Skull Island (article code)

{{Infobox television
|image=Skull Island series poster.jpg
|title=Skull Island
|genre=Action<br>Adventure<br>Science fiction
|format=2D Anime-style series
|creator=Brian Duffield
|director=Danny Araya<br>Julie Olson<br>Amanda Sitareh B.
|writer=Brian Duffield
|creative=
|starring=
|voices=Nicolas Cantu<br>Mae Whitman<br>Darren Barnet<br>Benjamin Bratt<br>Betty Gilpin
|composer=Joseph Trapanese<br>Jason Lazarus
|opentheme=
|theme_composer=
|seasons=1
|episodes=8
|list_episodes= 
|executive=Brad Graeber<br>Jen Chambers<br>Thomas Tull<br>Jacob Robinson<br>Brian Duffield
|producer=
|runtime=20–26 minutes
|company=[[Netflix Animation]]<br>[[Powerhouse Animation Studios|Powerhouse Animation]]<br>JP<br>Tractor Pants Productions (uncredited)<br>[[Legendary Entertainment|Legendary Television]]<br>Studio Mir (Animation studio)
|distributor=
|channel=[[Netflix]]
|picture=
|audio=
|original_release=
|premiere=[[June 22]], [[2023]]
|ended=present
|website= 
|imdb_id= 
}}
'''''Skull Island''''' is an American anime-influenced adventure television series developed by Brian Duffield for [[Netflix]]. It is the fifth installment and the first television series of the [[MonsterVerse]] franchise and a sequel to ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' (2017). The series was produced by [[Powerhouse Animation Studios|Powerhouse Animation]], JP and [[Legendary Entertainment|Legendary Television]], with Duffield and Jacob Robinson serving as showrunners, and features the voices of [[Nicolas Cantu]], [[Mae Whitman]], [[Darren Barnet]], [[Benjamin Bratt]] and [[Betty Gilpin]] as a group of shipwrecked characters who find themselves on Skull Island in the 1990s, where they encounter giant-sized prehistoric creatures, including the island's self-appointed guardian [[King Kong|Kong]].<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/netflix-legendary-television-skull-island-tomb-raider-anime-series-1234681149/|work=Deadline|title=Netflix And Legendary To Expand 'Skull Island' And 'Tomb Raider' Universes With New Anime Series|author=Ramos, Dino-Ray|date=January 27, 2021|accessdate=May 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="THR">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-skull-island-animated-series-voice-cast-revealed-1235498880/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Netflix's 'Skull Island' Animated Series Voice Cast Revealed|author=Vlessing, Etan|date= May 23, 2023|accessdate=May 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Deadline2">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/skull-island-netflix-series-voice-cast-premiere-date-teaser-trailer-1235377355/|work=Deadline|title='Skull Island': Netflix Series Sets Voice Cast, Premiere Date; Releases Teaser Trailer|author=Petski, Denise|date=May 23, 2023|accessdate=May 23, 2023}}</ref>

The series debuted on Netflix on June 22, 2023.<ref name="THR" /><ref name="Deadline2" /> It received generally positive reviews from critics.
==Premise==
In the 1990s, a group of well-meaning explorers venture out to sea to rescue Annie from the ocean. In doing so, they find themselves shipwrecked on the perilous Skull Island. Together, they fight to survive the dangers of the mysterious isle, which is home to large creatures and terrifying monsters, including [[King Kong|Kong]].<ref name="THR" /><ref name="Deadline2" />
==Voice cast==
*[[Nicolas Cantu]] as Charlie
*[[Mae Whitman]] as Annie
*[[Darren Barnet]] as Mike
*[[Benjamin Bratt]] as Cap
*[[Betty Gilpin]] as Irene
*[[Phil LaMarr]] as Sam
*[[Fryda Wolff]] as Island Girl
*[[Tania Gunadi]] as Islander
== Episodes ==
{| class="wikitable"
!<abbr>No.</abbr>
!Title
!Directed by
!Written by
!Original release date
|-
! rowspan="1" |1
| rowspan="1" |"Maritime Pilot"
|Danny Araya
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
! rowspan="1" |2
| rowspan="1" |"The Last Blank Space on the Map"
|Julie Olson<br>Amanda Sitareh B.
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
! rowspan="1" |3
| rowspan="1" |"What's Up, Croc?"
|Danny Araya
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
! rowspan="1" |4
| rowspan="1" |"Breakfast Fit for a Kong"
|Amanda Sitareh B.
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
! rowspan="1" |5
| rowspan="1" |"Doggone It"
|Danny Araya
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
! rowspan="1" |6
| rowspan="1" |"Terms of Endearment"
|Amanda Sitareh B.
