Netflix has announced its new animated film, The Witch Boy, directed by Minkyu Lee and featuring original music by HAIM. In the last year, Netflix has put a new focus on animated features, looking to continue competition with Disney+ and other streaming services. 2020 saw the release of a few animated Netflix originals, including The Willoughbys and Over the Moon. However, the company's upcoming slate includes animated projects from Richard Linklater and Guillermo del Toro, among others.
Netflix's newest collaborator Lee was nominated for an Academy Award for his short film Adam and Dog. He’s also worked on the Oscar winner Dear Basketball, as well as Winnie the Pooh, The Princess and the Frog, and other high-profile projects including Frozen and Big Hero 6.
Now, Netflix has announced Lee will direct The Witch Boy, a new animated musical based on Molly Knox Ostertag’s graphic novel series of the same name. According to the release, which also featured some visual development art, The Witch Boy follows Aster, a young boy who discovers he has witch powers -- despite the fact that in his world, only girls are born to be witches, while boys are meant to be shapeshifters. When a mysterious danger threatens his secret, magical community, Aster "must embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind himself, his powers, and everything that is magical." Lee said of the allegorical adventure:
It has been a life-long dream of mine to create an animated film that pushes the medium forward, both in content and form. The connection between this dream, my experiences, and Aster and Juniper's story is what draws me to this film every day. I am grateful to be creating this with the wonderful team at Netflix. My hope is that this film, by celebrating queerness and "otherness," will come to audiences around the world as something truly special.
In addition to a script from screenwriter Maria Melnik (American Gods), The Witch Boy will feature original music from HAIM. The band, composed of sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, recently released an original song for the animated movie The Croods: A New Age. They also contributed to the soundtrack for Trolls World Tour. However, this will be the first time the Grammy-nominated group pursues an undertaking such as a musical. The Witch Boy does not have a release date at this time.
The Witch Boy meets Netflix’s animation ambitions boldly. Collaborating with HAIM on the music suggests a specific tone, one that feels fresh and exciting for the realm of musicals. The subject matter, exploring gender identity and presentation, is also a fairly new direction for mainstream animated features and potentially heralds in a new era of inclusivity for the streamer and the medium. Teaming up with Lee is another indication Netflix is taking animation seriously, considering his impressive credentials. Hopefully, The Witch Boy becomes a success story for all involved in the project, as well as those who get to watch the exciting film at home.
Source: Netflix