Sherwood | |
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Genre | |
Created by |
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Developed by | Justin Trefgarne |
Voices of | |
Composers |
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Country of origin |
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Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 10 |
Production | |
Executive producer |
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Editor | Matt Tate |
Running time | 21-22 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | YouTube Premium |
Release | March 6, 2019 |
Sherwood is an animated science fiction streaming television series created by Diana Manson and Megan Laughton that premiered on March 6, 2019, on YouTube Premium. It is a new telling of the Robin Hood legend. [1] [2] Some reviewers have noted the focus on socioeconomic class, as Robin lives among "the impoverished 99%," leading rebels who will overthrow the Sheriff, who lives in an Upper City housing "the wealthy citizens of Sherwood." [1] Others also noted the focus on class difference, [3] [4] with Robin and her comrades trying to "overcome inequality and fight for justice." [2] Apart from this, others said the series has a cyberpunk feeling to it. [3]
The show had a world premiere in Sydney, Australia, in March 2019. [5] In April 2020, Sherwood [6] was one of the originals that Google decided to make freely available in light of the pandemic. [7]
In the year 2270, in the dystopic 23rd century, 14-year-old hacker Robin Loxley and her friends battle the Sheriff of Nottingham in a Britain devastated by environmental disaster. [1] [3]
The idea for the series was originally posed by Diana Manson and Megan Laughton, of a New York company named Baby Octopus, in 2016, to Justin Trefgarne. [1] Additionally, the show is, according to Trefgarne, aimed at "the pre-teen market," and is focused "on positive female empowerment." The production company, Baby Octopus, worked with the Computer Science in Media team of Google to help imagine "world of the future and what it meant for design, travel, technology and society," and to inspire "young women and girls on their role in technology of the future." [2] [3] Trefgarne, in an August 2018 post on his website, noted that he was commissioned to write the pilot script in 2016, with YouTube ordering nine additional episodes in January 2017, and continued production, with an original release date in November 2018. He also stated that the series is "inspired by the classic Manga Akira," [17] a Japanese cyberpunk manga series set in a post-apocalyptic and futuristic Neo-Tokyo, more than two decades after a mysterious explosion destroyed the city.
In February 2019, a number of behind-the-scenes specials were released about the show. In the first one, on February 22, director Bruce Carter talked about the setting of the show in a futuristic London, which those in this story call "Sherwood," with the story based around Robin and her "merry band" of followers. [18] In the same special, executive producer Nanette Miles said that the show would inspire "lots of young girls," production designer Daniel McKay called Robin a "tinkerer" who can easily adapt technology, and production coordinator Freya Walker Smith called her a "cool girl" who fights for herself and a "powerful heroine who can code." In the second special, on February 26, music producers Jacob Yoffee and Roahn Hylton said they wanted to make the audience pay attention and listen to what is going on in the story, trying to make the world larger and feel more realistic. Yoffee also said that Bruce Carter, wanted a futuristic sound, with world music "more infused" into the mainstream and said they worked with Mickey Shiloh, on all the songs. [19] Hylton also described Robin as a hero "everyone can get behind," with her theme having a "superhero element" to it, plus a "bit of sadness" because she is searching "for her identity." In the last special, on February 28, Anya Chalotra, who voices Robin, said that if she was 14, Robin would be her friend and would inspire (and empower) her. [20] Chalotra further called Robin self-sufficient and dedicated to "making the world a better place" which is more equal, talked about the challenge of playing such a "complex character" and stated she "sets an amazing example of a young leader." At the same time, Erin Rainaldi, a software engineer from Verily who works on the show, said that it's important to show that women and girls are just as good at "technology and tinkering" than boys, saying it sets an example for young girls, and Jamie Chung, who voices Rose, called Robin fun and a rebel, hoping the show does the same in speaking to young girls. Bernadette Carter, a software engineer from Google called Robin a "strong female lead," not letting others tell her what to do, while balancing it with compassion for others, and is determined and dedicated to her goals.
