Timeline-GA/Nicktoons Jam

***Nicktoons Jam*** is a 2021 American live-action/animated sports action-comedy film produced by Nickelodeon Movies, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Seven Bucks Productions and The Story Company, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Tim Story, it is based on a screenplay by Tony Rettenmaier, Keegan Coogler, Terence Nance and Kevin Sullivan and based on a story by Rettenmaier, Coogler, Nance, Sullivan, Rob Renzetti, and Kyle Marshall.

Based on the 1996 Warner Bros. film *Space Jam* and the Nicktoons block of Nickelodeon, it stars Shaquille O'Neal, Dwayne Johnson, Lil' Bow Wow, Kevin Hart and Michael Caine, and features the voice talents of Tom Kenny, E. G. Daily, Asher Bishop, Izabella Alvarez, Janice Kawaye, Tara Strong, David Kaufman, Mason Vale Cotton, Debi Derryberry, John Kricfalusi, Billy West, Nolan North, Jakari Fraser, Traci Paige Johnson, Richard Steven Horvitz, Mr. Lawrence, Cheryl Chase, Cree Summer, Daran Norris, Danny Mann, Patrick Stewart, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Nat Faxon. In modern-day Australia, while on a vacation with his family, Shaquille O'Neal was at a local mall with his son Daniel, when he gets sent through a machine to the digital universe. Demanding to give his son back, Max A.I. Jordan challenges Shaq to a basketball game. With no other choice, Shaq agrees before getting sent into the Nickelodeon Toon-iverse, where all Nickelodeon cartoons thrive. Assembling a helpful team of Toons, Shaq labels the "Toon Squad". Sent back to Sydney, the Toon Squad is faced against the Doom Squad, led by his son Daniel.

*Nicktoons Jam* entered production in 2016. Originally to be directed by Steven Spielberg, Tim Story was hired to direct. Tony Rettenmaier, Keenan Coogler, Terence Nance and Kevin Sullivan wrote the screenplay, who also wrote the story with Rob Renzetti and Kyle Marshall. Dwayne Johnson of his Seven Bucks Productions company produced the film, and starred alongside Shaquille O'Neal. The writers took heavy inspiration from *Space Jam*, as the film was stylized as a sports film. The animation was produced by Rough Draft Studios, Wang Film Productions, Jam Filled Entertainment, Yeson Animation Studios, Saerom Animation, Carbunkle Cartoons Entertainment, Big Star Animation, PiP Animation Services, Reel FX Animation, WildBrain Studios, Brown Bag Films and Sunwoo Entertainment. The CGI animation for the characters in real-world sequences were produced by Industrial Light & Magic. Philip White and Christopher Lennertz composed the score.

*Nicktoons Jam* premiered at the Dolby Theater on August 11, 2021 before it was theatrically released in the United States on August 20, 2021, while also simultaneously streaming on Paramount+ for one month. It received mixed to positive reviews; critics praised the animation, visual effects, voice cast and musical score, though criticized the plot, screenplay, directorial by Tim Story, runtime, consistency, and the mass product placement for other Nickelodeon-related brands and products. It was a disappointment at the box office, grossing $285 million worldwide against its budget of $160 million.

## Cast

### Live-action cast

* Shaquille O'Neal as himself; O'Neal also voices his animated counterpart.
* Michael Caine as Max A.I. Jordan.
* Dwayne Johnson as Wilson, O'Neal's childhood friend.
* Lil' Bow Wow as Daniel O'Neal, Shaquille's son.
* Kevin Hart as himself.

*More coming soon!*

### Voice cast

#### Toon Squad

* Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants
* E. G. Daily as Tommy Pickles
* Asher Bishop as Lincoln Loud
* Izabella Alvarez as Ronnie Anne Santiago
* Janice Kawaye as Jenny Wakeman (XJ-9)
* Tara Strong as Timmy Turner
* David Kaufman as Danny Phantom
* Mason Vale Cotton as Arnold Shortman
* Debi Derryberry as Jimmy Neutron
* John Kricfalusi as Ren
* Billy West as Stimpy
* Nolan North as Blaze
* Jakari Fraser as AJ
* Traci Paige Johnson as Blue
* Richard Steven Horvitz as Zim

#### Doom Squad

* Mr. Lawrence as Plankton
* Cheryl Chase as Angelica Pickles
* Cree Summer as Vexus
* Daran Norris as Jorgen Von Strangle
* Danny Mann as Amorpho
* Patrick Stewart as King Goobot V
* Kevin Michael Richardson as Crusher
* Nat Faxon as Pickle

#### Additional

##### *SpongeBob SquarePants*

*Main article: List of SpongeBob SquarePants characters*
* Tom Kenny as Gary the Snail
* Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs
* Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star
* Rodger Bumpass as Squidward Tentacles
* Mr. Lawrence as Larry the Lobster
* Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks
* Jill Talley as Karen Plankton
* Lori Alan as Pearl Krabs

