Nick Jr. Greenlights Second Season of Groundbreaking Animated Series Ni Hao, Kai-lan

Nick Jr. Greenlights Second Season of Groundbreaking Animated Series Ni Hao, Kai-lan

Network Orders 20 New Episodes of TV's First Series to Teach Preschoolers Mandarin Language and Chinese Culture

Merchandising Campaign to Be Launched at Licensing 2008 International

NEW YORK, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Nick Jr. has announced the pickup of a second season of the hit animated preschool series Ni Hao, Kai-lan. The network has ordered 20 new half-hour episodes of the series that introduces preschoolers to Mandarin language and Chinese culture as they go on interactive adventures in Kai-lan's beautiful, culturally-rich world. Production on the second season, scheduled to premiere on Nick Jr. in winter 2009, will kick off in August in Burbank, California.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080610/NYTU055 )

Ni Hao, Kai-lan, which launched Feb. 7, 2008 on Nick Jr., consistently ranks among the top five preschool programs on all commercial television. The series currently ranks as the number-two show on Nick Jr., right behind Dora the Explorer. Ni Hao, Kai-lan airs regularly weekdays at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nick Jr.

"Kai-lan has charmed her way into the lives of preschoolers who tune in to experience her vibrant world which is infused with Mandarin language and Chinese culture," said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "Ni Hao, Kai-lan furthers Nick Jr.'s ongoing commitment to developing diverse programming with characters who reflect today's preschoolers. Families across the country have embraced Ni Hao, Kai-lan and we're excited to work on a new set of stories with more Mandarin phrases and lessons to help preschoolers better express and deal with their feelings."

To support Ni Hao, Kai-lan's fast-growing success and Nick Jr.'s firm commitment to new content, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) is ready to launch an extensive merchandising program that will begin to take hold at Licensing 2008 International. With deals in apparel already in the works, including a T-shirt line currently in Forever 21 stores across the country, as well as a DVD to launch in August 2008, NVCP, will seek other major merchandising and promotional partners to extend the brand into several different key categories including toys, accessories, publishing, stationery and more.

"With the expertise and creativity of our retailers and licensees, we continue to maintain our leadership position in entertainment licensing and as the 'go-to' licensor for kid audiences," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, President, NVCP. "We are thrilled about Ni Hao, Kai-lan, our latest Nick Jr. preschool hit."

About Ni Hao, Kai-lan

Ni Hao, Kai-lan, created by Karen Chau and executive produced by Mary Harrington, is an original, half-hour series that teaches Mandarin words and phrases, for the first time on television. Ni Hao, Kai-lan is also Nick Jr.'s first play-along, think-along series to feature an intergenerational family. Through the eyes of a five-year-old Chinese-American girl named Kai-lan, the series explores the colorful aspects of her upbringing and background, her relationships with her family and friends and the world around her. Ni Hao, Kai-lan also helps preschoolers identify their emotions and learn coping mechanisms to deal with their feelings.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan stars Kai-lan Chow, a playful, adventurous bi-lingual preschooler with a big heart, who speaks both English and Mandarin. Kai-lan's world is infused with Chinese culture, from the dumplings she eats and the lanterns that adorn her house, to the huge Chinese New Year celebration she has with her family and friends. The series centers on Kai-lan and her relationships with her grandfather, Yeye, and her animal friends. Yeye plays a major role in her life as he gently and playfully guides her to her own discoveries.

Kai-lan is a natural leader who is thoughtful and caring and has a gift for helping her friends when they really need her. Her best friends are Rintoo, a rambunctious five-year-old tiger who loves to play; Tolee, a five-year-old koala who always puts his friends first; Hoho, a three-year-old monkey full of boundless energy; and Lulu, a happy six-year-old pink rhino.

The series focuses on issues common to preschoolers such as taking turns, disappointment and jealousy, and supports an emotional intelligence curriculum highlighting cause and effect thinking in the social/emotional world. Ni Hao, Kai-lan provides simple coping strategies, set to song, that teach valuable lessons. Kai-lan strives to understand how things are linked together and she always wants to find out the reason why. Every episode follows the adventures of Kai-lan and her friends as they learn to identify their emotions and stop to consider the feelings of others. Kai-Lan leads them as they tackle such issues as what caused Rintoo to get mad, or how patience and practice help Tolee get better at rhyming.

Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Completely dedicated to preschoolers ages 2-5, Nick Jr.'s Emmy, Peabody and Parents' Choice Award-winning programs are curriculum based, fun and commercial free. At Nick Jr., kids play to learn with innovative, original shows created just for them.

Nickelodeon, now in its 29th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080610/NYTU055
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN5
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Nick Jr.

CONTACT: Jodi Davis, +1-212-846-5981, Jodi.davis@nick.com, or Heather
Brown, +1-212-846-6240, Heather.brown@nick.com, both of Nick Jr.

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment