We have been following the creation of the animated series Super Duper Bunny League for a while now, so when we had the opportunity to speak to Jonny Belt and Robert Scull about the show, we hopped on the chance. You see, Super Duper Bunny League has the animation style that we just love, along with a cast of heroes and villains that has us excited. We loved being able to talk to Jonny Belt and Robert Scull about the show and we are looking forward to seeing some of the toys that show up! If you just can’t wait make sure to head over to the Nick Jr. YouTube channel to watch some of the episodes or just wait for them to show up on Nickelodeon April 19th.
For over 25 years, Jonny Belt and Robert Scull have been shaping the landscape of children’s television with their signature blend of heart, humor, and high-quality visuals. Their impact on children’s entertainment has not gone unnoticed—collectively, their work has
earned eight Emmy Awards, a prestigious Peabody Award, and two Annie Awards, among others. Their latest project, Super Duper Bunny League, which they developed and executive produced, continues their tradition of creating irresistible characters and exciting stories that kids love.
BSCKIDS INTERVIEW WITH JONNY BELT & ROBERT SCULL
Executive Producers of Super Duper Bunny League
Premiering Saturday, April 19 at 9:30 AM ET on Nickelodeon
BSCKids: How did Super Duper Bunny League come about? Were you fans of the series by Jamie Smart?
Executive Producers Jonny Belt and Robert Scull: The books were originally called Super Hero Bunny League and when Eryk (Casemiro) and Ramsey (Naito) asked us to develop it, we loved everything about them – the writing, the characters, and Jamie Smart’s art. His thick/thin line work and bold color choices were perfect for animation. There was such a great mix of warmth, energy, and absurdity—which is exactly what we hope we bring to everything we do!
How closely did you work with Jamie? How is the animated series like the comic book series and also different?
Jamie was incredibly supportive from the start. Even though he’s a busy and (very) prolific author and illustrator, he took the time to collaborate with us in a way that was meaningful and inspiring. We’d send him lists of villain names we thought were funny, and sure enough, he’d send back these amazing sketches. They were hugely helpful in the shaping of the Bunnies’ world. When you’re adapting someone’s original work, you always hope they’re happy with where you take it. So when we’d send Jamie episodes and he’d respond with enthusiasm, it was a huge boost. Those emails got us through some tough production weeks for sure.
What makes Super Duper Bunny League a different type of series?
People have told us that Bunnies feels like a classic Nickelodeon cartoon—and we agree. One of the biggest differences from our past shows like Bubble Guppies, The Backyardigans, or Butterbean’s Café is that Bunnies is 2D, and it has more of that Saturday morning cartoon vibe. But underneath the chaos, it’s full of heart and characters you actually want to spend time with. It’s packed with action and silly villains, but it’s still sweet and safe for preschoolers. Finding that balance—and earning the trust of our audience—is at the core of everything we do.
What character do you relate with the most?
The fun thing about writing a show like this is you don’t have to choose—we see ourselves in all of them. Robert and I are definitely a mash-up of the core team: the sweetness of Derek combined with the blind enthusiasm of Steve, the impulsiveness of Bex, the indecisiveness of Stumpy, and the quiet wisdom of Middy. That’s why we’re drawn to these characters—they reflect us in all our best and worst moments. And what really sets Bunnies apart is the rotating cast of villains. There’s a new over-the-top villain in each episode, and those were so much fun to write. Nickelodeon encouraged us to stretch the comedy and play with classic superhero tropes in totally ridiculous ways.
There’s a new league of superheroes in town, as Nickelodeon debuts the all-new animated series, Super Duper Bunny League, based on the kids’ comic book series by cartoonist Jamie Smart. Premiering Saturday, Feb. 22, on the Nick Jr. YouTube channel, the 2D-animated adventure-comedy series centers on a diverse group of bunny friends who work together and use their unique powers to protect their beloved city.
How was the animation style decided on?
We felt that Gigglebug Animation in Finland perfectly matched the style and spirit of the show we wanted to make. Their previous work had the same qualities that drew us to Jamie Smart’s books: that playful energy and balance of fun, color, and line. We wanted the world of Bunnies to feel bold, expressive, and handcrafted—something that would pop visually but still feel warm and inviting. Gigglebug completely got that.
What is something fun you can tell us that happened during the journey of bringing Super Duper Bunny League to life?
Something totally new for us was working with an adult voice cast. We recorded ensemble-style, directed by the amazing Sirena Irwin, and also brought in celebrity guest voices for the villains—which was always a blast. Some of our favorite days were spent on long Zoom sessions with our narrator, the incredibly funny Janelle James (you might know her from Abbott Elementary). She brought so much improvised comedic energy and timing to her performance, which gives the show its fresh feel. One thing we wanted to play with was the traditional all-knowing narrator trope—you know, the voice that always explains everything. With Janelle, we flipped that idea. She reacts to what’s happening on screen in real time, and that change made the show feel even more alive.
Why should everyone be tuning in to Super Duper Bunny League?
Hopefully, we captured the pure joy of kids playing super hero! It’s silly, fast, and full of action—but it’s also warm and sincere. It’s a show about being a hero in your own weird way, and it’s made to be watched with your whole family. Whether you’re 4 or 40, there’s something here for you. If you loved the silliness of Bubble Guppies, the cinematic adventure of Backyardigans, and the heart of Butterbean’s Café, Super Duper Bunny League wraps all of that into one irresistible, super duper package.
If the characters from Super Duper Bunny League could make a guest appearance on another Nickelodeon animated series past or present, which one would it be and why?
Bunnies definitely feels slightly older than our past shows, but we worked hard to make sure we didn’t leave our younger preschool friends behind. A show that feels like an older sibling to us is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There’s an obvious connection there, right? Turtles and bunnies fighting crime together? That crossover practically writes itself—and it would be hilarious. But somehow, they’d still save the day… in their own wonderfully chaotic way.
We hope toys are on the way, but if you could have any toy made of the characters or a playset of a setting or episode, what would it be?
Of course, we’d love to see the full cast as toy characters—but I’d want to play with them inside the Bunny League HQ playset. Picture it: a giant carrot with a Super Duper Lab, secret compartments, and a garage for our super duper carrot car. Definitely the carrot car. That’s non-negotiable. It’s just begging to be a toy. And a nutritious one!
Special thanks to Jonny Belt and Robert Scull for talking with us and make sure to tune in an watch Super Duper Bunny League on Nickelodeon!