The Gremlins film franchise never really took off following the success of the original 1984 movie. The sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, was released six years later in 1990 and unfortunately didn’t do well at the box office. Now, 33 years later, the franchise is back with the all-new animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
The series, rather than move forward in time, acts as a prequel to the original films. But that’s not to say Secrets of the Mogwai doesn’t expand the world or move the story in bold new directions. In fact, in many ways, Secrets of the Mogwai is a truly proper follow-up to Gremlins. And since Gremlins 2: The New Batch is often more parody than not, the new animated series can be quite refreshing in that regard. It opens up the world of the films to so many new possibilities.
This is mostly due to the use of Chinese mythology and lore. The original two films didn’t use much of this, outside of the Sam Wing character this animated series revolves around, and the Cantonese word “Mogwai” which actually translates to a handful of meanings including “monster,” “evil spirit,” and “demon.” The mentioned use of Sam Wing, however, is where this series really taps into the potential of Chinese culture.
Sam Wing, an old man in the original two films, is presented in this series as a young boy living in Shanghai, China. The year is 1920 and he’s quite sheltered by his parents. Actor Izaac Wang voices this iteration of the character, while Ming-Na Wen and BD Wong voice his parents. Though it’s worth noting that the legendary James Hong voices Sam’s grandfather, and fittingly enough, it’s this character that helps push Sam into the hidden world of magic that’s all around him.
It’s a great premise and one that soon finds itself caught in the chaos of Gremlins. Gizmo, the beloved Mogwai from the original films, finds himself taken away from his Mogwai village. The incredibly cute creature, now voiced by AJ LoCascio, has a tough time returning home. Especially as evil industrialist Riley Greene (Matthew Rhys) pursues him at just about any cost. In fact, Greene is a truly detestable villain and the first human villain of the franchise to truly reach this caliber. Of course, we’ve had glimpses of this with characters like Mrs. Deagle in the original film; though Greene takes things an enormous step further by being a legitimate user of dark magic.
The story continues to take more fantastical paths as the season continues. Sam, soon enough joined by a street thief named Elle (Gabrielle Nevaeh), must encounter numerous magical creatures on his journey to return Gizmo home. It’s a fascinating exploration of the world that Gremlins has to offer. It seems like one reason the franchise previously laid dormant for so long is that it was unclear where to take the series. Secrets of the Mogwai, however, opens up an endless number of possibilities for the future.
Fans will also be happy to know that it doesn’t stray too far from its roots. There are plenty of Mogwai and titular Gremlins to speak of. And they’re presented in proper chaotic fashion. In fact, not only does the series honor the original film, but they threw in a few callbacks to Gremlins 2: The New Batch as well. This is evident from the very beginning when the newly-spawned Mogwai all feature their own unique traits and identities. The show takes them on just as much of a journey as Sam, Elle, and Gizmo.
Furthermore, the series respects the fragmented bursts of horror that the two films are known for. There are moments that might even seem even darker because you expect it to be more of a kid-friendly show. Throw in some other examples of unexpected splatter, violence, and mean-spiritedness that really earns this series the Gremlins name. With that said, it’s still a perfectly good watch for the whole family. It’s a tricky balance to get right – but Secrets of the Mogwai succeeds.
With gorgeous animation, bombastic sound design, and funny dialogue from a cast that also includes Sandra Oh, Randall Park, George Takei, Bowen Yang, and a new role for original franchise star Zach Galligan, it’s a great watch. Fans both old and new are sure to get a kick out of the show. Ultimately, it’s great having Gremlins back, and hopefully Secrets of the Mogwai is just the first step to a much larger anarchic comeback.
Fans can tune into Max where two new episodes of Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai will premiere every Thursday.