Nickelodeon’s Hit New Series Kappa Mikey Launches on Nick NZ
Kappa Mikey, Nickelodeon’s newest anime series, is about to hit New Zealand screens.
Launching on September 22 at 5.30pm (Channel 42 SKY Digital)
Kappa Mikey chronicles the madcap adventures of once-struggling American actor, Cleveland, Ohio native Mikey Simon, as
he adjusts to his new role as the biggest animé star Japan has even seen. When he is recruited to join the cast of
LilyMu, formerly Japan’s hottest animé TV series, his co-stars know immediately that he’s the wrong guy for the job.
But, the audience disagrees, and suddenly Mikey is Japan’s newest rising star, rocketing LilyMu back to the top of the
ratings.
“It’s a fish-out-of-water storyline,” says Lauren Nola Nickelodeon NZ Marketing Manager, “But fame doesn’t come without
a price, and when he’s not being chased down by the paparazzi, Mikey must also find time to get to know his co-stars,
adjust to Japanese culture and learn to love life inside the fish bowl.
With its unusual plot and satirical storylines, Lauren Nola says the new show fits Nickelodeon’s irreverent style
perfectly.
.
“Overseas ratings have been impressive since Kappa Mikey first launched in the United States in February and Nickelodeon
has already picked the show up for a second series. With its colourful characters, from dancing sushi to aliens with
psychic powers, and the fast-paced action and humour, we think Kiwi kids will love Kappa Mikey too.”
Kappa Mikey is one of the only television series in the anime genre produced in the U.S. It is created and directed by
Larry Schwarz of Animation Collective, the largest animation studio in New York. The Collective is a leader in creating
Flash-based animation for television, the Internet, home video and feature films. The show’s distinct creative style
blends a combination of American and Japanese animation. Mikey, drawn in a thick-lined pop graphic style is the only
character on the show not depicted in anime.
The theme song from Kappa Mikey is performed and created by Sony Music Japan recording artists, Beat Crusaders. Having
only made a major label debut in 2004, lead vocalist Toru Hidaka has arranged and produced some of Japan’s top musicians
and supervised the musical aspects of the hit Japanese animated series Beck.
Kappa Mikey starts Friday September 22, 5.30pm and screens Fridays at 5.30pm and 6pm weekends on Nickelodeon NZ, Channel
35,SKY Digital
www.nicknz.co.nz
ENDS