90s Nick Jr. mascot “Face” is coming back for a new generation of preschoolers with Face’s Music Party, a new musical variety show that combines animation and live-action. The interactive series (13 episodes) features a reimagined Face (voiced by Cedric Williams, Hunter x Hunter, The Promised Neverland) as host and VJ, playing modern pop hits and revamped nursery school classics. Face’s Music Party will premiere this summer on Nickelodeon’s preschool platforms in the U.S.
Source: Nickelodeon
Face first debuted on Nick Jr. on September 5, 1994, enjoying the role of animated host and mascot of Nickelodeon’s preschool programming block for over a decade. Face greeted Nick Jr. viewers daily in interstitials, musical shorts, show intros, and bumpers. With endless color changes, funny voices, and silly expressions, Face could also appear in almost any location, using props to play dress up and play with other characters on screen. Its playful voice and sound effects, such as the signature imitation three-note “brr brr brrr” trumpet, were a mainstay on Nickelodeon until September 10, 2004.
“Face is the OG emoji, and has always embodied positivity, inclusivity, and music appreciation, engaging with kids in a uniquely personal way,” commented Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation president Ramsey Naito. “With Face’s Music Party, Nickelodeon will continue to carry on its legacy of generation-defining entertainment and introduce the iconic Face to a whole new audience of preschoolers.”
Face’s Music Party is produced by Nickelodeon Animation in partnership with Jonas and Company, Inc. David Kleiler serves as showrunner and executive producer along with executive producer Hema Mulchandani and executive producer Jonas Morganstein. Production for Nickelodeon is overseen by Eryk Casemiro, executive vice president, Nickelodeon Animation, Global Series Content. Niki Williams serves as Nickelodeon’s executive in charge of production for the series.
Debbie Diamond Sarto is assistant news editor at Animation World Network.
Each episode will center around various themes such as friendship, confidence, pirates, and transportation, featuring four segments: a kid-friendly music video from popular contemporary artists; remixed sing-alongs of iconic nursery rhymes; exploration time in Face’s music box, where kids can play and learn about an instrument, sound, or musical concept; and a high energy dance-along finale, with kid dancers demonstrating moves to viewers at home.
