Fresh off the company’s wild success of the original series House of Cards (read Matt’s glowing review here), Netflix is continuing on with original content by developing a new show geared towards kids. It was announced today that Netflix and DreamWorks Animation will be teaming up to create the first ever Netflix original series for kids. The show will be an adaptation of DreamWorks’ upcoming racing film Turbo, which centers on a snail who has dreams of competing in a professional race.
The series, titled Turbo: F.A.S.T. (Fast Action Stunt Team), picks up where the film leaves off as it “showcases the world-traveling exploits of our snail hero and his tricked-out racing crew as they master outrageous new stunts and challenge any villain unlucky enough to cross their path.” As kids nowadays are learning to use an iPad before they can talk, this project sounds like a pretty smart idea. Hit the jump to watch the teaser trailer for Turbo and to read the press release. The film opens in 3D on July 19th.
Here’s the press release:
Netflix And DreamWorks Animation Launch
First Ever Netflix Original Series for Kids
DreamWorks Animation’s Summer 2013 Film Turbo
Speeds onto the Streaming Service
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Feb. 12, 2013 – Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) today announced they will create the first ever Netflix Original Series for kids. Based on the highly-anticipated DreamWorks Animation movie Turbo, premiering in theaters this summer, the Netflix series Turbo: F.A.S.T. (Fast Action Stunt Team) debuts exclusively this December in the United States and across the globe in the 40 countries where Netflix offers its service.
“Families love Netflix, so creating an original series for kids was a natural for us. And we’re doing it in a big way by adapting Turbo, this year’s DreamWorks Animation summer tentpole movie,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix. “DreamWorks Animation has a long track record of creating incredibly successful characters and stories that delight people of all ages. We’re thrilled to add Turbo the series as well as all new DreamWorks Animation films, starting with their 2013 slate, to Netflix.”
“Netflix boasts one of the largest and fastest-growing audiences in kids television. They pioneered a new model for TV dramas with House of Cards, and now together, we’re doing the same thing with kids’ programming,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Katzenberg. “DreamWorks is thrilled to be part of the television revolution.”
DreamWorks Animation’s Turbo is a high velocity 3D comedy about an ordinary snail who dares to dream big – and fast. After a freak accident miraculously gives him the power of super-speed, Turbo kicks his dreaming into overdrive and embarks on an extraordinary journey to achieve the seemingly impossible: competing in the Indianapolis 500. The film, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Luis Guzmán, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong, Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Ben Schwartz, Kurtwood Smith, Snoop Lion and Samuel L. Jackson, comes to theaters on July 19, 2013.