Netflix to adapt Jeff Smith’s Bone for a whimsical animated series

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

We'll get to the news in just a moment. For now, I need to clear some space in my office so that I can do some back flips. Because if you haven't guessed my now, I'm a major comic book fan, and Jeff Smith's Bone is an essential read for anyone who delights in being whisked away to a world where fantasy and drama collide to the result of a timeless tale about friendship, self-acceptance, and monsters that dwell within shadows both long and looming.

Netflix has announced that they've landed the rights to Jeff Smith's Bone, an enchanting fantasy epic that's as vital to comic book history as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen. The plan is for Netflix to adapt the property into an animated series aimed at younger audiences.

When asked to comment on the lofty aquisition, Bone writer, artist and creator, Jeff Smith, commented, “I’ve waited a long time for this,” Smith said. “Netflix is the perfect home for Bone. Fans of the books know that the story develops chapter-by-chapter and book-by-book. An animated series is exactly the way to do this! The team at Netflix understands Bone and is committed to doing something special — this is good news for kids and cartoon lovers all over the world.”

Coming in 1,300 pages all told, Bone tells the story of three modern cartoon cousins who get lost in a pre-technological valley, spending a year there making new friends and out-running dangerous enemies. After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone are separated and lost in a vast uncharted desert. One by one they find their way into a deep forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures. It will be the longest — but funniest — year of their lives. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

The first thing I did when I heard this news was contact my co-worker and friend, Alex Maidy. He and I both share an affinity for Jeff Smith's classic story, and mutually agree that this adaptation deserves the scope and scale of THE LORD OF THE RINGS. In other words, don't let those cute characters fool you. Bone is as epic a story as they come and you'd be a fool to dismiss this endeavor as just another way for Netflix to play babysitter to your little ones. There's a lot to unpack with Bone, as the story manages to conquer a myriad of issues, ranging from classism to underdogs being who we need to win the day. I am very excited about this announcement, and you should be as well. If you don't believe me, read the first volume of Bone for yourselves. If you're not a believer after that, perhaps all is indeed lost.