Netflix Animation
Netflix Animation is the in-house production division of Netflix, Inc., responsible for developing and producing original animated films and television series exclusively for the streaming service.[1] Launched in 2018 to capitalize on the growing demand for animated content, the studio focuses on creating diverse, globally appealing stories for audiences of all ages, from children's adventures to adult-oriented anime and family features.[1][2] Under initial leadership from executive Melissa Cobb, who joined in 2017 to build the team from the ground up, Netflix Animation emphasized empowering creators with creative freedom while partnering with established studios for high-quality output.[3] The division has undergone several restructurings, including layoffs in 2022 and 2023 amid broader company cost-cutting, but continued expansion through acquisitions like the 2022 purchase of Animal Logic, an Australian visual effects and animation studio.[4][5][6] By 2024, Hannah Minghella was appointed head of feature animation and live-action family film, overseeing a slate that blends nostalgia, innovation, and international perspectives.[7] The studio's output includes landmark projects such as the 2019 holiday film Klaus, Netflix's first original animated feature, which pioneered a hybrid 2D/3D technique and earned an Oscar nomination.[8][9] Other notable successes encompass the family comedy The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021), which became Netflix's biggest animated film at the time and received an Academy Award nomination, and the action-fantasy series Arcane (2021–2024), based on the League of Legends universe and noted as one of the most expensive animated series ever produced at $250 million for 18 episodes.[10][11][12] Recent hits like the 2023 musical adventure Leo and the 2025 smash KPop Demon Hunters, a cartoon musical about a girl group fighting demons, highlight the division's ongoing emphasis on innovative storytelling and broad appeal.[13][14]History
Founding and Early Development
Prior to the establishment of its in-house studio, Netflix relied on collaborations with third-party animation producers to develop original animated content, beginning in 2013 with partnerships such as DreamWorks Animation Television, which created early series like Turbo FAST.[15] These external arrangements allowed Netflix to build a library of animated programming tailored to its streaming service, including family-oriented shows that complemented its growing catalog of licensed content.[15] In 2018, Netflix founded Netflix Animation as a subsidiary of Netflix, Inc., with its headquarters located in Burbank, California, marking a strategic shift toward internal production capabilities.[16] This establishment aimed to reduce dependence on external studios and enable greater control over creative output to align with the demands of Netflix's global streaming platform.[17] The studio's early development emphasized expanding in-house resources for both animated feature films and television series, supporting Netflix's goal of delivering diverse, original entertainment. In November 2018, Netflix announced its first internally developed projects, including the animated feature Klaus (released in 2019) and the series Kid Cosmic (premiering in 2021), signaling the onset of proprietary animation initiatives.[18]Expansion and Acquisitions
In 2019, Netflix Animation expanded its operations in Burbank, California, by leasing 60,000 square feet at Burbank Studios as a temporary facility to support animation, television, and film production. This initial expansion laid the groundwork for a dedicated Burbank studio, which opened on February 1, 2022, equipped with advanced infrastructure including a theater, recording studios, review rooms, story rooms, and editorial suites to streamline in-house production.[19][17] In September 2022, amid broader company cost-cutting measures, Netflix laid off approximately 30 employees from its animation division, representing about 2% of the animation workforce, as part of an ongoing restructure.[20] To bolster global production capabilities, Netflix Animation opened offices in Sydney, Australia, and Vancouver, Canada, in 2022 following the acquisition of Animal Logic. The studio acquired Animal Logic in July 2022 in an all-cash deal funded from cash on hand, integrating its renowned expertise in CGI animation and visual effects from projects like The LEGO Movie series and Happy Feet. This move added Animal Logic's established facilities in Sydney—headquartered since the studio's founding in 1991—and Vancouver, which had been operational since 2015, enabling expanded end-to-end animation pipelines across international locations.[21][6][21] Netflix significantly ramped up its investment in original animated content during this period, greenlighting a substantial slate of projects by 2022 to fuel its growing animation output. By mid-2022, the company had announced multiple feature films and series, including eight animated features for release that year alone, reflecting a strategic push toward diverse, high-volume production.[22] In October 2023, Netflix's animation unit underwent a major shakeup, shutting down two films in pre-production (Escape from Beverly Hills and Tunga) and announcing impending job cuts as part of a broader restructure focused on output deals and cost efficiency. This was followed in November 2023 by layoffs affecting at least one-third of the feature animation division, totaling over 50 employees, primarily in overhead roles.[5][23] Complementing internal growth, Netflix Animation forged key partnerships with external studios for co-productions, notably collaborating with Sony Pictures Animation on films like The Mitchells vs. the Machines in 2021, which marked the start of an ongoing relationship to leverage specialized animation talent. This partnership approach allowed Netflix to scale operations while tapping into established industry expertise for innovative storytelling.[17]Leadership and Recent Changes
