Nicktoons

Nicktoons is the brand name used by Nickelodeon for their original animated series. All Nicktoons are produced partly at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio and list Nickelodeon's parent company (Paramount Global) in their copyright bylines.

Evolution of Nickelodeon

1977	First Pinwheel broadcast on Qube
1979	Nickelodeon is launched by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment
1984	A&E merges two networks onto Nickelodeon's prime time schedule
1985	Launch of prime time and overnight programming through Nick at Nite with A&E's spin-off to 24-hour operation
1986	Viacom acquires network parent MTV Networks
1987	The first Big Ballot, which would became the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
1988	Nick Jr. launches in mornings
1990	Opening of Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios Florida
1991	The first Nicktoons premiere
1992	SNICK, the network's Saturday night block, begins Nickelodeon Animation Studio is founded
1993	Nickelodeon UK debuts
1994	Nickelodeon launches The Big Help
1995	Nick.com is launched
1996	First theatrical release by Nickelodeon Movies
1999	Noggin, a joint venture with CTW launches SpongeBob SquarePants premieres
2000	Nickelodeon on CBS airs from 2000–2006
2001	TEENick is launched
2002	The N is launched on Noggin and the Nicktoons channel is launched Sesame Workshop sells their stake in Noggin to Viacom
2005	SNICK shuts down Nickelodeon Studios closes
2007	Nick GAS shuts down, The N takes over its channel space
2009	Nickelodeon acquires the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise TEENick and The N merged to create TeenNick, Noggin is replaced by the Nick Jr. Channel
2010	Nickelodeon begins co-producing the Winx Club franchise
2012	NickMom is launched overnights on the Nick Jr. Channel
2015	NickMom closes Noggin relaunches as a streaming service
2016	NickMusic launches
2021	NFL on Nickelodeon premieres in partnership with CBS Sports
2024	Noggin streaming service is shut down
2025	Closure of international Nickelodeon websites
v t e

Since its launch in the late 1970s, Nickelodeon's schedule incorporated animation produced by other companies. The channel did not invest in its own original cartoon series until 1989 when producer Vanessa Coffey visited Los Angeles to accept pitches from local animators. Geraldine Laybourne, the channel's then-president, greenlit three pitches for full series: Doug, Rugrats, and The Ren & Stimpy Show. On August 11, 1991, the three cartoons premiered as part of a 90-minute block, becoming the first branded Nicktoons. In contrast to the merchandise-based cartoons that dominated the 1980s animation industry, Vanessa Coffey and Geraldine Laybourne agreed that the Nicktoons should be creator-driven: based on original characters designed by animators.

The first Nicktoons debuted to financial success, convincing Viacom to invest in original animated shows for its other network MTV. Until 1998, Nickelodeon's animation division operated out of a rented office complex in Studio City, California. Production moved to an individual building in nearby Burbank on March 4, 1998. Among the first shows produced at this new facility was SpongeBob SquarePants, which by 2004 had become the most profitable Nickelodeon program. In 2002, a cable channel also called Nicktoons was launched, followed by multiple international versions. Several original shows have premiered new episodes on the channel.

In the early 2010s, Nickelodeon debuted the first two Nicktoons based on preexisting TV franchises, as opposed to new characters: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Winx Club. These two revamped shows were developed at Nickelodeon Animation Studio following Viacom's purchases of both properties. In 2019, Nick Animation debuted its first streaming-exclusive Nicktoon, Pinky Malinky, which was released on Netflix rather than television. Several months later, the studio announced a multi-year deal to produce animated content for Netflix, including new properties and spin-offs of previous Nicktoons.