Nickelodeon Releases First Episode Of New Nicktoon 'Max & The Midknights' On YouTube
Surprise! The newest Nicktoon already has an episode online several months before release.
Okay this time it happened for real, and this time with even less warning. Back in August, Nickelodeon teased the debut of a brand new Nicktoon on their Nicktoons YouTube channel. At the time it was the already-released pilot of Rock Paper Scissors, though they would start posting full individual episodes within the next few weeks, well before its official February post-Super Bowl premiere. Then came Sunday morning, when the full first episode of another new Nicktoon, Max & The Midknights, was posted to the same YouTube channel.
The episode upload's description reads “Welcome to the fantastical medieval kingdom of Max & The Midknights! 🌟Join Max, a determined 10-year-old girl with big dreams of becoming a knight, as she leads her friends on an epic adventure filled with excitement, bravery, and lots of fun. Together, they'll battle sword-wielding zombies, duel a malevolent sorceress, and even tame a fire-breathing dragon! Clever, kind, and seriously sassy, Max is always ready to lend a hand — or a sword — whenever anyone needs help.” Previously released synopses clarify that they live and adventure in the fantastical medieval kingdom of Byjovia. She’s a small girl with big ideas who will defy the status quo, fight for justice, and motivate everyone she meets with her feisty and fearless leadership.
The premiere comes at an awkward time, as Max & the Midknights is the second Nicktoons based on Lincoln Peirce’s work. The first was Big Nate, which was a Paramount+-original Nicktoon that was disappeared at the end of this past March with a bunch of other originals of the streamer and library Nickelodeon titles. At the time, it had aired two seasons and 36 episodes. The season was likely incomplete when the removal occurred. Notably, both properties share a singular art style from Peirce, but Max & the Midknights more faithfully brings it to their show.
For Max & The Midknights, the books were an already-ended trilogy by the time the animated series was announced. Peirce executive produces with Jane Startz, while Amy McKenna produces. Sharon Flynn and David Skelly serve as co-executive producers and showrunners, and are credited as developers. Flynn was also story editor. Nathan Schram, the Director of Development at Nickelodeon Animation, oversaw development. Taylor Bradbury and Tanya Melendez serve as associate producers, and the staff writers include Lindsay Katai, also of the recently-premiered The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, Gavin Laing, and Alec Schwimmer.
Having sat quiet as production went on, this surprise premiere meant that the cast hadn’t had a formal announcement. But hey even with the end credits in a cell on the end card they’re still visible. Max is voiced by nonbinary Blu del Barrio, best known as Star Trek: Discovery’s Adira Tal. King Gastley is voiced by The Loud House’s Brian Stepanek, Uncle Budrick by Jeremy Rowley, best known as iCarly’s Lewbert and Bunsen on Bunsen is a Beast, where Ben Giroux, who voiced lead Nate Wright on the Big Nate series, voiced Mikey, which means between both shows Peirce got both of the friend duo. Zeno Robinson, one of the newer ubiquitous figures of voice acting across anime and western cartoons, voices Simon, Caleb Yen voices Kevyn, and Saturday Night Live alum Melissa Villaseñor, who also stars on Rock Paper Scissors, voices Millie. Stepanek and Robinson also voice presumably incidental characters, as do Skelly, Oliver Vaquer, Kimberly Brooks (possibly), Sumalee Montano, Robbie Daymond, Fred Tatasciore, and India de Beaufort.
Ramsey Naito, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation’s President said in November 2021 when Max & The Midknights was originally ordered that it is “packed with relatable characters, hilarious escapades and rich, imaginative worlds… Translating the mega-popular Max & the Midknights from a book to television series is a creative undertaking that we can’t wait to dive into.” According to an Instagram post by Rowley’s wife, Danielle Morrow, who is probably best known for playing iCarly’s Nora Dershlit, the show will officially be premiering in the fall.
