Netflix teams with DreamWorks to make first original kids series

Netflix is making its first original kids series. It is teaming with Hollywood studio DreamWorks to make animated show Turbo: F.A.S.T., a spin-off from upcoming DreamWorks animated movie Turbo.

Turbo: F.A.S.T. (Fast Action Stunt Team) will launch on Netflix in December in the US and across the international territories in which the streaming service operates.

Netflix announced a content deal with DreamWorks late last year, under the terms of which the studio’s finished animated movies will launch on the OTT service starting with its 2013 slate, at a reported cost of about US$30 million a movie.

The launch of Turbo: F.A.S.T. marks Netflix’s first move into original kids programming after its well-publicised move into making original series for its core, grown-up audience. That push has, thus far, yielded Lilyhammer and House of Cards, which rolled out earlier this month.

Netflix says that in 2012 its members streamed more than two billion hours of kids content.

DreamWorks Animation’s CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg, said: “Netflix boasts one of the largest and fastest-growing audiences in kids television. They pioneered a new model for TV dramas with House of Cards, and now together, we’re doing the same thing with kids’ programming.”

Ted Sarandos, chief content officer of Netflix said: “Families love Netflix, so creating an original series for kids was a natural for us. And we’re doing it in a big way by adapting Turbo, this year’s DreamWorks Animation summer tent-pole movie.”

Turbo is a 3D comedy about a snail who, after an accident, miraculously gains powers of super-speed, clearing the way for him to compete in the Indianapolis 500. The film will launch next July 19.

Turbo: F.A.S.T. will pick up where the feature film leaves off, following the snail hero and his racing crew as they take on stunts and bad guys.