Throughout life, one may hear the saying, “after every storm comes a beautiful rainbow.” Well, this common remark was brought to life in Nickelodeon’s first original animated series in five years, Middlemost Post.
John Trabbic III was the storyboard artist and creative mind behind the highly-anticipated cartoon, as he pulled inspiration from his rocky upbringing.
“My own backstory is that of a troubled youth, who went down the wrong path, got into a bunch of trouble and then, hit rock bottom,” the passionate storyteller told Animation Magazine. “Then, I got sober and decided to turn my life around. That’s why the main character of the show is Parker J. Cloud, an animated character that used to rain on people’s parades. But he also decided to transform and shine,” he adds about the character development.
The deep-rooted transformative story follows a high-spirited rain cloud (Parker J. Cloud) who lives and works in the Middlemost Post Office with “Angus” – an organized mailman who values efficiency. While working in the mailroom, the two formed an unstoppable friendship and with Parker’s pet walrus “Russell,” a magical marine animal whose stomach doubles as a post office storage room.
“I feel like everything I’ve done in my life leading up to be cast as Parker all made sense,” shares Becky Robinson, the voice-over actress for Parker J. Cloud, in an exclusive Celeb Secrets interview. “When I first met John Travis and auditioned for the role, there were certain things that just made me realize that it was all meant to be. I’m the youngest of three in my family. I am kind of used to screaming and crying and being full of emotion and letting my emotions guide me. I’m a standup comic – I have to laugh at a lot of things that happen in my life because that’s what helps me write material.”
The happy-go-lucky comedian received the life-changing call from casting directors while quarantining at her parent’s house during the Coronavirus pandemic. “When I got cast, I was at my home in Oregon at my parent’s house. I just remember I was so excited… printed everything out. My dad was like, ‘let me take a picture of you holding up your character.’ We spent all of the pandemic recording, sweating, and laughing and crying together and just trying to make the best possible show in our spaces at home.”
who do you see in the clouds? ☁️
p.s. Middlemost Post premieres July 9! pic.twitter.com/fNJEH7CaDF
— Nickelodeon (@Nickelodeon) July 2, 2021
When the world was put on pause and full of uncertainties, the cast and crew of Middlemost Post were busy making a production that would eventually put a smile on TV-goer’s faces. Now, the highly anticipated premiere has arrived, and Parker and Angus were officially introduced to Nickelodeon fans on Friday, July 9th.
“I’m just excited that it is premiering now during the summer when kids are out on summer vacation. If they need something fun to watch, and maybe the parents want to take five and watch it with them! It’s a show that’s really made for everyone,” shares Robinson.
Celeb Secrets sat down with Becky Robinson and John DiMaggio from Middlemost Post to learn more about their characters, what it was like to record an animated series during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, and to find out some behind-the-scenes secrets that would never know when watching the show.
