Netflix content guru Ted Sarandos recently told analysts during a call to discuss the US streamer’s latest results that Netflix had spent US$140 million on Canadian production of animated series.

While Sarandos didn’t split hairs on how that investment netted out between service and original production work, Canadian animators have been engaged on Netflix productions on a number of fronts, including service work for DreamWorks Animation, Mattel Playground Productions and other major studios.

Now, however, that service work is translating to original Canadian IP commissions with the news that the SVOD giant has ordered an original spin-off based on Toronto-based Guru Studio’s preschool series Justin Time, to debut in early 2016.

The Justin Time The New Adventures (13 x half hours) is a coup for Guru Studio’s president and creative director Frank Falcone and EVP Mary Bredin. The first two seasons of Justin Time, which air in Canada on Disney Junior and on other Disney channels internationally, performed well for Netflix in several territories.

That prompted the order for an original exclusive series for Netflix customers around the world.

Justin Time follows Justin and his best friends Olive and Squidgy, as they set off on fantastical adventures throughout time and in every corner of the world.

From Playback