WondLa (TV series)

Last updated

WondLa
Genre
Based on The Search for WondLa
by Tony DiTerlizzi
Developed by Bobs Gannaway
ShowrunnerBobs Gannaway
Starring
Composer Joy Ngiaw
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producers
ProducerTony Cosanella
Production companies
Original release
Network Apple TV+
ReleaseJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28) 
present

WondLa, also known as The Search for WondLa, is an American animated sci-fi fantasy 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.

Contents

The series premiered on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2024. [1] A second season was released on April 25, 2025. [2] A third and final season is set to be released on November 26, 2025. [3]

Premise

Eva, a curious, enthusiastic and spirited human teenager, is raised in a state-of-the-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. [1]

Voice cast

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
1 7June 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
2 7April 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)

Season 1 (2024)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [4]
11"Chapter 1: Doors"Andrew L. Schmidt and Micah GunnellBobs GannawayJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Eva Nine, a curious and intelligent teenage girl, has spent her entire life underground, raised by a robot caretaker named Muthr (Multi Utility Task Help Robot 06) in a high-tech sanctuary, Sanctuary 573. One night, Eva sneaks through a mysterious door in the restricted area, emerging into a strange and unfamiliar surface world filled with bizarre creatures and unknown dangers and a strange note titled WondLa. She found someone to help her, but it's actually an unknown intruder, causing the Sanctuary under attack. For this, Eva and Muthr were forced to escape but something captures Muthr. Eva was separated from her, emerged onto the surface and found herself on the alien planet Orbona.
22"Chapter 2: Lifeforms"Andrew L. SchmidtLauren Bradley and Bobs GannawayJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Eva explores new environments and encounters various alien lifeforms on planet Orbona. There, she met a gruff alien called Rovender Kitt who offers a potential link to other humans. Suddenly, the unknown intruder arrives and Eva and Rovender manage to escape but it captures these two. The unknown intruder was an evil alien hunter named Besteel. Eva rescues herself and a telepathic water‑bear creature named Otto, who was captured by Besteel as well. Eva frees Rovender and carries an unconscious Muthr to Besteel's spaceship to escape but Besteel stops them, attempting to terminate them. Unfortunately, Besteel's ship crash landed onto him and Eva and Rovender rode on Otto, making their exit.
33"Chapter 3: Bargain"Lawrence GongKyle McVey and Bobs GannawayJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Eva, Muthr, Otto and Rovender travel to the fishing village of Lacus on the planet Orbona. They’re trying to locate information about other humans. With Rovender’s help, Eva meets a crafty merchant who deals in human‑artifacts. To gain the merchant’s cooperation and the lead she needs, Eva stakes everything in a risky bet at the local Spiderfish Races.
44"Chapter 4: Ghosts"Lawrence GongGrace DavisJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Eva seeks out the archaic Arsian sage called Darius, hoping to uncover more about humanity’s fate and her own mission. Darius reveals a grim truth about what happened to humans. Undeterred, Eva resolves to push forward in her quest to find other humans. Meanwhile, the alien bounty hunter Besteel tightens the net, closing in on Eva’s trail.
55"Chapter 5: Captive"Philip PignottiMario Carvalhal and Bobs GannawayJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Eva pushes ahead with a bold plan despite Muthr’s objections. Along the way she unexpectedly befriends the Queen of Arbona named Ojo, who never thought she would trust; forming an alliance that could shift the balance of her journey. Queen Ojo shows Eva a golden car called the Goldfish. Eva was captured by Queen Ojo's advisor Zin but she met one of the Sandsnipers who set her free. Queen Ojo ignores his brother Lorocs' orders and lets Eva go.
66"Chapter 6: Bridge"Phillip PignottiAdam GalenJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Eva drives the Goldfish to see Muthr and Otto once again. They went to the abandoned bridge and saw Rovender going there too. Eva, Muthr, Rovender and Otto spent their time crossing this bridge. Otto wants to ride on the Goldfish too, but he's too big, causing the Goldfish to crash land. Eva, Muthr, Otto, Rovender leave the Goldfish and climb on one of the bridge's tops. Eva, Muthr and Rovender rode on Otto who could fly. The four finally found themselves in the abandoned city.
77"Chapter 7: Ruins"Lawrence GongChristian Magalhaes and Bob SnowJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
In the abandoned city, where the humans have vanished, Eva, Muthr, Otto and Rovender found the last one who is already dead. Besteel finds the four and a battle begins. Towards the end of the battle, Besteel attempts to eliminate Eva but Muthr rescues her, but sacrifices herself. Finally, Eva calls for help in her head and Besteel fell to his death by the Sandsnipers grabbing him in the cracked road. Eva mourns to Muthr's death and she, Otto and Rovender had a big funeral for her. Suddenly, a spaceship swoops down from the sky, who appears to be a human boy named Hailey Turner who informs Eva that he is there to take her home.