Netflix Animation's leadership has evolved significantly since its early days, with a focus on separating oversight of animated series and films to streamline creative and production strategies. John Derderian has served as Vice President of Animation Series, guiding the development of television content from as early as 2019 and continuing in that role as of 2025, emphasizing global anime and family-oriented series expansions.[24][25][26] In 2022, Netflix restructured its animation film division, appointing Karen Toliver as Vice President of Animated Film in February, following her tenure at Sony Pictures Animation, where she reported to the broader kids and family content head, Melissa Cobb. Toliver was promoted in July 2022 to lead the animation film team outright, overseeing feature development and production, including the integration of acquired studios like Animal Logic in early 2024, where she assumed CEO duties after the previous leader's resignation. Her tenure until mid-2024 prioritized building a robust slate of original animated features, blending family-friendly narratives with innovative storytelling.[27][28][29] As of 2025, Hannah Minghella heads feature animation and live-action family films, having joined Netflix in June 2024 from Bad Robot Productions to replace Toliver, who departed alongside feature animation president Traci Balthazor. Minghella reports to Netflix Film Chairman Dan Lin and focuses on elevating high-profile intellectual properties through animation. In June 2025, Netflix appointed Amir Nasrabadi as Chief Operating Officer of feature animation, drawing from his prior role as head of Disney Animation Vancouver to oversee operations and production strategy. Complementing her role, Sharon Taylor rejoined Netflix in the same month as Head of Production for feature animation, based in Vancouver, drawing on her prior experience as CEO of Animal Logic to manage operational efficiencies across global studios.[30][31][32][33] In 2024, Netflix underwent a broader content strategy overhaul, including a genre-based restructuring of its film division in April that resulted in around 15 layoffs, primarily in overhead roles, to prioritize major franchises and cost-effective productions. This was followed by the June leadership transition in animation, aligning with Netflix's emphasis on scalable, IP-driven content amid industry-wide economic pressures. These changes have influenced a strategic pivot toward diverse genres, balancing adult-oriented animations like prestige series with family-friendly offerings to broaden audience appeal and compete in a saturated streaming market.[34][35][36]Feature Films
Released Films
Netflix Animation's journey into feature films commenced with the release of Klaus in 2019, establishing the studio's commitment to original animated storytelling for global audiences. By November 2025, the division had released 20 feature films, encompassing a wide range of genres including family comedies, adventures, and fantasy tales, all produced or co-produced under Netflix's banner. These productions highlight Netflix's emphasis on diverse creative voices and cutting-edge animation pipelines optimized for direct-to-streaming distribution.[37] The following table catalogs the released feature films, including release dates, directors, and brief synopses:| Film | Release Date | Director(s) | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klaus | November 15, 2019 | Sergio Pablos (co-director: Carlos Martínez López) | A jaded postman teams up with a toy maker named Klaus to deliver joy to a divided town during Christmas, rediscovering the spirit of the holiday through handmade toys and unexpected friendship. |
| The Willoughbys | April 22, 2020 | Kris Pearn | Four children, tired of their self-absorbed parents, embark on an adventure to find better guardians, only to discover the value of family in their quirky household. |
| Over the Moon | October 23, 2020 | Glen Keane | A young girl builds a rocket to journey to the legendary Moon Goddess in search of answers about her late mother, blending Chinese folklore with sci-fi elements. |
| The Mitchells vs. the Machines | April 30, 2021 | Mike Rianda (co-director: Jeff Rowe) | A dysfunctional family road trip turns into a battle against a robot apocalypse, celebrating tech-savvy creativity and familial bonds in a vibrant, collage-style animation. |
| Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood | April 29, 2022 | Richard Linklater | A young boy in 1960s Houston navigates schoolyard adventures and family life amid the excitement of the Apollo space program, rendered in innovative rotoscope animation. |
| Back to the Outback | January 7, 2022 | Clare Knight, Harry Cripps | A group of Australia's "dangerous" animals escapes from a zoo to return home, learning self-acceptance along the way in a road-trip comedy. |
| The Sea Beast | July 27, 2022 | Chris Williams | A young girl stows away on a legendary sea monster hunter's ship, uncovering truths about humans and beasts in an epic ocean adventure. |