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
! rowspan="1" |7
| rowspan="1" |"You're Not a King, You're Just a Stupid Animal"
|Danny Araya
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
! rowspan="1" |8
| rowspan="1" |"You'll Never Catch a Monkey That Way"
|Amanda Sitareh B.
|Brian Duffield
|June 22, 2023
|-
|}
==Production==
===Development===
By January 2021, a continuation of the MonsterVerse in the form of an anime television series was in development. Brian Duffield was hired to serve as writer, creator, executive producer, director, and showrunner for the show, while Jacob Robinson was hired to serve as an executive producer. The project is a joint-venture production between [[Legendary Entertainment|Legendary Television]], [[Powerhouse Animation Studios|Powerhouse Animation]], and Tractor Pants Productions and was produced with intent to release exclusively to Netflix.<ref name="Deadline" /><ref name="THR" /><ref name="Deadline2" />
===Casting===
By May 2023, the voice cast was announced with [[Nicolas Cantu]], [[Mae Whitman]], [[Darren Barnet]], [[Benjamin Bratt]], and [[Betty Gilpin]] serving in the primary roles.<ref name="THR" /><ref name="Deadline2" />
===Soundtrack===
{{Infobox album
|name=Skull Island (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)
|image=Skull Island (2023) (original soundtrack).jpg
|caption=
|released=[[June 23]], [[2023]]<ref name="Reporter">{{Cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/06/08/soundtrack-album-for-netflixs-skull-island-to-be-released/?fbclid=IwAR2RHkwa1eMDFq_rBSyDdHVmPC27CDNMcxRHXA5JFgPojYXpBwRC1oSgSnM_aem_th_AWn_STtiwtxdh0wR_RLF-80ZVgh2FT2MAg9Z5v1d9rYTIhSuwLg_m0nn_E-6dVC_sLE|title=Soundtrack Album for Netflix’s ‘Skull Island’ to Be Released|work=Film Music Reporter|date=8 June 2023}}</ref>
|recorded=
|genre=
|label=Milan Records
|runtime=
|artist=
|artist2=
|band=
|band2=
|before=
|after=
}}
'''''Skull Island (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)''''' is the soundtrack to the [[2023]] [[Netflix]] Original animated series ''Skull Island'', composed by Jason Lazarus and Joseph Trapanese. Milan Records released it digitally on June 23, 2023.
{{TOC}}
==Tracks{{R|Reporter}}==
#"Once Upon a Maritime"
#"Sea Beast"
#"The Depths Below"
#"Ashore"
#"Shipwrecked"
#"Big Croc, Bigger Monkey"
#"Cheeseburger"
#"Interview"
#"Breakfast"
#"Focal Point"
#"Baited"
#"Kong's Throne"
#"Air Whale"
#"Bamboo Cross"
#"Memories of Mom"
#"Gremlins, Reunions, and Apologies"
#"Skull"
#"Stargazing"
#"Massacre"
#"Mi Rey"
#"Kong in Pursuit"
#"Clash of the Titans"
#"Tentacles, Fists, and Fury"
#"Seafloor Struggle"
#"A Helping Hand"
#"Eye for an Eye"
#"Long Live the King"
#"An Unfamiliar Island"
==Release==
''Skull Island'' was released on Netflix on June 22, 2023.<ref name="THR" /><ref name="Deadline2" />
==Reception==
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 82% and an average score of 7.00/10 based on 17 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "A rousing if faintly recycled reincarnation of King Kong's latest cinematic foray, ''Skull Island'' succeeds in its aim of putting a more adult twist on Saturday morning cartoons of yore".<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id=skull_island |title=Skull Island |type=tv |season=1 |access-date=June 23, 2023}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 51 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite Metacritic |id=skull-island |type=tv |title=Skull Island (2023) Reviews|access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref>

Samantha Nelson of IGN gave 5 out of 10 stating that "''Skull Island'' tries to fuse ''Kong: Skull Island'' with Jonny Quest, but dull performances, weak writing, and retreads of fights from the film blunt the pulpy action".<ref name="IGNReview">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/skull-island-netflix-review |title=''Skull Island'' Review|work=IGN|access-date=June 23, 2023|last=Nelson|first=Samantha|date=June 23, 2023}}</ref> Joey Rambles of Cultured Vultures gave an 7.5 out of 10, writing: "With fun characters, gripping action, and splendid visuals, ''Skull Island'' is a highly energized rollercoaster ride that earns its hefty title as well as its place in the ''MonsterVerse''".<ref name="CulturedVulturesReview">{{cite web |url=https://www.Culturedvultures.com/skull-island-season-1-review |title=''Skull Island'' Season 1 REVIEW|work=Cultured Vultures|access-date=June 26, 2023|last=Rambles|first=Joey|date=June 26, 2023}}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=June 2023}}
==Gallery==
===Logos===
<gallery>
Skull Island new logo.png
SKULL ISLAND transparent.png
</gallery>
===Promotional images===
====Posters and banners====
<gallery>
Skull Island series poster.jpg
Skull Island series poster2.jpg
Skull Island banner textless 2023.jpg
</gallery>
====Merchandise====
<gallery>
Skull Island (2023) (original soundtrack).jpg
</gallery>
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
Skull Island (2023) - Teaser.webp
Skull Island (2023) Kong's serious face.jpg
Skull Island (2023) Annie - Screenshot.webp
Skull Island (2023) Irene and Cap screenshot.webp
</gallery>
==Videos==
<gallery>
Skull Island - Official Teaser - Netflix
Skull Island - Official Trailer - Netflix
</gallery>
==Trivia==
*Powerhouse Animation previously created the opening animation for the indie kaiju video game ''Dawn of the Monsters'' (2022).
