Kids
Nickelodeon US launches a content accelerator programme to help up-and-coming, underrepresented creatives
Mumbai: US kids broadcaster Nickelodeon has announced that to ensure that a variety of voices are being heard, it has created the Nick Content Accelerator. This is a programme that it says has been designed specifically for early-career, underrepresented creatives to pitch new live-action and animated series for its platforms.
The broadcaster is partnering with Rise Up Animation and Ghetto Film School to solicit pitches for this programme. This programme is open to emerging professionals in the field of kid-focused content creation. The broadcaster added that it wants to hear from people of colour, creatives with disabilities, creatives in the LGBTQ+ community, or any other voices who have historically had limited or no access to the children’s television industry.
Nickelodeon is accepting submissions for pitches in three categories, namely live action, big kid animation, and preschool/upper preschool, from 8 August 2022 until 30 September 2022.
After reviewing the submissions, the top entries will move forward to Pitch Day (date TBD).
The top applicants will meet with Nickelodeon development executives on Pitch Day to present their ideas. The selected creators will work directly with development executives and a creative mentor on honing their pitch over a few months [at the beginning of the year in 2023].
Nickelodeon further explained that it is looking for unique big ideas that could be the next big show. It said these are some of the pillars that aspirants should be looking for in order for their show to be a big hit:
Character-driven: Comedy at Nickelodeon comes from the characters. The broadcaster said that it always wants to see distinct and unique personalities who can drive the story and the comedy. Nickelodeon characters are memorable and iconic. They are the kinds of people you would want to be friends with.
Irreverent comedy: Nickelodeon shows are often a little messy and left of centre. A Nickelodeon show can be any genre, but surprising comedy is always a part of its shows. Like slime, it is a little weird and a little messy!
Authentic kid POV: It said that its series always shows life from a kid’s perspective and never talks down to kids. It wants to show what it’s really like to be a kid, and not just show a polished version of kid life. This is true even for shows with adult lead characters. For example, although SpongeBob is an adult who lives in his own home, he still has a very kid-like perspective on the world.
Inclusive and all gender: When it speaks about authentic kid POV, it also wants to represent kids authentically as they are in the world. That means creating shows that represent the diverse world we live in. It also wants to create shows that all genders will love.
Kids
Gokuldham Goes English with 3D Series Launch
Hindi version hits 80 million views in six months, English premiere drops 12 Feb on dedicated channel.
MUMBAI: Gokuldham Society just got a bilingual upgrade and it’s speaking fluent fun. Neela Mediatech is rolling out the English version of its hit Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 3D animated series, hot on the heels of the Hindi edition’s runaway digital success.
Launched just six months ago, the Hindi 3D avatar has already racked up over 80 million views, proving that Jethalal’s antics, Bhide’s lectures, and Popatlal’s endless bride hunts translate brilliantly into animation especially for a new generation of young viewers who’ve never caught the live-action show on TV.
The English-language premiere lands on 12 February on the freshly minted Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 3D Animated Series English channel. The move opens Gokuldham’s doors wider to English-speaking families across India and the diaspora, letting non-Hindi speakers dive straight into the neighbourhood chaos without subtitles.
Neela Mediatech founder Asit Kumarr Modi captured the spirit behind the expansion, “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah was created to celebrate togetherness and shared happiness. The response from audiences across India has strengthened our belief in these stories. Presenting the 3D animated series in English allows us to connect with families who may not speak Hindi but relate to the same values and emotions.”
This isn’t a one-off experiment. Neela Mediatech is quietly building a full Gokuldham universe beyond the small screen. TMKOC Rhymes already sings in 12 Indian languages, with more international versions in the pipeline. On the gaming front, TMKOC Play offers 12 interactive titles, headlined by the addictive Gada Electronics Game that keeps kids (and nostalgic adults) tapping away.
From prime-time TV to animated shorts, nursery rhymes, mobile games, and now bilingual streams, Gokuldham has morphed into a multi-platform, multi-language family empire. Whether you grew up laughing at Sodhi’s Sardar jokes or you’re just meeting the gang for the first time, the Society’s doors are officially open in English and the views suggest plenty of people are walking right in.
