Netflix revealed intentions to acquire the animation studio Animal Logic, famed for hits such as Happy Feet and The Lego Movie, alongside its Q2 2022 earnings on Tuesday.
The two firms are already working together on The Magician’s Elephant (due out in 2023) and Ron Howard’s debut animated feature, The Shrinking of Treehorn. According to a news release, the deal is likely to close this year.
Netflix has continued to expand its animated programming, with a new series based on the Exploding Kittens card game planned to premiere next year. However, in May, it also cut 70 part-time employees in its animation studio and canceled some animated projects.
All of the Lego Movie feature films, including The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie, have been produced by Animal Logic.