What if your favorite comfort show suddenly disappeared while browsing your frequently used streaming platforms?
Over 100 beloved Netflix Originals are scheduled to be removed throughout 2026, including two phenomenal Dreamworks animated shows called “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” and “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts”.
The creator and showrunner ND Stevenson, of the reimagined 80s cartoon series, ND Stevenson, confirmed “She-Ra,” has confirmed its scheduled removal for February 21st, which has now passed.
“Kipo” is expected to leave Netflix on June 26th, and although the creators have not yet publicly announced it, the biggest discussions on the matter erupted the social media platform Reddit, where subreddits like “r/Dreamworks” and “r/KipoandtheAgeofWB” discussed the official date back in December 2025, when “Kipo of the Age of Wonderbeasts” then had a “Leaving Soon” banner on the front cover of the series.
Mourning the Removal
Stevenson shared a saddening quote on the social media platform, “X”, “Unfortunately, we’ve known about this for a while, and it’s already happening to several other Dreamworks shows as their licenses with Netflix expire. Years of hard work by many talented crews have ended in homelessness. We showrunners have no control over this.”
He finalized his statement with:
“I hope that She-Ra will find a new home and be released in full on DVD; I’m not sure it will. As is often the way with queer art, our tracks are swept away behind us.”
Without a doubt, it is easily infuriating when animation producers put so much effort into creating treasurable TV shows, only for them to eventually become inaccessible to the public. And it is not only disheartening for creators like Stevenson, but for the diverse communities who come together to connect with content they resonate with. They expect these shows to always be there, and not to disappear one day.
Why “She-Ra” and “Kipo” Matter
“She-ra and the Princesses of Power” is a reimagined, animated fantasy series from 2018, based on the lore of the original 1980s show “She-ra: Princess of Power”.The 1985 version ties to the story of He-Man (Prince Adam of Eternia), She-Ra’s twin brother, whom she had been separated from at birth. The story follows her being kidnapped by the main antagonist, Hordak, and later saved by He-Man, who guides her towards her magical destiny tied to the Sword of Protection.
But where the reboot differs greatly from the older series is in the much more complex storytelling. She-Ra, the former Horde soldier also named Adora, journeys on her own to discover her fated magical sword. Her life goal is to become the legendary magical warrior she was born to be. And she must reunite all of the Princesses of The Rebellion to defeat the Horde Army. In total, they need to save Etheria from being corrupted and taken over by the larger antagonist, Horde Prime.
As Adora makes friends along the way, she has her own personal story with discovering her identity, backstory, and the advanced technology of Etheria, which had once been used by the “First Ones”, the creators of her sword.
And essentially, it delves deeper into diverse character arcs and dynamics, with emotional impact. And because it features younger characters in the story (starting in their late teens), the show evokes a passionate “coming of age” feeling for the target audience to experience and resonate with.
As for “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts”, it is another high-rated, imaginative, and well-written animated series on Netflix. It is also from Dreamworks Animation Television and was produced by Radford Sechrist and Bill Wolfkoff. The series had started off as a 2015 webcomic written by Sechrist.
The fantasy-adventure story focuses on Kipo Oak, a teenage girl in search of her father, Lio, after having been forced to flee her home. After leaving her home, or her “burrow”, she journeys through a post-apocalyptic world ruled by mutated creatures, or “mutes”. On her journey, she meets two human survivors, Wolf and Benson, as well as two mutant animals, Dave and Mandu, who all become friends who stick together throughout the show.
“Kipo” gained popularity for its unique character designs, diversity, and LGBTQ representation. The series is well known for its impactful exploration of themes of friendship and unity.
Finally, both shows are widely loved by younger audiences who resonate with them. They become comfort shows that people can relate to, and that’s why it’s a big deal when it is announced that they are leaving platforms soon.
The Impact
Because comfort shows can feel like a big hug in times of need, the sheer frustration can be far greater when these contracts aren’t renewed in time, and they’re taken away.
“Netflix constantly removing shows annoys me. It feels unorganized and quick to push out whatever can make them the most money.” Santiago student Isabella Marie (11) quoted on the matter.
“It feels like less of a streaming app and more like gambling for time management to watch a simple show”.
So why is content that existed for such a long time, especially that with relatively high and successful ratings, suddenly disappearing from the platform?
The Case of the Matter
The reason why “comfort shows” all over the platform are seemingly disappearing is simpler than it seems.
Despite Netflix offering many popular shows under the “Netflix Originals” category, the streaming service doesn’t actually own most of the content it offers. Instead, they have licensing contracts with the external production companies that actually wrote the shows.
These contracts also exist between many companies, depending on where the content originates, such as The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, and DreamWorks Animation Television (also owned by Comcast’s Universal Filmed Entertainment Group). And they are often temporary, therefore having license expiration dates unless renewed beforehand.
Why it Actually Happens
Journalist Lucas White’s “Why Does Netflix Remove Movies and Tv Shows Licensing Explained” described how “while the platform invested heavily in original programming, third-party production companies retain ownership of their intellectual property and grant Netflix temporary rights to stream it.” And when those contracts expire, the shows return to other streaming platforms.
White also wrote about other reasons originals leave the platform, such as maintaining the high costs of licensed content and other seemingly invisible complications, like music rights and low viewership. These are only some of the factors that raise the risks of a show being removed by Netflix. Overall, White emphasized that “the process of removing content isn’t instantaneous.”
With this in mind, it is expected that more Netflix Originals will undergo removals from the platform.
What to Expect For the Following Year
“She-Ra” and “Kipo” are not the only shows to leave Netflix in 2026. The TOI Tech Desk’s “Netflix to Remove over 100 Original Movies and TV Shows in 2026” provides a comprehensive, more reliable list of every movie and show leaving in 2026, including their removal dates, which may vary by region.
However, Originals fully owned and produced by the company are guaranteed to last forever. Like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Wednesday, Money Heist, Bojack Horseman, Squid Game, and so many more.
Because it is inevitable that content owned by external companies will remain on Netflix permanently, the best course of action is to binge what they can while they still can.
