Nickelodeon Greenlights Second Season of Hit Animated Preschool Series "Shimmer and Shine"

Additional 20 Episodes Feature Brand-New Characters Including an Evil Sorceress, Voiced by Actress Lacey Chabert, and New Magical Locales

First-Ever Shimmer and Shine Toy Line to Debut at New York Toy Fair

NEW YORK -- It's a wish come true for preschoolers as Nickelodeon greenlights a second season (20 episodes) of the hit animated series Shimmer and Shine. In season two, airing in June, twin genies-in-training Shimmer and Shine will embark on more magical adventures with their human best friend Leah, encounter brand-new characters and explore vibrant new locales in the land of Zahramay Falls. Shimmer and Shine features a social-emotional curriculum highlighting the importance of teamwork, resilience and overcoming obstacles. New season one premieres of Shimmer and Shine will continue to air on Nick throughout February and March. The series currently ranks #1 in its timeslot and airs regularly weekdays at 11 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon, which is the top network for preschoolers and kids 2-11.

The second season of Shimmer and Shine will introduce new characters, including Zeta (Lacey Chabert, Party of Five, Mean Girls), a power-hungry sorceress who uses potions and spells to scheme against the genies; Nazboo, Zeta's loyal pet dragon; Samira, a kind genie princess; Roya, Samira's beautiful pet peacock; and Kaz, Zac's new genie and friend. The new episodes feature CG animation and will be set entirely in the genie world of Zahramay Falls.

In the toy aisle, Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., will debut the first-ever Shimmer and Shine line at this year's New York Toy Fair. The collection includes basic and deluxe doll assortment and accessories; feature dolls such as Shimmer and Shine Wish & Spin and Shimmer and Shine Magic Flying Carpet. Products will be available nationwide in July.

Nickelodeon's Shimmer and Shine Enchanted Carpet Ride app, inspired by the series, helps preschoolers with basic math concepts, shapes, patterns and symmetry, all while taking a magic carpet ride through the land of Zahramay Falls. The app is available now on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. At launch, the app ranked #2 overall in the Educational Apps category on iTunes and in the top 10 Overall in the U.S.

Shimmer and Shine is created by Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz (post-production supervisor for Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go) and produced at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif.

Nickelodeon, now in its 36th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA, VIAB).