Nickelodeon Unveils 2022-23 Slate With 3 New Series And Lots Of Franchise Expansions

Nickelodeon announced its 2022-2023 slate of programming at its annual upfront presentation on Thursday. The event held at Palladium Times Square in New York City was the network’s first live, in-person upfront presentation since first quarter 2020.

The network emphasized its “franchise strategy” which aims to expand “the global footprint of beloved properties through spinoffs, theatricals and additional seasons.” Nickelodeon Animation currently has over 40 projects in active production across series and movies.

Among the announcements were three new series. Official descriptions follow:

• Face’s Music Party (season 1, 13 episodes) – Beloved ’90s Nick Jr. mascot Face returns for a new generation of preschoolers in this music variety show that combines animation and live action. The interactive series will feature a reimagined Face (voiced by Cedric Williams) as host and VJ, playing modern pop hits and revamped nursery school classics to create the ultimate music party. Face’s Music Party is produced by Nickelodeon Animation in partnership with Jonas and Company. Executive producers are David Kleiler, Hema Mulchandani, and Jonas Morganstein. Kleiler is also showrunner. The series will premiere this summer.
• Bossy Bear (season 1, 30 episodes) – The animated preschool series, produced in partnership with Imagine Kids+Family, is from husband and wife team David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim (UglyDolls), and based on the popular book series by Horvath. The series follows the misadventures of Bossy Bear, an overly-enthusiastic extrovert, and Turtle, a thoughtful introvert – unlikely besties who make the perfect team for navigating silly childhood adventures in their Koreatown-inspired city of Pleasantburg. Bossy Bear is executive produced by Stephanie Sperber and Elly Kramer for Imagine Kids+Family; David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim; Bob Mittenthal for Nickelodeon Animation; and Ashley Postlewaite for Renegade Animation.
• HexVet (Sseason 1, 20 episodes) – The magical world of Willows Whisper comes to life in the animated preschool series based on the eponymous Boom! Studios graphic novels by Sam Davies. The cg and 2d-hybrid adventure-comedy series follows unlikely best friends Nan and Clarion as they navigate life’s weird and wacky challenges, while apprenticing to be magical veterinarians for fantastical creatures. HexVet is developed for television by Nicole Dubuc (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, The Rocketeer), who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. Frank Molieri serves as co-executive producer. The series is also executive produced by Stephen Christy and Ross Richie, with Mette Norkjaer serving as co-producer, for Boom! Studios.

In the upcoming year, Nick will also debut new episodes of the following:

• Big Nate (season 2, 10 episodes)
• Blaze and the Monster Machines (season 7, 26 episodes)
• Spongebob Squarepants (season 14, 26 episodes)
• Middlemost Post (season 2, 13 episodes)
• Kamp Koral: Spongebob’s Under Years
• The Patrick Star Show
• Paw Patrol (season 10, 26 episodes)
• Blue’s Clues & You! (season 5, 26 episodes)

In terms of franchise expansions, Nickelodeon is working on the following:

• Spongebob Squarepants: Three character-driven movies launching exclusively on Paramount+, as well as a fourth theatrical Spongebob currently in development.
• Paw Patrol: In 2023, there will be the show’s first spin-off series centering on Rubble and the release of the movie sequel Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.
• Baby Shark: A feature-length movie is in development for Paramount+.
• The Loud House: A live-action series (10 episodes) will premiere later this year on Paramount+.
• Transformers: An action-comedy series Transformers: Earthspark will premiere globally on Paramount+ in November, followed by two feature films: Transformers: Rise of the Beast (summer 2023, directed by Steven Caple Jr.) and an untitled Transformers animated feature directed by Josh Cooley (July 19, 2024).
• Blue’s Clues & You!: An original movie Blue’s Big City Adventure, for Paramount+ and Nickelodeon, will debut November 18.