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Netflix is expanding its youth programming efforts, ordering a reboot of Inspector Gadget and four more kids shows for 2015 and 2016.
Set to bow this year are Danger Mouse, Inspector Gadget, Some Assembly Required, Bottersnikes & Gumbles and Super 4. The mix of animated and live-action comedy series will broaden the streaming service’s existing selection of kids and family entertainment shows.
“We’ve seen great characters and rich storytelling work for a global audience time and time again,” said Erik Barmack, vp Global Independent Content at Netflix. “That’s why we’re proud to be working with some of the industry’s best producers and animators on these shows and we can’t wait for kids and families all over the world to get to know these stories.”
Danger Mouse, a British classic that premiered in the early 1980s, will air in spring 2016 and will feature Stephen Fry voicing Danger Mouse’s boss. Everyone’s favorite mystery solver, Inspector Gadget, returns in March, but this time in CGI. The 26-episode series will serve as a sequel to the original ’80s animated staple Inspector Gadget, bringing back the famous plot involving the battle between Inspector Gadget and his nemesis Dr. Claw.
Additionally, Netflix has added live-action entry Some Assembly Required, produced by Thunderbird Films. The comedy, due in the summer, centers on a 14-year-old who becomes the owner of Knickknack Toys.
Coming in spring 2016 is CGI Bottersnikes & Gumbles, based on the Australian book series. It revolves around three young “Gumbles” as they bounce about and play while avoiding getting tin-canned by their lazy and grumpy neighbors, the Bottersnikes. The 13-episode series was commissioned by Netflix, the BBC and Channel 7 in Australia. The series will debut worldwide in 2016 with the U.K. and Australia coming later.
Rounding out the new orders is Super 4, a CGI animated series due in April and inspired by PLAYMOBIL that follows a knight, pirate, agent and fairy as they explore the islands of their planet, fight bad guys and have a few laughs along the way.
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