Let me start by just stating: I know next to nothing about Aquaman. I have little to no basic knowledge of his franchise or really what he does. (Protect the ocean, I think?) Even with a lifelong love of superheroes, I can’t say I know much of anything about the guy or anyone associated with his nautical setting. That shortly changed after HBO Max quietly dropped the animated trilogy Aquaman: King of Atlantis Pt. 1 on October 14th, 2021.
Aquaman: King of Atlantis is a fast-paced, colorful animated delight that introduces its viewers to Arther Curry (Cooper Andrews) who’s having trouble with pleasing the Atlantean people and the growing pains of becoming their king. He’s self-conscious and in constant competition with his brother, Ocean Master (Dana Snyder). But he isn’t alone. His loving yet sassy girlfriend Mera (Gillian Jacobs) and devoted advisor Vulko (Thomas Lennon) are here to help.
This cast goes unwasted. The bonds that unfold don’t just bring laughs but a sense of comradery that feels authentic and memorable. There is a clear history between all of them but it’s not spilled out all at once and with each passing installment we learn more and more about all of their dynamics.
The voice acting isn’t the only playful element of King of Atlantis, the animation style is noticeably… different. DC’s animated world has been dominated by Bruce Timm’s influential style since the 90s and that isn’t a bad thing. If anything, it created a sense of quality and consistency that no other animation studio has. And that’s commemorable. However, I can’t help but be giddy at the change of pace. The animation is colorful, vibrant, exciting, exaggerated, and just a delight to watch. It’s cute and compliments the performances from the voice talent.
I think that’s what makes it such an easy and fun watch. It’s very laid back while embracing its Silver Age roots. There is no expectation of the audience to know every piece of Aquaman lore, but rather an encouraging invitation to explore what his world is capable of. I most definitely learned a lot more about Aquaman than I ever thought was possible. As far as the story goes, it’s not the usual cat and mouse game with Black Manta ether. Who knew Aquaman had more than one big bad?
But, it’s also disheartening to see little to no buzz around this weird little mini-series — only a handful of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Maybe a tweet or two every couple of days. It’s a real shame! I implore you, dear reader, to give the first 45 min. episode a chance. You’ll be hooked! I swear it! All 3 parts of Aquaman: King of Atlantis are available for streaming on HBO Max.