**Brian Duffield written and executive produced the anime series alongside Jacob Robinson who executive produced under his company Tractor Pants. The animation studio behind Skull Island is Powerhouse Animation which is the company behind ''Castlevania'' and ''Blood of Zeus''.
*A Skullcrawler appears to bleed red when impaled by Kong in the seventh episode. This would seem to contradict ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' (2017) and ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'' (2021), where the creatures' blood was depicted as green.
*Episode 7 of Skull Island, "You're Not a King, You're Just a Stupid Animal," takes place sometime between ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' and the rest of the show.
*The show's Castilian Spanish dub is the only version whose credits do not change between episodes. As such, characters like Hiro are listed on every episode, despite him only appearing in two.
*''Skull Island'' is currently the only audiovisual entry in the Monsterverse to not feature Monarch. The only other Monsterverse media in which the organization does not appear is the short comic Godzilla: Fight or Flight.
**When asked about whether Monarch could appear in a future season of the series, showrunner Brian Duffield stated that he has no plans to include it.
*In a Twitter AMA, Brian Duffield expressed interest in pitting Kong against King Ghidorah, had he been given the rights to use other Titans.
*Mae Whitman, who voices Annie, previously voiced a character in the Godzilla: The Series episode "Shafted".
*Aside from returning monsters from the film, the series features new kaiju created for the show. However, Godzilla and related monsters do not appear due to legal reasons.
*While the episodes were produced in 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the backstories were produced in 2.39:1 aspect ratio.
*Fryda Wolf and Mae Whitman previously star together in the Disney Animation show: "The Owl House".
*This is the first television series in the ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' to be distributed by another television studio besides [[Warner Bros.]] since [[2017]] film ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' (which was distributed by [[Warner Bros.]]), In January 2021, a continuation of the MonsterVerse in the form of an anime television series was in development. Brian Duffield was hired to serve as writer, creator, executive producer, director, and showrunner for the show, while Jacob Robinson was hired to serve as an executive producer. The project is a joint-venture production between [[Legendary Entertainment|Legendary Television]], [[Powerhouse Animation Studios|Powerhouse Animation]], and Tractor Pants Productions and was produced with intent to release exclusively to Netflix, as [[Warner Bros.]] still owns the rights for the ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' franchise alongside [[Legendary Entertainment]].
**In addition to that, this series marks [[Joseph Trapanese]]'s second score in the ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' franchise, after [[2021]] [[HBO Max]]'s film ''[[8-Bit Christmas]]''.
**This is also the second non-Warner animated television series, since ''[[The Legend of Calamity Jane]]'' (1997-1998), which was co-produced by [[Canal+]], produced at Gangster Production, Contre Allée, distributed by ITEL and the production supervision, animation checks, copying and shipping, sound readings and titles were created at Warner Bros. Animation, many of the original members were involved with it, including Howard Schwartz and Ken Duer.
***Likewise, it is the another Netflix originals series to be produced by a Warner Bros. label after Lucifer (2016), Disjointed (2017), You (2018), Manifest (2018), Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018), The Kominsky Method (2018), Special (2019), It's Bruno! (2019), What/If (2019), Dolly Parton's Heartstrings (2019), Green Eggs and Ham (2019), AJ and the Queen (2020), 100 Humans (2020), Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020), Sweet Tooth (2021), Maid (2021), Keep Breathing (2022) and The Sandman (2022), both produced by Warner Bros. Television.
****Likewise, it is also the second Netflix originals series to be produced by a Warner Bros. label after ''[[Green Eggs and Ham]]'' (2019-2022), produced by Warner Bros. Animation.
****Thus, it is also the first animated television series to be made by Netflix instead of Warner Bros. Television. It was moved from Warner Bros. Television to Netflix sometime during distribution for unknown reasons.
**The series is unable to be released on [[Max]] (formerly as [[HBO Max]]) or in [[Adult Swim]].
***This is not even available on any digital stores or on DVD and Blu-ray by [[Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment]].
*This is the first ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' production who doesn't feature [[Monarch]].
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{WP|Skull Island (TV series)|Skull Island}}
* {{Netflix|81312426|Skull Island}}
* {{IMDb title|13929756}}
{{MonsterVerse}}
{{Netflix Originals}}
[[Category:Netflix]]
[[Category:Articles with Wikipedia content]]
[[Category:2020s television series]]
[[Category:Anime]]
[[Category:Online Shows]]
[[Category:Animated television series]]
[[Category:MonsterVerse]]
[[Category:Legendary Entertainment]]
[[Category:Non-Warner]]
[[Category:TV-14 rated shows]]