The world of Ghostbusters continues to expand, but now with an animated film, and this new project could be the spiritual successor to one of the best animated series of the 1980s. In 1984, the world met a group of parapsychologists investigating and eliminating ghosts in New York City in Supernatural Comedy Ghostbusters. Directed by Ivan Reitman and created by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters followed the titular team, made up of Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Aykroyd), Spengler (Ramis) and Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), on their ghost hunting adventures.
The enormous success of Ghostbusters It paved the way for a direct sequel franchise, a failed reboot in 2016, and a second reboot with two films, plus two animated TV shows, video games, and lots of merchandise. While a third film in the current reboot timeline is in development, the Ghostbusters The franchise is now also preparing another film, but this one will be animated. This will be the first Ghostbusters animated film, as they have only ever had animated TV shows, and as such, it could be the perfect spiritual successor to the hit 1986 show.
Netflix's animated Ghostbusters movie could be the spiritual successor to the real Ghostbusters
Same universe, same format
In December 2024, Deadline reported that Sony Animation and Netflix is ​​now working on a Ghostbusters animated filmwith Kris Pearn attached to direct. At the time of writing, there are no plot details about the film, so it's unknown exactly where it will be set in the current Ghostbusters timeline. As mentioned above, the Ghostbusters The TV series were both animated, but the one that was very successful was The real ghostbusterswhich aired on ABC from 1986 to 1991.
The real ghostbusters is set between the first two films and follows the original team, along with their secretary Janine (Annie Potts), their accountant Louis (Rick Moranis) and their mascot Slimer, on new adventures around New York City, facing and capturing a variety of ghosts, specters and other devious entities. The real ghostbusters it was a big successand to this day, the first season holds a perfect 100% critic score on Rotten tomatoes. Because it was aimed at a much younger audience than the films, the show was sillier and less dark than the film, which appealed to viewers of all ages.
Netflix's animated film could be a spiritual successor to The real ghostbustersespecially if it's a sillier, more light-hearted approach than the more recent films.
The real ghostbusters had a sequel in 1997 titled Extreme Ghostbusterswhich aired for one season consisting of 40 episodes. Extreme Ghostbusters saw Spengler recruit four students to form a new Ghostbusters team, but the show didn't live up to the success of The real ghostbusters. Now Netflix's animated film could be a spiritual successor to The real ghostbustersespecially if it goes for a sillier, more light-hearted approach than the more recent films, which have dialed up the darkness a bit compared to the early films, and so do what Extreme Ghostbusters failed: focus on a new team.
The Real Ghostbusters' Popularity Puts More Pressure on Netflix's Animated Film to Be Great
Netflix's animated Ghostbusters movie needs to meet some high standards
The biggest challenge of the next Netflix Ghostbusters animated film is facing is the popularity of The real ghostbusters. The show raised the bar for future animation Ghostbusters projects, and not even its series of direct sequels could match it. The Netflix movie needs to be great to match or surpass the success and popularity of The real ghostbustersand you are already a few steps ahead on the right path. In the first place, Pearn directed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and The Willoughbysboth critically acclaimed animated films, so the Ghostbusters animated film is in great hands.
Secondly, the Netflix film is likely to follow the current Ghostbusters teamthen you won't face the same challenge as Extreme Ghostbusters as the public already knows the new team members. Netflix Ghostbusters animated film could expand the stories and dynamics of the new team, as well as their dynamics with the surviving members of the original team, bringing together two generations of Ghostbusters through which you can also have some references to The real ghostbusters.
Source: Deadline.