Netflix will launch its first original series for kids, DreamWorks Animation's Turbo FAST, on Dec. 24 at 12:01 a.m. PST, it was announced today.
The first five episodes will be available this holiday season with additional episodes premiering throughout the year, a deviation from Netflix's traditional approach of making an entire season's worth of episodes of its original series available at one time.
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The series, produced by DreamWorks Animation Television, is based on DWA's Turbo film about a snail that wants to race in the Indy 500. In Turbo FAST, Turbo and his adrenaline-fueled snail stunt team will go on daring new adventures, race on more tracks and take on crazy challenges. Veep's Reid Scott will voice Turbo in the series with Ken Jeong reprising his role from the movie as manicurist turned home-shopping icon Kim Ly.
"We've long said that Netflix is revolutionizing the television industry and now we are thrilled to officially be a part of it," DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a statement. "They have been fantastic partners whose vision has given our characters an amazing platform to be enjoyed by families around the world."
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos added: "We are excited to be working with the gifted storytellers at DreamWorks Animation to deliver Turbo FAST, our first original kids series, to families around the world this holiday season. With new episodes on their way in the coming months, kids will have something to look forward to all year."
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DreamWorks Animation and Netflix announced a multiyear deal this summer, which gave the streaming service exclusive access to new, original TV series produced by the Jeffrey Katzenberg-led studio. The deal was Netflix's largest-ever deal for original first-run content.
The pact will cover more than 300 hours of new programming, based on characters from DWA's hit franchises and feature films as well as the Classic Media library it acquired last year, and is a key part of DWA's plan to expand its TV production and distribution. Netflix will be the only home for these shows for now, but there is the possibility of a second-cycle rights deal in the future.
DWA feature films, beginning with The Croods, will also be available on the streaming service in the U.S. and Latin America starting next year.
The Turbo FAST series was announced prior to the release of the film, featuring Ryan Reynolds as the voice of the titular snail. The movie grossed more than $280 million worldwide but only $83 million in the U.S.