Season 2 (2025)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [4]
81"Chapter 8: Home"Phillip PignottiMario Carvalhal and Christian Magalhaes and Bob SnowApril 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)
Hailey Turner and Van Turner arrives in a spaceship to rescue Eva (Eva from Sactuary 573). Eva, Otto and Rovender flies on the spaceship to New Attica, a place for Human Civilization. Otto and Rovender leaves. Eva meets a man named Cadmus Pryde. Eva and Cadmus Pryde's daughters explore New Attica. Eva gets a new outfit, have some food and play a video game. Eva meets another Multi Utility Task Helper Robot (Muthr 248). Eva sees someone looking exactly like her outside her sleeping unit. Muthr 248 calls Eva as Eva Nine.
92"Chapter 9: Family"Carlos BaenaChe GraysonApril 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)
Cadmus Pryde asks Eva Nine to meet New Attica's scientists to share her experience outside New Attica. Muthr 248 shows Eva Nine the way to meet Cadmus Pryde but Eva Nine starts to follow the person who looks exactly like her. Eva Nine jumps into a waterfall which goes below the surface and reach a sanctuary. Eva Nine meets Eva Eight who was also raised in Sanctuaty 573. Eva Eight shares her story to Eva Nine. Eva Nine meets other sanctuary born people, Viloet (Sanctuary 475), Xander (Sanctuary 342) and Kai (Sanctuary 256). The group share a meal. Muthr 248 finds the location. Eva Eight and Eva Nine meets Cadmus Pryde. Otto communicates with Eva Eight telepathically and informs her that Otto and Rovender are trapped.
103"Chapter 10: Discovery"Lawrence GongJames StrzelinskiApril 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)
Eva Nine tells Eva Eight about her friends. Eva Eight gets a map for the underground tunnels from Violet. Otto and Rovender are held captive inside Cadmus Pyrde's lab. Cadmus Pryde informs the board members about the lack of food and plans to use Eva Nine to reach the power source of Orbona. Eva Nine rescues her friends. Eva Eight and Violet helps Eva Nine and her friends to get out of the underground tunnels. Van Turner stays behind to open the hatch door for the spaceship to let Eva Nine, Eva Eight, Hailey Turner, Otto and Rovender escape New Attica. A robot looking like a spider chases the spaceship.
114"Chapter 11: Lesson"Philip PignottiMario CarvalhalApril 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)
The Spider Robot crashes into a flying whale and the spaceship crash lands on wastelands. The group hides from the spider robot behind a moving tree. The group encounters a group of Mirthians and Eva Nine convinces the Mirthians to show her the way to escape the wastelands. The Mirthians warn Eva Nine about Dovasu, a dangerous butterfly like creature with a scorpion tail. The group travels through a sand storm and hide inside a cave. Rovender decides to sacrifice himself to the creature as he is sick and dying but Eva Nine stops Rovender. The creature tricks Eva Nine but Eva Eight kills the creature. The group reaches a green spot, Farnus.
125"Chapter 12: Truth"Rhea DadooChe GraysonApril 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)
Farnus is the home of Cærulean (Rovender Kitt's people). The Cærulean rejects entry to the group caliming that there is no place for Rovender in Farnus as he is a deserter. Eva Eight and Hailey Turner goes to look for fireword. Eva Nine takes Rovender into farnus to find medicine for his sickness. Eva Nine's group is captured. Rovender's father, Antiquus is the leader of Cærulean. Eva Nine agrees to a trial of truth to save Rovender. To begin the trial, Eva Nine has to find the bird of revelation, Kawona. Eva Nine flies on a flying whale and finds the Kawona with the help of another Cærulean. After the trial of truth, Antiquus orders to save his son, Rovender.
136"Chapter 13: Connection"Lawrence GongJames StrzelinskiApril 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)
At Farnus, the Cæruleans celebrate Joyous Bloom festival around the heart of the forest. The group joins the celebration except Eva Eight who leaves farnus to meet her friends. During the celebration, the heart of the forest communicates with Eva Nine and Eva Nine sees a vision of the creation of Orbona. Spider Robots attack farnus and the Cæruleans evacuate. Eva Nine, Hailey Turner and Otto distracts the spider robots to give the Cæruleans time to evacuate. Rovender and another Cærulean helps the group to escape the spider robots. Hailey Turner is revealed to have betrayed the group by giving the location of Farnus to Cadmus Pryde. Cadmus Pryde arrives and takes Eva Eight and Eva Nine with him but leaves Hailey in the forest.
147"Chapter 14: Heart"Philip PignottiChristian Magalhaes and Bob SnowApril 25, 2025 (2025-04-25)
Cadmus Pryde uses Eva Nine to locate the heart of the forest (Source of Orbona). Eva Nine asks help telepathically from the nearby birds and wandering trees. The wandering trees knocks down Cadmus Pryde's spaceship. Eva Nine is injured during the crash. Eva Nine finds the source attached to a MUTHR unit inside sanctuary 118. Eva Eight knocks Cadmus Pryde unconscious. The source connects with Eva Nine. Eva Eight removes the source from its resting place and all of Orbona dries out. Eva Nine looks like she died of old age. Cadmus Pryde captures Eva Eight.