| My Father's Dragon | November 11, 2022 | Nora Twomey | A brave girl searches for a missing dragon to save her family's lighthouse, drawing from classic children's literature in a hand-drawn Irish animation style. |
| Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio | November 24, 2022 | Guillermo del Toro (co-directors: Mark Gustafson) | A reimagining of the classic tale where a wooden puppet navigates life, death, and fascism in 1930s Italy, using stop-motion for emotional depth. |
| Nimona | June 30, 2023 | Nick Bruno, Troy Quane | In a futuristic medieval world, a shapeshifting teen allies with a knight accused of treason to clear his name, exploring themes of identity and prejudice. |
| Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget | December 15, 2023 | Sam Fell | Ginger and her flock rescue her daughter from a sinister factory farm, expanding the stop-motion world of the original with high-stakes action. |
| Leo | November 21, 2023 | Mark Baldo | A class pet lizard becomes an unlikely life coach for middle schoolers, teaching lessons on friendship and growth through humorous classroom antics. |
| Orion and the Dark | February 2, 2024 | Sean Charmatz | A fearful boy confronts his anxieties by venturing into the night with the personification of darkness, based on a children's book with whimsical 3D animation. |
| Ultraman: Rising | June 14, 2024 | John Aoshima | A baseball star turned superhero balances fatherhood and battling kaiju in this anime-inspired reboot of the iconic franchise. |
| The Imaginary | July 5, 2024 | Yoshiyuki Momose | A girl discovers her imaginary friend has been kidnapped by a shadowy figure, leading to a magical quest in a Studio Ponoc hand-drawn 2D animated production. |
| Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie | December 29, 2024 | Tim Heitz | Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob save Bikini Bottom from suburban sprawl in this SpongeBob spin-off feature with musical elements. |
| KPop Demon Hunters | June 20, 2025 | Maggie Kang | A K-pop girl group secretly fights demons while navigating fame, fusing music, action, and supernatural lore in vibrant 2D animation.[38] |
| Fixed | August 13, 2025 | Genndy Tartakovsky | A pampered show dog escapes to the wilderness, discovering freedom and survival in an R-rated comedy with Tartakovsky's signature dynamic style.[39] |
| The Twits | October 17, 2025 | Phil Johnston | The mischievous couple from Roald Dahl's book face off against clever children in a dark comedy adaptation featuring original songs by David Byrne.[40] |
| In Your Dreams | November 14, 2025 | Alex Woo (co-director: Erik Benson) | Siblings Stevie and Elliot venture into the surreal world of their dreams to petition the Sandman for an ideal family life, emphasizing whimsical dream sequences with hand-drawn influences blended into CGI animation.[41][42] |
Upcoming Films
As of November 2025, Netflix Animation has no confirmed feature films scheduled for release immediately following the current slate.Films in Development
Netflix Animation maintains a robust pipeline of feature films in various stages of pre-production and scripting, emphasizing creative collaborations with established studios and authors to bring diverse stories to life. These projects often draw from literary and comic book sources, reflecting a strategic emphasis on adapting proven intellectual properties to appeal to broad audiences while exploring innovative animation techniques such as stop-motion and CGI. As of late 2025, several high-profile initiatives highlight this approach, with no firm release dates announced for most, allowing flexibility in development.[43] Key partnerships underpin these efforts, including co-productions with Sony Pictures Animation, which has bolstered Netflix's slate through shared resources and expertise in family-oriented and action-packed narratives. Similarly, collaborations with DreamWorks Animation—stemming from broader licensing deals—facilitate adaptations of beloved children's literature, while independent creators like Guillermo del Toro contribute unique visions via specialized animation houses such as ShadowMachine. These alliances enable Netflix to diversify its output, blending original concepts with IP-driven projects.[44][45][46] Notable films in development include:- The Buried Giant: A stop-motion fantasy adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, directed by Guillermo del Toro, following an elderly couple's quest in a mist-shrouded, post-Arthurian Britain; produced in partnership with ShadowMachine and integrated into del Toro's new Netflix-backed stop-motion training studio.[43][47][48]
- The Goon: A horror-comedy CGI feature based on Eric Powell's comic series, centering on a brawling enforcer battling supernatural foes; directed by Oscar-winning animator Patrick Osborne, with development accelerated post-2022 Netflix acquisition.[46][49]
- The Mitchells vs. the Machines 2: Sequel to the 2021 Oscar-nominated hit, continuing the dysfunctional family's tech-apocalypse adventures; a Sony Pictures Animation co-production emphasizing humor and family dynamics in a digital age.[44]
- KPop Demon Hunters (sequel): Follow-up to the 2025 action-musical hit, expanding the franchise with more supernatural K-pop battles against demonic forces; developed jointly with Sony Pictures Animation, targeting a 2029 release.[50][51]
Television Productions
Released Series
