The Upside Down gets the animated treatment.
Netflix on Monday announced a direct order for an untitled animated series set in the Stranger things universe.
However, plot details for the series are being kept under wraps Stranger things creators Matt and Ross Duffer said it would be along the lines of “Saturday Morning Cartoons,” a reference to popular 1980s series like Masters of the Universe, Jem and the Holograms, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles And GI Joe, among other things. It’s unclear if any of the flagship show’s beloved cast will have voice roles in the animated series.
Sydney-based animation house Flying Bark is producing the self-titled series, which comes from Eric Robles (Nickelodeon’s Fanboy & Chum Chum). The Duffer brothers will also produce the series alongside them Stranger things collaborator, Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen of 21 Laps.
“We have always dreamed of an animated film Stranger things along the lines of the Saturday morning cartoons we grew up on, and it was absolutely thrilling to see this dream become a reality,” Matt and Ross Duffer said in a statement. “We are extremely impressed with what Eric Robles and his team have come up with – the scripts and artwork are incredible, and we can’t wait to share more with you! The adventure continues…”
The animated series is the latest Stranger things offshoot to emerge from Duffers’ Upside Down Pictures banner, which is based on a rich overall deal at Netflix. In addition to the upcoming fifth and final season of the streaming hit, the siblings recently announced a London show, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, and have another untitled live-action spin-off of the flagship series in the works. Outside of the franchise, the Duffers are also tackling those of Stephen King and Peter Straub The talisman; a live action shot of the anime show Obituary; and an original series of Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance duo Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews.
Stranger things ranks as Netflix’s most popular English-language series of all time. Animated series perform well on streaming platforms given their ability to replay well. With success, a breakthrough animated series can become a cash cow thanks to lucrative merchandising lines (see The Simpsons, Family Guy, Rick and Morty, etc.). While animated series typically take longer to produce, they are also usually cheaper to produce than live-action originals.