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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Season 1 | 10 | March 26, 2019 |
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
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1 | "The Future Robin Hood" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne | March 6, 2019 | |
In a 23rd-century flooded city, a teenager named Robin recognizes her path forward, different than anything she ever thought, when she puts on a gauntlet once owned by her father. | |||||
2 | "Robin Gives to the Poor" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne & Robby Hoffman | March 6, 2019 | |
Robin and her fellow vigilantes have a goal: protecting a crucial new source of nourishment from Sheriff Nottingham and his minions, the drobos. | |||||
3 | "Robin Dives Deep" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne & Robby Hoffman | March 6, 2019 | |
After they are trapped under the sea, Robin and her newfound friends learn the reality about what happened in the past to their home. | |||||
4 | "Robin Picks a Fight" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne & Craig Martin | March 6, 2019 | |
Attempting to ensnare Robin, the Sheriff hosts a fighting contest. Will she go for the bait, or stay away? | |||||
5 | "Robin Breaks the Code" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne | March 6, 2019 | |
A strange machine from the Upper City is poisoning Sherwood's freshwater supply. What will Robin and her comrades do? | |||||
6 | "Robin Lost at Sea" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne | March 6, 2019 | |
Iniko and Robin work together to fix his submarine, stranded in the ocean, before they meet certain doom. | |||||
7 | "Robin Under Siege" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne & Craig Martin | March 6, 2019 | |
In a bold move, Nottingham launches a large-scale raid against those living in the Lower City, putting everyone in jeopardy. | |||||
8 | "Robin Meets Her Maker" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne & Mike Lew | March 6, 2019 | |
Robin talks to her father face-to-face in their first interaction ever. Evil remains, with Nottingham determined to eliminate her as a threat once and for all... | |||||
9 | "Robin Rebuilds" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne & Craig Martin | March 6, 2019 | |
After the attack in the previous episode, Sea Croppers try to bounce back, as a mysterious person helps them, someone who Robin and her friends do not expect to see... | |||||
10 | "Robin Rises" | Bruce Carter | Justin Trefgarne | March 6, 2019 | |
After Gisbourne causes a self-destruct sequence to begin, affecting the Upper City, Robin has the horrifying realization: only she can stop it. |
Common Sense Media, a family-friendly media review site, gave the series an aggregate of three stars, stating its themes made it suitable for older viewers. [21] Alexis Gunderson of Paste Magazine listed it as one of the 13 Best Original TV Shows on YouTube Premium in 2019. [22] Gunderson said that while it may look similar to Star Wars: The Clone Wars , it is an original, with visually layered scenes and set in a "distressing believable" dystopia, while saying she appreciates it for its own merits, calling it a compelling family-friendly animation. Apart from this, in the show's first week on YouTube, the show's first episode garnered seven million views, something which series writer and developer Justin Trefgarne said he was delighted by. [23]
Robin of Sherwood is a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by Richard Carpenter, it was produced by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 28 April 1984 to 28 June 1986 on the ITV network. In the United States it was shown on the premium cable TV channel Showtime and, later, on PBS. It was also syndicated in the early 1990s under the title Robin Hood.
Little John is a companion of Robin Hood who serves as his chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men. He is one of only a handful of consistently named characters who relate to Robin Hood and one of the two oldest Merry Men, alongside Much the Miller's Son. His name is an ironic reference to his giant frame, as he is usually portrayed in legend as a huge warrior – a 7-foot-tall (2.1-metre) master of the quarterstaff. In folklore, he fought Robin Hood on a tree bridge across a river on their first meeting.
Sir Guy of Gisbourne is a character from the Robin Hood legends of English folklore. He first appears in "Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne", where he is an assassin who attempts to kill Robin Hood but is killed by him. In later depictions, he has become a romantic rival to Robin Hood for Maid Marian's love.
Rocket Robin Hood is a Canadian animated television series, placing the characters and conflicts of the classic Robin Hood legend in a futuristic, outer space setting. It was produced by Krantz Films, Inc. and aired on CBC Television from 1966 to 1969.
Maid Marian is the heroine of the Robin Hood legend in English folklore, often taken to be his lover. She is not mentioned in the early, medieval versions of the legend, but was the subject of at least two plays by 1600. Her history and circumstances are obscure, but she commanded high respect in Robin’s circle for her courage and independence as well as her beauty and loyalty. For this reason, she is celebrated by feminist commentators as one of the early strong female characters in English literature.
Robin Hood is a 1973 American animated musical adventure comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution. Produced and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, it is based on the English folktale "Robin Hood". Taking place in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, the story follows the adventures of Robin Hood, Little John, and the inhabitants of Nottingham as they fight against the excessive taxation of Prince John, and Robin Hood wins the hand of Maid Marian. The film features the voices of Brian Bedford, Phil Harris, Peter Ustinov, Pat Buttram, Monica Evans, Terry-Thomas, Roger Miller, and Carole Shelley.
Alan-a-Dale is a figure in the Robin Hood legend. According to the stories, he was a wandering minstrel who became a member of Robin's band of outlaws, the "Merry Men".
