Deer Squad Landing on Nick in the U.S.

Nickelodeon is set to premiere the CG-animated series Deer Squad in the U.S. following the series’ successful run overseas. 

As a result of a partnership between China’s iQIYI, Nickelodeon International and VIS KIDS, a division of ViacomCBS International Studios, Deer Squad will bow on Nickelodeon in the U.S. on January 25 in the preschool block. The series will continue to air regularly on weekdays at 9 a.m.

The adventure-rescue show follows four deer friends—Kai, Lola, Bobbi and Rammy—who protect the animals of Central Forest and the humans who inhabit the futuristic Platinum City. The deer summon their special Planet Powers of water (Kai), wood (Lola), earth (Bobbi) and sun (Rammy) to solve problems in the midst of trouble.

Nickelodeon International aired Deer Squad across Asia in August 2020, including iQIYI’s platform in China, and premiered in Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. later in the year. The series is scheduled to air in Europe and Africa in March 2021. Deer Squad is currently in production for a second season. 

Nina Hahn, head of VIS KIDS and senior VP of production and development for Nickelodeon International, said: “We first partnered with iQIYI on the series with a worldwide audience in mind. We’re incredibly proud to see this original preschool series become the first Nickelodeon International global Chinese-originated collaborative project, as we further our commitment to developing kids-first content from around the world.” 

Yang Xiaoxuan, VP of iQIYI and head of original animation and investment, said: “Deer Squad is a major breakthrough for iQIYI’s development of original children’s animation, creatively supervised by Nickelodeon International. We appreciate Nickelodeon’s international broadcasting strategy on the show, and it is great news that we have achieved number one in viewership in many regions. We hope that there will be more Chinese original animations to go international.”