Netflix Animation has released dozens of original multi-season television series by 2025, building a robust portfolio that began with early commissions in the mid-2010s and accelerated after the studio's founding in 2018. These productions blend 2D and 3D animation styles, frequently involving international co-productions to incorporate diverse artistic influences and storytelling perspectives. Key milestones include the launch of adult-oriented comedies like F is for Family in 2015 and family adventures like Trollhunters in 2016, with the slate expanding to encompass fantasy epics, sci-fi tales, and coming-of-age dramas by the early 2020s.[53][54] Representative examples highlight the studio's range across genres and target audiences. Arcane (2 seasons, 2021–2024, 18 episodes total), an adaptation of the League of Legends universe, explores themes of class divide and sisterhood in a steampunk world, produced in collaboration with French studio Fortiche using a hybrid 2D/3D technique for its visually striking aesthetic.[55] Blue Eye Samurai (1 season released as of 2023, renewed for Season 2, 8 episodes), created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, follows a biracial warrior's quest for vengeance in feudal Japan, emphasizing fluid martial arts choreography and cultural authenticity through hand-drawn animation.[53] Hilda (3 seasons, 2018–2023, 39 episodes), adapted from Luke Pearson's graphic novels and co-produced with Silvergate Media, chronicles a fearless girl's fantastical encounters with mythical creatures in a folklore-inspired Scandinavian setting, rendered in charming 2D style.[54] In the fantasy adventure category, The Dragon Prince (6 seasons, 2018–2024, 72 episodes), co-created by Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond, weaves a tale of elves, dragons, and human princes on a quest for peace in the magical kingdom of Xadia, featuring detailed 2D animation from Bardel Entertainment and Wonderstorm.[54] Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (3 seasons, 2020, 30 episodes), developed by Radford Sechrist and Bill Wolkoff with DreamWorks Animation, depicts a girl's survival in a vibrant, post-apocalyptic world overrun by mutated animals, highlighted by its bold color palette and musical elements.[56] Adult-oriented series demonstrate Netflix Animation's foray into mature themes. Big Mouth (7 seasons, 2017–2024, 62 episodes as of Season 7), created by Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett, humorously navigates puberty through anthropomorphic "hormone monsters," employing exaggerated 2D animation to blend comedy with emotional depth.[53] F is for Family (5 seasons, 2015–2021, 44 episodes), co-created by Bill Burr and Michael Price, satirizes 1970s American family life with crude humor and historical references, animated in a retro 2D style by WildBrain.[54] Other notable continuing series include BoJack Horseman (6 seasons, 2014–2020, 77 episodes), Raphael Bob-Waksberg's existential dramedy about a washed-up horse actor grappling with depression and fame in a Hollywood parody, using minimalist 2D visuals for poignant effect; Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (3 seasons, 2016–2018, 52 episodes), the first in Guillermo del Toro's Tales of Arcadia trilogy, follows a teen discovering his destiny as a troll protector, blending 3D animation with mythic lore; She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (5 seasons, 2018–2020, 52 episodes), ND Stevenson's reboot of the 1980s classic, reimagines the heroine's fight against evil with inclusive themes of friendship and empowerment in dynamic 2D animation; Castlevania (4 seasons, 2017–2021, 32 episodes), an adaptation of the video game series by Warren Ellis, depicts vampire hunters battling supernatural forces in medieval Europe with gothic 2D art from Powerhouse Animation; and Disenchantment (5 seasons, 2018–2023, 50 episodes), Matt Groening's medieval fantasy comedy starring a rebellious princess, elf, and demon, characterized by its Simpsons-esque 2D humor and world-building.[53][54][56]| Series Title | Seasons | Run Dates | Episodes | Core Creative Elements | Production Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcane | 2 | 2021–2024 | 18 | Steampunk fantasy adaptation of League of Legends, focusing on family and societal conflict | Co-produced with Fortiche (2D/3D hybrid)[55] |
| Blue Eye Samurai | 1 (renewed) | 2023– | 8 | Revenge tale in Edo Japan with identity themes | Hand-drawn animation, cultural accuracy[53] |
| Hilda | 3 | 2018–2023 | 39 | Whimsical folklore adventures with mythical beings | 2D animation, co-produced with Silvergate Media[54] |
| The Dragon Prince | 6 | 2018–2024 | 72 | Epic quest for peace in a magical world | 2D animation by Bardel Entertainment[54] |
| Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts | 3 | 2020 | 30 | Post-apocalyptic survival with mutated creatures | Vibrant 2D, musical integration, DreamWorks co-production[56] |
| Big Mouth | 7 | 2017–2024 | 62 | Puberty comedy with hormone monsters | Exaggerated 2D for humor and emotion[53] |
| F is for Family | 5 | 2015–2021 | 44 | 1970s family sitcom with crude satire | Retro 2D by WildBrain[54] |
| BoJack Horseman | 6 | 2014–2020 | 77 | Existential dramedy on fame and mental health | Minimalist 2D for dramatic effect[53] |
| Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia | 3 | 2016–2018 | 52 | Teen troll hunter in mythic world | 3D animation, Guillermo del Toro production[56] |
| She-Ra and the Princesses of Power | 5 | 2018–2020 | 52 | Empowering rebellion against tyranny | Inclusive themes, dynamic 2D[54] |