Disney Channel is gearing up to release Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, a brand-new show coming early next year. During this year’s New York Comic Con, fans were treated to some special first looks at the show. Some of the cast and crew were on-site to discuss the series, some of their hopes, and more, including Diamond White (Lunella), Fred Tatasciore (Devil Dinosaur), Gary Anthony Williams (Pops), executive producer Steve Loter, supervising producer Rodney Clouden, and producer Pilar Flynn.
Based on the Marvel comics, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is an animated series that follows 13-year-old Lunella Lafayette, aka Moon Girl, a super-genius who teams up with her 10-ton dinosaur, Devil, to protect the Lower East Side from those who try to destroy it.
The panel kicked off with Loter sharing a little bit about the show’s origins. He shared that Laurence Fishburne found and fell in love with the comic and eventually brought it to the studio (and the rest is history). Some Moon Girl Magic followed shortly after as fans had the chance to watch the show’s main title sequence before it was released to the public. We also learned a little bit about how the creative team landed on the show’s stunning animation style.
The group then dived into the characters of the show, and the importance of community and family embedded throughout the series. White was especially proud of what Lunella brings to the screen as a teenaged Black hero who’s brilliant and a little weird (in a good way). Clouden added how White encapsulates Lunella, praising her talent as a multi-hyphenate. He also commended Tatasciore for the work he put in as Devil and said that Williams is “as smooth as his head.” (File that away as compliments to use to later.)
One of the most exciting things about Moon Girl is its diversity in many aspects, and Flynn dove into how the show brought that both on and off screen. Reflecting the real world and its diversity was important to her and the whole team. They want to be inclusive and authentic. Flynn shared that the writers’ room are all women, and all of the show’s directors thus far are all women. She was also sure to note that she and the rest of the creative team strove to be as collaborative as possible.
Music will be an integral part of the series, and with executive music producer Raphael Saadiq on board, Loter knew there was no one better. And, to fans’ surprise, Saadiq was in the building and joined the panel. He gave a little insight on his process. He was ready to take on the challenge Moon Girl brought and cited it as the most fun project to score.
As the panel wrapped up, Loter dropped the news that the series was officially greenlit for a second season, and fans got to see the first two minutes of the premiere episode. Moon Girl Magic indeed.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur premieres on February 10 on Disney Channel, following shortly after on Disney+. Stay tuned for our roundtable interviews with the cast and creative team closer to release day.
