Hispanics/Latinx are the largest ethnic minority group in the USA, so it’s a shame they have such a limited influence on American culture. Pixar’s Coco proved that Mexican legends could attract international audiences. Contrary to what New York publishers may think, fantasy doesn’t need to have Celtic or Norse roots to attract fans. Netflix is out to prove a plucky Mesoamerican princess can hold an audience’s attention.
Nine Episodes on Netflix This Fall
Netflix is presenting the adventures of Maya and the Three, a TV mini-series about a heroic young princess. Maya is not only a royal young lady with more reckless courage than good sense, she is also the prophesized one. She embarks on a quest to find and recruit three legendary warriors to help save the world. As in Coco, almost all the characters are voiced by Hispanic actors.
Zoe Saldana, who is half Dominican and half Puerto Rican, voices Princess Maya. Saldana was Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy, Uhura in the Star Trek reboot, Becky in Vampires vs. the Bronx, and Neytiri in the Avatar franchise. She also played Anamaria in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. This Netflix mini-series can only add to her already impressive Geek Cred.
From the Creative Mind of Jorge Gutierrez
Maya wants more from life than being cooped up in the palace. Unfortunately for her, she’s the prophesied one. “There’s a word for people who always do heroic things.” “Heroes.” “Dead. The word is dead.” It ain’t easy being the subject of a prophesy, but it’s exciting.
Other voice actors in Maya and the Three include Gabriel Iglesias, Alfred Molina, Cheech Marin, and Isabela Merced. Also Hailey Hermida, Carlos Alazraqui, Eric Bauza, and Carolina Ravassa. Maya and the Three is written and directed by Jorge Gutierrez, the director/co-writer of the Golden Globe nominated The Book of Life.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
This looks pretty cool. I was kinda waiting for the sword to turn into a chainsaw though lol
If you watch on YouTube, the Next Up (at least for me) was half an hour of trailers for animated films (well, and Clifford, which I guess counts ’cause he’s CGI?) – two of them were *also* Hispanic/Latinx, by the looks – Encanto & Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon. So the influence is picking up!