Netflix boosts kids’ slate

Netflix has added six animated series to its line-up of originals aimed at kids, including shows from Saban Brands, Lego and UK broadcaster ITV.

Andy Yeatman

The US firm’s slate includes four “action packed” shows for older kids and two aimed at preschoolers, with Saban Brands producing one in each category for the streaming service.

Kibaoh Klashers will debut in 2017 and follows a young beetle who realises his destiny is to become a car racing champion, while Treehouse Detectives, a copro between Saban Brands and Sunwoo Animation in South Korea, is due to arrive in 2018. The latter is a CGI animated series following two curious bears with a taste for adventure.

Lego Elves, meanwhile, will launch worldwide on Netflix in 2017 with eight episodes and adds to the existing line-up of Netflix original series from The Lego Group, including Lego Bionicle: The Journey to One and Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship.

Robozuna will premiere in the UK on children’s network CITV before being made available on Netflix worldwide in 2018.

The series follows an orphaned 14-year-old boy and his homemade robot friend as they attempt to free their oppressed nation from an evil empire and its legion of robot centurions. It comes from ITV Studios and UK-based prodco Kidscave Entertainment, which launched in 2014.

Elsewhere, Canada-based Slap Happy Cartoons is bringing The Hollow to Netflix in 2018. The action series follows a trio of strangers-turned-friends as they scavenge through a surreal mystery world in search of a way back home.

Finally, the second new show for preschoolers on Netflix’s children’s slate is Super Monsters, which comes from 41 Entertainment, which previously produced Kong: King of the Apes and the forthcoming Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan & Jane for Netflix.

Like the latter duo, Super Monsters will be produced by Avi Arad. It follows a group of preschoolers with super powers and is set to debut in late 2017.

“At Netflix, we celebrate creativity and love sharing stories that expose kids to new and inspiring worlds,” said Andy Yeatman, director of global kids content for Netflix. “We work with the best storytellers in the industry to craft shows like these that unlock children’s imaginations.”

In related news, Netflix and the iPic Entertainment theatre chain are teaming to release select original Netflix films simultaneously on the streaming service and at iPic Theaters across the US.

The partnership is launching today with Netflix’s war thriller The Siege of Jadotville, opening at iPic theatres in LA the same day it’s released on the streaming service.