Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, together with Telefilm Canada and the Youth Media Alliance, today announced the proclamation of July 26 as the first Canadian Children’s Media Day. In honor of Nelvana’s 50th anniversary this year and the studio’s lasting impact on Canada’s media industry, Canadian Children’s Media Day was established as a way 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 and celebrated 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 how Canada has become a shining star 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. (Register for the panel at bit.ly/Nelvana-CCMDPanel.)
Additionally, Nelvana is 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,” said Pam Westman, President of Nelvana. “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 well over 4,800 episodes of programming airing in over 180 countries around the world and 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,” said Christa Dickenson, Executive Director & CEO of Telefilm Canada.
“Canadian children’s media is, without a doubt, a source of great pride for the industry and the city as a whole. 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,” said Mayor John Tory, City of Toronto.
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-favourite series, including:
- 10:10 a.m. – 1:30pm – Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Toon Bops, Max & Ruby, Franklin and Friends, Esme & Roy, Miss Persona, and more, on Treehouse.
- 12:50 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Hotel Transylvania, Detentionaire, D.N. Ace, and more, on TELETOON.
- 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Grossology, Scaredy Squirrel, Ollie’s Pack, Go Away Unicorn, and more, 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
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
… And more events to be announced! For more information on Nelvana’s 50th Anniversary, visit nelvana.com.
