When we’re thinking of Netflix’s popular binge-worthy series, we’ll come up with titles like Stranger Things, Riverdale, or its spookier cousin, still fresh out of the oven, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. After which, your mind may travel to fantastical animated series, The Dragon Prince, or the fairly anime-inspired Castlevania — which is incredibly fun, just not exactly family-fun.
With an eye on the family market, Netflix’s animation roster is about to expand very rapidly — possibly to contend with Disney’s upcoming streaming series.
As a matter of fact, Netflix has recently announced a host of animated series and films to be added to their repertoire in the near future, which includes Guillermo del Toro’s (Crimson Peak, The Shape of Water) longtime passion project, Pinocchio. Everyone knows the story of the innocent puppet’s journey to become a real boy, accompanied by conscience-playing cricket, Jiminy Cricket. But del Toro’s take on the familiar tale will bring us back to 1930s Italy in beautiful stop-motion glory, with Mark Gustafson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) set to co-direct. The film is currently slated for release in 2021.
Along with it comes the feature film Wendell & Wild, which tells the story of two demon brothers who’s escaped the underworld, only to find themselves dodging a teen demon-’duster’ — which sounds like the PG vernacular for slayer — also set for a 2021 release. Other 2021 releases include Maya and the Three — an animated series about a warrior princess recruiting fighters of legend to save the world, directed by Jorge Gutierrez (The Book of Life, Guardians of Oz) — and My Father’s Dragon — a film based on the Ruth Stiles Gannett novel of the same title where a young runaway scours an island for a captive dragon.
A little clearer on our horizons are Go! Go! Cory Carson, Mighty Little Bheem — both preschool-targeted series — and Klaus — a holiday film, as you may have guessed from the title, about a postman and a reclusive toymaker, all set for a 2019 debut.
The year of 2020 will see two series — the superhero-esque Kid Cosmic and adventurous Trash Truck — and two films — The Willoughby’s, from director Kris Pearn (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2), and Over the Moon, helmed by Glen Keane (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) — take to Netflix’s small screen. And finally, seafaring epic Jacob and the Beast will arrive on Netflix to wow us in 2022.
But if you feel you can’t possibly wait that long for all that, there’s always the family-friendly Motown Magic, an animated series following an eight-year-old bringing street art to life, about to debut on November 20, 2018.
If anything, this looks like the first of many solid releases from Netflix’s family slate of programming. Perhaps, the loss of Disney might not be too bad after all.
JoYFQ is a Gryffindor who distracts herself from the pitfalls of capitalism and hegemonic representations by reading fanfiction. Has surprisingly good RNG luck in games. Probably just jinxed herself.
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