Children and adults alike can prepare themselves to fall in love with Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
The animated series follows a 13-year-old supergenius, Lunella Lafayette, on a mission to keep New York City’s Lower East Side away from danger alongside her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur.
The idea to take the Marvel comic and turn it into a television series was brought forth by Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions and for Sasheer Zamata, who portrays Moon Girl’s mother, Adria, the show is centered around family.
“They live in the lower east side and this family runs a roller rink and Andria is so committed to making sure the lower east side stays authentic and pure and so she’s always making these community outreach programs and these block parties and just trying to keep it fun all the time,” Zamata shared during a panel at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans. “She loves Lunella and how smart she is and how adventurous she is and she’s always making playlists for her.”
"it's just like a nice way to see a Black family work together and enjoy each other and spread love in their community," Zamata added.
It was also announced that three-time GRAMMY Award winner Raphael Saadiq has been tapped as the executive music producer for Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
“I am proud to be working with Disney Branded Television on this groundbreaking new series featuring a female African American Marvel Super Hero, who is smart, funny, compassionate and a born leader,” said Saadiq in an exclusive clip shared during the discussion.
"I look forward to helping the creative team bring the show to life through music," Saadiq said.
Moon Girl/Lunella is voiced by Diamond White who also provides vocals for the theme song and additional songs throughout the animated series. She says one of the major themes of the show that stands out to her the most is that “girls can be smart.”
I have this mantra that I say to myself that goes, “One girl can make a difference,” said White. “One girl can make a change.”
The series is something that Zamata wishes she had growing up, but is happy that others get to experience.
“I was so excited to be asked to be a part of this. just the idea of a black girl superhero is so thrilling, I would’ve loved that when I was younger,” she explained. “I loved superhero cartoons, I loved Batman, I loved [the] X-Men. I watched so many things and just to know that this exists, is amazing and I’m just so happy to be a part of it.”
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur will premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ in 2023.
