“Are you kidding? Because I invented humor, and I am not finding this funny.” -Nuwa
If you were ever wondering about the Mogwai, especially after the 1984 Gremlins and 1990 sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is a must-watch. The computer-animated adventure comedy serves as a direct prequel to the live-action films and answers some of the mysteries surrounding the Mogwai.
Set in Shanghai in the 1920s, the show follows 10-year-old Sam Wing (Izaac Wang) after he meets the young Mogwai, Gizmo (A.J. Locascio). Sam’s grandpa (James Hong) has told him and his parents, Fong (Ming-Na Wen) and Hon (B.D. Wong), about the Mogwai, but they just think that Grandpa Wing is telling folkloric tales. However, when the rest of the family meets Gizmo and sees the other Mogwai, they realize that Grandpa Wing’s stories are more than that.
Of course, the Wing family is not the only one interested in the Mogwai. An evil sorcerer, Riley Greene (Matthew Rhys), has his eyes set on the Mogwai for his nefarious purposes, including getting to the Mogwai homeland. With the help of some henchman and using the streetwise teen Elle (Gabrielle Nevaeh Green), who needs to pay off a debt to the sorcerer, the Wing family and the Mogwai are in grave danger.
To save Gizmo and his family, Sam must team up with an unlikely ally and take a perilous journey through the Chinese countryside, encountering monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore. The quest to return Gizmo to his family is daunting, and escaping Greene’s clutches becomes more and more impossible as his power grows. Still, Sam will stop at nothing to save his family and friends and deliver Gizmo to his family.
Developed by Tze Chun, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is an entertaining series that is equal parts exciting and humorous. From the very first episode, the show captures your attention and builds upon the story of the Mogwai with great world-building. The legend behind the fictional creatures has been one that fans of the Gremlins franchise have likely thought about before, and the series delivers. Not only does it have its own lore that delves into the mystery of the Mogwai, but the show also incorporates various beings from Chinese folklore, which elevates the series to a different level. The weaving of Mogwai and traditional myths works perfectly in the series. In addition, it gives the series characters more to interact with and makes the adventures in Secrets of the Mogwai even more gripping.
Aside from the storytelling and world-building in the show, the characters are fun to watch, and the voice acting is pitch-perfect. Izaac Wang is great as the show’s protagonist, Sam. Wang delivers a voice performance that suits the character, and Wang easily conveys the gamut of emotions that Sam deals with throughout his journey in the series. Whether it’s joy, nervousness, anger or fear, Wang can easily represent each emotion, giving viewers a lively performance that will have you rooting for Sam throughout the series. In addition, Sam’s family gives us a Mulan reunion in the form of Ming-Na Wen, B.D. Wong and James Hong, and it’s marvellous. The trio never misses a beat, and their characters give Wen, Wong and Hong as Sam’s family gives Sam a tether in the series that always connects him to his home during his mission. It also grounds the fantasy in realism as Sam’s love for his family, and his promise to his grandfather keep him going, even during the toughest of trials.
Matthew Rhys and Gabrielle Nevaeh Green also do a great job opposite Wang’s Sam. Rhys as Riley Greene and Green as Elle contribute great performances, adding to the comedic beats of the series with ease. Last but certainly not least, A.J. Locascio is perfection as Gizmo. As a fan of the live-action franchise, it was a delight to hear Gizmo sounding just as he does in the films. It adds to the creature’s cuteness, and Locascio does tremendous work in conveying the Mogwai’s emotions through the multitude of sounds in differing cadences that Gizmo makes.
The show’s animation is extremely well-done in conjunction with the vibrant voice acting. While everything from the buildings, landscapes, and magic looks brilliant, the animators’ ability to capture the emotion on the characters’ faces, including the Mogwai and Gremlins, really stands out. It adds to the lifelikeness of the animation and will retain a captivated audience throughout the episodes.
There is much to love about this series, and I look forward to its next chapter. It’s cute, comedic, heartfelt, adventure-filled fun for the entire family. Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is an exceptionally made animated series that will delight animation fans and fans of the Gremlins franchise alike.
Muses of Media 
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