It’s time to bone up on a perfectly exciting new series announcement!
Earlier today, Netflix announced that they’re producing an original anime project with studio Production I.G. The new project, titled Perfect Bones, will be exclusive to Netflix. The company will release all episodes simultaneously in 190 countries, a first for the industry.
Perfect Bones will be a 12-episode series, directed by Kazuto Nakazawa (Parasite Dolls, Blood+ OP2). Netflix describes the show as follows:
…[T]he 12-episode series is set in the future where scientists have tried to create the “perfect human” in hopes of keeping peace in the universe. After nearly achieving their goal through several children, the scientists send their “new humans” for further training where they are kidnapped by an evil organization set on using their powers to implement their own concept of a new world order.
Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, President and CEO oof Production I.G., commented on the project, stating that “Among all the tv series and films Netflix offers, the titles I personally find the most amazing are Netflix originals. Production I.G is eager to present another impactful title brought through our creators’ passion and imagination. We’re very excited about Perfect Bones!”
Erik Barmack, Netflix Vice President of International Originals also offered comment:
We are incredibly excited to work with Production I.G, who have worked on hit series such as Attack on Titan and Psycho-Pass, in bringing one of the most daring new Anime titles produced today to all Netflix members and Anime fans around the world […] In an era where the Internet knows no bounds, we are proud to deliver high quality original Anime to fans all over the world, at the exact same time, no matter where they live whether it be Japan, France, Mexico, the US, and beyond.
Netflix has acquired several anime projects for the company’s “Netflix Originals” line, including Knights of Sidonia, Seven Deadly Sins, and Glitter Force (Smile! Precure). The company is currently collaborating with Dreamworks to produce a new Voltron animated series, and holds the rights to Ajin – Demi-Human.
In November, Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings expressed interest in producing an anime project. Hastings stated in an interview:
You go beyond the normal spectrum to get quality and you really stretch to the things that you can do. On-demand and the internet really gives you that power. when you have incredible distribution, then you have to open the front end of the funnel to have incredible producers around the world.
We’re hopeful that we’ll over time make a great Bollywood show, make a great anime show. It might not be that that Bollywood show is for [Showtime CEO] Matt Blank. It might be that it’s more segmented, but again the internet let’s you do that. I think that’s the key in that enablement. But as Matt knows, making these shows is very challenging and I’m sure we’ll have issues over time.
Netflix expects to spend $5 billion on content this year, both original and otherwise.
Source: Netflix (Thanks, MJ Warren for the tip!)
