Nick Asia goes on Deer Run with iQiyi & Zhejiang

Nickelodeon Asia and China’s iQiyi and Zhejiang Satellite Television have joined forces to create an animated series titled Deer Run.

The coproduction will see the series launch on iQiyi and Zhejiang in China and Nick Asia elsewhere in the summer of 2019.

Nick Asia parent Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) will have licensing rights once production is complete.

Deer Run will follow four deer characters, who form a strong friendship and overcome various obstacles together.

Its commission marks the first time Nick Asia has coproduced a Chinese-originated series from conception.

“Deer Run will be our first in-depth animation collaboration for Nickelodeon in China,” said Pierre Cheung, senior VP and general manager of Greater China for VIMN. “We chose this project because of its great story and compelling, relatable characters that resonate with the Nickelodeon brand.

Cheung joined Viacom in September 2015.

iQiyi VP Yang Xiaoxuan said the content industry “has been looking forward to the development of the Chinese children’s animation market”.

iQiyi has already launched several original series on its VOD platform. These include Ling Yu, The Totem Warrior and Sword Dynasty.

Zhejiang Blue Star Media, which owns Zhejiang Satellite TV, has also debuted toons such as Lan Juxing he Lvdou Sha, Didao Zhan Zhi Yingxiong Chu Shaonian and Zhengyi Men.

“I believe the collaboration with iQiyi from the upstream of the industry would maximise the advantages of Zhejiang Satellite TV and iQiyi in platform resources and together, we will create excellent Chinese animation content of international standards,” said Zhejiang Blue Star VP Wu Bin.