Netflix and Amazon spark animation revival, spending heavily in quest for binge-worthy shows
For a decade, veteran TV executive Fred Seibert's studio pitched the idea for an edgy animated story inspired by a 1989 Japanese video game. Called "Castlevania," it featured scenes of demonic monsters attacking towns and devouring human flesh.
Dozens of companies, including TV networks, passed on it. Undeterred, Seibert took the idea to Netflix, which eagerly scooped up the exclusive rights and released the show last year. "Castlevania" quickly became a hit.
"Netflix really looked at it as an experiment," said Seibert, a former executive of MTV and Hanna-Barbera Cartoons. "It is that opportunity that technology has opened up that has made both creative people and platforms look at the world differently and therefore audiences get to look at things differently."
Seibert's experience shows how Hollywood's rising digital powers are breathing new life into the animation industry. Streaming networks are not only taking risks on animated shows oriented toward adults, they are green-lighting a host of new cartoons for children - discovering
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