Netflix Stocks Up on Animated Kids’ Originals

BEVERLY HILLS: Netflix is launching five original animated series for kids and has also renewed Kong: King of the Apes for a second season.

Among the new kids’ series coming to Netflix is DreamWorks Animation’s Spirit Riding Free, inspired by the Academy Award-nominated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. The show Spy Kids: Mission Critical is also based on a family film, taking inspiration from the Spy Kids franchise. Netflix also went for Silvergate Media’s Hilda, which is based on Luke Pearson’s graphic novels, as well as Activision Blizzard Studios’s animated action comedy Skylanders Academy, about a ragtag group of heroes. For the younger set, there is Llama Llama, based on best-selling preschool books by Anna Dewdney.

The sophomore season of Kong: King of the Apes, from 41 Entertainment and Avi Arad Productions, will premiere to Netflix members worldwide in 2017. Spirit Riding Free will premiere exclusively on the streaming service in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Nordics, Benelux and France in 2017. Llama Llama is also due to premiere next year to Netflix members worldwide. Spy Kids: Mission Critical, meanwhile, will become available to Netflix’s global members in 2018, as will Hilda. A first season of Skylanders Academy will premiere this fall, with a second season set for late 2017.

“At Netflix, we invest in stories that our members will love and cherish,” said Andy Yeatman, the 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.”