Pilots picked up by other Networks
by cameroniacono | created - 10 Mar 2021 | updated - 23 Apr 2021 | PublicI'm very interested in whenever a pilot get's picked up by a network or studio other than the one it was originally produced for or by, hope it becomes a business tactic entertainment studios do more often.
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1. Twelve Forever (2015 TV Short)
Animation, Short, Comedy
An enthusiastic young girl who doesn't want to grow up creates a fantastic world for herself where she never has to.
Stars: Kelsy Abbott, Steve Agee, Matt Berry, Jorge Diaz
Votes: 204
Twelve Forever (The most recent popular example) was made by CN studios in 2015 but CN didn't do anything with the pilot so The Cartel and Puny Entertainment were able to pick it up and produce a full season for Netflix.
2. Twelve Forever (2019)
TV-Y7 | Animation, Action, Adventure
Reggie's dream is to be a kid forever. Her dream is so powerful that it creates its own fantasy world of perpetual youth.
Stars: Jaylen Barron, Antony Del Rio, Kelsy Abbott, Spencer Rothbell
Votes: 791
3. Pinky Malinky (2018–2019)
TV-Y7 | 12 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
This fly-on-the wall reality show follows the life of Pinky, an infectiously positive hot dog living in the human world.
Stars: Danny Jacobs, Lucas Grabeel, Nathan Kress, Diamond White
Votes: 1,401
Pinky Malinky was an early production made by CN studios Europe in 2009. CNSE ultimately went on to develop Gumball but in 2015 Nickelodeon announced that they green-lite for a full series. It now has 3 season on Netflix.
4. Super Why! (2007–2016)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
A group of characters who live at a library turn into superheroes and then go into books; using early reading skills to save the day. They later use a problem from the story one of them faced and apply it to their own lives.
Stars: Tajja Isen, Siera Florindo, Zachary Bloch, Nicholas Castel Vanderburgh
Votes: 1,159
Super Why was first pitched to Nick JR in 1999, but was rejected. Super Why was later made a full series on PBS kids in 2007.
5.
Shorty McShorts' Shorts (2006–2007)
Episode:
She Zow
(2007)
TV-G | Animation, Short, Adventure
A fifteen year-old boy, named Guy, accidentally becomes a superhero but the ring that gives him his superpowers was only meant to be worn by a woman. And now the ring is stuck on Guy's ... See full summary »
Director: Obie Scott Wade | Stars: Jason Earles, Emily Osment, Tyler Posey, Obie Scott Wade
Votes: 11
Shezow was part of Disney Channel's Shorty Mc Short Shorts anthology, Disney didn't pick up any of the 13 pilots and Shezow was picked up five years later on The Hub Network.
6. SheZow (2012–2013)
TV-Y7-FV | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The adventures of a boy bonded to a magic ring that turns him into a female superhero.
Stars: Sam Vincent, Matt Hill, Diana Kaarina, Jacquie Brennan
Votes: 605
7. Monster Pack (2014)
TV-Y7-FV | 2 min | Animation, Short
A teenaged boy named Morty owns an interdimensional backpack. The world is put in danger after he pulls a cute, but planet-devouring monster from it.
Directors: Pedro Eboli, Graham Peterson | Stars: Josh Keaton, Scott Menville
Ollie's Pack's pilot (Monster Pack 2013) was made by Nick animation & does air on Nickelodeon but the show was picked up by Nelvana and they produce it.
8. Ollie's Pack (2020– )
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
Produced by Nelvana, "Ollie's Pack" is an action-comedy about 13-year-old Ollie. Together with his friends Cleo and Bernie and monster trainer Captain Wowski, Ollie protects and controls a backpack portal to the Monster Realm.
Stars: James Hartnett, Cory Doran, Leigh Cameron, Naomi Snieckus
Votes: 164
9.
The Boondocks (2005–2014)
Episode:
Unaired Pilot
(2005)
TV-MA | 6 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Stars: Alicia Keys, Regina King, Gabby Soleil, Jill Talley
Votes: 97
The Boondocks was made for the Fox Network but it was declined from the green-lite for being too out there for television. Mike Lazzlo Adult Swim's president at the time got in contact with the creator Aaron McGruder and picked it for a 15 episode season & made it less Networky.
10. The Boondocks (2005–2014)
TV-MA | 22 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Brothers Huey and Riley Freeman experience a culture clash when they leave Chicago to move in with their grandfather in the suburbs.
Stars: Regina King, John Witherspoon, Gary Anthony Williams, Cedric Yarbrough
Votes: 35,758
11. Kappa Mikey (2006–2008)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Parody of Japanese anime, featuring a guy named Mikey who travels to Japan to star in an anime, where he discovers his new co-stars are all basically walking anime clichés.
Stars: Jesse Adams, Michael Sinterniklaas, Sean Schemmel, Gary Littman
Votes: 1,229
Kappa Mikey was rejected by MTV, then picked up by the Noggin then after a few reworkings it found its way onto Nicktoons Network.
