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Skylanders Academy (new TV series) debuting on Netflix this Fall, first images

N

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
skylanders-academyr3urd.jpg


skylanders-academy-93gilzj.jpg


Very apt choice given how much kids love Netflix.

Press Release said:
New Animated Television Series "Skylanders Academy" to Debut on Netflix

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced that "Skylanders Academy," the first production by Activision Blizzard Studios—its newly created television and film studio—will premiere in Fall 2016 on Netflix, the world's leading internet television network.

"Over the last five years, millions of families around the world have welcomed Skylanders® characters into their homes. Now, they'll be able to watch their favorite characters come to life on Netflix," said Bobby Kotick, Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard. "We couldn't have found a better home for ‘Skylanders Academy' and look forward to sharing our extraordinary characters with Netflix audiences around the world."

The series follows the heroic adventures of the Skylanders team, a group of heroes with unique elemental skills and personalities who travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers and showing the next wave of Academy cadets how to do things the "Skylander way." Created by Toys For Bob, the $3 billion Skylanders franchise has sold through more than 250 million toys since pioneering the toys-to-life category in 2011, and earlier this month Activision revealed Skylanders Imaginators™, the latest innovation in the franchise.

"‘Skylanders Academy' gives us the opportunity to approach narrative storytelling with the same level of quality and excellence that millions of Skylanders fans have come to expect from the game," said Activision Blizzard Studios Co-President Stacey Sher. "We're inspired by our fans' excitement for these characters and have worked hard to bring these characters to life with stories our fans will love."

Activision Blizzard launched its studio last year to create original content based on the company's intellectual property, and "Skylanders Academy" is the first production by Sher and studio Co-President Nick van Dyk. The two-season Netflix partnership is another important step in Activision Blizzard's strategy of enhancing its franchises and broadening their appeal.

Produced under the supervision of showrunner Eric Rogers ("Futurama"), "Skylanders Academy" features the voices of Justin Long ("Alvin and the Chipmunks," "Ask Me Anything") as Spyro, Ashley Tisdale ("Phineas and Ferb," "High School Musical") as Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks ("Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul") as Eruptor and Norm MacDonald ("Saturday Night Live") as Glumshanks. Additional voice talent includes The Diamond Minecart, Susan Sarandon, Daniel Wu, Parker Posey, James Hetfield, Catherine O'Hara, Bobcat Goldthwait, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jonny Rees, Harland Williams and Richard Horvitz.

Sher and van Dyk are joined by Sander Schwartz, the Emmy award-winning producer of animated hits including "The Batman," "The Aquabats! Super Show!" and "Justice League: The New Frontier," as the show's executive producers. "Skylanders Academy" is animated by the internationally acclaimed TeamTO studio in France.

"Activision Blizzard Studios' enviable mission is to work with our extraordinary portfolio of franchise intellectual property and bring it to broader audiences on new platforms," said van Dyk. "We're excited to reach this strategic partnership and for the future of ‘Skylanders Academy.'"
Click to expand...
Source: http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=976045
 
P

Pachimari

Member
Sad that the new generations of kids are going to grow up with that Spyro design. That said, I hope Crash Bandicoot turns up in an eventual season 2.
 
O

OmegaFax

Member
Good move for both Activision and Netflix. Netflix has to balance it out their new content between mature stuff (House of Cards, Marvel) with stuff approachable to children and families. Think they've done a good effort with picking up the last season of Clone Wars, Full House, Puss in Boots, etc.
 
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RK128

Member
The images look really good and the animation should be high quality. The writing of the is great, so seeing more talent on board has me very excited to watch the show later this year. The Spyro design posted looks solid; nice middle ground between class & his Skylanders look.
 
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fernoca

Member
Looks great and nice cast too.

Hopefully will be as fun as the games. The story and humor in them is really nice.
 
A

Ashby

Member
Poor Spyro? I thought Skylanders had dumped him after the first game. Dudes doing better than I thought.
 
F

fernoca

Member
Ashby said:
Poor Spyro? I thought Skylanders had dumped him after the first game. Dudes doing better than I thought.
Click to expand...
He's in every game. Technically because every game is compatible with every figure, but also as part of the story and other scenes.
 
K

KelpPlankton

Member
The shots of the show look great, really nice stylization. Looks a lot better than most kids' CGI shows.

They've got some serious talent working on this both in terms of writing and voice acting, and Netflix is the place to be for getting to as many kids as possible. Skylanders has been underperforming a bit lately but this could kick it back into doing really well, if it's anywhere near good.
 
K

KenzinFive

Member
If you would have told me 7-10 years ago that Spyro the Dragon would be a part of a $3 billion franchise, I would have thought you were crazy.

And here I thought Skylanders was starting to wind down. This show will probably give them a decent boost in sales.

Also, Norm McDonald is in the show, so that's something.
 
E

ElNino

Member
KenzinFive said:
If you would have told me 7-10 years ago that Spyro the Dragon would be a part of a $3 billion franchise, I would have thought you were crazy.

And here I thought Skylanders was starting to wind down. This show will probably give them a decent boost in sales.

Also, Norm McDonald is in the show, so that's something.
Click to expand...
It's a funny franchise. The first few games (at least) were pretty good, and my son was obsessed with the game and collecting all of the firgures. Now that he is almost 10, he has lost interest in the series for the most part but will still occasionally play with our youngest (who is four).
 
P

Penguin

Member
Set to debut Oct 28th

School is almost in session for Skylanders Academy. The freshman season of the animated series based on Activision Blizzard’s popular toys-to-life video game will premiere Oct. 28 on Netflix, the streaming service announced Tuesday.

Intended for kids of all ages, Skylanders Academy centers on a ragtag group of heroes called upon to use their elemental powers to defend the universe from evildoers.

The voice cast includes Justin Long as the dragon Spyro, Ashley Tisdale as the sylvan warrior Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks as the lava beast Eruptor, and Norm MacDonald as the troll butler Glumshanks. Eric Rogers (Futurama) is the showrunner.
Click to expand...

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/20/skylanders-academy-netflix-premiere-date
 
R

Rymuth

Member
And renewed for a second season before it even aired...just like Better Call Saul.

Jonathan Banks is like a good luck magnet.
 
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