Sep 26, 2013

Nick, C. H. Greenblatt, Dave Cooper, and Johnny Ryan on the new series [Updated

Nickelodeon announced this afternoon that it has greenlit two new series: "Bad Seeds" (above) by C. H. Greenblatt of Chowder, and "Pig Goat" by the team of illustrator/comic artist Dave Cooper and Johnny Ryan Banana Cricket" by the team of illustrator/comic artist Dave Cooper and Johnny Ryan. Twenty-six episodes of each show will be produced at Nick's animation studio in Burbank, California.

Nick's decision to make "Pig Goat Banana Cricket" a series may have been partly due to the online response. According to co-creator Ryan, a teaser pilot for the show was posted online in August 2012, several years after its production, and the positive response sparked renewed interest from the network.

Here is the official description of the show:

Bad Seeds Harvey, a kind and well-meaning bird, makes two new best friends, Fee and Hu, the wildest kids in the forest. Their unlikely friendship only grows stronger as they push each other out of their comfort zones and drive each other on endless adventures. Written and directed by C.H. Greenblatt ("SpongeBob" and "Chowder").

Pig Goat Banana Cricket An absurd story about four friends and roommates: Pig (the idiot), Gort (the artist), Banana (the wise guy), and Cricket (the brainiac). Dave Cooper and J. Ryan are executive producers, and David Sachs (The Simpsons, Regular Show) co-wrote the script with J. Ryan. Dave Cooper also art directed the series, and the pilot was directed by independent animator Nick Cross. [WELCOME TO THE WAYNE-an animated comedy about two adventurers set in the lobby of the strangest apartment building on earth. Wonder Pets!" was written and directed by Billy Lopez of the "Wonder Pets!

JUNIOR EYE-Three middle school friends struggle to solve the myths that plague their classmates' daily lives. Produced by Will and Aaron Eisenberg, whose previous film "Eric Finley: Comment Counselor" won Ashton Kutcher's "Dream Bigger" filmmaking competition.

[UPDATE-Thursday, 11:55pm ET]: Nickelodeon officials told Cartoon Brew that "Bad Seeds" and "Pig Goat Banana Cricket" will be produced by Butch Hartman ("The Fairly OddParents" and "Danny Phantom" creator) and one by Jorge Gutierrez (co-creator of "El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera") were in the running for four other series pilots. Sources revealed that these other shows were not greenlit, but that some of them could still be made into series at some point in the future. Below are the six programs that were being developed internally at Nick's. Click for larger image: