From the Small Screen to Animated Awesomeness: Unveiling 9 TV Shows Set for Spectacular Reboots!

Summary

Animated reboots of classic TV shows are on the rise, allowing for creative experimentation and the exploration of magical and supernatural themes.

The reboots are aimed at an older demographic, updating beloved shows and addressing current social issues. Animation presents a distinctive chance to revive lost episodes, reimagine characters, and evoke nostalgia, creating fresh content for animated storytelling enthusiasts.

It is a common occurrence for animated TV shows and movies to receive a live-action remake. However, it is less common for live-action properties to be transformed into animated reboots. By converting live-action TV shows into animated series, animators have the opportunity to explore different styles and incorporate more magical and supernatural themes. Animation has the ability to transport audiences to places that live-action cannot, providing a unique experience each week.

Animated shows are no longer limited to being solely for children on Saturday mornings. Showrunners are taking advantage of this trend by adapting classic and beloved TV shows. In recent years, there have been numerous animated show reboots and revivals. These adaptations range from updating classic sitcoms to bringing lost episodes back to life, and even modernizing timeless stories. Some of the most iconic shows in television history are receiving animated updates, making it an exciting time to be a fan of animated storytelling.

9 Frasier

Frasier is set to make his animated debut on Paramount+. In addition to the divisive Frasier reboot, the iconic Seattle psychiatrist is now being reimagined by a team of 100 different artists. Leading this project is Jacob Reed, a director, comedian, and visual artist who recently made headlines by flying a plane over major LA studios in support of the WGA strike.

A global collaboration of over 100 artists, filmmakers, and animators has come together to create a surreal reinterpretation of the season 1 Frasier finale. This fan-driven endeavor consists of a series of animated shorts inspired by moments from the six-to-12-second segments of Frasier's season one finale, titled "My Coffee With Niles." The project encourages artists to showcase their preferred styles and contribute to a singular, surrealist episode.

8 Good Times

Netflix is teaming up with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane and NBA star Stephen Curry to produce a new animated reboot of the groundbreaking sitcom, Good Times. Originally running from 1974 to 1979, Good Times was the first African-American two-family sitcom and served as a spin-off of Maude. Set in a poverty-stricken black neighborhood in Chicago, the show captured the realities and social issues of its time.

The animated reboot, helmed by Black Dynamite's Carl Jones, will transport the Evans family from the 1970s to the present day. This modern setting will continue to address current social issues and explore the challenges of growing up in an underprivileged community. Notably, Good Times marks Norman Lear's first foray into animated television, as he also produced the original series.

7 Everybody Hates Chris

Paramount + and Comedy Central have given the green light for an animated reboot of the popular show, Everybody Hates Chris. Titled Everybody Still Hates Chris, this new series draws inspiration from Chris Rock's own childhood experiences in a large working-class family in Brooklyn during the late 1980s. The original family sitcom, which aired from 2005 to 2009 on UPN and later CW, starred Tyler James Williams and Terry Crews.

The talented Sanjay Shah, known for his work on South Park and Central Park, has been selected as the showrunner for this exciting animated reboot. Similar to the original, Chris Rock will serve as the narrator, portraying a teenage boy living in a disadvantaged neighborhood while attending a predominantly white school across town. The network aims to target a more mature audience, taking influence from shows like Beavis and Butt Head.

6 Barney

Barney, the polarizing purple dinosaur, is making a comeback on the small screen in a new animated reboot. Despite his updated appearance, he will continue to promote the same values of kindness and love. This reboot is part of Mattel's series of live-action and animated reboots and reimaginings in the coming year. However, it is important to note that the upcoming animated Barney show is unrelated to the more mature version portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya.

The original Barney and Friends series first premiered on PBS in 1992 and ran until 2010. With its catchy tunes and distinct voice, the show inspired a wave of parodies, including a popular skit on Saturday Night Live. The reboot aims to resonate with the now-adult fans who cherished Barney during their own childhood and now have their own children to introduce to the beloved character.

