By 2011, Nick began phasing out 3D-animated shows for preschool in favor of 2D ( PAW Patrol , Bubble Guppies ). Backyardigans reruns dropped to 5:30 AM ET by 2012. The show was fully removed from the main Nick schedule in 2014, though it remained on until 2018.

The show finally premiered on the Nickelodeon "Nick Jr." block on October 11, 2004 . Animation duties for the series were moved to Nelvana in Canada. Key Elements of the Series

—had spent years turning dirt and imagination into vast empires and outer space colonies.