REVIEW: ‘Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai’ Is Perfect

Serving as a prequel to the iconic Gremlins films, Gremlins: Shadow of the Mogwai takes viewers back to 1920s Shanghai, unveiling how a young Mr. Wing (the shopkeeper from the original movies) first met the mysterious Mogwai called Gizmo. The series follows Sam Wing as he protects and grows close to Gizmo while he attempts to take his Mogwai friend back to the Valley of Jade. But things are harder than what they seem after some of the Mogwai eat after midnight and become minions of the evil Mr. Green. Sam and his new friend travel through China, explore folklore, and try to save the world.

The series comes from Showrunner Tze Chun, and is written by Chun, Peter Chen, Anna Christopher, Brendan Hay, and Sarah Nerboso. From Amblin Entertainment and Warner Brothers, the series also carries the seal of approval from creators Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg. Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is gorgeously animated. A mixture of illustrative techniques and 3D renderings, the aesthetic is unique and emotive in equal measure. But the true beauty of the series comes from the interactions between the mortal realm, the spirit realm, and everything that exists in the magic of the Mogwai. This is particularly clear in the last half of the season. This expands as each of the Mogwai develops a distinct personality.

It’s clear that everyone involved in Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is in love with Gremlins as a franchise. From Gizmo to the more intricate elements of chaos and care in the series. Audiences get the chance to see this love of the Mogwai at the start of the latter half of the season when we explore the Mogwai origin and history and how humans have impacted their lives.

Working the Mogwai into a larger mythology pays off wonderfully, not just by connecting the creatures to something larger, but by making them products of humanity as much as the destructive creatures we know. Getting context for the Mogwai rules and their existence isn’t just lip service, it all has meaning.

While Mogwai lore expands in the series, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai blends in Chinese folklore and mythology all while contributing to a decades-old IP. It’s a combination that makes the series special and highlights the beauty and depth of folklore outside of the usual Eurocentric subjects. The Mogwai blends effortlessly into a larger mythology of spirits and monsters as if it had always belonged. While the series is a prequel to Joe Dante’s films, it’s also a gorgeous exploration of a larger world in which the Gremlins themselves fit. When watched before the films, it adds a fantastic context that empowers the franchise even more.

But the folklore and Mogwai lore colliding aren’t all that Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai offers. It also gives young audiences an exploration of grief and resiliency in a way that speaks across the generations who will tune in. The series manages to be completely all-ages by showcasing growth and dynamic arcs for Elle, Sam, and even Gizmo.

Each character gets to explore complex themes like loneliness and family in a language and visual representation easy for young audiences to digest. That said, the added elements of chaotic scaled Mogwai and their love of eating fingers and wreaking havoc allow an equally adult dynamic to take hold.

Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is adorable, hilarious, and offers an entry point for a new generation. It is rare that an addition to a franchise stakes its own claim to the lore and makes something larger than the original. For those who fell in love with the Mogwai decades ago and for those just learning the rules, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is perfect.

Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is streaming on HBO Max May 23, 2023.