Big Nate (TV series)

Big Nate is an American animated television series developed by Mitch Watson and based on the comic strip and book series of the same name by Lincoln Peirce. It follows the adventures of the titular protagonist, alongside his friends, in sixth grade. The executive producers are Mitch Watson and John Cohen. Peirce is also collaborating with the producers for the show. The show premiered on Paramount+ on February 17, 2022. In March 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on July 7, 2023.

On March 28, 2024, the series was removed from Paramount+ as part of a "strategic decision to focus on content with mass global appeal". However, most episodes of the show are still available to purchase on digital platforms.

Premise
Big Nate follows the adventures and misadventures of Nate Wright, a semi-incompetent, spirited, and rebellious sixth-grader. His friend group includes Francis, Teddy, Chad, and Dee Dee. Nate hates social studies teacher Mrs. Godfrey, whom he considers his nemesis and calls her names like "the school's Godzilla", and tends to run afoul of her, the firm Principal Nichols, and the aging science teacher Mr. Galvin. At home, Nate lives with his single father Martin and older sister Ellen.

Characters

 * Nate Wright (voiced by Ben Giroux), a semi-incompetent, spirited, rebellious 11-year old sixth-grader, who loves to pull pranks and draw cartoons.
 * Ellen Wright (voiced by Dove Cameron), Nate's girly antagonistic older sister who is responsible and mature.
 * Martin Wright (voiced by Rob Delaney), the clueless single father of Nate and Ellen.
 * Teddy Ortiz (voiced by Arnie Pantoja), one of Nate's friends in his friend group who is comedic and loves to tell jokes and annoy Nate. He is half-Mexican-American, and half-Puerto-Rican.
 * Chad Applewhite (voiced by Charlie Schlatter), one of Nate's friends in his friend group, who is a red-headed chubby kid who loves food.
 * Principal Nichols (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson), the African-American principal at P.S. 38.
 * Mrs. Godfrey (voiced by Carolyn Hennesy), Nate's social studies teacher and arch-nemesis.
 * Francis Pope (voiced by Daniel MK Cohen), one of Nate's friends in his friend group, who is smart and intelligent.
 * Dee Dee Holloway (voiced by Bryce Charles), one of Nate's friends in his friend group, who is African-American, and the president of the school's drama club. She is also the only girl in his friend group.

Release
The series was originally planned to premiere on Nickelodeon in September 2021. However, in December 2021, with the casting, it was announced that it would premiere on Paramount+ in early 2022, later specified as February 17. On August 3, 2022, it was announced that nine new episodes would release on Paramount+ on August 19, 2022. The series began airing on Nickelodeon on September 5, 2022.

Production
In 1991, the first year the Big Nate comic was published, Peanuts executive producer Lee Mendelson purchased the option from Lincoln Peirce to make an animated Big Nate television series for Saturday-morning cartoons at NBC; Peirce "was paid $5,000 to write a quote-on-quote bible describing the characters and outlining a few story ideas". However, the day after this deal was finalized, all NBC Saturday-morning cartoons were cancelled, sending the series into development hell.

On February 19, 2020, Nickelodeon announced an animated Big Nate series. Nickelodeon's executive vice president of animation production and development, Ramsey Ann Naito, stated that she had wanted to adapt the Big Nate book series into an animated series for a long time.

On March 24, 2022, the series was renewed for a second season of 10 episodes. On August 3, 2022, it was announced that 10 additional episodes were ordered for the second season. On June 22, 2023, it was announced that the second season would premiere on July 7, 2023. With the show's removal from Paramount+ on March 28, 2024, the release of Season 2's 10 additional episodes is unknown.

Critical response
Ashley Moulton from Common Sense Media gave the series three-out-of-five stars, stating "like the book series the show is based on, the TV show is likely to be loved by kids and to divide parents."