Netflix Renews Beat Bugs, Preps Motown Series

BEVERLY HILLS: Netflix has renewed the upcoming musical animated show Beat Bugs for a second season, while also unveiling details for an animated series focused on Motown.

Inspired by the music of The Beatles, Beat Bugs is produced for Netflix by Grace: A Storytelling Company in association with Beyond Screen Production and Thunderbird. Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, Robbie Williams, Frances, The Lumineers and Tori Kelly join other musicians as featured cover artists on the show, which is written and directed by Josh Wakely. The first season launches on August 3, with the second debuting worldwide on November 18. Aussie Netflix members will be able to watch both seasons soon after their premiere on Seven Network.

Netflix has also announced its plans for the global launch of an untitled project inspired by legendary Motown classics. The animated series sees Smokey Robinson advising as executive music producer. It will feature more than 50 Motown songs from such artists as Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, The Supremes, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder, among many others. The show is set in an imaginary city created by Beat Bugs‘s Wakely, who will direct, produce and showrun. It will center on a shy 8-year-old boy who has the extraordinary ability to bring street art to life. Grace is producing the Netflix original in conjunction with Beyond Screen Production.

Robinson commented: “I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful new series that will embrace the magic of Motown and present our songs to a whole new generation of fans and their entire families. I’m so impressed with Josh’s creative vision for the series and can’t wait to play my part in bringing it to the world.”

“Josh and his team have done another incredible job of interweaving iconic songs with compelling narratives from which children can learn and grow, and that families can enjoy together,” said Andy Yeatman, the director of original kids’ content at Netflix. “We look for storytellers that can take on the responsibility of creating the content that the next generation of kids will bond over and love, and this project speaks perfectly to that goal.”

“Having been raised on the music of Motown, I am very grateful to have been entrusted with these songs as I draw inspiration from the stories and characters found within them,” added Wakely. “Considering the talent we have on board paired with the Netflix global platform, our goal is to create something extraordinary that can be enjoyed across generations.”