There are few things in life more exciting than discovering an incredible new anime series that you can binge watch on your favorite streaming service, and we here at Nerdist may have just found it. Neo Yokio is a Korean, Japanese, and American co-production coming from Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend fame, writer/executive producer Nick Weidenfeld, and made by Japanese animation studios Production IG and Studio Deen along with MOI in Seoul, Korea.
Starring an eclectic voice cast lead by Jaden Smith, alongside Desus & Mero, Susan Sarandon, Jude Law, Tavi Gevinson, and Jason Schwartzman, the creators call Neo Yokio “a postmodern collage of homages to classic anime, English literature and modern New York fashion and culture.” It looks weird and wonderful as hell!
This trailer showcases the incredible storyboard talents of Kazuhiro Furuhashi (Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Hunter x Hunter, Rurouni Kenshin) and Junji Nishimura (Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura, Pro Golfer Saru), introducing us to the wild world of Neo Yokio, described as “a diverse labyrinth of cultural and architectural innovation at the forefront of global fashion and finance.” But all that doesn’t really matter to Jaden Smith’s Kaz Kaan. He’s a lovesick Magistocrat who once saved the entire city, but his demon-slaying is now merely a side hustle and he’s more concerned with shopping, field hockey, and—of cours—-mending his broken heart.
Other recurring characters included at Kaz’s side are his faithful mecha-butler Charles, played by Jude Law, and his inseparable friends Lexy and Gottlieb, voiced by the incomparable The Kid Mero and Desus Nice. These compatriots aid Kaz as he navigates the complexities of life in Neo Yokio and tries to stay one step ahead of his arch-rival, the city’s number one most eligible bachelor, Arcangelo Corelli, voiced by Jason Schwartzman.
Things take a mysterious turn when Kaz is drawn into the turbulent world of ex-fashion blogger Helena St. Tessero, played by real life fashion blogger turned journalist, Tavi Gevinson. That sets in motion a sequence of events that force him to question everything he knows about Neo Yokio.
The first six episodes of this NSFW anime will be hitting our screens on September and we can’t wait! Will you be checking out this bizarre and brilliant looking new series? Let us know in the comments!
Need more anime?
- Someone gave SpongeBob an anime makeover.
- Here’s our review of In This Corner of the World.
- We also have a bunch of details on the live-action One Piece adaptation.
Images: Netflix
