Universal Kids Readies American Ninja Warrior Junior Season Two

Universal Kids is set to premiere the second season of the Daytime Emmy-nominated American Ninja Warrior Junior next month.

Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila are slated to return, alongside new co-host Paralympic Gold Medalist Victoria Arlen. The series sees more than 140 boys and girls from across the U.S. face off on head-to-head courses. Season two is set to air on Saturday, February 22, at 7 p.m.

The kids compete in three age brackets: 9 and 10, 11 and 12, and 13 and 14 years old. The junior ninjas will compete alongside the reigning champions and a few fan favorites from season one. New to the course for season two are ten iconic American Ninja Warrior obstacles, including the Shrinking and Floating Steps, the Little Dipper, Spider Walls, Double Tilt Ladders, Crazy Cliffhanger, the Block Run, Flying Squirrel, Wingnuts and Skyhooks.

Each age group will be coached by All-Star Ninja mentors including Najee Richardson and Barclay Stockett (9 and 10 age group); Jessie Graff and Grant McCartney (11 and 12 age group); and Drew Drechsel and Meagan Martin (13 and 14 age group).

In an exciting new twist this season, there will be four wildcard races per age bracket, where the two fastest ninjas eliminated from the previous qualifiers will have another chance to move into the quarterfinals. Three final winners (one per age bracket) will ultimately be crowned American Ninja Warrior Junior champions.

The American Ninja Warrior series is based on the global hit Sasuke from Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, which has had 36 seasons in Japan. The series is executive produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions Founders Arthur Smith and Kent Weed, along with Matt Cahoon.

The season premiere episode will be available on Universal Kids’ YouTube and digital platforms prior to the on-air premiere.