Small Press Expo and Nickelodeon Announce Results of SPX 2015 Nickelodeon Call For Submissions

Small Press Expo and Nickelodeon Announce Results of SPX 2015 Nickelodeon Call For Submissions   SPX 2015 saw the very first Nickelodeon animation call for submission at an indie comics festival. The open call was an unprecedented opportunity for SPX creators to present their animation ideas and skills to members of the Nickelodeon team and become a part of its annual 2015 global Animated Shorts Program.   More than 70 members of the SPX community presented their pitches to the Nickelodeon staff during SPX last September to see if theirs would be chosen to be developed into an animated short as part of the program. Nickelodeon is pleased to announce that Max Wittert's Best Baddies was selected and is in production. Mr. Wittert is an illustrator and cartoonist based out of Brooklyn NY, whose work has been published by The New York Times, Time Out New York. Additionally, web comic Jean & Scott, a take-off on The X-Men, led to it being published by Marvel Comics. Best Baddies is about four magical villainess girls who challenge the status quo of their dull city by trying to convince other girls to join them and become fellow villainesses.    The SPX 2015 call for submissions was part of Nickelodeon's 2015 Animated Shorts Program, which this year chose 22 ideas from around the world to be developed into shorts that will either potentially air on Nickelodeon or be able to be viewed on its web site. The annual program, overseen by network development executives, accepts domestic and international pitches that will be developed into animated shorts for the Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. audiences. Designed to cultivate a new generation of creative talent, the Animated Shorts Program aids in Nickelodeon's mission in making the best and funniest content for today's kids.   Phil Rynda, Nickelodeon's Vice President of Artist Development, says:   "Animation and comics have been linked since the dawn of animation as an art form. Comics creators have been part of  the networks DNA for more than 5 years, with comics artists contributing to Ren and Stimpy, SpongeBob Square Pants, and the more recent Harvey Beaks and Pig Goat Banana Cricket to name a few.  SPX is overflowing with some of the most talented, inspiring, and hilarious creators in independent comics.  Our involvement with SPX was a natural fit as a creator-driven animation studio partnering with the premiere creator-driven comics event."   Nickelodeon found such a wellspring of creativity at SPX, that additional opportunities have been offered to SPX creators. Numerous pitches were put up for consideration in series and long-form development, freelance design work was offered to a few creators and an internship was offered and accepted. Other SPX creators are still in contact with Nickelodeon to shape full series pitches out of their shorts pitch.   SPX 2016 takes place this year September 17-18 at the Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center. It will have the largest exhibitor presence in indie comics, with more than 650 creators, 280 exhibitor tables and 22 programming slots to entertain, enlighten and introduce attendees to the amazing world of independent and small press comics. SPX is also home to the prestigious Ignatz Awards, which is the only festival prize in indie comics, with nominees voted on by attendees at the show.   The 2016 Nickelodeon Global Animated Shorts Program is now open for submissions through April 15.