Netflix's Maya And The Three - What We Know So Far
It looks like Netflix is putting a big focus on animation going forward. Back in 2018, they announced a whole slew of upcoming projects, many of which have been released on the streaming platform in the last couple of years (via Deadline). Included in the line-up is the 2020 film "The Willoughbys," the preschool series "Go! Go! Cory Carson," and two recently released animated series, "Trash Truck" and "Kid Cosmic."
Along with an upcoming animated film called "My Father's Dragon," "Maya and the Three," a series that comes from Emmy-winning director Jorge Gutiérrez, is the only other project on the list that is yet to premiere on Netflix. Previously, Gutiérrez won an Emmy for the television animated series "El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera," and won two prestigious Anne Awards for both "El Tigre" and the movie "The Book of Life." Now he's bringing that talent and creativity to "Maya and the Three," an animated miniseries based on Mexican mythology.
While very few details about the upcoming show have been released yet, there's definitely enough out there to keep people enticed and excited. Here's everything we know so far about Netflix's upcoming series "Maya and the Three."
What is the release date for Maya and the Three?
In the original announcement about the series back in 2018, "Maya and the Three" had a projected release date of 2021, and it looks like it's on track to follow through with this timeline.
Another animated show on the original list, "Kid Cosmic," originally had a 2020 release date but faced a slight delay, with Season 1 coming out in February 2021. While it wouldn't be surprising to hear that "Maya and the Three" might come out later than expected, as of right now, Netflix has made no further comment on the release date, leading many to believe that it will still be released sometime in the second half 2021.
Netflix has not given any more specific details about when to expect the series, but hopefully the new first-look images are a sign that Netflix will be releasing more information, and possibly a trailer, in the coming months.
Who is in the cast of the upcoming animated series?
Unfortunately, the "Maya and the Three" first-look images did not come with a cast list. Despite that, there are many creative people working on the design, story, and other aspects of the show that should definitely get you hyped up.
Alongside Gutiérrez, who is the creator, director, producer, character designer, and writer on the series, Sandra Equihua, who worked with Gutiérrez on his previous projects as both a character designer and voice actress, will also be a character designer for "Maya and the Three." Considering her past voice work, it's highly likely that Equihua will have some voice role on the Netflix miniseries as well. Jeff Ranjo, who worked as a story artist on "Moana," "Frozen," and other Disney hit movies, will play the same role here, and Silvia Cardenas Olivas, known for her work on "Elena of Avalor," will be a co-writer and co-executive producer for "Maya and the Three."
The series will also be produced by Jeff Bell, Phyllis Laing, and Ken Zorniak. All three have a variety of producing credits under their belts, and the trio recently worked together on another Netflix project, the 2018 animated movie "Next Gen."
What is Maya and the Three about?
Compared to everything else here, the plot of "Maya and the Three" is what we know the most about so far. The official plot description from Netflix states, "In a fantastical world filled with magic, a Mesoamerican-inspired warrior princess embarks on an epic quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save humanity from the vengeful gods of the underworld." "Maya and the Three" will be a miniseries, and is expected to have eight episodes total.
In a statement accompanying the new first-look images, Gutiérrez elaborated on his story and characters. Speaking about his inspiration and what went into the creation of Maya, his protagonist, Gutiérrez shared that he was "deeply inspired by the glorious Mesoamerican art and exhibits of the Museo Nacional de Antropologia in my hometown of Mexico City, I created 'Maya' as our own fiercely rebellious Eagle Warrior Princess" (Variety). He goes on to explain that the brave young woman is inspired by the women in his own life, including his mother, sister, and wife, who he describes as his "eternal muse." So far, neither Gutiérrez nor Netflix have given any indication as to what "the Three" in the title refers to, so fans will have to wait to find out what it means.
As for the story, the show's creator described it as a "funny, heartfelt and epic quest to vanquish the underworld gods," and a "spicy treat" for fans of his previous work. Looking at the new images, "Maya and the Three" will be a stylistic adventure filled with compelling characters, infused with the rich history of Mesoamerican mythology and culture.