5 Bewitched

The iconic 1960s sitcom Bewitched is set for an animated revival. The original series, which premiered in 1964, revolved around Samantha, a witch, and her clueless human husband Darrin. In each episode, Darrin would often fall victim to a spell cast by one of Samantha's magical relatives. Starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, and Dick Sargent, Bewitched remains a beloved show from that era.

The animated Bewitched reboot will shift its focus to Darrin and Samantha's thirteen-year-old daughter. The story will follow the teenager as she navigates life as a middle schooler while also undergoing witch training after school. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the animated revival is being described as a fusion between Hannah Montana and Harry Potter. Fans of TV shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer have already drawn comparisons, as all three shows feature teenagers balancing school with their supernatural abilities.

This isn't the first time Bewitched has been rebooted or had a spin-off. In 1978, Lisa Hartman portrayed the lead character in Tabitha, a short-lived spin-off. The series followed Samantha and Darrin's daughter as she embarked on a new journey as a production assistant in Los Angeles. Furthermore, Bewitched was adapted into a film starring Nicole Kidman in 2005, which received widespread criticism.

4 Married... With Children

The original cast of Married… with Children is currently working on an animated reboot of the show. Katey Sagal, Ed O’Neill, Christina Applegate, and David Faustino will be reprising their roles by lending their voices to their respective characters in this new version. Showrunner Alex Carter, known for his work on Family Guy, is reportedly attached to the project. However, a network has yet to pick up the series.

3 The Partridge Family

: Married...with Children was a highly popular sitcom that had a remarkable run on American TV. Spanning eleven seasons from 1987 to 1997, the show revolved around the lives of the Bundy family and their neighbor Marcy. Despite previous attempts in 2014 and 2017 to revive the sitcom with a spin-off focusing on Bud Bundy, these efforts ultimately failed to materialize.

Sony Pictures Television recently announced a revamped version of The Partridge Family in animated form. The original musical sitcom, which aired from 1970 to 1974, followed a family band with the same name. They embarked on a joyful journey across the nation in a vibrant bus, entertaining their fans everywhere they went. David Cassidy, who sadly passed away, rose to stardom through the show and kickstarted a thriving music career. Additionally, a spin-off of the series titled Partridge Family 2200 A.D. was aired the year after the live-action version concluded.

2 Doctor Who

Aside from the original series, the new rendition of The Partridge Family takes a different approach. Instead, it centers around a Black family with a musical background residing in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Throughout the animated episodes, they embark on a journey across New York in their food truck, captivating audiences with their melodious performances.

Exciting news awaits Doctor Who fans as the upcoming 60th-anniversary specials promise the return of David Tennant and the introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor. Adding to the excitement, the BBC has decided to resurrect the lost classic 1960s Doctor Who episode, "The Underwater Menace." This particular episode, along with ninety-seven others, was unfortunately lost as a result of the BBC's policy of deleting archive programming between 1967 and 1968.

1 The Witcher

"The Underwater Menace" originally aired in 1967. It features the Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton, as well as his companions Polly, Ben, and Jamie, embarking on an exciting adventure in the underwater city of Atlantis. These new animated episodes are based on the surviving audiotapes of the lost episode. To experience this updated version of the classic episode, it will be available on DVD and Blu-ray in November.

Following the success of The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf anime, Netflix is set to embark on a new anime project within The Witcher universe. This forthcoming animated spin-off, tentatively titled The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, will delve into the story of Essi Daven. It is said to be based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice," which was featured in Andrzej Sapkowski's second book of The Witcher saga, Sword of Destiny.

Daven's connection with Jaskier and Geralt of Rivia is well-established, although no specific details about the plot have been disclosed. The tragic short story, which was not included in the first season of The Witcher, holds significance in Daven's history. In the realm of Nightmare of the Wolf, the story attains greater grandeur and intensity as an anime, paving the way for more animated narratives from The Witcher Universe in the future.