Mar 27, 2024

First Trailer Released for Netflix's Animated "Good Times" Reboot, Executive Produced by Norman Lear; Release Date April 12

Update: Sony Pictures Television and Netflix have confirmed that Studio Moshi is the animation studio for "Good Times."

Netflix has released the first trailer for the animated "Good Times" reboot, which will debut on the platform on April 12.

Directed by Lanada Shepard ("Young Love," "Diary of a Future President") and Tyree Dilihey, Netflix describes the animated series as "a sort of spiritual sequel." As such, "Good Times" was produced with the full involvement of Norman Lear, executive producer and writer of the original groundbreaking series. He executive produced the reboot along with "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane and NBA great Stephen Curry, who made a voice cameo in episode 8, his final role before his death in December 2023 at age 101.

Of his experience working with Leah, Shepard explained: [Norman] supported me completely as a showrunner, creative, writer, and even visionary. He showed up at our meetings, zooms, table reads, and influenced how we could produce this series.

While most of Shepard's previous work has been as a screenwriter, she worked closely with the animation artists on "Good Times" to develop characters that accurately represent a modern black family. She explains:

Having a variety of skin colors was very important to me. One family does not wipe clean with one shade. For example, the inside of your palm is lighter than the outside. It actually looks that way. Let's actually play with this and try to make the character as human as possible.

"Good Times" is produced by Netflix, which teamed with Sony Pictures Television Studios for the reboot. Modernized and updated to discuss contemporary themes and issues, Good Times touches on topics including elections, the first term, poverty, female empowerment, coded bias, and technology. Studio Moshi is the animation studio behind the series.

According to Shepherd:

It is the story of a black family on Chicago's South Side who band together, laugh together, and overcome the system. What you get from it is a lot of social commentary, a lot of boundary pushing, a lot of feel-good TV, but also a lot of stuff in the vein of "The Simpsons," "South Park," and "Family Guy." When you look back 10 years from now, you'll see that in "Good Times" that stuff I was saying that ...... Oh my God."