Skull Island anime release date, voice cast, synopsis, photos, and more

From Legendary Television and Powerhouse Studios comes a Skull Island anime series on Netflix! Netflix first announced the new addition to Legendary’s Monsterverse during Geeked Week 2022, and now, about a year later, Skull Island is almost here!

The new series comes from executive producers Brian Duffield and Jacob Robinson. Duffield will write along with executive produce. He previously worked on the screenplay for the Kristen Stewart-led thriller Underwater (2020), and he also wrote the script for the Netflix slasher film The Babysitter (2017) starring Samara Weaving. Robinson will produce under his company, Tractor Pants.

Skull Island is a co-production between Legendary Television with Netflix Animation, Powerhouse Animation, and Tractor Pants Productions. Legendary has previously collaborated with Netflix on projects like Lost in Space, Love, and Pacific Rim: The Black. Next, Legendary will work with Netflix Animation again in co-production with dj2 Entertainment and Square Enix to create a Tomb Raider anime series.

Skull Island release date

We don’t have to wait too much longer for the anime to debut! Skull Island is coming to Netflix on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

How many episodes is Skull Island?

Netflix has not said how many episodes will be in the anime series just yet. Other anime based on big franchises on Netflix have had anywhere from six to ten episodes, so it will probably be somewhere in there.

What is the Skull Island anime about?

From Netflix, Skull Island is “a thrilling animated adventure series, follow[ing] shipwrecked characters desperate to escape the most dangerous place on Earth—a mysterious island home to prehistoric monsters, including the greatest Titan of them all, Kong.”

The plot sounds somewhat similar to the 2017 movie starring Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson. The film took place in 1973, so it looks like the anime will be more current and allow viewers to see what’s happening on the island since we last saw it.

Here’s what the official tweet announcing the series reads:

Is the Skull Island anime connected to Kong: Skull Island?

So far, it does not look like the two properties are related, although I would be surprised if there weren’t a few references or easter eggs in the anime hinting toward the 2017 movie. We do not even know what time period this show is set in, so it’s hard to say how connected they could possibly be.

It should be noted that the name “Skull Island” did not originate in the 2017 film. Skull Island has been referred to in all sorts of King Kong-based media, first appearing in the 1933 film and even in Kong: The Animated Series.

However, the anime is coming from Legendary Television, the same entertainment company behind Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla (2014), and Godzilla vs. Kong, so it’s likely that the anime takes place in the same universe.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the “anime Skull Island series follows the 2017 feature Kong: Skull Island that reintroduced the world to King Kong,” seemingly indicating the two projects are set within the same continuity.

Skull Island anime voice cast

On May 23, 2023, Netflix revealed lots of new information on the new series, including the voice cast!

Several Netflix regulars have joined the series, like Dragons Rescue Riders alum Nicolas Cantu and Never Have I Ever‘s swoonworthy heartthrob Darren Barnett. GLOW star Betty Gilpin has also been cast alongside Good Girls actress Mae Whitman. You might also recognize the voice of Benjamin Bratt, known for his recent turn as Cliff in the acclaimed Peacock series Poker Face.

Here’s who is voicing who:

• Nicolas Cantu as Charlie
• Mae Whitman as Annie
• Darren Barnett as Mike
• Benjamin Bratt as Cap
• Betty Gilpin as Irene

First images from the Skull Island anime

Netflix released the first official image for the upcoming Skull Island anime! The photo doesn’t show us much, apart from two giant footprints we can safely assume come from King Kong and a group of people inspecting the print left behind. Still, I don’t know about you, but I’m excited! It looks like Kong was just taking a leisurely stroll along the beachfront.

On May 23, Netflix shared additional new photos from the anime, giving us a first look at the characters, some of the island’s many dangerous creatures, and King Kong himself.

Skull Island anime trailer

Check out the first teaser for the anime below:

Netflix already has a page for the anime set up on the official website. You can go ahead and set a reminder on your account so you get notified when the anime is released.

Stay tuned to Netflix Life for more information on the Skull Island anime series.