Good Times gets an animated update on Netflix: Everything to know about the revival

We've been in an era of reboots for a while now, and Netflix has a new reboot of an iconic series coming out soon. We're talking about the Good Times animated series, and we have so much to share about the upcoming Netflix original, including the official release date.

We first learned of the Good Times animated series in September 2020 when it was announced that Netflix had given the show a straight-to-series order consisting of 10 episodes. It's considered an animated take on the beloved '70s Black sitcom Good Times, which starred Esther Rolle, John Amos, Ja'Net DuBois, Jimmie Walker, Janet Jackson, and many others.

At the time, it was revealed that the original show developer, Norman Lear, and his Act III Productions were teaming up with NBA player Steph Curry and his production company, Unanimous Media, and Seth MacFarlane and his Fuzzy Door Productions to develop it. Sony Pictures TV was also listed to be behind the animated series, while producer Carl Jones was set as the creator, showrunner, and executive producer. Lear, Curry, MacFarlane, Brent Miller, Erick Peyton, Jeron Smith, and Erica Huggins had also signed on to executive produce the project.

Since then, so much more information about the Good Times animated series has come out, and we're here to give you all the juicy deets.

Good Times animated series release date

Mark your calendar, clear your schedule, and set your alarm because the Good Times animated show is scheduled to be released on Netflix on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 12:00 a.m. PT/3:00 a.m. ET. You can expect the entire 10-episode first season to drop on this date and at this time.

It's considered an adult animation and has been given a TV-MA age rating. This means it's not a show meant for kids; it's meant for mature audiences only. It was given a TV-MA rating for gore, strong language, nudity, smoking, and violence. I doubt you want your kids to be watching any of the content just listed. So, we recommend putting on some kid-friendly content for the kids before you start watching the animated series. Luckily, you can find a bunch of kid movies and shows on Netflix.

Cast

In December 2023, Born Again Virgin creator Ranada Shepard was announced to be joining Jones as co-creator, co-showrunner, and executive producer of the animated series. We also learned who will be voicing the main characters and shared their names below.

• Jay Pharoah (The Blackening, Saturday Night Live) as Junior
• Marsai Martin (Black-ish, Little) as Grey
• Yvette Nicole Brown (Community, Drake & Josh) as Beverly
• Gerald Anthony ‘Slink’ Johnson (Grand Theft Auto, White Men Can't Jump) as Dalvin
• JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Millers, Blockbuster) as Reggie

The late Norman Lear will reportedly appear in one episode of the season. Actresses Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, Venus DeMilo Thomas, and Jessica Mikayla will also voice characters in the series.

Here's what the show is about via Deadline:

"The animated Good Times series finds the fourth generation of the Evans family living in apartment 17C of the last remaining housing projects in Chicago. It turns out the more things change the more they stay the same and keeping your head above water is as challenging as ever. The only thing tougher than life for this family is love, and there’s more than enough to go around."

On March 27, Netflix dropped the official trailer for Good Times and we shared it below.

After watching this almost three minutes trailer, I can already tell that this is going to be a hilariously funny series. While it still has that family aspect like the original series, it's more on the raunchy side. But that's expected seeing as though it's an adult animation. Nonetheless, I'm excited to check it out.

Be sure to check out Good Times, landing on Netflix on April 12!