RIT Alumnus Elan Lee’s ‘Exploding Kittens’ Game Goes Animated on Netflix

RIT computer science alumnus Elan Lee is watching his game creation leap from the tabletop to the TV screen. The animated series Exploding Kittens debuted on Netflix July 12, bringing the popular card game to a whole new universe.

The best-selling card game, Exploding Kittens, created by Elan Lee ’98, is making its way into the digital realm as an animated series on Netflix. The show, spanning nine episodes, breathes life into the quirky characters from the game, introducing fresh faces and stories to the mix. This marks a significant expansion of the Exploding Kittens universe, coinciding with updates to the game’s mobile version on Netflix and a new line of show-themed merchandise.

Lee, an RIT alumnus and former chief design officer at Xbox, drew inspiration from Marvel‘s storytelling approach when creating Exploding Kittens. The game’s unique selling point lies in its vibrant characters, each card serving as a miniature comic strip. Now, these lively personalities are animated for the first time, adding movement and depth to the iconic game characters that fans have grown to love.

In collaboration with friend and cartoonist Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal, Elan Lee launched Exploding Kittens in 2015, catapulting it to worldwide success. The game, a humorous take on Russian roulette featuring animated cats, gained immense popularity after raising almost $9 million on Kickstarter. With over 40 million units sold globally and a diverse range of game adaptations and merchandise, Exploding Kittens has firmly established itself as a household name in the gaming industry.

The animated Netflix comedy delves into the classic battle of good versus evil, personified by Godcat and Devilcat, voiced by Tom Ellis and Sasheer Zamata, respectively. The series, helmed by Inman as showrunner, Shane Kosakowski, and a lineup of esteemed executive producers, including Mike Judge and Greg Daniels’ Bandera Entertainment and Chernin Entertainment, weaves together a whimsical narrative centered on talking feline deities navigating human life.

Prior to its Netflix premiere, Elan Lee and his team held an exclusive screening of the first two episodes, receiving rave reviews from attendees who were captivated by the show’s humor and charm. With a growing team of 100 employees at Exploding Kittens, Lee continues to steer the company forward, expanding its creative reach with ventures like the animated series. The show’s release is complemented by the launch of Exploding Kittens Mobile Game, a free-to-play game for Netflix subscribers, and a new card game edition integrating characters from the show.