On January 13th the Deadend Paranormal Park fandom received the news that the series had been cancelled, despite work having started on a third season and the series currently ending on a cliffhanger.

Unfortunately, this represents a larger pattern of Netflix original animated series, and animated media as a whole, being cut short without receiving a proper conclusion. This in turn stems from a view that animation is only enjoyed by children, who will quickly move on to the next new thing if a series they enjoy ends and do not care if the story receives a satisfying ending, when this is no longer the case.

Modern animation fans include members of a wide variety of age ranges and backgrounds, including those with the decision making power of whether or not to continue a subscription. While younger audiences have had more exposure to shows with a linier storytelling style that end with the majority of the plot points being tied up.

Deadend Paranormal Park in particular represents a promising opportunity to show how vast support for animation is among adult fans, while also being a comparatively low risk investment for Netflix. Being based off an existing intellectual property, one aimed at older audiences, the series has a pre-existing adult and teenaged fanbase who will be willing to watch further installments of the series to support the brand.

With the books receiving a re-print later this year, the timing would be perfect to cross-promote; with the series being fresh in readers' minds, attracting those who have been on the fence about the animated series by drawing their attention to it, and promising more content in the near future would be a smart choice.

The past year has seen Netflix's image be tarnished by decisions that have been poorly received by subscribers, and recent decisions by many studios have left older animation fans feeling that their opinions are not valued by industry decision makers. By overturning the decision to cancel Deadend Paranormal Park and giving it a satisfying conclusion, Netflix has the opportunity to show fans that they are willing to listen, and in so doing, restore some of that lost goodwill.

Thank you for your time.