Orion and the Dark Orion and the Dark

Netflix has shared a new trailer for its upcoming Charlie Kaufman-written Film Orion And The Dark, directed by Sean Charmatz (story artist, Spongebob Squarepants; head of story, The Angry Birds Movie 2) and animated by Dreamworks.

The first quarter of this new year offers very little in terms of original animated features, so audiences will likely be starved for kids’ and family content. Orion’s February 2 debut is likely to be a big one.

  • Based on the book of the same name by on the book by Emma Yarlett, this film is written by Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and directed by Sean Charmatz (story artist, Spongebob Squarepants; head of story, The Angry Birds Movie 2).
  • Netflix’s synopsis reads: “Orion seems a lot like your average elementary school kid –– shy, unassuming, harboring a secret crush. But underneath his seemingly normal exterior, Orion is a ball of adolescent anxiety, completely consumed by irrational fears of bees, dogs, the ocean, cell phone waves, murderous gutter clowns, and even falling off a cliff. But of all his fears, the thing he’s the most afraid of is what he confronts on a nightly basis: the dark. So, when the literal embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, Dark whisks Orion away on a roller coaster ride around the world to prove there is nothing to be afraid of in the night. As the unlikely pair grow closer, Orion must decide if he can learn to accept the unknown –– to stop letting fear control his life and finally embrace the joy of living.”
  • The film’s voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Angela Bassett, Colin Hanks, Natasia Demetriou, Golda Rosheuvel, Nat Faxon, Aparna Nancherla, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gugino, Matt Dellapina, Nick Kishiyama, Mia Akemi Brown, Shannon Chan-Kent, Jack Fisher, and Werner Herzog as the narrator.

For more insights into the production, make sure to check out our exclusive video interview with director Sean Charmatz, production designer Tim Lamb, and art director Christine Bian:

Latest News from Cartoon Brew