“Bass Ex Machina,” an animated steampunk western that holds a 100% positive critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has premiered on Netflix.
The series is inspired by the story of Bass Reeves, one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals, but transports the hero to an alternate version of the Wild West. Here, the bounty hunter with a mechanical arm confronts not only outlaws, but also robots and supernatural creatures.
The main character is voiced by Brian Tyree Henry, who also serves as an executive producer. The actor previously told Polygon that he was drawn to Netflix’s willingness to experiment with animation:
“I’ve rewatched ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ four or five times. I try to make what I want to watch… I love the way Netflix animation is leaning into being open and experimental. They’re not afraid to take chances on stories that aren’t considered mainstream. They’re willing to experiment and try new things because there’s a huge audience for it, and I’m part of that audience.”
The series was created by LeSean Thomas, known for “Yasuke” and “Cannon Busters.” Animation was handled by South Korea’s Studio Mir, whose portfolio includes “X-Men ’97” and “Devil May Cry.”