Koala Man

Koala Man is an animated sitcom created by Michael Cusack for Hulu. Developed by Cusack, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit, the series premiered on January 9, 2023 on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ in Australia.

Plot
The series takes place in an alternate universe called "Bushworld", where the sinking of the Titanic never happened, indirectly resulting in the United States of America being destroyed (except Hollywood, which became an island), Australia becoming the world's superpower, and Nicole Kidman becoming its Queen. The story follows Kevin Williams, an average middle-aged family man who decides to issue justice to the town of Dapto as the incredibly average superhero Koala Man. Possessing no powers and a simple costume, which is apparently enough to hide his identity, Kevin encounters a variety of evildoers that wish to do harm to his town. Kevin is joined by his family who put up with his misadventures including his down-to-earth wife Vicky, and his 14-year-old twin children, a popularity-obsessed daughter Alison and a nerdy son Liam who secretly possesses psychic powers.

Main

 * Michael Cusack as Kevin Williams/Koala Man, a father and IT expert who moonlights as a low-rent superhero
 * Cusack also voices:
 * Liam Williams, Kevin's son who possesses psychic powers
 * Damo and Darren, a pair of low-level criminals
 * The Tall Poppy
 * The Great One
 * Nicole Kidman, the Queen of Australia
 * Huge Greg, Big Greg's older brother
 * Additional Voices
 * Sarah Snook as Vicky Williams, Kevin's wife, who works at the school canteen
 * Demi Lardner as Alison Williams, Kevin's daughter
 * Hugh Jackman as Big Greg, a beloved celebrity fishing expert and the head of the town council, who is Kevin's boss
 * Jemaine Clement as Principal Bazwell/Christopher/The Kookaburra, the ineffectual principal of North Dapto High who is Vicky's boss and reveals himself as a supervillain.

Guest

 * Alexandra Daddario as Herself
 * Rachel House as Janine, Vicky's friend and co-worker at the school canteen
 * House also voices Louise, the owner of the local bowling club who harbors an attraction to Koala Man
 * Angus Sampson as General Peckmeister, Wizened Garbage Man, and many more.
 * Jordan Shanks as the Town Shopkeeper, Chippy, Snuff film victim
 * Hugo Weaving as King Emudeus, Summer Santa
 * Justin Roiland as Chad Wagon, an American who wants to turn Australia into a second United States
 * Jarrad Wright as Spider, Kevin's boorish next-door neighbor
 * Wright also voices:
 * Maxwell, a wheelchair-bound septuagenarian with a long complicated history
 * Maxwell's father
 * Additional Voices
 * Michelle Brasier as McKayla Taylor Mercedes, a popular girl who speaks with a vocal fry and Alison's initial nemesis
 * Brasier also voices Tanya, a fish who is Huge Greg's wife
 * Miranda Otto as Mindy, a koala that Kevin found and cared for before she died after being hit by a car before the events of the series.
 * Claudia O'Doherty as Rosie Yodels/Rosie 2, the most popular girl in school
 * O'Doherty also voices:
 * Rosie 1 and Rosie 3, Rosie's sister clones who want to take over Australia
 * Additional Voices
 * Natalie Tran as Lulu Liu, Neighbour
 * Nisrine Amine as The Egyptian Mummy, a survivor of the Titanic who became US president and fled to the Moon
 * Anthony Salame, Jordan Shanks, and Steph Tisdell as The Tradies, corrupt tradespeople who secretly run every working aspect of Dapto and possess supernatural abilities.
 * Michelle Brazier, Leigh Joel Scott, Anthony Salame, and Ian Zaro as The Tigglies, villainous parodies of the Wiggles who kill their victims, which are children, by draining them of their youth.
 * Liam McIntyre as Emus
 * Nazeem Hussain as Clarko
 * Nina Oyama as Little Nina

Production
It was announced in March 2021 that Hulu had given a series order for the show. Michael Cusack, who is the creator, voices the titular character, with Hugh Jackman, Sarah Snook and Demi Lardner joining the voice cast. In October 2022, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House and Jarrad Wright joined the cast, with Miranda Otto and Hugo Weaving announced to be making guest appearances.

On January 25, 2023, Justin Roiland was removed from the show, alongside sister show Solar Opposites, after he was charged with felony domestic abuse. Both shows are produced by 20th Television, via their 20th Television Animation division.

Release
The series premiered on January 9, 2023, on Hulu in the United States, in Australia and other international territories on Disney+ via Star Hub and Latin America on Star+.

Reception
The series received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 86% based on reviews from 14 critics, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's critical consensus states, "While Koala Man can feel like a hodgepodge of quirky ideas, its distinctive Australian identity gives it a pungent personality."