Motown Magic

Animated children's television series directed by Josh Wakely

Animated
Children's
Urban fantasy

Created byJosh WakelyDirected byJosh WakelyOpening theme"ABC" performed by Zacary James and Motown Magic CastEnding theme"ABC" performed by Zacary James and Motown Magic CastCountry of originUnited States
AustraliaNo. of seasons2No. of episodes51ProductionExecutive producers

Josh Wakely
Mikael Borglund
Smokey Robinson

ProducerJosh WakelyRunning time15 minutesProduction companiesGrace - A Storytelling Company
Beyond Entertainment
PolyGram Entertainment
EMI Music Publishing
Sony-ATV Music PublishingOriginal releaseNetworkNetflix
7TWO (Australia)ReleaseNovember 20, 2018 (2018-11-20) –
June 28, 2019 (2019-06-28)

Motown Magic is an animated children's television series, created by Josh Wakely, and produced for Netflix. The series follows Ben, described by Netflix as “a wide-eyed 8-year-old with a big heart and an amazing imagination,” who uses a magic paintbrush to bring the street art in Motown to life. Wakely acquired worldwide rights from the music of Motown to feature in the series. The program features versions of songs by the popular record label, performed by contemporary recording artists and interwoven into the narrative. Motown hits that are recorded in the series are from such performers as The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.^[1]^[2]

The series was first made available worldwide on Netflix on November 20, 2018.^[3]

Cast and characters

Avia Fields as Ben
Marissa Buccianti as Ella
Betsy Kenney as Angie
Monie Mon as Mickey
Alex Thomas as Brad, Jimmy Mack
Steven Cantor as Dancing Machine
Rhonda Morman as Grandma Ruby
Ryan Robinson as Grandpa Marvin
Byron Marc Newsome as Uncle Rod
Kelly Jean Badgley as Jenny
Ingrid Nilson as Harmony
Autumn Joy as Bernadette
Amanuel Richards as Bill
Peter Tiganis as Johnny

Reception

Motown Magic received favourable reviews. Critics praised the concept of reimagining Motown songs for a young audience.^[4]

Other media

Soundtracks

The first soundtrack to the show was released on online music-streaming service Apple Music on November 20, 2018.^[5]

References

^ "Netflix's 'Motown Magic' exclusive: Watch this amazing kid's version of Jackson 5's 'ABC'". Eu.usatoday.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ "Motown Reveals 'Motown Magic' Soundtrack Track List, Previews Becky G's 'For Once in My Life' (Exclusive)". Billboard.
^ Sippell, Margeaux (2 November 2018). "TV Roundup: 'Stargirl' Series at DC Universe Casts Anjelika Washington". Variety.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ "'Motown Magic' - Netflix Original Series Review - Ready Steady Cut". 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ "Eventbrite Received $17M Discount on Ticketfly Purchase as Part of Renegotiated Deal With Pandora". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2018.

