For some time there, it appeared as though Genndy Tartakovsky\’s
\”Fixed\”
was going to be stuck in the pound forever.
The adult-oriented animated comedy film centers around a dog embarking on an exciting journey just before undergoing neutering surgery (imagine \”25th Hour\” combined with \”Lady and the Tramp\”). It had its first showing at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, where creator Genndy Tartakovsky enthusiastically shared key plot points with an enthusiastic audience. Now, after nearly two years, the movie is set for release.
Velvet Voquecan exclusively reveal that \”Fixed\” will be released by Netflix globally on Aug. 13, 2025 in 190 countries and over 300 million households. We spoke with Tartakovsky exclusively about what happened with \”Fixed\” now that it has finally been adopted.
\”Fixed\” had an interesting production and distribution set-up, where it was technically a Sony Pictures Animation film, but it was to be released by New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. The animation was done by Renegade Animation and Lightstar Studios.
Tartakovsky has collaborated with Warner Bros. for many years; every one of his television shows, such as the Emmy award-winning adult animation \”Primal,\” were distributed via the network’s TV branches at Warner Bros. However, New Line Cinema changed their stance and rather than leaving the film without a home entirely, they returned the rights back to Sony.
\”Fixed\” was completed in October 2023, shortly following the chaotic display at Annecy. The film was subsequently released from its distribution deal. To an extent, Tartakovsky grasped Warner Bros.’ choice — “The movie is somewhat like a unicorn. It’s highly specialized — it uses 2D animation, has an R rating, and presents an original concept, which are elements not favored much within today’s market.”
They began searching for a collaborator – either for streaming or theater release. By January 2024, Netflix appeared disinterested.
“I went as far as offering to lease a theater myself for three months and cover all the costs. All I needed was the right to make this film. If audiences began attending screenings and promoting it through word-of-mouth, fantastic. If not, at least we would have tried,” stated Tartakovsky, who has previously helmed three successful “Hotel Transylvania” films for Sony and penned a fourth one.
Early this year, things took a different turn. The Animation Series division at Netflix, headed up by John Derderian, stepped in. As head of adult animation at Netflix, it was more aligned with his group’s focus. (Netflix\’s Animation Film unit concentrates on family-oriented content, explaining why “Fixed” initially wasn’t considered suitable.)
There were several Sony-animated projects en route to Netflix, including this year’s release of \”KPop Demon Hunters,\” along with plans for an animated version of \”Ghostbusters\” featuring both a film and a series.
Within just a couple of weeks, the rights to the movie ended up being acquired by Netflix. It will be released shortly.
Tartakovsky found himself in an unprecedented scenario. He stated, “Whatever I’ve worked on—be it a television series or a film—it always had a scheduled release date.” He added, “Eventually, you reach a stage where blaming the consumers isn’t justified anymore.” In his reflections, Tartakovsky mentioned that he often thought to himself,
Oh my goodness, what mistake did I make? Was this disconnected from people? Or was it simply too soon?
He mentioned, \’You begin questioning your own abilities,\’ he explained. \’Insecurity starts creeping in regarding your past actions. Then I reflected on the excellent feedback from the test screenings. Sometimes these feelings are hard to articulate.\’
Tartakovsky mentioned that Netflix serves as an ideal platform for \”Fixed\” since \”they have the chance to explore unconventional and fresh ideas, allowing them to embrace greater risks.\” Indeed, \”Fixed\” represents quite a significant gamble. However, it stands out boldly and thrillingly compared to many contemporary animated movies, boasting a strong emotional core alongside outrageously humorous scenes.
“I believe it presents an excellent chance, as they lead both in content and audience reach. It’s amazing for such a small film to appear on the largest platform available. This might turn into one of those movies everyone talks about around the office,” Tartakovsky stated. Animation remains confined within narrow boundaries in Western culture. Ideally, “Fixed” will contribute to breaking these limitations. “While I harbor significant ambitions and expectations for our success, I’m simply thrilled that it’s finally being released,” Tartakovsky added.
Tartakovsky mentioned that the project began as a concept he originated at Sony back in 2009. His vision revolved around capturing the playful bond shared among him and his tight-knit circle of friends from their high school days who never fail to amuse each other. Initially, this notion took shape under the title \”Buds,\” featuring various animal characters rather than just dogs, akin to an animated version of \”The Hangover.\” However, upon receiving feedback suggesting more compelling elements were necessary, Tartakovsky experienced a sudden flash of creativity and proposed, “How about having one character be a dog who discovers he’s scheduled for neutering first thing next morning?” This sparked laughter throughout the room, leading to what would become known as \”Fixed.\”
However, when \”Fixed\” was initially set aside, the executives requested that Tartakovsky take a look at another project that had been languishing in development for a long time. This project possessed an intriguing core concept, yet no one had managed to figure out how to make it work properly. The project in question was \”Hotel Transylvania.\”
Tartakovsky is infamous in the industry for sticking with ideas – his recent series \”Unicorn: Warriors Eternal\” had been kicking around for
more than 20 years
Before it turned into an animated series initially for MAX and later for Cartoon Network’s nighttime adult-oriented block, Adult Swim—and “Fixed” followed this path as well. In around 2020, work on the film resumed under a distinctive partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery\’s New Line Cinema and Sony Pictures Animation.
Now that it’s finally happening, Tartakovsky aims to keep advocating for more original animated feature films. “I remain optimistic,” Tartakovsky stated. “The main battle I’m fighting is to replicate my success from television in the realm of movies, producing one original project after another. Ideally, we’d follow the Miyazaki approach; his ability to bring virtually anything he conceives to life through film is what I aspire towards. In today’s industry and current environment, however, getting approval for something truly new has become incredibly challenging.”
He mentioned that he is presently working towards getting two original animated films produced, one of which is his extensively developed project called \”Black Knight.\” This collaboration with Netflix might also unlock opportunities once considered closed off. Additionally, he hints at being in the early stages of developing a series for the streaming platform as well.
For the moment, however, he’s simply delighted that viewers will have the chance to watch “Fixed,” featuring a vocal ensemble with Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Fred Armisen, Kathryn Hahn, and Bobby Moynihan. We must emphasize: it is incredibly funny. Upon its release on Netflix, his primary desires are twofold—firstly, for audiences to be amused; secondly, he hopes they recognize the brilliance of hand-drawn animation once more.
The level of craftsmanship in this production is exceptional—from the background art to the character animations, right down to the overall design; cartoons were once considered subpar for feature films,\” Tartakovsky stated. One additional point: \”My aim is for audiences to form deep connections with the characters and develop their own preferences, because that’s what makes a venture successful—the characters endure over time,\” he added. Indeed, these creations will persist, despite some lacking certain aspects of completeness.
\”Fixed\” is set to premiere on August 13th.
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How Genndy Tartakovsky\’s R-Rated Animated Dog Comedy \’Fixed\’ Got Adopted by Netflix | Exclusive
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