WondLa (TV series)

WondLa (originally called The Search for WondLa) is an animated sci-fi fantasy television series based on the books The Search for WondLa, A Hero for WondLa, and The Battle for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi, produced by Skydance Animation and developed by Bobs Gannaway, who also serves as the showrunner and executive producer with DiTerlizzi, John Lasseter, David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. The cast includes the voices of Jeanine Mason, Teri Hatcher, Brad Garrett, Gary Anthony Williams, Chiké Okonkwo, D. C. Douglas, and Alan Tudyk.

The series premiered on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2024.

Premise
Eva, a curious, enthusiastic and spirited human teenager, is raised in a state-of-art bunker by M.U.T.H.R, a robot caretaker. On her 16th birthday, after an attack on Eva's bunker, she finds herself on the surface of a strange planet called Orbona, which is inhabited by aliens, covered with other-worldly fauna, and has no other humans to be found. Eva is joined by Otto, a giant tardigrade, and Rovender, a cantankerous alien, to help find humans, her home and her true destiny.

Voice cast

 * Jeanine Mason as Eva
 * Micaiah Chen as Young Eva
 * Teri Hatcher as Muthr
 * Brad Garrett as Otto
 * Gary Anthony Williams as Rovender Kitt and Roshon
 * Chiké Okonkwo as Besteel
 * D. C. Douglas as Omnipod
 * Alan Tudyk as Cadmus Pryde
 * Christopher Swindle as Meego
 * John Ratzenberger as Caruncle
 * Sayed Badreya as a Bartender
 * Michael Wrona as a Race Announcer
 * Vernee Johnson as Ol' Crusty
 * Larissa Gallagher as Hostia and a Cashier
 * T.J. Power as Fiscian
 * Louella Edith Power as Zoozi
 * Everly Carganilla as Maegden
 * Kingslei Michelle Love as a Baby Sandsniper
 * Shohreh Aghdashloo as Darius
 * Maz Jobrani as Zin
 * Navid Negahban as Loroc
 * Sarah Hollis as Queen Ojo
 * Kari Wahlgren as Dewey
 * Simon Pegg as Bob
 * Additional Vocals by Joy Ngiaw

Development
In February 2021, it was announced that Apple, in partnership with Skydance Animation, was creating a television adaptation of The Search for WondLa to stream on Apple TV+. It was originally set to be written and executive produced by showrunner Lauren Montgomery with Chad Quant, Tony DiTerlizzi and Skydance Animation head John Lasseter attached as executive producers. It has been confirmed that the series was given a two-season order as Montgomery left the project and has been replaced by Bobs Gannaway, one of Lasseter's Disney-era colleagues. Lasseter's son, short-film director Bennett Lasseter, was brought on as a consultant on the show. On April 30, 2024, Apple and Skydance announced the cast and the premiere of the series to be set on June 28 with seven episodes of the first season releasing on Apple TV+.

Animation
Animation provided for the series is made by Icon Creative Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Music
Joy Ngiaw, composer of Skydance Animation's short film Blush, was announced to compose the score for the series in January 2024. The Season 1 soundtrack was released by Milan Records on June 28, 2024.

Release
The series premiered on June 28, 2024 on Apple TV+.

Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 50% approval rating with an average rating of 5.1/10, based on 6 critic reviews.