External links

Motown Magic at IMDb

Netflix original animated series and films

First released 2013–2015	Turbo Fast (2013–2016) All Hail King Julien (2014–2017) Knights of Sidonia (2014–2015) BoJack Horseman (2014–2020) VeggieTales in the House (2014–2016) The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015–2018) Care Bears & Cousins (2015–2016) Dawn of the Croods (2015–2017) Dinotrux (2015–2018) DreamWorks Dragons (2012–2018; continued from Netflix 2015) F Is for Family (2015–2021) The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (2015–2017) Popples (2015–2016) The Seven Deadly Sins (2015–2021)
First released 2016	Ajin: Demi-Human (2016) Ask the StoryBots (2016–2019) Beat Bugs (2016–2018) Bottersnikes and Gumbles (2016–2017) Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh (2016–2018) Justin Time (2011–2016; continued from Netflix 2016) Kong: King of the Apes (2016–2018) Kulipari (2016–2018) Kuromukuro (2016) Lego Bionicle: The Journey to One (2016) Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship (2016) Luna Petunia (2016–2018) Skylanders Academy (2016–2018) StoryBots Super Songs (2016–2017) Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016–2018) Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016–2018) Word Party (2016–2021) World of Winx (2016–2017)
First released 2017	Big Mouth (2017–present) Buddy Thunderstruck (2017) Castlevania (2017–2021) Fate/Apocrypha (2017) Legend Quest (2017–2019) Little Witch Academia (2017) The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017–2020) Neo Yokio (2017–2018) Spirit Riding Free (2017–2020) Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters (2017–2018) Super Monsters (2017–2019) Tarzan and Jane (2017–2018) True and the Rainbow Kingdom (2017–2019) VeggieTales in the City (2017) We're Lalaloopsy (2017)
First released 2018	3Below: Tales of Arcadia (2018–2019) Aggretsuko (2018–2023) A.I.C.O. -Incarnation- (2018) B – The Beginning (2018–2021) Baki (2018–present) Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures (2018–2020) The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018–2020) Cupcake & Dino: General Services (2018–2019) Devilman Crybaby (2018) Disenchantment (2018–2023) The Dragon Prince (2018–present) The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2018–2020) Harvey Street Kids/Harvey Girls Forever! (2018–2020) Hero Mask (2018–2019) Hilda (2018–2023) The Hollow (2018–2020) Llama Llama (2018–2019) Lost Song (2018) Motown Magic (2018–2019) Paradise PD (2018–2021) ReBoot: The Guardian Code (2018) She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018–2020) Sirius the Jaeger (2018) Spy Kids: Mission Critical (2018) Super Drags (2018) Swordgai: The Animation (2018) Treehouse Detectives (2018) Trolls: The Beat Goes On! (2018–2019) Watership Down (2018)
First released 2019	7 Seeds (2019–2020) Archibald's Next Big Thing (2019–2020) Cannon Busters (2019) Carmen Sandiego (2019–2021) Carole & Tuesday (2019) Charlie's Colorforms City (2019–present) Chip and Potato (2019–present) Dino Girl Gauko (2019–2020) DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019–2022) Fast & Furious Spy Racers (2019–2021) Green Eggs and Ham (2019–2022) Hello Ninja (2019–2021) Kengan Ashura (2019–present) Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya (2019) The Last Kids on Earth (2019–2021) Levius (2019) Love, Death & Robots (2019–present) Pinky Malinky (2019) Rilakkuma and Kaoru (2019) Seis Manos (2019) Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series (2019–2020) Tuca & Bertie (2019) Twelve Forever (2019) Ultraman (2019–2023) YooHoo to the Rescue (2019–2020)
First released 2020	Alien TV (2020–2021) Beastars (2020–present) Blood of Zeus (2020–present) BNA: Brand New Animal (2020) Buddi (2020) Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt (2020) Dorohedoro (2020) Dragon's Dogma (2020) Drifting Dragons (2020) Glitch Techs (2020) Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2045 (2020–2022) Go! Go! Cory Carson (2020–2021) Great Pretender (2020) Hoops (2020) The Idhun Chronicles (2020–2021) Japan Sinks: 2020 (2020) Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (2020–2022) Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020) The Midnight Gospel (2020) Mighty Express (2020–2022) Pokémon Journeys: The Series (2020–2023) Rhyme Time Town (2020–2021) Scissor Seven (2020–present) Shaun the Sheep (2007–2021; continued from Netflix, 2020) StarBeam (2020–2021) Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (2020–2021) Trash Truck (2020–2021) Wizards: Tales of Arcadia (2020)