Will Scarlet is a prominent member of Robin Hood's Merry Men. He is present in the earliest ballads along with Little John and Much the Miller's Son.
Robin Hood is a Japanese anime series produced by Tatsunoko Production, and NHK. In this version, Robin and his allies are mostly pre-teens.
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood is a 2002 stealth-based real-time tactics video game developed by Spellbound Entertainment. It is similar to games such as Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive and the Commandos series. In the game, the player controls up to five characters in a setting based on the stories of the protagonist, Robin Hood. The player can also control Robin Hood's Merry Men, including Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Will Stutely, and Maid Marian. Robin and his crew must evade the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham and his henchmen and stop the machinations of the vile usurper to England's throne, Prince John. However, Robin must avoid killing enemies as much as possible, or he will not be able to recruit as many new Merry Men.
Young Robin Hood is an animated series produced for television by H-B Production Co., CINAR and France Animation and aired in syndication in 1991. It ran for one season as part of the Sunday-morning programming block, The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera (1985–94). The show takes place when Robin Hood is a teenager, Richard the Lion Heart is on his "first crusade" and Robin's father, the Earl of Huntington, joins him. Young Robin Hood was Hanna-Barbera's second adaptation of the legend of Robin Hood, after their 1972 television special The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik.
The folkloric hero Robin Hood has appeared many times, in many different variations, in popular modern works.
Robin Hood is a 2010 historical action-adventure film based on the Robin Hood legend, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston, Eileen Atkins, and Max von Sydow.
The Sheriff of Nottingham is the main antagonist in the legend of Robin Hood. He is generally depicted as an unjust tyrant who mistreats the local people of Nottinghamshire, subjecting them to unaffordable taxes. Robin Hood fights against him, stealing from the rich, and the Sheriff, in order to give to the poor; it is this characteristic for which Robin Hood is best known. The Sheriff is considered the archenemy of Robin Hood, as he is the most recurring enemy of the well-known outlaw.
Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood is an adventure film directed by John Hough and starring David Warbeck, Ciaran Madden, Kathleen Byron, David Butler and Kenneth Gilbert. The film was the debut movie of actor David Warbeck as Robin Hood. The film was originally a 1969 television series pilot but was released in movie theatres in 1973, as a support feature to the musical Take Me High. The film was also released on VHS under the title The Legend of Young Robin Hood.
Robin Hood is a 2018 American action-adventure film directed by Otto Bathurst and written by Ben Chandler and David James Kelly, from a story by Chandler. It is a modern retelling of the Robin Hood legend, and follows his training by John to steal from the Sheriff of Nottingham. The film stars Taron Egerton as Robin, and features Jamie Foxx, Ben Mendelsohn, Eve Hewson, Tim Minchin and Jamie Dornan in supporting roles. Returning home to England to learn the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham (Mendelsohn) has seized his family estate, aristocrat Robin of Loxley joins forces with Friar Tuck (Minchin) and Little John (Foxx) – a fierce Arabian warrior who wants to put an end to the Crusades. Armed with arrows and dubbed Robin Hood, Loxley leads a band of oppressed rebels in a daring plan to rob the Sheriff of his money and take away his power.
Robin Hood is a fictional character in Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated feature film Robin Hood (1973). Robin Hood is voiced by Shakespearean and Tony Award winning actor Brian Bedford. The film is based on the legends of Robin Hood and Reynard the fox, a 12th-century Alsatian fairy tale character, but uses anthropomorphic animals rather than people; in Robin's case being a red fox. The story follows the adventures of Robin Hood, Little John and the inhabitants of Nottingham as they fight against the excessive taxation of Prince John, and Robin Hood wins the hand of Maid Marian.
Robin Hood: Mischief in Sherwood is a CG-animated series produced by Method Animation and DQ Entertainment, in co-production with Fabrique d'Images, ZDF, ZDF Enterprises, De Agostini Editore, and KidsMe S.r.l., with the participation of TF1 and The Walt Disney Company France, and in association with COFIMAGE 24. It is an animated adaptation of the Robin Hood story.
Anya Chalotra is a British actress. She began her career in a 2017 production of the play Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe, and made her screen debut with BBC dramas Wanderlust and The ABC Murders in 2018. She gained recognition for her starring role as Yennefer of Vengerberg in the Netflix series The Witcher.
Please take a look at the trailer for YouTube's children's animation series SHERWOOD below in which she voiced the lead, Robin.