Summary

Netflix is developing a new Ghostbusters animated series with a unique style.
The show will likely follow new characters and aim to appeal to both child and adult audiences.
The series will likely embrace a tone close to something like Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

Netflix is bringing Ghostbusters back "like you've never seen," but is that actually a good thing for the franchise? Ghostbusters has explored numerous outlets of success following the 1984 film, including a sequel, comic books, and even video games. There was even an attempted reboot featuring an all-female cast in 2016 that failed to meet fan expectations.

In recent years, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters Frozen Empire have continued the franchise, following the Spangler family and a younger generation in the battle against the paranormal. While there look to be plans for another live action film in the series, Netflix is also working on a new Ghostbusters animated series that is promising to be something unique for the franchise.

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By Jake Fillery

Netflix Is Developing Another Ghostbusters Animated Series

The Real Ghosbusters was the franchise's first foray into animation, with the series debuting in 1986. It followed the same characters from the movie, though they were voiced by different actors, with the series running until 1991. Another animated series was created with 1997's Extreme Ghostbusters, which is a series that continued from The Real Ghostbusters, but was aimed at a new generation of viewers. It only lasted a single season that saw Egon Spangler leading a new young team of ghost wranglers.

Netflix announced the development of a new animated series in 2022 with the help of Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, the creative minds behind the recent films in the series, Afterlife and Frozen Empire. Details surrounding the show are still being kept under wraps, but it looks to follow a new cast of new characters, with initial word stating that it falls in line tonally with other recent Ghostbusters films. However, a recent presentation at the Annecy Animation Festival highlighted elements of the series that could set it apart from other iterations.

First Impressions Have Dubbed Concept Art For The Animated Ghostbusters ' Gritty'

Thanks to What's On Netflix, details surrounding the new Ghosbusters animated series revealed at the recent Annecy International Animation Film Festival are looking to bring some new influences to their animated projects. Dominique Bazay, Netflix’s Director of Animation for Families and Kids, promised, "This is Ghostbusters like you’ve never seen it." Ben Hibon, known for his role as the creative lead on Star Trek: Prodigy, will act as showrunner for the Ghostbusters series. Hibons appeared in a precrecorded statement for the festival, which stated, "Ghostbusters has always been a really surprising blend of horror, comedy, sci-fi and fantasy." Hibons continued:

We want to keep the character and the story totally grounded in a time and place that felt real. It has grit, it has texture, it has vibrancy.

Concept art shown to attendees at the festival offered what was described as a "gritty" version of New York City. However, there were said to be four young heroes pictured with the art, likely confirming that the show will be following multiple characters that form a new Ghostbusters team. The time period and story that it will cover remains a mystery, but the distinct choice of style could truly set the animated series apart from past iterations. If this plays into a family-friendly show, it could produce conflicting results, though it may also point toward some of Dan Aykroyd's original plans for the movie.

Is Ghostbusters Revisiting The Original Ideas Dan Aykroyd Envisioned?

Dan Aykroyd originally envisioned Ghostbusters as a much darker, less family-friendly film. His original script, Ghost Smashers, was set in the future with a team capable of battling supernatural threats, with time travel elements involved in the story. This was refined into the Ghostbusters elements the story has become known for, providing friendly scares with ghouls and monsters that are still menacing, yet often capable of delivering laughs.

While the show may be eyeing a grittier style, it is unlikely to wholeheartedly embrace Aykroyd's original ideas. Even if the show embraces some darker elements, the animated show is unlikely to venture into the adult-themed script the actor first envisioned, with the series still aiming to be geared toward family-friendly fare for Netflix's streaming service. Current animated shows on the service that are likely comparable in tone are Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous and Fast & Furious Spy Racers. Both shows are based on PG-13 films, much like the recent Ghostbusters movies, with the show likely falling into a similar style.

When it comes to giving audiences "Ghostbusters like you’ve never seen," the show is likely referring to the unique tone brought to the animation style. While the show may still be geared toward younger audiences, it could have appeal for the adults watching along with their kids, much like Camp Cretaceous and Spy Racers are capable of capturing. The series definitely looks to set itself apart from The Real Ghosbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters when it comes to the animated world of the franchise, which could be a good avenue to explore. While the show has a long way to go before audiences get to watch it, Netflix's animated Ghostbusters series is shaping up to deliver something unique to fans.