Slate of animated shows includes ‘Pacific Rim’ series adaptation and ‘Altered Carbon’ feature.
Leading global streaming platform Netflix has announced five new anime shows, including both feature film and series adaptations of well-known live-action and manga properties.
New projects unveiled at Netflix’s Singapore slate event include Pacific Rim, an original anime series that returns to the epic battle of Kaiju and Jeagers, expanding upon the story of the first two live-action movies. The show follows two siblings - an idealistic teenage boy and his naïve younger sister - who are forced to pilot an abandoned Jaeger across a hostile landscape in a desperate attempt to find their missing parents. Craig Kyle (Thor: Ragnarok) and Greg Johnson (X-Men: Evolution) will serve as co-show runners, with production slated for Legendary Entertainment (Kong: Skull Island, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu).
Altered Carbon is an anime feature, set in the same universe of the Netflix live-action sci-fi series, currently in production on Season 2 at Skydance Television. The film will explore new elements of the story mythology. Animation studio Anima is producing, with Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) and Tsukasa Kondo set as writers.
Cagaster of an Insect Cage is a manga-based series that follows the struggle of a young couple trying to stay alive. The show is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious disease, “Cagaster,” turns people into giant murderous insects. Koichi Chigira (Last Exile, Full Metal Panic!) is directing the Gonzo (Hellsing, Afro Samurai) animation studio production.
Boondocks co-director LeSean Thomas is the creator, director and executive producer behind Yasuke, set in a war-torn feudal Japan of mechs and magic, where a retired ronin must take up his sword when charged with the task of transporting a mysterious child who dark forces want to eliminate. Inspired by the true story of a samurai of African origin who fought with Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga, the show will star Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta, Sorry to Bother You) as the voice of Yasuke. Grammy-nominated Flying Lotus will compose the music and serve as an executive producer on the show, which is being produced by the animation studio MAPPA (Yuri On Ice, Kakegurui).
Trese is an anime series based on the Philippine graphic novel by the same name, created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldissimo. Set in Manila, where the mythical creatures of Philippine folklore live in hiding amongst humans, Alexandra Trese finds herself going head to head with a criminal underworld comprised of malevolent supernatural beings. Jay Oliva (Wonder Woman, The Legend of Korra) will serve as executive producer, with production being handled by Shanty Harmayn and Tanya Yuson at BASE Entertainment, a Jakarta and Singapore-based studio.
This announcement comes on the heels of Netflix’s reveal earlier this week of six all-new animated features and series, including projects from noted animation directors Jorge Gutierrez (The Book of Life, El Tigre), Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls, Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends) and Nora Twomey (The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner), further evidence of the streaming giant’s aggressive efforts to greatly expand its content offerings to a growing global base of animation fans.
Source: Netflix
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
