The Last Kids on Earth (TV series) explained

The Last Kids on Earth is a children's animated television series, based on the book series of the same name by Max Brallier, that premiered on Netflix on September 17, 2019, with an hour-long special. A ten-episode second season, or "Book 2", titled The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade, premiered on April 17, 2020.^[1] The third and final season, also known as "Book 3", was released on October 16, 2020. An interactive special, subtitled Happy Apocalypse to You, was released on April 6, 2021.^[2]

Voice cast and characters

Character	Voiced by	Appearances
		Book 1	Book 2	Book 3
Jack Sullivan	Nick Wolfhard	colspan="3"
Dirk Savage	Charles Demers	colspan="3"
June Del Toro	Montserrat Hernandez	colspan="3"
Quint Baker	Garland Whitt	colspan="3"
Rover	Brian Drummond	colspan="3"
Bardle	Mark Hamill		colspan="2"
Skaelka	Catherine O'Hara		colspan="2"
Thrull	Keith David
Chef	Bruce Campbell		colspan="2"
Rezzoch	Rosario Dawson

Main

• Nick Wolfhard as Jack Sullivan, a 12-year-old orphan and gamer turned hero thanks to the apocalypse.
• Charles Demers as Dirk Savage, a former school bully turned strongman and monster fighter on Jack's team. He likes cooking and gardening.
• Montserrat Hernandez as June Del Toro, a tomboyish 13-year-old girl who is Jack's crush but did not reciprocate his feelings, but starts to develop some in Book 2. She was trying to survive on her own until her parents come back for her with a rescue party; but she joins Jack's team and learns to have fun during the apocalypse. She was editor-in-chief of the school's paper.
• Garland Whitt as Quint Baker, Jack's nerdy best friend who invents most of the gadgets the kids use to survive in their post-apocalyptic environment.
• Brian Drummond as the vocal effects for Rover, a blue-furred canine-like monster who befriends Jack in Book 1 and becomes the team's pet and mascot.

Villains

• Keith David as Thrull, the main antagonist in Book 2 who poses as the kids' friend at first before betraying them and his fellow monsters in Book 2.
• Rosario Dawson as Rezzoch, the main antagonist of the series as revealed in Book 2, episode 2; has her first lines and first full appearance in Book 2, episode 8 before becoming a series regular as of the 9th and Book 2 finale episodes.

Supporting

• Mark Hamill as Bardle, a gruff monster conjurer that takes up residence in Joe's Pizza who, like June, has been investigating the most recent phenomena and paranormal events.^[3]
• Catherine O'Hara as Skaelka, a female monster warrior that takes up residence in Joe's Pizza and becomes a friend of June's.^[4]
• Bruce Campbell as Chef, a cranky Squid monster that takes up residence in Joe's Pizza.^[5]

Episodes

Special (2021)

Production

On September 26, 2017, it was announced that Thunderbird Entertainment's animation studio Atomic Cartoons had optioned the screen rights on Max Brallier's book series The Last Kids on Earth with the intention of producing an animated television series.^{[6] [7]}

On February 26, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order. Executive producers include Brallier, Scott Peterson, Jennifer McCarron, and Matthew Berkowitz. Brallier and Peterson are also expected to write the series as well. Production companies involved in the series include Thunderbird Entertainment's animation studio Atomic Cartoons.^{[8] [9]}

On March 13, 2019, the series cast was announced, including Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Catherine O'Hara, Keith David, Bruce Campbell, Garland Whitt, Montserrat Hernandez, Charles Demers, and Nick Wolfhard as the lead character Jack Sullivan.^[10]

It was initially reported that the series would be released on May 30, 2019,^{[11] [12]} but it instead premiered on September 17, 2019.^[13]

Merchandise

Jakks Pacific launched a toyline based on the series in early 2020.^[14] Outright Games published a video game tie-in The Last Kids on Earth and the Staff of Doom, for across consoles and PC in 2021.^[15] A graphic novel, subtitled Thrilling Tales from the Tree House, is currently released as of April 6, 2021.^[16]

Reception

The series received a mixed reception. Ashley Moulton of Common Sense Media reviewed the interactive special, "The Last Kids on Earth: Happy Apocalypse to You," describing it a "fun interactive episode" with scary scenes and cartoon violence. She stated that because of the special's format, some elements from the original series is lacking, but that the special is "very fun nonetheless."^[17]