##### *Rugrats*

*Main article: List of Rugrats characters*
* Tara Charendoff as Dil Pickles
* Christine Cavanaugh (archive recordings; un-credited) and Jennifer Hale as Chuckie Finster
* Kath Soucie as Phil DeVille, Lil DeVille, Betty DeVille, Maddie Fenton
* Jack Riley as Stu Pickles
* Melanie Chartoff as Didi Pickles and Grandma Minka
* Michael Bell as Drew Pickles, Chas Finster, Grandpa Boris
* Tress MacNeille as Charlotte Pickles

##### *The Loud House*

*Main article: List of characters in The Loud House franchise*
* Catherine Taber as Lori Loud
* Liliana Mumy as Leni Loud
* Nika Futterman as Luna Loud
* Cristina Pucelli as Luan Loud
* Jessica DiCicco as Lynn Loud Jr., Lucy Loud
* Grey Griffin as Lana Loud, Lola Loud, Lily Loud
* Lara Jill Miller as Lisa Loud
* Jill Talley as Rita Loud
* Brian Stepanek as Lynn Loud Sr.
* Andre Robinson as Clyde McBride

##### *The Casagrandes*

* Carlos PenaVega as Bobby Santiago
* Sumalee Montano as Maria Santiago
* Eugenio Derbez as Arturo Santiago
* Sonia Manzano as Rosa Casagrande
* Ruben Garfias as Hector Casagrande
* Carlos Alazraqui as Carlos Casagrande
* Roxana Ortega as Frida Puga Casagrande
* Alexa PenaVega as Carlota Casagrande
* Jared Kozak as Carlos Jr. Casagrande
* Alex Cazares as Carlino Casagrande
* Cristina Milizia as Carlitos Casagrande
* Leah Mei Gold as Sid Chang
* Melissa Joan Hart as Becca Chang
* Ken Jeong as Stanley Chang
* Lexi Sexton as Adelaide Chang

##### *My Life as a Teenage Robot*

*Main article: List of My Life as a Teenage Robot characters*
* Candi Milo as Dr. Nora Wakeman
* Chad Doreck as Brad Carbunkle
* Audrey Wasilewski as Tuck Carbunkle
* Quinton Flynn as Sheldon Lee

##### *The Fairly OddParents*

*Main article: List of characters in The Fairly OddParents*
* Tara Strong as Poof
* Daran Norris as Cosmo, Mr. Turner
* Susanne Blakeslee as Wanda, Mrs. Turner
* Carlos Alazraqui as Denzel Crocker
* Maddie Taylor as Sparky
* Kari Wahlgren as Chloe Carmichael

##### *Danny Phantom*

*Main article: List of Danny Phantom characters*
* Grey Griffin as Sam Manson
* Rickey D'Shon Collins as Tucker Foley
* Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Jazz Fenton
* Rob Paulsen as Jack Fenton
* Kath Soucie as Maddie Fenton

##### *Hey Arnold!*

*Main article: List of Hey Arnold! characters*
* Francesca Marie Smith as Helga Pataki
* Benjamin Flores Jr. as Gerald Johanssen
* Anndi McAfee as Phoebe Heyerdahl
* Justin Shenkarow as Harold Berman
* Jet Jurgensmeyer as Stinky Peterson

##### *The Ren & Stimpy Show*

*Main article: List of Ren & Stimpy characters*
* John Kricfalusi as Mr. Horse
* Gary Owens as Powdered Toast Man
* Harris Peet as Muddy Mudskipper
* Billy West as Mr. Pipe
* Cheryl Chase as Mrs. Pipe
* Alan Young as Haggis MacHaggis

##### *The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius*

*Main article: List of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius characters*
* Rob Paulsen as Carl Wheezer
* Jeffrey Garcia as Sheen Estevez
* Carolyn Lawrence as Cindy Vortex
* Crystal Scales as Libby Folfax
* Frank Welker as Goddard
* Mark DeCarlo as Hugh Neutron
* Megan Cavanagh as Judy Neutron

##### *Blaze and the Monster Machines*

*Main article: Blaze and the Monster Machines*
* Luna Bella Zamora as Gabby
* Sunil Malhotra as Stripes
* Kate Higgins as Starla
* Alexander Polinsky as Darington
* James Patrick Stuart as Zeg
* Melanie Minichino as Watts
* Julieta Cortez as Sparkle
* Jeff Bennett as Bump Bumperman

##### *Blue's Clues and You!*

*Main article: List of characters in the Blue's Clues franchise*
* Diane Salema as Magenta
* Nick Balaban as Mr. Salt
* Gisèle Rousseau as Mrs. Pepper
* Ava Augustin as Tickety Tock
* Jacob Soley as Slippery Soap
* Shazdeh Kapadia as Sidetable Drawer
* Doug Murray as Mailbox

##### *Invader Zim*

*Main article: List of Invader Zim characters*
* Willy Wingert as Almighty Tallest Red
* Kevin McDonald as Almighty Tallest Purple
* Rosearik Rikki Simons as GIR
* Andy Berman as Dib
* Melissa Fahn as Gaz
* Lucille Bliss (archive recordings) and Betty White as Ms. Bitters
* Rodger Bumpass as Professor Membrane
* Olivia d'Abo as Tak
* Fred Tatasciore as Lard Nar
* Jim Wise as Sizz-Lorr

## Production

### Casting

Shaquille O'Neal was cast in the film as himself. He also provided the voice for his animated counterpart in the Nickelodeon Toon-iverse.

