Pets! and the upcoming toon Ni Hao, Kai-lan, which is slated to premiere in the fall 2007. Nick Jr.’s short-form series Mighty Bug 5 started as an interstitial titled The Grumpy Bug. All can be seen on Nickjr.com.
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