The Motown legend will supervise a new animated series inspired by soul classics.

Following the success of the Beat Bugs cartoon series inspired by the Beatles, Netflix has ordered a children’s TV show inspired by the hits of Motown Records, with Smokey Robinson set to act as executive music producer.

Set in Motown, an imaginary city based on Detroit and its musical heritage, the untitled project follows an eight-year-old boy who discovers his ability to bring street art to life.

The series will see contemporary artists performing 52 classic tracks from the Motown catalogue by artists like Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, The Temptations, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder.

Created by Josh Wakely, the animator behind Beat Bugs, the show is yet to receive a premiere date. Wakely told the Guardian he wanted to relieve parents from the usual saccharine songs on kids’ TV: “When you come home you want to spend time with your child but you also want to watch something you can engage with them too. You can enjoy the music and not feel like it’s a chore to listen to and they can enjoy it too.”

Netflix recently hired Pete Tong as musical supervisor for its forthcoming EDM movie XOXO, while Nas was brought in to work with Baz Luhrmann on hip-hop drama The Get Down, which premieres on August 12.

On a spookier note, Netflix’s new supernatural horror series Stranger Things is to get a soundtrack release for its brilliant synth-led score.