King Julien to host New Year's count-down for kids on Netflix

BEVERLY HILLS , Calif., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Netflix has created a New Year's Eve count-down special starring the regal lemur from its animated series All Hail King Julien.

The three-minute special became available for streaming Monday. It was designed to give parents an alternative to letting their little ones stay up until midnight to ring in 2015.

"“I was totally bummed when I heard that some of my favorite little party people aren'’t allowed to stay up until midnight for the biggest party of the year,"” King Julien -- who is voiced by actor Danny Jacobs -- said in a statement released by Netflix. "“But then I realized I’'m king. I make the rules! So, move over, Ryan Seacrest, I’'ve got my very own on-demand countdown party on Netflix. That means the New Year’'s Eve party is always on -- just how it should be! What better way to ring in Julien-uary?”"

The first five episodes of the new Netflix original TV series All Hail King Julien were posted on the website Dec. 19.