Lagos|Nigeria: Nickelodeon (DStv channel 305) is giving audiences a gift this holiday season with the debut of Albert, an original animated TV movie about a tiny Douglas fir tree who goes on a journey to become the city’s most famous Christmas tree ever.
Premiering on Nickelodeon on Sunday 25 December at 11:10 CAT, Albert for the Holidays is a heartwarming holiday tale that stars the comedic voice talent of Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) in the title role alongside Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live), Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) and Rob Riggle (21 Jump Street).
“Albert is in the great tradition of classic feelgood holiday stories, and we’re thrilled that it is the first original animated TV movie Nickelodeon has ever made,” said Tasania Parsadh, Senior Channel Director, Nickelodeon Africa. “Between the hilarious voice cast and the quirky animation, Albert is a great movie for kids and families to enjoy this holiday season.”
Albert for the Holidays is the story of a tiny Douglas fir tree named Albert, who has big dreams of becoming Empire City’s most famous Christmas tree. When the search for this year’s tree is announced, Albert believes he has found his calling and hits the road with his two best friends, Maisie (Zamata) – a persistently positive palm tree – and Gene (Friedlander) – an abrasive and blisteringly honest weed – to fulfill his destiny. With a few prickly situations along the way, and Cactus Pete (Riggle) out to stop him, Albert learns the true meaning of Christmas. The hour-long TV movie will also feature two original songs, “The Best Thing That Can Happen to Christmas” and “Christmasiest Christmas”, performed by the voice cast.
Additional cast members include the voices of: Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live) as a TV news correspondent; Breanna Yde (School of Rock) as Molly, Earth Mama’s granddaughter; John DiMaggio (Adventure Time) as Donny, Molly’s father; and Mary Pat Gleason (Mom) as Earth Mama, the owner and caretaker of the nursery.
Albert is directed by Oscar®-nominated Max Lang (The Gruffalo), executive produced by Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi (The Adventures of Pete & Pete), and written by Will and Aaron Eisenberg (The Massively Mixed-Up Middle School Mystery), and Joe Stillman (Shrek).
For another chance to watch Albert for the Holidays, tune into Nickelodeon on 31 December at 15:40 CAT and on 1 January 2017 at 09:30 CAT.
A LAIF Managing Board was also instituted after its maiden edition. The board was given a three-year mandate to oversee to the effective planning of the festival. Today, the board is headed by Ikechi Odigbo while CEO X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko occupies the vice-chairman position.
Speaking on the festival programme, Chairman LAIF Managing Board, Ikechi Odigbo remarked. “The committee has done excellently well in planning this unique landmark of LAIF. We are celebrating a decade of consistency and integrity and it is our delight that the creative industry is celebrated in this manner.” {fcomments}