It’s no secret that television is slowly dying a painful death. It’s not pretty either, this medium is trying desperately to cling to relevancy while streaming giants are picking up exclusive shows and attracting a wider audience.

There’s no question that streaming platforms are the future – but what about the future of streaming platforms? Lately, there’s been a rising trend of animated series making it big online. People have always been into animations and cartoons, but it feels like the genre as a whole is being redefined for the streaming market.

So, the question I want to ask is; are animated TV series the future for this type of entertainment medium?

Animated series are cheaper to commission

In the last five or so years, we’ve seen a lot of animated series make it big in the streaming world. Three main ones that stand out are Rick & Morty, Bojack Horseman, and Big Mouth. Then, you have the likes of Final Space and Disenchantment – both of which were only released this year. More and more animated series are planned, and this is thanks to the low-cost of commissioning them. You don’t have to pay for expensive sets, and it’s much easier to film them. So, they’re a low-risk option for the big cats with all the money, compared to live action series.

Animated series draw in niche audiences

Perhaps the most significant thing about animated TV series is that they cater to very niche audiences. Cartoons in themselves are a pretty niche thing, but then you bring the subgenres into play like anime. More and more people are getting into anime, and this is partly thanks to how widely available it is online. There are hundreds of series with hundreds of episodes each; perfect for a binge-loving streamer! By offering a niche genre like this, it can broaden the audience reach for certain services. Or, it opens up the idea for streaming services dedicated solely to anime and other subgenres.

Animated series can go on for longer

Lastly, one of the main reasons I believe animated TV series are the future for streaming platforms is that they can go on for longer than live action series. Cast members get older, meaning live action shows eventually have to end. With animations, you can conceivably keep them going for decades. It’s not a coincidence that shows like The Simpsons, South Park, Dragonball Z, and Pokemon have been going on for far longer than any live-action show ever. Obviously, the longer you can keep something going, the more content you can provide for your audience. As such, they’ll keep on being interested!

I’m not a fortune teller, so I can’t say for sure if this will be the future of streaming services. However, I do definitely feel like we’ll see more and more animated series in the upcoming years. They’re on-trend right now, and you see massive franchises getting involved too. Marvel Studios are releasing a new Spiderman animated movie, while Star Wars is bringing out more animated shows as well. There’s no doubt that online streaming is the way forward, but could animated shows be at the forefront of this new entertainment medium?

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