6teen

Infobox Television
show_name=6teen


caption=From left to right: Nicky, Jude, Jen, Wyatt, Caitlin, and Jonesy.
genre=Animated sitcom
voices=Brooke D'Orsay
Stacey DePass
Megan Fahlenbock
Jess Gibbons
Terry McGurrin
Christian Potenza
Jamie Watson
country=flag|Canada
language=English, French,Dutch,Polish
num_seasons=3 (with a 4th now in production)
num_episodes=78, plus 2 one-hour specials as of April 25, 2008 (List of episodes)
producer=
executive_producer=
runtime=21 minutes (not including commercials)
network=Teletoon
first_aired=November 4 2004
last_aired=present
website=http://www.teletoon.com/teletoon3/teletoon.php?language=en&brand=teletoon&init=chunk&func=php|templates/show.php|/tv/6teen/6teen_en.xml&xVar=
imdb_id=0439341
tv_com_id=32191

"6teen" is an animated Canadian sitcom created by Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis for Teletoon as one of its original productions. It is set in the fictional "Galleria Shopping Mall", and follows an ensemble cast of six sixteen-year-old friends as they explore their first part-time jobs and lives as teenagers. The show has been dubbed in French in the Canadian province of Quebec and is currently airing on Télétoon (the French language alter-ego of Teletoon). The show was also played in the United States on Nickelodeon, though originally on Nick.com's TurboNick before it hit American television screens. However, Nickelodeon eventually canceled the show without any warning. Currently, Studio 23 in the Philippines is also airing the show every Sunday at 6pm. The show is also aired in Poland, Finland and Belgium. Also aired in Russia on 2x2. In Australia it has been a huge hit on ABC2.

Since its debut on November 4, 2004, the program has aired seventy-eight episodes over three seasons, as well as two one-hour specials. The finale to season three aired on April 25, 2008.

A Nelvana Limited production, the series' characters are voiced by young Canadian actors, and the show continues to draw positive response, with critical reception from sources like the Pucinella Awards and the Alliance for Children and Television.cite web|author=Corus Entertainment|url=http://www.corusent.com/corporate/press_room/pressReleaseDetail.asp?id=821|title=Corus Entertainment - News Releases|accessdate=2007-06-13|date=2005-04-14] cite web|author=|url=http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews_Entertainment_Shorts:_June_2%2C_2007|title=ACT kids TV awards handed out in Toronto, Canada|accessdate=2007-06-13|date=2007-06-02]

Production

"6teen" is produced by Nelvana Limited, and created through the use of a 2D digital software known as Harmony, which was developed by the Toon Boom animation studio in Montreal.cite web|author=|url=http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/common_scripts/prv2/print_version.asp?ID=2502|title=6teen Press Release|accessdate=2007-06-13|date=2004-10-12] Because this software ensures smoother animation and eliminates the need for black trace lines, the program can be fashioned entirely on computer without the use of paper.

The style of writing on "6teen" is aimed at preteens and teens. "6teen" is scripted by a team of writers which includes series creators Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis, Sean Cullen ("The Sean Cullen Show"), Terry McGurrin ("Comedy Inc - Canadian TV Series" as well as the voice of George Westerholm on "This Hour Has 22 Minutes"). To formulate ideas regarding subject matter, Pertsch and McGillis interviewed students and took regular trips to the Eaton Centre in Toronto to observe teenage behavior. On the subject of their work, McGillis concludes:

"Our biggest goal was to connect with our audience. What surprised us was not the fact that kids were watching adult sitcoms, but why they were watching them. They recognize and appreciate smart writing. So, although "6teen"'s subject matter is aimed at kids, the writing style is classic sitcom, with fast-paced dialogue, and multiple plot lines."

Principal character designs were done by Faruk Cemalovic.

Original music is composed by Don Breithaupt and Anthony Vanderburgh.

The original working title for this series was "The Mall", before finally settling with "6teen".

