Yesterday was a full moon, and a moonflower was born. Written by Dave Polsky of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and directed by Allison Craig, Hanazuki: Full of Treasures takes you to a “far-off moon galaxy full of treasures, surprises, emotions, and a colorful cast of friends at the heart of it all.”
Our protagonist, Hanazuki, is a young moonflower who has to save her moon from mysterious dark forces with treasures given to her by a sleepy moon child known as Little Dreamer. With her friends, a colorful set of bunny-like creatures named Hemkas, a moonflower from a different moon, the aloof Sleepy Unicorn, and others, she learns more about how her emotions that empower her moonflower abilities.
The series combines a colorful and neon joy with an unexpected dark side that sometimes almost feels like Alice in Wonderland. Each episode is only about 11 minutes long, so it’s a quick watch. I was intrigued from the very first episode. Every character’s personality (each Hemka is referred to by their color) is so distinct and the adorable designs (talking mountains, floating mouths, chicken plants) made me curious to learn more about the world–er, moon.
The original creators of Hanazuki are Amsterdam artists Niko Stumpo and Hanneke Metselaar, who state, “It’s been incredible to see Hasbro evolve the HANAZUKI brand into so much more through vibrant storytelling, toys, and beyond.”
Hasbro will continue promoting Hanazuki with an app in April, and toy lines later in the year. I definitely can’t wait to pick up a plush version of my favorite Hemkas (blue and pink). Senior vice president of Hasbro Brands Samantha Lomow says:
In working closely with Niko and Hanneke, we were inspired by the spirit of Hanazuki and identified her as a strong, multidimensional and relatable heroine. Within her effervescent world, we’ve developed a unique story that encourages audiences to embrace their ever-changing emotions and celebrate them in a uniquely empowering way. We know audiences will fall in love with Hanazuki and her magical and eccentric world.
Hanazuki: Full of Treasures premiered yesterday to line up with the full moon, and you can watch the first 9 episodes on Youtube in a number of different languages. The full season consists of 27 episodes that will be released according to full moons!
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Published: Jan 13, 2017 01:53 pm