*More coming soon!*

### Filming

Principal photography commenced in Sydney, Australia. Additional filming commenced in Melbourne and Victoria.

### Animation and visual effects

The animation was provided by several services. The animation was provided by: Rough Draft Studios for *SpongeBob SquarePants* and *My Life as a Teenage Robot*; Wang Film Productions for *Rugrats*; Jam Filled Entertainment for *The Loud House* and *The Casagrandes*; Yeson Animation Studios for *The Fairly OddParents* and *Danny Phantom*; Saerom Animation for *Hey Arnold!*, Carbunkle Cartoons Entertainment, Big Star Animation and PiP Animation Services for *The Ren & Stimpy Show*; Reel FX Animation for *The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius*; WildBrain Studios for *Blaze and the Monster Machines*; Brown Bag Films for *Blue's Clues and You!*; and Sunwoo Entertainment for *Invader Zim*.

Both the CGI animation for the characters and the visual effects were provided by Lucasfilm's visual effects division, Industrial Light & Magic. Visual effects for the film were produced by DNEG. Additional CGI animation was produced by Moving Picture Company.

### Music

The film's soundtrack consists mainly of hip-hop, trance and electronic music from artists that include 24kGoldn, Panic! at the Disco, Bruno Mars, 21 Savage, Kendrick Lamar, Young Thug, Snoop Dogg, Iann Dior, Nicki Minaj, Jack Harlow, Rick Ross, Skrillex, Future, Ludacris, Drake, André 3000, Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, Jay-Z, Common, Coolio, Eminem, Daft Punk, Lil Yachty, Pharrell Williams, Marshmello, 50 Cent, Xzibit, Sueco, and Lil Wayne.

Originally, James Newton Howard was to compose the film's music, who had previously composed the score for *Space Jam*. However, plans changed when Christopher Lennertz was hired to compose the score. Philip White joined Lennertz to compose the score. The scoring sessions took place at Sonic Fuel Studios in El Segundo, California. The album, which contains the songs and the musical score, was released through NEON16/Interscope Records on August 20, 2021, coinciding with the film's release.

## Release

### Theatrical

*Nicktoons Jam* was originally set to be released on December 25, 2020, but was delayed to August 2021 due to production complications. After having held its premiere at the Dolby Theater on August 11, 2021, *Nicktoons Jam* was theatrically released on August 20, 2021 in the United States by Paramount Pictures. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in other countries, *Nicktoons Jam* was simultaneously streamed on the Paramount+ streaming service for one month exclusively with no additional cost to subscribers. The film was rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for "cartoon violence, rude humor, some mild language and some frightening images".

### Marketing

For the promotional campaign of the film, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon partnered with McDonald's to promote an eight-figure collection set that was included in the company's trademark Happy Meal products. Additionally, Hasbro partnered with Paramount and Nickelodeon to promote their products themed to symbolize the film.

The film's first teaser trailer was shown on November 11, 2020. The first official release trailer premiered on February 3, 2021. A special 7-minute short film, titled *Jenny Wakeman's Tech Troubles*, premiered on March 31, 2021 before the official release of *Godzilla vs. Kong*.

### Home media

*Nicktoons Jam* was released digitally on September 19, 2021, before it was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray Disc and DVD on October 28, 2021 by Paramount Home Entertainment. The home media releases include:

* Audio commentary
* The short film *Jenny Wakeman's Tech Troubles*
* *The Beginning*
* *The Voices*
* *The Music*
* *The Scoring*
* Dolby Atmos 5.1 audio

## Reception

### Box office

*Nicktoons Jam* opened on August 20, 2021 alongside *The Protégé*, *The Night House*, *Reminiscence*, and *PAW Patrol: The Movie*, with $29.7 million at the box office. Throughout its theatrical run, it grossed $104 million in the United States and Canada, and $181 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $285 million. Against a $160 million production budget, *Nicktoons Jam* failed both domestically and internationally, and was declared a box office disappointment after projections concluded on February 14, 2022. The film's poor box office performance was partly blamed due to the film's simultaneous streaming release on Paramount+.

### Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 47% of 294 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.15/10. The website's consensus reads: "Shaquille O'Neal steals the show in the latest live-action/animated film installment, but *Nicktoons Jam* is so uninteresting that its partly unfunny humor and IP-driven branding makes for a boring movie." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 60 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

*More coming soon!*