DreamWorks Animation Television and streaming giant Netflix are growing their partnership with three new kids’ series set to debut in 2019 and 2020, including Archibald’s Next Big Thing based on the children’s book by Emmy Award winner Tony Hale, Tony Biaggne and Victor Huckabee. The new slate was announced during a MIP Junior keynote by Margie Cohn, President of DreamWorks Animation Television.
Since inking its huge deal with the platform in 2013, has delivered hundreds of hours of programming and staffed up to about 800 people, as Cohn pointed out during her speech and a Q&A with moderator Anna Carugati (World Screen). But it’s been worth the challenge of creating a robust pipeline to deliver award-winning, fan-favorite content. “The thing that a linear network has always been able to do is to make something feel important. They can do specials and create events. It’s not the same environment. But the streaming services are definitely hugely popular and offer an amazing product. It’s going to happen,” she said.
DreamWorks Archibald’s Next Big Thing (2019) Inspired by the critically acclaimed children’s book from Tony Hale, Tony Biaggne and Victor Huckabee, Archibald’s Next Big Thing follows the adventures of Archibald Strutter, a chicken who “yes-ands” his way through life. Though living in the moment often leads him astray, Archibald always finds his way back home. Executive produced by Hale, Archibald’s Next Big Thing is a fresh comedy about the importance of being present and celebrating the journey, not just the destination.
DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse (2020) Welcome to Gabby’s Dollhouse, the preschool show with a surprise inside! Created and executive produced by Traci Paige Johnson (Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) and Jennifer Twomey (Blue’s Clues, Team Umizoomi), Gabby’s Dollhouse is a mixed-media series that unboxes a surprise before jumping into a fantastical animated world full of adorable cat characters that live inside Gabby’s dollhouse. Any adventure can unfold when we play in Gabby’s Dollhouse!
DreamWorks Rhyme Time Town (2020) All aboard to DreamWorks Rhyme Time Town, where Daisy the Puppy and Cole the Kitten are ready to guide young children through a colorful and adventurous world filled with nursery rhymes and imaginative play.
Previously announced upcoming series from DreamWorks and Netflix include the highly anticipated DreamWorks She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Nov 16.; read more about it in the December ‘18 issue of Animation Magazine) from executive producer Noelle Stevenson, and DreamWorks Tales of Arcadia: 3Below (Dec. 21) and DreamWorks Tales of Arcadia: Wizards (2019) from Guillermo del Toro and the Emmy-winning team behind Trollhunters. Additionally, DreamWorks and Netflix recently revealed an animated Fast & the Furious series is set for 2019.
Since 2013, DWA TV and Netflix have released 16 original series including Emmy-winning Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters, The Boss Baby: Back in Business, Trolls: The Beat Goes On!, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, Dragons: Race to the Edge, Voltron Legendary Defender, All Hail King Julien, Spirit Riding Free and Dinotrux, winning 22 Daytime Creative Arts Emmys.