First released 2021	Ada Twist, Scientist (2021–present) Arcane (2021–present) A Tale Dark & Grimm (2021) Blue Period (2021) Centaurworld (2021) City of Ghosts (2021) Dogs in Space (2021–2022) Dota: Dragon's Blood (2021–2022) Gabby's Dollhouse (2021–present) Godzilla Singular Point (2021) Go, Dog. Go! (2021–present) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2021–2022) High-Rise Invasion (2021) I Heart Arlo (2021) Inside Job (2021–2022) Johnny Test (2021–2022) Karma's World (2021–2022) Kid Cosmic (2021–2022) Komi Can't Communicate (2021–2022) Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021) Maya and the Three (2021) Octonauts: Above & Beyond (2021–present) Pacific Rim: The Black (2021–2022) Q-Force (2021) Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021) Ridley Jones (2021–2023) Super Crooks (2021) Tear Along the Dotted Line (2021) The Way of the Househusband (2021–present)
First released 2022	Action Pack (2022–present) Angry Birds: Summer Madness (2022) Barbie: It Takes Two (2022) Battle Kitty (2022) Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- (2022–present) Bee and PuppyCat (2013–2016; continued from Netflix, 2022) Big Tree City (2022–present) Case Closed: Zero's Tea Time (2022) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) Daniel Spellbound (2022–present) Dead End: Paranormal Park (2022) Deepa & Anoop (2022–present) Dragon Age: Absolution (2022) exception (2022) Farzar (2022) Human Resources (2022–2023) Kakegurui Twin (2022) Kotaro Lives Alone (2022) Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022–2023) Lost Ollie (2022) My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (2022–present) Oddballs (2022–2023) Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation (2022–present) Oni: Thunder God's Tale (2022) Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure (2022) Romantic Killer (2022) Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles (2022–present) Sonic Prime (2022–present) Spirit Rangers (2022–present) Spriggan (2022–present) Super Giant Robot Brothers (2022) Team Zenko Go (2022) Tekken: Bloodline (2022) The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (2022–2023) The Creature Cases (2022–present) The Cuphead Show! (2022) The Guardians of Justice (2022) The Orbital Children (2022) Thermae Romae Novae (2022) Uncle from Another World (2022–2023)
First released 2023	Akuma-kun (2023) Agent Elvis (2023) Barbie: A Touch of Magic (2023–present) Blue Eye Samurai (2023–present) Captain Fall (2023) Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix (2023) Carol & the End of the World (2023) Case Closed: The Culprit Hanzawa (2023) Castlevania: Nocturne (2023–present) Gamera Rebirth (2023) Good Night World (2023) Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023) Karate Sheep (2023) Make My Day (2023) Mulligan (2023) My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023–present) My Daemon (2023) My Happy Marriage (2023-present) Onimusha (2023) Onmyōji (2023) Ōoku: The Inner Chambers (2023) Pluto (2023) Princess Power (2023–present) Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023) Supa Team 4 (2023–present) The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023) This World Can't Tear Me Down (2023) Unicorn Academy (2023) Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune (2023)
First released 2024	Delicious in Dungeon (2024–present) Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation (2024) The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse (2024) Hot Wheels Let's Race (2024) The Grimm Variations (2024)
Upcoming	Devil May Cry (2024) Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld (2024) Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (2024) Moonrise (2024) Rising Impact (2024) Terminator: The Anime Series (2024) Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024) Beat & Motion (TBA) Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance (TBA) Ken and Kenny (TBA)

