written by Tim Estiloz
Wondla is a truly delightful and entertaining new animated series debuting now on Apple TV+. This seven episode series is based on the popular sci-fi themed children’s books authored by Tony DiTerlizzi; and the result of a collaboration between the streamer and Skydance Animation.
The series focuses around an inquisitive and spirited young teenager on the cusp of her 16th birthday named Eva. Up to this point, Eva has lived all her life in a comfortable but underground bunker where she has been cared for and educated by a state-of-the-art but outwardly compassionate robot named Muthr. However, on her birthday, Eva discovers an opening from the bunker that leads to the outside world on the surface.
When a dangerous alien being from the surface invades the bunker, Eva is forced to flee to the surface to go in search of other humans.
However, upon arriving above ground, she discovers that the Earth that had been there decades before has been replaced with a world very different looking due to an extinction level event that destroyed the environment and replaced it; and mankind, with alien looking fauna and a variety of weird alien creatures, both friendly and dangerously malevolent.
As Eva embarks on a journey to find other humans like herself, she is joined by her robot caretaker Muthr from the bunker; as well as a hat-wearing blue skinned alien from the surface named Rovender. Also joining this group on their adventure is Otto, a giant water bear eager to assist Eva on her mission. Meanwhile, they must evade a group of dangerous alien creatures bent on capturing Eva or worse.
Young actress Jeanine Mason ( Grey’s Anatomy, Roswell ) provides the voice of Eva with aplomb and enthusiasm giving the character a degree of wonder and pluckiness as she navigates this strange new world. Teri Hatcher ( Desperate Housewives ) supplies the voice of Muthr, giving the mechanized marvel a suitably concerned and maternal vibe. The interaction between all the characters are engaging and often relatable. This episodic adventure has plenty of thrilling action sequences and a few scary moments, though not too scary as to cause concern by parents for their kids to enjoy this animated adventure.
The animation is very good on the creatures and humans though the colorful 2-D backgrounds seem a bit static against the more vibrant moving animated characters.
It should be noted that WondLa ends on a cliffhanger setting up a possible second season to come. Still, if this first season is any indication, that further exploration of Eva’s adventure of discovery cannot come soon enough.
