Picture: Nickelodeon
One of the very first major Nickelodeon titles to debut exclusively on Netflix is officially on its way out. All three parts of the animated comedy Pinky Malinky are set to depart the streaming service globally on July 17th, 2026.
If you fire up the show right now, you’ll see a “Last day to watch” notice prominently displayed for July 16th. When the clock strikes midnight on July 17th, the infectiously positive hot dog will be pulled from the Netflix library. As with all removals, there is a chance Netflix could renew before the license expires or pick it up further down the line.
Removal Date on Pinky Malinky on Netflix
Here’s everything you need to know about the departure, the fascinating history of the show, and why a “Netflix Original” is leaving the service.
The Bizarre, Winding History of Pinky Malinky
Using a mockumentary, reality-show format, Pinky Malinky follows the daily life of an anthropomorphic 12-year-old hot dog (voiced by Lucas Grabeel) navigating life in the town of Sackenhack with his two human best friends, Babs and JJ.
But behind the scenes, the show had an incredible survival story and multiple revival efforts. The original concept was actually pitched to Cartoon Network Europe all the way back in 2009. After Cartoon Network ultimately passed on the pilot, the creators took it over to Nickelodeon, who officially greenlit the series for their own linear networks in 2015.
However, the series faced delays and was continually pushed back on Nick’s schedule. It seemed doomed to be shelved until 2018, when Viacom (now Paramount) made an unprecedented pivot. In an early effort to monetize their vault, Nickelodeon sold the exclusive rights to Pinky Malinky to Netflix. It essentially became the very first Nicktoon to be produced exclusively for the streaming service, paving the way for a massive multi-year partnership that would eventually bring us Glitch Techs, Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, and Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus, among others.
All 60 episodes were divided into three “Parts” (Netflix’s term for seasons). Part 1 dropped on January 1, 2019, Part 2 arrived in April 2019, and the third and final installment debuted on July 17, 2019.
Who is behind the show and what else have they done?
The series was co-created and executive-produced by the creative duo Chris Garbutt and Rikke Asbjoern. The two animators and storytellers had previously collaborated on heavy-hitters like The Amazing World of Gumball.
If you’re a hardcore Netflix Animation fan, you absolutely know their follow-up project. Following the wrap of Pinky Malinky, Garbutt and Asbjoern stayed at Netflix Animation to create the wildly ambitious interactive special We Lost Our Human. Released in 2023, the interactive choose-your-own-adventure film followed a hyperactive dog and a self-involved cat as they tried to fix the universe after all humans vanished. Fun fact: Lucas Grabeel even reprised his role in the special as “Panky Malanky,” classifying himself as an anthropomorphic meatball! Sadly, that interactive special was removed alongside the rest as Netflix began phasing out interactive features from its player.
Why is Pinky Malinky leaving Netflix?
If the show has Netflix branding, why is it being removed?
Long-time readers of What’s on Netflix will know this tune by heart: Netflix doesn’t own the underlying rights.
While Pinky Malinky is branded as a Netflix Original, it is fully owned and was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Back in 2018, Netflix merely bought the exclusive global distribution rights for a fixed period.
Because Part 3 was released on July 17, 2019, we can easily deduce that the final contract was for an exact seven-year licensing window. Now that those seven years are up, the rights are reverting back to Paramount. Many of the other Originals that Netflix picked up from Nickelodeon will stay on much longer such as Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, which is licensed through 2031, we’re told.
Where will the show stream next?
As of right now, there’s no confirmed new streaming home for Pinky Malinky. Because the IP is with Nickelodeon, the series’ default home would naturally be Paramount+, but there’s no guarantee it’ll happen.
For now, if you want to binge all three parts of the mockumentary before it disappears, you have until the end of the day on July 16th to do so!
Will you be missing Pinky Malinky when it leaves Netflix this July? Let us know in the comments below.
