Nate Is Late

Nate Is Late

Company type	Television series
Industry	Animation, Entertainment
Founded	2018 (2018)
Founder	Sylvain Huchet, Peter Saisselin
Headquarters	France
Area served	France, Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, India, MENA region, United States (streaming)
Key people	Jo Rooney (executive producer), Andy Ryan (executive producer), David Maingault (creative director), Antoine Birot (creative director)
Products	Animated television series
Parent	Watch Next Media, La Factorie Animation, Superprod Studio, Nate Is Late Productions

Nate Is Late (original French title: Oscar et Malika, toujours en retard) is an animated television series developed by Sylvain Huchet and Peter Saisselin. The production is managed by Watch Next Media and distributed through KidsFirst. Initially, the show was broadcast on France 4, Super RTL, and 9Go!, targeting young viewers in France, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Spanning three seasons, the series comprises 107 episodes, each with a runtime near 11 minutes. The second season debuted on Switzerland's RTS 1 on 27 August 2021 and is currently being aired in English on Pop across the UK and Ireland. To celebrate its fifth anniversary, a third season is underway with full production shifted to Europe. Key companies involved in the creation include Watch Next Media, La Factorie Animation, Superprod Studio, and Nate Is Late Productions.

The project is overseen by executive producers Jo Rooney and Andy Ryan, with creative leadership provided by David Maingault and Antoine Birot. Combining elements of comedy and fantasy, the series appeals to an international audience through various broadcasting platforms.

Premise

Nate and Malika set off for school each morning but frequently find themselves delayed due to unexpected escapades. Upon their arrival, Principal Prudence often expresses skepticism regarding their reasons for being late.

Characters

• Nate (voiced by Jane U'Brien) – A young boy attending elementary school who eagerly embraces any adventure, regardless of how unlikely it may seem. In the French version, he is known as "Oscar."
• Malika (voiced by Sarah Aubrey) – Nate’s closest companion who generally maintains a more composed demeanor but occasionally engages in playful misjudgments.
• Principal Prudence (voiced by Sarah Aubrey) – The school principal who regularly challenges Nate and Malika’s explanations for their tardiness.

Throughout the series, additional characters join Nate and Malika on their various escapades.

Broadcast

This animated series was created for France.TV (France), Super RTL (Germany), and 9Go! (Australia). It also airs on Pop and Pop Max in the UK, Cartoon Network in India, and Discovery Kids across the MENA region.

In the United States market, Nate Is Late is accessible exclusively through streaming services such as Ameba, Kidoodle.TV, BatteryPOP, and The Roku Channel.

Reception

The show has garnered favorable reviews from both critics and viewers. Fernanda Camargo of Common Sense Media awarded it three out of five stars, characterizing it as an entertaining buddy comedy rich in fantasy but light on educational content.