Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
A prequel set in 1920s Shanghai.
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is an American animated fantasy adventure horror comedy television series that serves as a prequel to the 1984 film Gremlins and its sequels. Set in 1920s Shanghai, the series follows 10-year-old Sam Wing as he meets Gizmo, a young Mogwai. The series was renewed for a second season ahead of its premiere.
Quick Facts
- Based on
- Gremlins, Chris Columbus
- Developer
- Tze Chun
- Music
- Sherri Chung
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 2
- Episodes
- 20
- Executive producers
- Steven Spielberg
- Darryl Frank
- Justin Falvey
- Sam Register
- Tze Chun
- Brendan Hay
- Producer
- Danielle Witz
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The story follows ten-year-old Sam Wing and his first encounter with the young Mogwai, Gizmo. With a teenage thief named Elle, they travel across China, facing spirits and monsters from folklore. Their goal is to reunite Gizmo with his family and find a hidden treasure, all while evading the industrialist Riley Greene and his expanding army of Gremlins. The show also reveals how the goddess Nuwa and her brother Fuxi created the Mogwai. The second season is set one year after the first.
Development
WarnerMedia greenlit the series for HBO Max on February 25, 2019, with Tze Chun writing and executive producing alongside Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Sam Register, and Brendan Hay. On July 1, 2019, the series received a 10-episode order under the title Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. Joe Dante, director of the original films, served as consulting producer as of February 2020. Howie Mandel did not reprise his role as Gizmo. On February 17, 2021, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season. The voice cast announced in February 2021 included Izaac Wang, Ming-Na Wen, B. D. Wong, James Hong, Matthew Rhys, and Gabrielle Green, with A.J. LoCascio voicing Gizmo. Additional cast announced in July 2022 included Zach Galligan, Sandra Oh, Randall Park, George Takei, and Bowen Yang. Animation was provided by Blue Spirit Productions and 88 Pictures. For season two, announced in July 2024, cast additions included John Glover, Michael Paul Chan, Ronny Chieng, Keith David, Will Forte, Kelly Hu, Simu Liu, and Jimmy O. Yang.
Release
The first episode premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 13, 2022. The 10-episode first season debuted on Max on May 23, 2023. It was slated to air on Cartoon Network's ACME Night block, but that block moved to Adult Swim in September 2023 before the airing occurred. In the United Kingdom, the series aired on CBBC, BBC Three, and BBC iPlayer on October 30, 2023. In Japan, it aired on Cartoon Network Japan on November 8, 2025. The first half of season two, subtitled The Wild Batch, was released on October 3, 2024; the second half followed on April 10, 2025.
Reception
The first season received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 21 critics, with an average rating of 8.4/10 and a consensus praising its blend of cuteness and mayhem. On Metacritic, it scored 78 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. The second season also earned a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 7 critics, with an average rating of 7.6/10. In 2024, the series was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Animated Television Series or Special, an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production (Leah Artwick for Never Give Up), and a Producers Guild Award for Outstanding Children's Program. In 2025, The Wild Batch received Saturn and Annie Award nominations, and two Children's and Family Emmy nominations for Outstanding Casting for an Animated Program (Agnes Kim and Sarah Noonan) and Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program (Sherri Chung).
More in Television Series by Warner Bros. Animation
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