Netflix is producing a CG animated series based on Brown & Friends, a set of characters created by mobile messenger app Line, which has 164 million active users worldwide.
The non-verbal comedy series will tell the story of the diverse set of characters who are friends and neighbours living in the same town. Los Angeles-based Kickstart Entertainment will co-produce.
The Line messaging app, which is popular in South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, is operated by Line Corp, a subsidiary of Korean internet search engine Naver Corporation.
“The band of adorable Brown & Friends characters has been a part of many fans’ daily lives since they were created as stickers on Line mobile messengers, and now we’re excited to develop the expanded world for screens of all kinds to delight new audiences everywhere on Netflix,” said Aram Yacoubian, Netflix director of Original Animation.
Netflix has already worked with Korean creators in the animation space to produce Larva Island and YooHoo To The Rescue! for kids and families. The global streamer also recently released its original family animated feature film Klaus, by Sergio Pablos in Spain; kids animated series Dino Girl Gauko from Japan; and an adult animated film I Lost My Body by France’s Jérémy Clapin.