According to Billboard, a new animated Motown series is coming to Netflix. The news of the upcoming Motown series was revealed on the same day Netflix’s newest Beatles-centric kids show debuts.
Currently, the Motown series is untitled but it will be an original series made for kids. The show will feature a variety of Motown hits from artists such as Marvin Gaye (What’s going on, Inner City Blues, I Heard it Through the Grapevine), the Jackson 5 (ABC, I want you back, Blame it on the Boogie, Who’s Lovin You), Lionel Richie (Hello, Stuck on You, Penny Lover), Smokey Robinson (Cruisin’, Being With You, You Really Got a Hold On Me), The Supremes (Where Did Our Love Go, You Can’t Hurry Love, Baby Love), the Temptations (My Girl, Just My Imagination, The Way You Do The Things You Do), and Stevie Wonder (I Just Called To Say I Love You, Superstition, Living for the City).
Robinson himself will be an executive music producer for the series. His first-season soundtrack of songs covered by contemporary artists will be released on Melodia/Motown Records on the same day the Motown show debuts on Netflix.
In regards to the untitled musical series, Robinson said “I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful new series that will embrace the magic of Motown and present our songs to a whole new generation of fans and their families.” Robinson played a major role in the cultural aspect of Motown and he will curate the song choices and select cover artists for the show.
The Motown project marks the second musically inspired animated show for the popular streaming service. It follows Beat Bugs, a show inspired by the Beatles. Beat Bugs features covers of Fab Four songs performed by artists including Jennifer Hudson, Pink, Sia, Rod Stewart, and Pearl Jam’s Eddie. Beat Bugs is available to stream globally on Netflix. And its soundtrack from Melodia/Republic Records can also be heard today exclusively on Apple Music.
As of now, there is no set date for the untitled Motown animated series.