Fixed heads to Netflix

Genndy Tartakovsky's hand drawn R-rated comedy Fixed lands on Netflix after a long development path through several studios and budget hurdles.

Tartakovsky Fixed seals Netflix debut after 16 year journey

Genndy Tartakovsky's Fixed, an R-rated animated comedy about a dog on a mission to get neutered before the procedure, arrives on Netflix after screenings at Annecy and Fantasia. The project marks a 16-year journey from pitch to screen. It was originally set for a Warner Bros Pictures New Line release in 2024 but was dropped as part of cost cutting measures; Netflix later picked it up.

Tartakovsky explains the shift from big screen dreams to streaming as part of a changing industry. The hand drawn film was always about close male friendships and humor, not a critique of neutering. The director says he considered independent European routes but found streaming and the platform's support essential. The piece notes the broader context of streaming boom and AI concerns; he sees Fixed as a craft-forward project in a business that is volatile.

The film's long road shows how the movie business now tests ideas across platforms rather than a single release. It demonstrates that a bold concept can survive multiple owners when a streaming service sees value in novelty and audience curiosity. Tartakovsky’s belief in hand drawn craft aligns with a growing nostalgia for artisanal animation and a push to expand the genre beyond family friendly fare. The industry faces pressures from budgets, talent availability, and AI disruption, yet Fixed offers a model for how to keep creative risks alive.

Highlights

As Fixed reaches Netflix, the industry will watch if adult animation can carve its own space