originally produced for HBO/MAX back in 2022, it got cancelled after its 1 season in 2023, and found its way to Netflix this year...now it's been nominated for an Emmy for Best Animated Series while being in limbo. As far as I know there's no update on whether it's been picked up.
But it should be. 12 episodes, each under a half-hour running time. But there's so much to absorb in each episode, you really have to pay attention. It's not something to just put on to pass the time. It has a lot going on visually, and you could miss something big if you step away.
A ship crash lands on a seemingly desolate planet that turns out to be full of biological life that ranges from extremely helpful to extremely dangerous. The show focuses mostly on 3 different stories: Kamen, who has something to do with what happens to their ship, is lost in his own little world that gets picked up by a seemingly friendly looking creature (they wind up having a lot to do with each other). Ursula and Sam, who have adapted to the planet enough to know how to survive some of the dangers, trying to get back to the ship. And Azi, and a robot assistant of sorts, Levi. They, too, are trying to get back to the ship. It is still semi-functional and contains a colony of others in stasis. and there's an escape pod that they could use to leave the planet.
It starts off slow and a bit confusing, but the strength lies in the atmosphere until the characters start to develop.
for an American animated show, it's very well done. besides it being based on a short film made years prior by the co-creator, it's an original show and it's very impressive and creative.
i don't know that it'll get picked up, but the season itself is worth watching.
out of