There’s a new show on Max – animated sci-fi, called “Scavengers Reign”. The premise is a familiar one – human explorers marooned on an alien planet. But this one is truly special – maybe the best animated sci-fi series in the last two decades, if not more. I highly recommend it.
I’m just shocked that Max is doing new mature animated fare. I thought they were pulling the plug on all of it.
I’ll give it a look!
I saw the first couple eps and I found it very striking. Very interesting where the creatures seem to have something going on. I’m behind on it and need to catch up.
I loved the short this is based off of.
Very French 70s René Laloux/ Mœbius vibe.
Up through ep 4.
Interesting.
In the opening scene focused on the humans I was thinking that the animation was pretty meh and hoping for a good story to make up for it. Then we get to the planet and … beautiful.
Agreed that the planet, its diverse very alien ecosystems, and the very … different sorts of communication happening, are the most fascinating characters.
Thanks for the rec @iiandyiiii !
Really I thought Max was going to be a dead zone for risky creative adult oriented animation. Glad they are putting this out there.
Binged over the weekend.
Excellent show.
Still I’m a bit confused about the final scene.
Are we to assume the flower fungus whatever is able to communicate next generation form and information to others of its kin across space level distances?
I assumed it was already on the flower that Kris picked and put on the shuttle.
Ah. Makes sense.
Riveting viewing! This deserves to get much bigger (and perhaps it will).
Here is one of the more compelling scenes.
I do wish they’d designed all the alien life forms with an eye to sci-fi rather than fantasy. Some were semi-plausible-looking creatures, while others were just chimerical (like the hulking monster with flimsy insect wings).
We finished it, and I can’t get that grumpy frog panda out of my head. That guy was a whole mood. Am officially a Fan. I thought it would be very well suited to a graphic novel.
My husband tried to pitch it to a friend as “Nausicaa, only survival horror.”
Naussica Thesis: Mother Nature will save you if you let it.
Scavenger’s Reign Thesis: Mother Nature will murder you in ways you can’t imagine
I truly have no way to describe it, but it’s one of the most fascinating and original things I’ve seen in a long time.
Also, horrifying. I don’t think I’m ever going to forget that flytrap vine thing near the end. What a way to go.