Verflixte Flüche!

DreamWorks, a production company known for its iconic animated franchises like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and The Prince of Egypt, has released a new series called Curses!, which premieres on Apple TV+ today. The ten-episode first season follows siblings Pandora and Russ, along with their mother Sky, as they work together to stop a decade-old curse that haunts their family. The show is executive-produced by John Krasinski, a well-known comedian, actor, and director. The cast includes Lyric Lewis as Sky Vanderhoven, Andre Robinson as Russ, Gabrielle Nevaeh as Pandora, Rhys Darby, James Marsters, Robert Englund, Reid Scott, and legendary Rhea Perlman. Curse! Begins with a flashback to the family's history, beginning with the actions of their Great Great Great Grandfather Cornelius. Cornelius takes a treasure he wasn't supposed to, causing a curse that impacts every generation from his point on. Russ and Pandora, unaware of the curse, stumble upon the problem and their lives are forever changed. The curse takes the form of their stone father, Alex, who has been turned to stone as if he stared at Medusa for too long and paid the price. Curses! Is a heartwarming and scare-filled animated series that will appeal to both children and adults. Curses! Is a children's series that follows the Vanderhoven family as they attempt to stop a curse that has turned them into stone and restore their father to life. The series follows the Vanderhovens, their mother, and mystical helpers Stanley (Darby) and Larry (Marsters), who use the skull of a long-dead pirate to help them solve the problem. The series uses a formula similar to many children's series, with each episode focusing on a new problem the family must solve to move closer to solving the overarching issue. Unlike many children's series, Curses! Uses the formula to its advantage, creating an engaging story that keeps viewers engaged regardless of the packaging. The characters are interesting, especially non-human ones, giving the series a mix of Legend of the Hidden Temple and Indiana Jones vibes. The series is aimed at a younger audience, making it easily accessible to children. However, as an adult, the series did not feel tired and the characters were engaging. The creators of Curses! Have another hit on their hands, and the show is definitely working as they continue to explore the lore and legends behind the artifacts.

My kids and I are on our second watch. We watched it the first week of its release and finished it in two sittings. The trailer instantly caught our attention and we knew we would love it, and it did not disappoint our expectations. We are anxiously awaiting and desperately hoping for the second season. There's not many shows anymore that are good and stay good throughout and this rare gem captured us. From beginning to end and everything in between this show was an adventure and an absolute joy. We loved the animation and how different it was as well. I am lost count of how many times I googled if there is an update when season 2 will release and it hasn't even been a full year yet haha. Come on with it Apple TV!

So "adventure archaeology" has been a stapple of popular culture for decades. Usually it focuses on obtaining artifacts, unfortunately ignoring the realities of colonialism and its unlawful theft of culturally important items.

So what if there was a show inversing that, restoring what has been lost to its rightful owners?

A show like that, with nice cel-shaded CGI animation, emotionally mature writting, extensive research into various cultures and mythologies and with mix-race family representation?

Yeah, all of that. This first season has been a blast, and I cannot wait for the promised season 2.

Like the headline says. This is fantastic. Not sure where the lower rating comes from. The animation is simple, but effective. The voice acting is understated, but realistic ish. I wish I had a show like this when I was a kid. The not so great rating is probably some strange political thing I don't understand. This is great for kids and adults in my opinion. Scary, but it walks the line to not be too scary. Probably great Halloween fare for younger kids and adults too. The cast is pretty great as well. A very fun and also spooky show about making things right through some historical education.

I consumed this show in almost one sitting. Brilliantly done in all the ways. I cannot wait for another season!

It reminds me of Doctor Who (especially with Matt Smith as The Doctor), the Monkey Island games, and Indiana Jones -- plus a family that feels real. As a mother myself, I am so grateful to see multi-dimensional Sky as a character.

The show is asking us to consider (or perhaps reconsider) the appropriateness of museums and private individuals continuing to hold the cultural property of other societies. It's also asking us to consider what it would be like to live in a big, weird old house and have a friend with a small plane who can take you anywhere. And that's how you know it's a great show!