Awards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Netflix Trailers 'The Last Kids on Earth' Season 2. Milligan. Mercedes. April 3, 2020. Animation Magazine. April 3, 2020. April 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200410202341/https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/netflix-trailers-the-last-kids-on-earth-season-2/. live.
2. News: The Last Kids on Earth: Happy Apocalypse to You. Netflix. 2020-03-11. March 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210324225344/https://www.netflix.com/title/81058723. live.
3. Web site: First Look: Mark Hamill and Rosario Dawson Have a Monster Good Time in The Last Kids on Earth. Oller. Jacob. April 15, 2020. Syfy Wire. Syfy. April 15, 2020. September 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908143008/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/mark-hamill-rosario-dawson-last-kids-on-earth-reveal. live.
4. Web site: Exclusive: 'The Last Kids on Earth' Season 2 Characters Revealed in First-Look Images. Trumbore. Dave. April 13, 2020. Collider. April 15, 2020. April 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200416152234/https://collider.com/last-kids-on-earth-netflix-season-2-cast-images-bruce-campbell-catherine-ohara/. live.
5. Web site: Here's the New Monster Being Voiced by Bruce Campbell in Netflix's "The Last Kids on Earth" [Image]]. Squires. John. April 14, 2020. Bloody Disgusting. April 15, 2020. April 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200416092029/https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3612967/heres-new-monster-voiced-bruce-campbell-netflixs-last-kids-earth-image/. live.
6. Web site: McLean. Tom. Atomic Brings 'The Last Kids on Earth' To TV. Animation World Network. February 28, 2018. en. September 26, 2017. February 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190209002346/https://www.awn.com/news/atomic-brings-last-kids-earth-tv. live.
7. Web site: Whyte. Alexandra. Atomic Cartoons options The Last Kids on Earth. Kidscreen. February 28, 2018. September 26, 2017. March 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180301224856/http://kidscreen.com/2017/09/26/atomic-cartoons-options-the-last-kids-on-earth/. live.
8. Web site: Petski. Denise. 'The Last Kids On Earth' Animated Comedy Series Based On Books Ordered By Netflix. Deadline Hollywood. February 28, 2018. February 28, 2018. March 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180301005133/https://deadline.com/2018/02/the-last-kids-on-earth-animated-comedy-series-based-books-netflix-1202305024/. live.
9. Web site: Vlessing. Etan. Netflix Orders Animated Series 'The Last Kids on Earth'. The Hollywood Reporter. February 28, 2018. en. February 28, 2018. March 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180301060634/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-orders-animated-series-last-kids-earth-1089632. live.
10. Web site: Ramos. Dino-Ray. 'The Last Kids On Earth': Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Catherine O'Hara and Others Set For Netflix Animated Series. Deadline. March 14, 2019. March 13, 2019. March 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190322033043/https://deadline.com/2019/03/the-last-kids-on-earth-netflix-mark-hamill-rosario-dawson-catherine-ohara-keith-david-bruce-campbell-garland-whitt-montse-hernandez-charles-demers-nick-wolfhard-1202574577/. dead.
11. News: Here's Everything Coming To Netflix In May And What To Watch. Kain. Erik. May 1, 2019. Forbes. May 15, 2019. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190515060752/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2019/05/01/heres-everything-coming-to-netflix-in-may-and-what-to-watch/. 2019-05-15.
12. News: Everything Streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon in May. Knight. Rosie. 2019-05-02. Nerdist. 2019-05-14. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190514182821/https://nerdist.com/article/everything-streaming-on-netflix-hulu-and-amazon-in-may/. 2019-05-14.
13. Web site: Vorel. Jim. Exclusive: Netflix to Unveil Its Animated Last Kids on Earth Zombie Comedy This September. Paste. August 20, 2019. August 20, 2019. August 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190820153627/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/08/last-kids-on-earth-netflix-premiere-date-review.html. live.
14. Web site: JAKKS Named Master Toy for 'Last Kids on Earth' from Atomic Cartoons, Cyber Group. Mercedes. Milligan. May 13, 2019. November 6, 2019. Animation Magazine. November 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191107021403/https://www.animationmagazine.net/licensing/jakks-named-master-toy-for-last-kids-on-earth-from-atomic-cartoons-cyber-group/. live.
15. Web site: Atomic Cartoons and Cyber Group Developing 'The Last Kids on Earth' Game. October 31, 2019. November 6, 2019. Animation World Network. November 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191105024135/https://www.awn.com/news/atomic-cartoons-and-cyber-group-developing-last-kids-earth-game. live.
16. Web site: First Look: 'Last Kids on Earth' Interactive Netflix Special, Graphic Novel in Works. March 25, 2021. March 25, 2021. Animation Magazine. March 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326013954/https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/first-look-last-kids-on-earth-interactive-netflix-special-graphic-novel-in-works/. live.
17. Web site: Moulton. Ashley. The Last Kids on Earth: Happy Apocalypse to You Review. Common Sense Media. October 5, 2021. April 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20211008220628/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-last-kids-on-earth-happy-apocalypse-to-you. October 8, 2021. live.
18. Web site: Daytime Emmy Awards: 'Dragon Prince,' 'Ask the Storybots' & 'Last Kids on Earth' Win Key Animation Categories for Netflix. July 27, 2020. July 28, 2020. Animation Magazine. September 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908111949/https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/daytime-emmy-awards-dragon-prince-ask-the-storybots-last-kids-on-earth-win-key-animation-categories-for-netflix/. live.