Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai

 

Gizmo hides from the sunlight

The cult classic film Gremlins (dir. Joe Dante) took the box office by storm in 1984 when it brought in over $100 million nationally. Audiences everywhere fell in love with the fuzzy titular character, Gizmo, quickly collecting keychains, cups, board games, shirts, lunchboxes, toys and anything this lovable little creature adorned. The effect this had on fans in the 80s might be comparable to today’s Baby Yoda frenzy. As such, it’s no wonder why the film and its characters are still beloved by audiences four decades later.

 As a huge fan of the film myself, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to watch the first season of the brand new animated prequel series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai ahead of its release. The series effectively combines laugh out loud humor with startling imagery and creepy atmospheres, akin to the charm of the 1984 film. The Max original series, set in 1920s Shanghai, introduces the magical origin story of Sam Wing (Izaac Wang), the dedicated young son of medicine shop owners Hon (BD Wong) and Fon Wing (Ming-na Wen), and his new pal Gizmo the Mogwai. When Sam’s grandfather (James Hong) encourages Sam to be more like him, daring and adventurous, the two stumble upon the arrival of a new circus in town run by a group of men conning their audience into believing they have many rare and magical creatures on display. As their main attraction, the ringleader introduces Gizmo, pawning him off as a “singing and chanting cat-dog.” What starts as an afternoon of routine ingredient shopping quickly turns into a rescue mission as grandpa soon realizes this is no regular animal; this is a legendary Mogwai, an incredibly rare and hidden species. 

10/10 would die for him

Thrust into an unlikely alliance with local pickpocket, Elle (Gabrielle Nevaeh), Sam embarks on a chaotic journey across 10 22-minute episodes in an attempt to save Gizmo and return him to his mystical family. Elle’s former evil boss, Riley Greene (Matthew Rhys), proves himself a ruthless and downright ghoulish villain, unrelenting in his pursuit of Gizmo for his own selfish desires. In Grandpa’s own words: “Everyone who is aware of a Mogwai wants a Mogwai.” Packed with adventure, laughs, and a lovable cast, each episode hooks you in and doesn’t let go until the credits roll. Just as there is no shortage of obstacles for our heroes to brave - zombies, memory wiping tea, and shapeshifters are only the tip of the iceberg - there is also no shortage of gremlins. The animation style makes each frame simply stunning to look at, and Gizmo’s character will be making you say “awww!” every time he speaks, breaths, or makes any movement of any kind for that matter.

 While the show may not be quite suitable for very young children due to some scary imagery and violent scenes, I am certain it will be a treat for fans of all ages, whether you are familiar with the original film or brand new to the story. The first two episodes of Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai will be available to stream beginning May 23 with the launch of HBO and Discovery’s brand new streaming service Max. The series is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation.

You can view the official teaser trailer here.

Official promotional poster for Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai