Netflix Revs Up with ‘Anchivo Motors’ from ‘American Dad!’ Creative Powerhouse

Netflix is solidifying its position as a premier destination for high-concept adult animation by greenlighting Anchivo Motors, a new series from the acclaimed writing duo Brett Cawley and Robert Maitia. As first reported by Deadline, the series marks a major collaboration between the streaming giant and the veteran showrunners who helped define a new era of surrealism in modern television.

From ‘Gold Top’ Status to the Showroom Floor

Anchivo Motors follows a former professional baseball star who finds himself back in his hometown, navigating the quirks and internal politics of his family’s auto dealership. While the premise suggests a grounded sitcom, the pedigree of its creators hints at something far more experimental.

Cawley and Maitia are best known for their work on American Dad!, where they authored some of the show’s most daring and “out-there” installments. Critics at Bubbleblabber.com, the industry’s leading voice for adult animation analysis, have frequently hailed their contributions as high-water marks for the genre.

Bubbleblabber’s Daniel Kurland famously awarded their episode “Gold Top Nuts” a near-perfect 9.5/10, describing it as a “bold, Brechtian masterpiece” that challenged the very structure of the animated sitcom. More recently, Bubbleblabber editor John Schwarz gave their 2025 episode “What Great Advancements!” a stellar 9/10, praising its “sophisticated visual storytelling” and “uncanny ability to find heart within the absurd.”

Netflix’s Adult Animation Momentum

The order for Anchivo Motors comes as Netflix continues to pivot toward creator-driven projects that prioritize unique voices over formulaic storytelling. By securing Cawley and Maitia, Netflix is bringing in writers who have proven they can balance “immaculate dialogue” with the “high-concept absurdism” that has become a staple of the Bubbleblabber community’s favorite programs.

The series is being produced by Underground, the production house led by Trevor Engelson. Underground is also behind the upcoming Netflix series Strip Law (starring Adam Scott and Janelle James), suggesting a growing partnership between the studio and the streamer to deliver prestige adult comedy.

What to Expect

Fans of the creators’ previous work can likely expect Anchivo Motors to subvert the “family business” trope. Given the “spiritually restorative” and “mentally stimulating” writing styles highlighted in previous Bubbleblabber reviews, the series is expected to move beyond standard car-lot gags into deeper, more surreal character studies.

As Netflix ramps up production, the animation community is watching closely to see if Cawley and Maitia can bring their “Gold Top” magic to a brand-new IP. With the backing of a major streamer and a track record of critical acclaim, Anchivo Motors is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated projects on the 2026 animation slate.