Films

Original released films	Klaus (2019) The Willoughbys (2020) Over the Moon (2020) Arlo the Alligator Boy (2021) America: The Motion Picture (2021) Back to the Outback (2021) Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood (2022) The Sea Beast (2022) Wendell & Wild (2022) My Father's Dragon (2022) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) The Magician's Elephant (2023) The Monkey King (2023) Leo (2023)
Other released films	Angela's Christmas (2017) Barbie: Dolphin Magic (2017) Blame! (2017) Sahara (2017) Duck Duck Goose (2018) Gnome Alone (2018) Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2018) Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (2018) Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018) Next Gen (2018) Super Monsters Furever Friends (2018) White Fang (2018) I Lost My Body (2019) Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus (2019) Latte and the Magic Waterstone (2019) Pets United (2019) Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling (2019) Angela's Christmas Wish (2020) Animal Crackers (2020) Barbie: Princess Adventure (2020) Cagaster of an Insect Cage (2020) Canvas (2020) Fearless (2020) Hayop Ka! (2020) Octonauts & the Caves of Sac Actun (2020) Octonauts & the Great Barrier Reef (2020) A Whisker Away (2020) Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday (2021) Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams (2021) Bright: Samurai Soul (2021) Dog Gone Trouble (2021) Extinct (2021) Hilda and the Mountain King (2021) My Little Pony: A New Generation (2021) Octonauts & the Ring of Fire (2021) Robin Robin (2021) Seal Team (2021) The Loud House Movie (2021) The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021) Vivo (2021) Wish Dragon (2021) Barbie: Mermaid Power (2022) Bubble (2022) Rabbids Invasion: Mission to Mars (2022) The House (2022) Marmaduke (2022) Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (2022) Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022) Drifting Home (2022) Entergalactic (2022) Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022) Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (2023) Barbie: Skipper and the Big Babysitting Adventure (2023) Nimona (2023) Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023) Orion and the Dark (2024) The Casagrandes Movie (2024) Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp (2024)
Interactive	Cat Burglar (2022) Barbie: Epic Road Trip (2022) We Lost Our Human (2023)
Upcoming	Thelma the Unicorn (2024) My Oni Girl (2024) Ultraman: Rising (2024) Spellbound (2024) That Christmas (2024) The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (2024) Pookoo (2025) The Twits (2025) Escape from Hat (TBA) The Shrinking of Treehorn (TBA)

