Beverly Hills, Calif., June 16, 2016 - Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), the world's leading Internet TV network, will launch five original animated shows for kids and renew global original series Kong: King of the Apes for a second season. These new and returning shows adapt characters and stories already known and loved into original TV shows sure to be kid and family favorites. Whether based on a record-breaking video game (Skylanders Academy), an award-winning book series (Llama Llama, Hilda) or a beloved movie franchise (Spy Kids: Mission Critical, Spirit Riding Free), the series will delight Netflix members of all ages and continue the commitment to delivering best in class storytelling to households across the globe. While Genius Brands' Llama Llama brings to life the tender tales of childhood told in the best-selling preschool books by Anna Dewdney, Hilda and Skylanders Academy present a thrilling take on two adventures for older kids. Silvergate's Hilda captures the whimsical high notes and sweeping scope envisioned in Luke Pearson's acclaimed graphic novels, as Skylanders Academy springs into comedic action with a magical realm of fun from Activision Blizzard Studios that follows the heroic Skylanders team in their quest to protect the universe from evil.
Equally exciting is the first ever TV adaptation of two popular family-friendly films: animated adventure comedy Spy Kids: Mission Critical, based on the The Weinstein Company's Spy Kids movie franchise, along with DreamWorks' Spirit Riding Free, inspired by the wild mustang of Oscar nominated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Also promising a unique twist on a known tale is the second season of Kong: King of the Apes, with yet another set of action-packed and eco-conscious episodes premiering in 2017.
At Netflix, we invest in stories that our members will love and cherish, said Andy Yeatman, Director of Global Kids Content for Netflix. This passion for discovering great storytelling extends to what we offer our youngest members, and we're excited today to announce a lineup of original shows that will bring a number of well-known and beloved characters to kids and families around the globe.
Details on each show can be found below:
Skylanders Academy, Activision Blizzard Studios - Fall 2016
Animated action-comedy Skylanders Academy follows the heroic adventures of the Skylanders team, a ragtag group of heroes with unique elemental skills who travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers. They achieve victory by setting aside their egos, learning to trust one another and fighting as one to maintain harmony and balance in the land. Led by showrunner Eric Rogers (Futurama), the series features the voices of Justin Long (Ask Me Anything) as Spyro, Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical, Phineas and Ferb) as Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) as Eruptor and Norm MacDonald (Saturday Night Live) as Glumshanks. Additional voice talent includes Susan Sarandon, Daniel Wu, Parker Posey, James Hetfield, Catherine O'Hara, Chris Diamantopoulos and Harland Williams, among others. Netflix members worldwide will learn the Skylander way -and enjoy all of the humor and heart in between- starting with 13 episodes this Fall and continuing with a second season in late 2017.
Llama Llama, Genius Brands - 2017
Based on the award-winning and best selling book series by author and illustrator Anna Dewdney, Llama Llama is an animated show about childhood moments and adventures, as well as the special connections between lead character Llama, his parents, grandparents and best friends. Set to premiere in 2017 to Netflix members worldwide, Llama Llama tells heart-warming tales of life in a safe, friendly town seen through the eyes of Llama as he interacts with the amazing world around him. The series is led by an all-star team of creators including Oscar -winning director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), director Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins), showrunner Joe Purdy, legendary art director Ruben Aquino (Frozen, The Lion King, Aladdin, Mulan) and Emmy -award winning producers Jane Startz and Andy Heyward.
Spirit Riding Free, DreamWorks Animation - 2017
Inspired by the Oscar nominated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Spirit Riding Free follows the heartfelt journey of a wild mustang who could not be tamed. A whole new generation will experience all the daring adventures when Spirit meets a girl named Lucky whose courage matches his own. Together they push limits, harness the power of friendship and discover what it means to be free. With their best friends by their side, they explore a world filled with endless rides, magnificent horses and never-ending fun. The series will premiere exclusively on Netflix in 2017 in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Nordics, Benelux and France.
Kong: King of the Apes, Season 2, 41 Entertainment & Avi Arad Prods. - 2017
In the season one finale, we find our heroes Kong and Lukas falling into a volcano at the hands of their main antagonist, Botila. At the start of season two, the fate of the group will be revealed and viewers will discover a prehistoric underworld where dinosaurs roam the land, pterosaurs soar and giant insects still exist. Will Kong, Lukas and their loyal team manage to save the Earth from Botila's plans to replace nature with technology? Netflix members worldwide will find out in 2017, with the launch of the series' second season.
Spy Kids: Mission Critical, The Weinstein Company - 2018
From producer Bob Weinstein comes an animated adventure comedy series based on the beloved family film franchise, Spy Kids. The show follows brother and sister team Juni and Carmen Cortez as they attend Spy Kids Academy, a top secret spy school for kid agents. When a new c
