Netflix Hires Directors Behind Nintendo’s Super Mario Blockbusters

Netflix has teamed up with directors Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath, known for their work on The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, to create new content for the platform. This partnership will see the duo developing animated series and films exclusively for Netflix, along with first-look rights for any live-action projects.

Jelenic and Horvath are also the minds behind the popular Teen Titans Go! series, which is based on DC Comics characters. Both Teen Titans Go! and The Super Mario Bros. Movie have been major successes on Netflix. From 2023 to 2025, Seasons 1-5 of Teen Titans Go! and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies amassed over 80 million views, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie enjoyed a remarkable run in the global top 10 for 24 weeks, racking up more than 240 million views from December 2023 through the end of 2025.

“Given the tremendous success of The Super Mario Bros. movies and Teen Titans Go! on our platform, it’s evident that our global audience is eager for their distinctive storytelling style,” stated John Derderian, Netflix’s vice president of animation series and kids and family TV. “We’re excited to kick off this partnership and can’t wait to see what they create for Netflix members.”

In a joint statement, Jelenic and Horvath expressed their enthusiasm: “We are excited to collaborate with Netflix to produce engaging and immersive series and films in the coming years. We appreciate this opportunity and look forward to entertaining the world’s largest audience!”

Jelenic has a background at Warner Bros. Animation, where he contributed as a writer on The Batman and produced series like ThunderCats and Teen Titans Go! He also co-wrote “Peaches,” the hit song performed by Bowser (voiced by Jack Black) in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Horvath directed and managed animation for Teen Titans Go! at Warner Bros. and was involved in developing Cartoon Network’s Unikitty.

It remains uncertain whether Jelenic and Horvath’s agreement prevents them from participating in future Nintendo and Illumination animated films. The two Super Mario movies have collectively grossed over $2.3 billion at the box office, and there’s another project slated for release in 2028, though details about that film are still under wraps.

Animated content has been a significant success for Netflix, with hits like KPop Demon Hunters and the recently launched Swapped breaking records for the service. There’s little doubt that Jelenic and Horvath’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will also be well-received when it eventually arrives on Netflix.

It’s Super Mario Galaxy Summer, baby!