An animated television series for preschoolers and their parents that is filled with adventure, high-tech gadgetry and a rich Latin American environment, Go, Diego, Go! is a Nick Jr. hit series that has just been awarded a second season. An action-adventure series that offers a different, more inventive approach to entertaining (and educating) preschoolers, Go, Diego, Go! is a cousin to the immensely popular Dora the Explorer franchise, and looks to increase its appeal and accessibility later this year with a brand new second season from Nick Jr.
Excited over potential forays into product and merchandise licensing over the next year and a half to two years, Nickelodeon is confident that Go, Diego, Go! is swiftly developing into a stand alone franchise. The animated series has been greenlit for an additional twenty episodes, which in addition to already being in production, are currently scheduled to begin airing in the month of October 2006. After debuting last fall, Go, Diego, Go! has become one of the most watched preschool programs on all of commercial television. The animated adventure series airs regularly at 6:30am and 9:30am (ET/PT) weekdays on Nick Jr. and during weekends on CBS.
"Diego is an irresistible action hero with a heart, and we are thrilled he has followed in his cousin Dora's footsteps to become the number one TV choice among preschoolers," Brown Johnson, Executive Creative Director, Nick Preschool TV commented. "We are excited to be working with Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh on a new season of Diego's animal rescue adventures." Gifford and Walsh are the executive producers of both Go, Diego, Go! as well as of Dora the Explorer.
In related news, at a licensing expo held this past week, Nickelodeon, in addition to announcing ventures into production with other network series' such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Nickelodeon is planning a great deal of Go, Diego, Go! products as well. While viewership evenly splits between boys and girls, upcoming consumer products launches will be boy-targeted. The first DVD release, Diego's Dinosaur Rescue, had strong immediate sales. Products launching in fall 2006 include toys, books, stationary, and DVDs. Plans for 2007 include a Go, Diego, Go! live tour which will connect with fans from coast-to-coast.
About Go, Diego, Go!: In each episode, Diego (voiced by Jake T. Austin) receives a call for help at his Animal Rescue Center in the rainforest. With help from his friends, high-tech gadgets and viewers at home, Diego identifies and locates the animal in trouble and the adventure begins. Diego is joined by his 11-year-old sister Alicia (voiced by Constanza Sperakis), a computer whiz who is also bilingual and easily switches between speaking English and Spanish. Baby Jaguar is the animal closest to Diego's heart, and his youthful eagerness sometimes puts him in precarious situations. Other characters include Click (voiced by Rosie Perez), a high-tech camera with a knack for locating lost animals; Rescue Pack, a messenger bag that can transform into any form of transportation that Diego needs, like a boat, snowboard or parasail; and the Bobo Brothers, a mischievous pair of spider monkeys. Diego's cousin Dora also makes guest appearances in the series.
About Nick Jr.: Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9:00am-2pm (ET/PT) and weekends on CBS (check local listings). 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.