Netflix announces 3 new animated projects from Asian American creators
The online streaming platform Netflix has announced a trifecta of upcoming animation projects helmed by Asian American creators. 2023 will see two new series – the CG action-adventure Mech Cadets and 2D comedy adventure Boons and Curses – as well as an original feature The Monkey King that all aim to put “Asian American protagonists front and center for kids around the world to enjoy”.
Never underestimate the power of seeing yourself on the screen. Watching my favorite cartoons growing up, I rarely saw a face or name like mine, and certainly never as the hero. But I always had a passion for animation, and now I get to reclaim the space for myself and others who deserve to see ourselves on screen.
I love the power of animation because it unlocks imagination and potential, empowering us to build new realities and see ourselves as the heroes. With each colorful frame and character we get to create together, we are defining our own world for kids around the world who don’t have to wait to see someone like them in the end credits.
-Jane Lee (Manager, Netflix Animation)
THE MONKEY KING (2023)
The Monkey King – Visual development piece by Production Designer, Kyle McQueen. Cr: Netflix ©2021
Executive produced by legendary filmmaker Stephen Chow (Mermaid), and produced by Academy Award-nominated Peilin Chou (Over the Moon) and Kendra Haaland (co-producer of How to Train Your Dragon 2), The Monkey King is directed by Academy Award-nominated Anthony Stacchi (The Boxtrolls) and will feature an all-Asian voice cast including Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Jo Koy, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Stephanie Hsu, Andrew Pang, Andrew Kishino, Jodi Long, James Sie and BD Wong.
Taking inspiration from the famous Chinese legend Journey to the West, The Monkey King will tell the story of “a very special Monkey and his magical fighting Stick, who team up to fight against gods, demons, dragons, and the greatest enemy of all, Monkey’s own hubris!”
The Monkey King has endured for generations with his unique character and spirit. I’m so excited to be collaborating with Tony, Peilin, and everyone at Netflix to bring this joyful tale to audiences worldwide!
-Stephen Chow
BOONS AND CURSES (2023)
Boons and Curses (Image via Netflix)
Created and exec produced by Jaydeep Hasrajani alongside Jake Goldman, Boons and Curses is an animated action-comedy series that takes inspiration from the myths and legends of ancient South Asia. The series takes place in the magical land of Maya where, in the face of an impending cosmic war, Baan – a cursed, three-foot warrior from another time who was been turned to solid ghee – teams up with young thief Rani to defeat a monstrous army led by the Raj.
Growing up, I used to think of the hyphen in “Indian-American” as a separator between two parts of myself. With Boons and Curses I want to turn that hyphen from a wall into a bridge, not just for me, but for anybody who has ever felt that they were caught between two worlds. Using the beauty of South Asian mythology, folktales, and culture, our talented and passionate crew is so eager to share an exciting and hilarious adventure that can resonate with everyone the world over.
-Jaydeep Hasrajani
MECH CADETS (2023)
Mech Cadets (Image via Netflix)
Adapted from Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa’s Boom! Studios comic series Mech Cadet Yu, Mech Cadets will see the adventures of teenage Sky Corps Military Academy janitor Stanford Yu who gets to fulfil his dream of piloting a Robo Mech alongside his classmates in battle against an alien invasion. The show is exec produced by Boom! Studios alongside Japan’s Polygon Pictures Inc. as well as Aaron Lam, who also serves as writer.
It is important for us to create stories that exemplify our teams’ diverse voices and art as a studio based in Tokyo, Japan. As part of our mission “to do what no other has done, in unparalleled quality, for all the world to see and enjoy” we are ecstatic to have alongside with us, our supervising director, Tohru Patrick Awa, writer and executive producer, Aaron Lam and our talented diverse team of writers, to visualize the wonderful story created by Greg Pak, Takeshi Miyazawa and Boom! Studios. We all are honored to work with Netflix, and to tell a story that we hope will inspire future storytellers around the world.
-Jack Liang
The upcoming projects add to the platform’s ever-growing slate of animation helmed by Asian American creators that also includes the Academy Award-nominated film Over the Moon (produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou) and Elizabeth Ito’s City of Ghosts. Other upcoming projects to look out for include Megan Nicole Dong’s Centaurworld, Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi‘s Oni, Sanjay Patel’s Ghee Happy, Minkyu Lee’s Witch Boy and Alyce Tzue’s Steps.