Indie animation studio Glitch Productions debuted the pilot episode of their kooky new project, The Amazing Digital Circus, on YouTube last year, asking viewers to help them greenlight a full season by purchasing merchandise and subscribing to their channel. Now, after millions of likes, views, and subscribers, The Amazing Digital Circus will be available to stream on Netflix while continuing to premiere new episodes on Glitch Productions’ YouTube channel.
With only two available episodes so far, The Amazing Digital Circus has 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 that the Netflix deal only regards licensing rights, allowing Glitch Productions to continue independently funding the show and making all executive and creative decisions. They also added that Netflix’s support of The Amazing Digital Circus is an incredibly positive step for indie animation studios, which typically struggle to gain traction in an industry dominated by wealthy corporations.
A dark, existential comedy in deceptively bright colors, The Amazing Digital Circus follows 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’s Hazbin Hotel — the cast for The Amazing Digital Circus also includes popular anime voice actress Lizzie Freeman as the show’s protagonist, Pomni, and Hazbin Hotel‘s Michael Kovach as Jax. You can check out the official trailer for The Amazing Digital Circus below:
Popular Streaming Platforms Open the Door For Indie Creators
The Amazing Digital Circus is 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 cartoon Hazbin Hotel was 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 like Hazbin Hotel or licensing-only deals like Netflix’s contract with The Amazing Digital Circus represent a valuable middle ground where indie creators can gain access to more viewers without sacrificing their executive power.
While undoubtedly their most popular creation thus far, The Amazing Digital Circus also isn’t Glitch Productions’ only animated series. Other projects such as Murder Drones demonstrate the studio’s creativity and vast capacity for original storytelling. If The Amazing Digital Circus earns success on a level similar to Hazbin Hotel, Glitch Productions may find themselves with a trusty platform to showcase past projects like Murder Drones — as well as future creations that continue to push the boundaries of animation.