Production

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. [5] In August 2022, it was announced that the series was given a two-season order as Montgomery left the project and was replaced by Bobs Gannaway, who had previously co-directed Secret of the Wings (2012) and directed Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014) for Lasseter. [6] Lasseter's son, short-film director Bennett Lasseter, was brought on as a consultant on the show. [7] [8] 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+. [1]

Animation

Animation provided for the series is made by ICON Creative Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. [9]

Music

Joy Ngiaw, composer of Skydance Animation's short film Blush , was announced to compose the score for the series in January 2024. [10] The Season 1 soundtrack was released by Milan Records on June 28, 2024. [11] The score for Season 1 was nominated for an Annie Award. [12]

Release

The series premiered on June 28, 2024 on Apple TV+. [1]

Notes

  1. Archive audio from Luck

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Milligan, Mercedes (April 30, 2024). "Apple TV+ Brings Animated Fantasy-Adventure 'Wondla' Worldwide in June". Animation Magazine . Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. Milligan, Mercedes (March 26, 2025). "Apple TV+ Unveils First Look at 'WondLa' S2, Premiering April 25". Animation Magazine . Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  3. Milligan, Mercedes (October 8, 2025). "Apple TV+ Debuts Sneak Peek at 'WondLa's Epic Final Season". Animation Magazine . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Shows A-Z – WondLa on Apple TV+". The Futon Critic . Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  5. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 17, 2021). "Apple & Skydance Animation Set Multi-Year Feature Film & TV Deal". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  6. "Bobs Gannaway – The World Animation Summit" . Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  7. deCourville, Nick (August 5, 2022). "Apple TV+ Looking for Pixar Magic as It Delivers First Major Animated Feature 'Luck'". The Mac Observer. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  8. Keegan, Rebecca; Giardina, Carolyn (July 27, 2022). "John Lasseter's Second Act". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  9. Zahed, Ramin (June 19, 2024). "Eva in Wonderland: 'WondLa' EP Bobs Gannaway Tells All About the New Apple/Skydance Adventure". Animation Magazine . Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. "Joy Ngiaw Scoring Skydance Animation's Apple TV+ Series 'WondLa' | Film Music Reporter" . Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  11. Danoff, Owen (June 27, 2024). "Listen To The World Of WondLa With Two Tracks From The Apple TV+ Series". ScreenRant.
  12. "AWN's Annie Awards Roundup: Top Contenders in Film and TV". Animation World Network.