Sunday, December 27, 2020

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020)

I just finished watching this Netflix original animated series, and I loved it. So many tremendous moving parts here, and they come together beautifully. While part of me is sad that the show came and went so quickly – with three short seasons released in the space of a single year, done in 30 episodes – I also recognize how brightly it burned during its brief run, as well as how effectively it brings its story to a satisfying conclusion in that time. Even though I may want more, what we got is pretty darn spectacular.

200 years after some kind of environmental/chemical apocalypse caused animals to mutate in shocking ways, most humans live in underground burrows while the surface is given over to the “mutes,” some of whom are merely animals that have grown to incredibly size and possess extra limbs, and others who are fully sentient and form packs/gangs that jockey with rival groups for position. When Kipo, a 12-year-old “burrow girl” unexpectedly finds herself on the surface for the first time in her life, her journey to get back to her people sets off a chain of events that will change the lives of humans and mutes alike.

Oh man, where do I even start? I love the characters. We have our main human/mute squad that Kipo assembles, bringing together loner/survivor Wolf, partners in crime Benson and Dave, and loyal friend Mandu. Like most groups of this nature worth their salt, they’re an unlikely band of friends/heroes, and it’s a genuine pleasure to watch them get to know each other, solve problems together, and have each other’s backs. But there are just oodles of terrific recurring and minor characters, from Kipo’s scientist dad to the leaders of the axe-wielding Timber Cats to the astronomer wolves named Billions and Billions. Each new enclave of mutes we meet offers up interesting, inventive, and funny new additions, and we’re introduced to a wide range of both humans and mutes who pop onscreen regardless of how large or small their screentime is.

Another great feature of the show is its artistry and creativity. The animation is fantastically done (I especially love how the inner minds of the “megas” are portrayed,) offering up great sight gags, clever references, and cool action in equal measure. It’s also a show that’s jam-packed with music, with many of the mute gangs having their own preferred genre and Kipo building bridges across species through song – the narwhal K-pop group is amazing, and I adore “Heroes on Fire” for being exactly the sort of song a 12- or 13-year-old girl would think is incredible. And the show just bursts at the seams with goofy humor and wild ideas. For instance, core team member Dave is a mute, an immortal insect who’s constantly cycling through his various stages of metamorphosis.

I also love the show’s easy racial and gender diversity. Many of the human characters, including all three humans in the main cast, are people of color, and even better, they’re voiced by actors of color as well. Kipo, Wolf, and Benson are all fully-realized, complex characters who are simply wonderful to root for, and they’re not alone. What’s more, every new group of mutes we meet consistently includes female characters, and Kipo’s dad Lio is a lovely portrayal of a sensitive, attentive father. We also have some nice gay representation with Benson.

The cast is awesome. I’m not terribly familiar with Karen Fukuhara, Sydney Mikayla, or Coy Stewart, but they’re fantastic as Kipo, Wolf, and Benson – by turns funny, endearing, heroic, and heartwarming – and Deon Cole (Charlie from Black-ish/Grown-ish) is hilarious as Dave. Sterling K. Brown does a bang-up job as Lio, and Dan Stevens is clearly having the time of his life as Scarlemagne, a villainous mandrill looking to rule the surface. (Side note: what an interesting actor Stevens has turned out to be. Back in the Downton Abbey days, I never would’ve pictured him doing what he does in Legion or Kipo.) The cast also features the likes of Amy Landecker, Lea DeLaria, and John Hodgman, among others.

Warnings

Adventure violence, scary moments for kids, and thematic elements.

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