12.
Random! Cartoons (2007–2009)
Episode:
Adventure Time
(2008)
TV-Y7 | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Pen and his trusty dog, Jake, have their peaceful day interrupted when they discover that Princess Bubblegum has been kidnapped by the Evil Ice King. They immediately come to her aid. What time is it? Adventure time.
Directors: Larry Leichliter, Hugo L. Morales, Pendleton Ward | Stars: Zack Shada, John DiMaggio, Paige Moss, John Kassir
Votes: 448
This is likely the most popular example of this, being turned down by Nick (Twice) it in 2008. CN was able to work with Frederator to green-lite it into the first show of the CN renaissance.
13. Adventure Time (2010–2018)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A 12-year-old boy and his best friend, a wise 28-year-old dog with magical powers, go on a series of surreal adventures in a remote future.
Stars: John DiMaggio, Jeremy Shada, Tom Kenny, Hynden Walch
Votes: 112,447
14.
Random! Cartoons (2007–2009)
Episode:
The Bravest Warriors
(2009)
TV-Y7 | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The Bravest Warriors embark on a difficult mission to save a planet from a Tickle Monster.
Directors: Randy Myers, Pendleton Ward | Stars: Dan Finnerty, Polly Lou Livingston, Noah Nelson, Rob Paulsen
Votes: 35
Bravest Warriors was turned down by Nick like Pendleton Ward's other pilot Adventure Time, but since BW had similarities to the behemoth hit AT it was picked up by Frederator to start off it's web animation venture.
15. Bravest Warriors (2009–2018)
TV-PG | 5 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Four teenage heroes-for-hire warp through the universe to save adorable aliens and their worlds using the power of their emotions.
Stars: Liliana Mumy, John Omohundro, Ian Jones-Quartey, Graeme Jokic
Votes: 3,698
16.
What a Cartoon! (1995–2002)
Episode:
Mina and the Count: Interlude with a Vampire
(1995)
TV-Y | Animation, Short, Action
A vampire count must entertain a little girl for one night.
Director: Rob Renzetti | Stars: Michael Bell, Mark Hamill, Jeff Bennett, Ashley Johnson
Votes: 56
Mina and the count: while never picked up for a full series it was a one shot short on CN's What a Cartoon show but found its way on Nickelodeon's Oh Yeah Cartoons as a series of shorts.
17.
Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998–2002)
Episode:
Hovig and Maria: The End/Girl Twins/Mina and the Count: Girl Is Count
TV-Y7 | Animation, Short, Action
18. The Proud Family (2001–2005)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Follow the adventures and misadventures of Penny Proud as she does her best to navigate through the early years of teend-dom.
Stars: Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Jo Marie Payton, Paula Jai Parker
Votes: 8,437
Proud Family's pilot was pitched to Nickelodeon in 1998 & while executives liked it a year later it was passed on, Later in 2001 Disney Channel picked up the series.
19. A Kitty Bobo Show (2001 TV Short)
TV-Y7 | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Kitty Bobo wants to prove that he is cool by getting a cell phone. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be receiving many important calls, thereby reducing his cool factor, so he begins to ... See full summary »
Director: Kevin Kaliher | Stars: Dante Basco, Miriam Flynn, Quinton Flynn, Nick Jameson
Votes: 108
While A kitty Bobo show was ultimately just a one shot episode but was close to becoming a full series sometime in the 2000's when The pilot was optioned by The Walt Disney Company before being turned down.
20. The Problem Solverz (2011–2013)
TV-PG | 11 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The bizarre adventures of a group of bumbling detectives.
Stars: Ben Jones, Kyle Kaplan, John DiMaggio, George Takei
Votes: 2,292
Problem Solvers was pitched to Adult Swim with it's pilot Neon Knome it was turned down for "looking too cute" it was picked up and re-tooled by CN.
21.
The Problem Solverz (2011–2013)
Episode:
Neon Knome
(2011)
Not Rated | 11 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Horace, Alfe and Roba try to destroy a giant roller blade that appeared on their yard, but eventually end up getting lost in the forest.
Director: Ben Jones | Stars: Chris Anderson, Brian Gibson, Ben Jones, Alyson Levy
Votes: 39
22. Planet Panic (2016 TV Short)
TV-PG | 3 min | Animation, Short, Action
On Planet Panic, giant monsters roaming the city are as normal as morning traffic, explosions are almost everywhere and the crime rate is high. Meet Pibbles, a young hero in training, and ... See full summary »
Director: Gene Goldstein | Stars: Gene Goldstein, Bob Strang
Votes: 47
Planet panic was turned down by Nick but the rights to it are still owned by the creator Gene Goldstien (could be because it was based on his web-comic though I'm not 100% sure on that), meaning it can be pitched elsewhere.
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