Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1493292
D E PA R T M E N T 23 KEYFRAME WHEN IT COMES TO SCIENCE FICTION ANIMATION TODAY, RELATABILITY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS DREAMING UP NEW FRONTIERS. The future is here. OK, it's also out there where it's always been. Way out there in uncharted galaxies where colonies and alien life forms are waiting to be discovered as quickly and imaginatively as animation writers and artists are able to dream them into reality. When it comes to animation in the science fiction genre, the menu is limitless. With the explosion of streaming services, the ever-burgeoning influence of anime, and the proliferation of animation for adult audiences, creators of animated TV series are finding innovative ways to develop new characters, build new worlds, and tell new stories—all in ways that resonate with audiences in 2023. That last part is essential. The mark of any great sci-fi is its ability to tap into something recognizable or something that could be here soon. It's not just about manifesting the most terrifying alien or the most gadget-stuffed robot. Often, the shows are mashups, using a mix of science fiction and more traditional genres to create a sense of the familiar and new at the same time. No matter how ingenious the situation, viewers can connect with elements like relatable characters, social commentary, and the universality of humor. CAN YOU RELATE? My Dad the Bounty Hunter These days, the heroes of science fiction aren't always the progeny of legends or royalty fated to complete some timeless intergalactic quest. They can be an ordi- nary Joe who happens to stumble into an other-worldly situation. In dreaming up the idea for My Dad the Bounty Hunter, Co-creators Patrick Harpin and Everett Downing bonded over their shared love of what they call "blue collar sci-fi." "For me, it's the guys from John Carpenter's films. It's not some high-level scientist. It's a regular dude who lives on the margins," says Harpin. "I'm from Maine, and Stephen King is the greatest of all time at putting regular people in extraordinary situations." In My Dad the Bounty Hunter, dad Terry and mom Tess are separated. Siblings Sean and Lisa are set to spend the weekend at their dad's place when he is unexpectedly called away to work. My Dad the Bounty Hunter images courtesy of Netflix, Inc. this page: My Dad the Bounty Hunter may take place in outer space, but family relationships are at the heart of its storylines. SPRING 2023 23