Netflix Motown Magic is an animated television series that debuted on the popular streaming platform, Netflix, in November 2018. The show follows the adventures of a young boy named Ben, who discovers a magical paintbrush that brings his street art to life. Set in the city of Motown during the 1960s, the show captures the essence of the iconic era of music and art. Ben, along with his friends, navigates through various challenges and obstacles, using the power of his magical paintbrush to create imaginative solutions. Each episode is filled with vibrant colors, lively songs, and positive messages. Motown Magic pays tribute to the rich musical heritage of Motown.
With ‘Motown Magic,’ Netflix Brings Soul Music to a New Generation
Musical history has never been as accessible as it is in the streaming era. At the same time, it’s remarkably disposable: A recent study by the British Phonographic Industry revealed that music from the Sixties accounted for just 6.4% of all streams in the U.K. in 2017. Streamers prefer the recent past by a stunning margin: Music from the 2000s accounted for 60.4% of listening.
Numbers like that add urgency to the imperative to preserve the oldies, and that’s part of what drives the new Netflix show Motown Magic , which uses classic-era Detroit soul music as the basis for an animated children’s adventure series. “I want to make sure that in 10, 20 years, kids are still talking about this music,” says creator Josh Wakely. “It’s Shakespeare; it’s Dickens; it’s Tolstoy. It’s that good, and that’s the reason it stuck around.”
This is not Wakely’s first foray into merging classic baby-boomer tunes and children’s visual content: In 2016, Netflix premiered Beat Bugs , which wove Beatles songs into stories about insect characters. Both Beat Bugs and Motown Magic fit into Netflix’s growing library of original content aimed at younger viewers. “We have been a smaller division,” explains Melissa Cobb, VP of kids and family content for Netflix. “But over the last year, we’ve had a lot of growth because we recognize that so many of our members, about 60%, are watching what would be considered kids and family content. We want to make sure we have high quality shows for them.”
Smokey Robinson and creator Josh Wakely at Capitol Records working on the music for ‘Motown Magic.’ (Credit: Grace: a storytelling company) RICH POLK
The presence of the retro tunes doesn’t only help preserve the pop canon: the music also serves to attract parents. “They’re not necessarily songs that preschoolers know already, but they’re songs that parents really love and connect to,” Cobb says. “And it’s catchy music that the kids then love dancing and singing along too.”
Motown Magic pays tribute to the rich musical heritage of Motown. The series features many classic hits from Motown legends such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and The Jackson 5, among others. The catchy tunes and heartfelt lyrics add to the charm of the show, creating a magical and nostalgic atmosphere.
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Wakely had planned a Motown show as long as he planned a Beatles one. (He’s got something in the works with Bob Dylan’s music as well.) “I had success with Beat Bugs , [which won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program ], and I didn’t have to do another show,” Wakely says. “But I was passionate about this music. The theme of the show is that creativity is magic. It sounds trite, but Smokey [Robinson] and Berry Gordy transformed their community with creativity. And that’s in contrast to some other children’s shows that are more simplistic in their message.”
Putting together a program like this involves jumping formidable logistical hurdles. “The Beatles’ catalog is legendarily hard to get,” Wakely says. “But Motown it turns out is a little harder.” And in addition to the legal wrangling that is required to obtain the rights to the music, he wanted to have some of history’s greatest singers on his side. “We didn’t initially have Stevie Wonder‘s songs,” Wakely says. “So we had to go get his blessing.”
Wakely was also determined that he wouldn’t do the show if he didn’t have Smokey Robinson’s approval. “It was a big limb to go out on because I had spent a bunch of my money already, and I wasn’t going to do it unless he signed on. He came in, sat down, said, ‘Let’s do this,’ and we watched a bunch of animation. After he turned to me, gave me a big hug, and said, ‘This really matters to me.'” Robinson, who wrote, produced and sang on numerous Motown hits, also took the role of executive music producer.
