With only two available episodes so far,The Amazing Digital Circushas nevertheless become an Internet phenomenon. Earning an 8.1/10 on IMDb and hundreds of positive reviews, it’s no wonder that the show was picked up by Netflix, who plans to release the third episode on October 4th with subsequent episodes to follow. However, Glitch Productions assured fans via their X account thatthe Netflix deal only regards licensing rights, allowing Glitch Productions to continue independently funding the showand making all executive and creative decisions. They also added that Netflix’s support ofThe Amazing Digital Circusis an incredibly positive step for indie animation studios, which typically struggle to gain traction in an industry dominated by wealthy corporations.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Franchise Dominates Netflix with Incredible 2024 Viewership
Consisting of both live-action and animated properties, Avatar: The Last Airbender dominates Netflix’s engagement report for the first half of 2024.
A dark, existential comedy in deceptively bright colors,The Amazing Digital Circusfollows the adventures and occasional emotional breakdowns of six humans trapped in a whimsical virtual world — or, as Glitch Productions puts it, the show is about “cute cartoon characters who hate their lives and want to leave.” Under the creative direction of Gooseworx — the composer for Amazon Prime’sHazbin Hotel— the cast forThe Amazing Digital Circus alsoincludes popular anime voice actress Lizzie Freeman as the show’s protagonist, Pomni, andHazbin Hotel’s Michael Kovach as Jax. You can check out the official trailer forThe Amazing Digital Circusbelow:
Popular Streaming Platforms Open the Door For Indie Creators
The Amazing Digital Circusis hardly the first indie animation project to be picked up by a major streaming platform. Originally another YouTube project by independent creator Vivienne Medranno — also known as VivziePop — the devilishly charming adult cartoonHazbin Hotelwas picked up by A24 in 2020 and subsequently streamed on Amazon Prime,earning unprecedented success among viewers. Although one of the advantages for indie creators is full autonomy and control over their creations, with large corporations often needing to censor controversial content in order to maintain a wide audience, raunchy projects likeHazbin Hotelor licensing-only deals like Netflix’s contract withThe Amazing Digital Circusrepresent a valuable middle ground where indie creators can gain access to more viewers without sacrificing their executive power.
Hazbin Hotel
While undoubtedly their most popular creation thus far,The Amazing Digital Circusalso isn’t Glitch Productions' only animated series. Other projects such asMurder Dronesdemonstrate the studio’s creativity and vast capacity for original storytelling. IfThe Amazing Digital Circusearns success on a level similar toHazbin Hotel, Glitch Productions may find themselves with a trusty platform to showcase past projects likeMurder Drones— as well asfuture creations that continue to push the boundaries of animation.