There are seven main cast members who voice "6teen". Brooke D'Orsay performs the voice of Caitlin, while Stacey DePass performs the voice of Nikki. Megan Fahlenbock plays Jen, Jess Gibbons voices Wyatt, and Terry McGurrin and Christian Potenza take the roles of Jonesy and Jude, respectively. Jamie Watson provides the voices of Coach Halder and Ron the Rent-a-cop.

tory

The story of "6teen" takes place, for the most part, in the "Galleria Mall" (likely based after a mix of The West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping mall in North America, and The Toronto Eaton Centre) . The series details the exploits of a group of sixteen-year-old friends – Jonesy Garcia, Nikki Wong, Jude Lizowski, Jen Masterson, Wyatt Williams, and Caitlin Cooke – as they make their way through life. Recurring plot lines focus on the search for employment and the workplace in general, social acceptance, as well as keeping up with the educational system.

Episodes

Currently, three seasons of the show have been produced and aired, with a fourth season now in production. At the end of the first season, on October 23 2005, Teletoon aired an hour-long special entitled "Dude of the Living Dead". Similarly, on December 1 2006, another special entitled "Snow Job" completed the second season. Breanne Wolkowski of Oxbow, Saskatchewan was given a guest role in the latter for winning the network's "Catch Your Big Break" contest. [cite web|author=Teletoon|url=http://www.teletoon.com/teletoon3/teletoon.php?language=En&brand=teletoon&init=php&func=php|/tv/6teen/catchYourBigBreak.php|0|title=CATCH YOUR BIG BREAK ON TELETOON|accessdate=2007-06-13|date=]

Six DVDs are available, each containing three episodes from the first season. [cite web|author=Teletoon|url=http://www.teletoon.com/teletoon3/teletoon.php?language=En&brand=teletoon&init=php&func=php|/teletoon3/templates/teletoonPresents.php|0|title=TELETOON PRESENTS...6TEEN ON DVD|accessdate=2007-06-13|date=] "Take This Job and Squeeze It" was the first to be released on December 13, 2005, followed by "Employee Of The Month," "Idol Time at the Mall," and "Deck the Mall" on April 11, July 4, and November 6, 2006. "Stupid Over Cupid" was released in mid-January 2007, and "Sushi Connection" on May 15, 2007. A DVD box set of the first 13 episodes of Season One, "6teen: The Complete First Season", was released on November 13, 2007. [cite web|author=Teletoon|url=http://www.teletoon.com/teletoon3/teletoon.php?language=En&brand=teletoon&init=php&func=php|/teletoon3/templates/teletoonPresents.php|0|title=TELETOON PRESENTS...6TEEN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON on DVD|accessdate=2007-11-23|date=]

Reception

"6teen" has been generally well-received by viewers. In the Winter/Spring of 2005, the program ranked among Teletoon's Top 10 for children ages six to eleven in both English and French markets. It was also the only Canadian production to be nominated for a Pulcinella Award in 2005 under "TV Series for All Audiences". Furthermore, on June 2, 2007, "6teen" received an award from the Alliance for Children and Television for being the best of children's television to fall under the age group of nine to fourteen-years that year. Carole Bonneau, vice-president in charge of Teletoon's programming, has remarked about "6teen":

"Aesthetically appealing, with an upbeat musical score, combined with its power to invite empathy from kids towards the main characters, Teletoon is delivering a series that is a perfect match for tweens and teens of today."

Live-Action Movie

The script is being written by the creators. the casting will commence in late 2008 and principal photography will be set to begin in Fall 2009. [ [http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=freshtv021308.htm Fresh TV to Develop Live-Action Film for TELETOON’s 6Teen] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.teletoon.com/teletoon3/teletoon.php?language=en&brand=teletoon&init=chunk&func=php|templates/show.php|/tv/6teen/6teen_en.xml&xVar= Teletoon's official "6teen" page]
*imdb title|id=0439341
*tv.com show | id=32191 | title=6teen