Called The Magic School Bus Rides Again, the new series is described as a “reimagining” of the original PBS show, which aired from 1994 to 1997. Both are adaptations of the popular Scholastic book series written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen. The stories follow Ms. Frizzle, nicknamed “The Friz” by her students, as she uses her magic bus to bring her class to incredible places. They get to see science in action, whether that be up in the clouds or down at the center of the earth.
Beyond her wild field trips, Ms. Frizzle is known for her equally crazy hair, pet lizard, and science-themed attire. The quirky character was voiced by Lily Tomlin (Grace & Frankie) during the original series’ four-season run. It was an Emmy-winning role for the actress, so we’ll see if McKinnon can manage similar success with the revival.
McKinnon has lent her voice to projects before, including the animated series Nature Cat, The Angry Birds Movie, and the video game Lego Dimensions, among others. She has also shown her versatility as an SNL cast member, impersonating everyone from Justin Bieber to Hillary Clinton. It will be fun to see her give her own spin to a well-known character like Ms. Frizzle.
The new series will use CG animation. Netflix has plans for 26 episodes, which will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors by offering imaginative and educational stories.
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