By Back in maybe fifth or sixth grade, the class visits to the library became feverish rushes to claim a particular set of books. Jeff Smith’s Bone comics were an easy read for kids who weren’t down for some Melville or Faulkner, but for others it was a really tremendous adventure, capturing our imaginations not solely because of its visual storytelling. If news from Netflix is indication, those visuals are getting a fresh coat of paint.
Streaming titan Netflix announced today that they’ve acquired the rights to Smith’s series, which centers on the titular Bone cousins and their adventures across the mystical Valley, where they encounter all sorts of ravenous creatures as well as the mysterious Thorn, a young girl who falls in with the Bones.
On the acquisition Smith’s comments were eager and optimistic, saying he’s “waited a long time for this,” and that “Netflix is the perfect home for Bone. Fans of the books know that the story develops chapter by chapter and book by book. An animated series is exactly the way to do this! The team at Netflix understands Bone and is committed to doing something special — this is good news for kids and cartoon lovers all over the world.” If it’s good for him, it’s good for me.
I think the lasting impression of Bone for me was something easy to digest as a kid, and a real adventure, but something that, growing older, I’ve come to sort of realize oh wow, that was a really brilliant, smart series! Made all the more genius for being accessible for kids!
Details on the Netflix series are sparse, though expect to hear more about Bone in the coming months. With a slate of original series like Castlevania and She-Ra, as well as more in the pipeline like Masters of the Universe, Netflix is accruing quite a reputation for itself in the animation department.
‘Bone’ Animated Series Based on Comics in the Works at Netflix [The Hollywood Reporter]