The actress, who stole scenes, delivered laughs and inspired a mini-cult as Holtzmann in the recent all-female Ghostbusters movie, has signed on for the streaming giant’s reboot of the classic animated series. The show, which you may recall from your days as a child, saw a group of schoolkids taken on fun, educational adventures by the awesome Ms. Frizzle and her magical yellow bus.

Lily Tomlin voices Frizzle in the original series, leaving big shoes to fill. McKinnon, though, should bring more than enough spark and energy to the role to live up Tomlin’s Emmy-winning role.

It’s a positive step for the series, not least because it’s the first step we’ve heard about since the show was first announced back in 2014, as a joint production between Netflix and Scholastic Media.

Netflix catches new episodes of The Magic School Bus

11th June 2014

Netflix is catching The Magic School Bus from 2016.

Airing for 18 consecutive years and seen in more than 39 countries, The Magic School Bus is the longest-running kids’ science series in history. Who doesn’t remember sitting there and watching a magic school bus doings it magic thing back in the 1990s?

Now, Scholastic Media and the Internet TV company will launch an original TV series based on the iconic show. Called The Magic School Bus 360°, the animated CG series will be a “dynamic reimagining” of the programme that won over so many fans with its potent mix of science and magic buses.

Scholastic Media’s Emmy Award-winning creative team, led by Executive Producer Deborah Forte, will produce the new series written for school-aged children.

“The Magic School Bus revolutionised kids’ television through a unique and powerful blend of entertainment and science information. We’re proud that it’s become an evergreen show that children and parents continue to watch together,” says Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media.

“Our new rendition The Magic School Bus 360° is a similarly compelling addition to the current landscape of children’s programming and on Netflix is bound to reach more families around the world than ever before who will now be able to watch the programme anytime, anywhere they want.”

The announcement follows an existing deal between Netflix and Scholastic, who already have the original Magic School Bus, Clifford The Big Red Dog and Goosebumps available to streaming in all of the company’s territories.

“We’re thrilled to expand our relationships and to be the first-run home of The Magic School Bus 360° introducing a whole new generation to Ms. Frizzle and her hi-jinks,” says Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix.

The new iteration of the enduring franchise will feature a modernised Ms. Frizzle, originally voiced by Lily Tomlin, and her class. Aligned with the global emphasis on STEM education, it will showcase “all fields of science”, while “embracing technology as a creative tool that supports learning and affects daily life”.

Netflix says the show will encourage children to “think critically and creatively to answer questions and solve problems”. More importantly, though, it will also feature a high-tech bus that can fly.

The show will span 26 episodes, which will drive onto Netflix in 2016.

Did we mention the bit with the magic bus?

Photo: Early concept art for The Magic School Bus 360°, an original new CG animated TV series from Scholastic Media, launching on Netflix in 2016. The series will be a dynamic reimagining of Scholastic Media’s groundbreaking and iconic The Magic School Bus, which revolutionized kids’ television starting in the 1990s. Early Concept Art © Scholastic Entertainment Inc 2014 All Rights Reserved.