Current series
Original ended series
- 2012–2018
- 2019 onwards
Continuation series
Specials
Upcoming series

v t e Netflix original ended series (2012–2018)
First released 2012–2014	Bad Samaritans (2013) House of Cards (2013–18) Hemlock Grove (2013–15) Orange Is the New Black (2013–19) Turbo Fast (2013–16) Lilyhammer (2012–14) Some Assembly Required (2014–16) All Hail King Julien (2014–17) BoJack Horseman (2014–20) Knights of Sidonia (2014–15) Marco Polo (2014–16) VeggieTales in the House (2014–16) The Seven Deadly Sins (2014–20)
First released 2015	Atelier (2015) Between (2015–16) Bloodline (2015–17) Care Bears & Cousins (2015–16) Chef's Table (2015-22) Club de Cuervos (2015–19) Daredevil (2015–18) Dawn of the Croods (2015–17) Dinotrux (2015–18) DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge (2015–18) F Is for Family (2015–21) Grace and Frankie (2015–22) Jessica Jones (2015–19) Making a Murderer (2015–18) Master of None (2015-2021) Narcos (2015–17) Popples (2015–16) Real Rob (2015–17) Richie Rich (2015) Sense8 (2015–18) Terrace House: Boys & Girls in the City (2015–16) The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015–18) The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (2015–17) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–19) W/ Bob & David (2015) Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015)
First released 2016	3% (2016–20) Ask the StoryBots (2016–19) Beat Bugs (2016–18) Bottersnikes and Gumbles (2016–17) Brown Nation (2016) Captive (2016) Chasing Cameron (2016) Chelsea (2016–17) Chelsea Does (2016) Cooked (2016) Crazyhead (2016) Degrassi: Next Class (2016–17) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016–17) Easy (2016–19) El marginal (2016–2022) Estocolmo (2016) Flaked (2016–17) Fuller House (2016–20) Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016) Haters Back Off (2016–17) Hibana: Spark (2016) Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh (2016–18) Kong: King of the Apes (2016–18) Kulipari (2016–18) Lady Dynamite (2016–17) Last Chance U (2016–20) Lego Bionicle: The Journey to One (2016) Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship (2016) Love (2016–18) Luke Cage (2016–18) Luna Petunia (2016–18) Marseille (2016–18) Netflix Presents: The Characters (2016) The OA (2016–19) Paranoid (2016) Skylanders Academy (2016–18) StoryBots Super Songs (2016–17) The Crown (2016–23) The Ranch (2016–20) The Get Down (2016–17) Terrace House: Aloha State (2016–17) Travelers (2016–18) Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016–18) Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016–18) White Rabbit Project (2016) Word Party (2016–2021) World of Winx (2016–17)
First released 2017	13 Reasons Why (2017–20) 72 Dangerous Animals: Latin America (2017) Atypical (2017–21) A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–19) Abstract: The Art of Design (2017) Alias Grace (2017) American Vandal (2017–18) Anne with an E (2017–20) Bill Nye Saves the World (2017–18) Buddy Thunderstruck (2017) Cable Girls (2017–20) Castlevania (2017–21) Damnation (2017–18) Dark (2017–20) Dear White People (2017–21) Disjointed (2017–18) El Chapo (2017–18) Five Came Back (2017) Free Rein (2017–19) Friends from College (2017–19) Girlboss (2017) GLOW (2017–19) Godless (2017) Greenhouse Academy (2017–20) Gypsy (2017) Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On (2017) Iron Fist (2017–18) Ingobernable Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father (2017–21) Julie's Greenroom (2017) Legend Quest (2017–19) Mindhunter (2017–19) My Only Love Song (2017) Neo Yokio (2017–18) One Day at a Time (2017–19) Ozark (2017–22) Santa Clarita Diet (2017–19) She's Gotta Have It (2017–19) Shot in the Dark (2017) Spirit Riding Free (2017–2020) Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters (2017–18) Suburra: Blood on Rome (2017–20) The Confession Tapes (2017–19) The Day I Met El Chapo (2017) The Defenders (2017) The End of the F*ing World (2017–19) The Keepers (2017) The Kindness Diaries (2017) The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017–20) The Many Faces of Ito (2017) The Worst Witch (2017–20) The Punisher (2017–19) The Toys That Made Us (2017–19) Tarzan and Jane (2017–18) Terrace House: Opening New Doors (2017–19) Ultimate Beastmaster (2017–18) VeggieTales in the City (2017) We're Lalaloopsy (2017) Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017) Wormwood (2017)
First released 2018	1983 (2018) 3Below: Tales of Arcadia (2018–19) 7 Days Out (2018) 72 Dangerous Animals: Asia (2018) A Little Help with Carol Burnett (2018) A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities (2018–19) A.I.C.O. -Incarnation- (2018) Afflicted (2018) Aggretsuko (2018–23) Alexa & Katie (2018–20) All About the Washingtons (2018) Altered Carbon (2018–20) Amazing Interiors (2018) Baby (2018–20) Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures (2018–20) Battlefish (2018) Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever. (2018) Bobby Kennedy for President (2018) Brainchild (2018) Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell (2018) Busted! (2018–21) Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–20) Collateral (2018) Cooking on High (2018) Dancing Queen (2018) Dark Tourist (2018) Death by Magic (2018) Devilman Crybaby (2018) Diablero (2018–20) Dirty Money (2018–20) Dogs of Berlin (2018) Everything Sucks! (2018) Evil Genius (2018) Fastest Car (2018–19) First Team: Juventus (2018) Flint Town (2018) Follow This (2018) Ghoul (2018) Girls Incarcerated (2018–19) Hero Mask (2018–19) Insatiable (2018–19) Kiss Me First (2018) The Kominsky Method (2018–21) The Letdown (2018–19) Lost in Space (2018–21) Lost Song (2018) Luis Miguel: The Series (2018–21) Maniac (2018) Marching Orders (2018) Motown Magic (2018–19) Murder Mountain (2018) Narcos: Mexico (2018–21) The New Legends of Monkey (2018–2020) Nicky Jam: El Ganador (2018) Norm Macdonald Has a Show (2018) On My Block (2018–21) Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (2018–20) Prince of Peoria (2018–19) Requiem (2018) Sacred Games (2018–19) Safe (2018) Salt Fat Acid Heat (2018) Samantha! (2018–19) Selection Day (2018) Seven Seconds (2018) She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018–20) Sirius the Jaeger (2018) Spy Kids: Mission Critical (2018) Stay Here (2018) Super Drags (2018) Swordgai: The Animation (2018) The Ballad of Hugo Sánchez (2018) The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018–20) The Break with Michelle Wolf (2018) The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell (2018) The Final Table (2018) The Fix (2018) The Good Cop (2018) The Hollow (2018–20) The House of Flowers (2018–20) The Haunting of Hill House (2018) The Innocent Man (2018) The Innocents (2018) The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (2018) The Mechanism (2018–19) Paradise PD (2018–22) The Ponysitters Club (2018) The Protector (2018–20) The Rain (2018–20) The Staircase (2018) The Who Was? Show (2018) Tidelands (2018) Trolls: The Beat Goes On! (2018–19) Troy: Fall of a City (2018) Ugly Delicious (2018–20) Undercover Law (2018) Vai Anitta (2018) Watership Down (2018) Westside (2018) Wild District (2018–19) Wild Wild Country (2018) YG Future Strategy Office (2018)
Current series Original ended series (2019–present) Continuation series Specials Upcoming series