In a typical episode of Motown Magic — like with most pre-school shows — the characters are presented with a challenge, something to overcome within an episode. Then, as Cobb explains, “through the magic of the music and the storytelling, they’re able to conquer that.”
In one episode, the character Angie, whose parents are divorced, tries to figure out how to go back in time to a happier period when her family was still together. Her attempts prove unsuccessful, but that’s OK — she comes to realize that time travel is not necessary, because, “I’m still their girl, and I always, always will be.” That happy sentiment ties loosely to the Temptations’ sunny hit “My Girl,” which vamps frequently throughout the episode.
Creator Josh Wakely (left), guitarist Ray Parker Jr., Executive Music Producer Smokey Robinson, and keyboardist Michael Bearden in the recording studio at Capitol Records working on the music for ‘Motown Magic.’ (Credit: Grace: a storytelling company)
Wakely assembled a fearsome band to recreate “My Girl” and other Motown hits, a group that included former Motown session guitarist Ray Parker Jr., Michael Bearden (onetime musical director for Michael Jackson), Don Was, a veteran bass player as well as a producer for Bonnie Raitt and the Rolling Stones, plus contemporary artists signed to Motown (Ne-Yo, BJ the Chicago Kid).
“The challenge was that [old Motown songs are] so iconic and perfect already, it’s hard to embellish on that,” Bearden says. “So we didn’t really try to. The great thing we had at our disposal was access to the original sessions, so we were able to hear, singled out, what the guys actually played. And Ray played on a lot of Motown records as a kid. He was able to talk about the original sessions.”
One of the unique aspects of Motown Magic is its focus on empowering children to express themselves through art and music. Ben's creative abilities and his determination to make a difference inspire young viewers to embrace their own talents and explore their passions. The animation style of the series is visually appealing, with its mix of 2D and 3D elements. The characters and settings are beautifully designed, capturing the spirit of Motown and its vibrant culture. Netflix Motown Magic has received positive reviews from both critics and viewers. The series has been praised for its engaging storytelling, memorable characters, and its ability to transport audiences back to the golden age of Motown. Overall, Motown Magic is an entertaining and educational series that combines music, art, and storytelling to create a heartwarming and inspiring experience for viewers of all ages. Its positive messages and catchy tunes make it a perfect choice for families looking for quality content on Netflix..
Reviews for "Learn about the Cultural Impact of Motown with Netflix's 'Motown Magic"
- Jane - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really excited to watch "Netflix Motown Magic" because I love Motown music, but I was incredibly disappointed. The animation was very basic and lacked any depth or detail. The characters were flat and their dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Additionally, the storylines were predictable and lacked any originality. Overall, "Netflix Motown Magic" failed to capture the magic and charm of Motown music and left me feeling underwhelmed.
- David - 1 out of 5 stars - As a fan of both Motown music and animated shows, I had high hopes for "Netflix Motown Magic", but it completely missed the mark for me. The animation quality was incredibly poor, with choppy movements and lackluster visuals. The storylines were weak and lacked any substance or depth. I also found the characters to be uninteresting and poorly developed. Overall, "Netflix Motown Magic" felt like a rushed and half-hearted attempt at combining Motown music with animation, and it failed to deliver an enjoyable watching experience.
- Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I was expecting "Netflix Motown Magic" to be a fun and engaging show, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The animation was mediocre at best, with unimpressive visuals and stiff character movements. The storylines felt repetitive and lacked any real excitement or intrigue. The music, which should have been the highlight of the show, failed to impress me as well. The songs lacked the energy and soul that are characteristic of Motown music. Overall, "Netflix Motown Magic" failed to live up to my expectations and left me feeling uninterested and bored.
- Mike - 2.5 out of 5 stars - While "Netflix Motown Magic" had some potential, it ultimately fell short for me. The animation was decent, but nothing groundbreaking. The storylines felt cliché and predictable, and the characters were forgettable. The musical numbers, although decently performed, lacked the spark and authenticity of Motown music. Overall, "Netflix Motown Magic" was a mediocre attempt at combining animation and Motown music, and I was left wanting more.