Seis Manos - Season 1 Review

What do you get when you mix Mexican-Christian Mythology and kung fu into a grind house ascetic?

One of the best animated seasons of television ever.

Let’s discuss.

Seis Manos is an action/horror animated television series brought to us by creators Brad Graeber and Alvaro Rodriguez. These guys are a one-two punch of creatives. You’ll recognize Graeber as the Executive Producer of many Netflix anime/animation shows including Blood of Zeus and Castlevania. Rodriguez is mainly known for his writing on Machete and one of my favorite Netflix originals, From Dusk till Dawn: the series. I went into the show blind without doing any research. I ran into the Omicron variant at the grocery store, so the last couple of weeks have been a not so fun time being bedridden.

But, you know me.

There’s always a positive.

I spent the entire time getting caught up on new anime and adult animation shows.

Which leads us to the topic at hand.

The show focuses on the fictional town of San Simon in 1970’s Mexico. The main protagonists are a trio of orphans who were taken in and trained by a mysterious kung fu master. When their mentor is brutally murdered and the town overrun with blood thirsty monsters, the trio must stand together with with the local police and a rogue FBI agent against the rising tide of evil. Will they succeed in their search for vengeance or will they sink beneath the hellish waves? Find out tonight on Seis Manos!

This show looks fantastic.

There, I said it.

Not only is the animation crisp, the fight scenes clear and defined, but they’ve but a grain to it to give it a 70’s grind house look. There’s even cigarette burns in the corners of the screen when a scene transition is upcoming. It’s fantastic production design that lends a lot of character to our point of view as the viewer. It also lends a kind of risk to each episode. Just as the characters reach a terrifying reveal, the film begins to stutter and we worry it may burn up. At least you do if you are old like me and remember watching movies on a film projector. It’s such a simple idea that pays huge dividends.

It’s the little things.

That and an amazing voice cast. I don’t think people have caught on yet, but Mike Colter is an American Treasure. This guy can do it all. He’s the perfect Luke Cage. He has a hit TV show called Evil where he plays a badass priest. He’s been a fantastic villain in Black and Blue and even lent his golden pipes to narrating Tiny Creatures.

All that said…

He steals this entire series with his portrayal of Brister. His Action-Jackson take on the 70’s cop character is fantastic. I didn’t even recognize his voice here. I thought it was Michael Jai White (also a flipping underrated legend) reprising his Black Dynamite persona. Colter is simultaneously the comic relief as well as the emotional center of the series. He provides many laugh out loud moments, but he’s also the objective observer in the cast. He has no emotional ties to the town despite his friendships, so when his character gives reactions to the events occurring, he grounds the volatile emotions of his compatriots. It’s something that oftentimes is attempted in animated series and films, but not a frequent success. It’s a credit to the vocal direction and to the performers.

Also, Mike Colter is a certified legend.

That’s not to say the rest of the voice cast is a bunch slouches.

Far from it.

If you haven’t heard of Aislinn Derbez, you will shortly. She’s one of the most beautiful women in modern Mexico. She’s also got the acting chops to match her stunning visage. I’m amazed she does voice acting with the amount of modeling gigs she probably gets offered, but that’s a credit to her as a working actor. She shines as the lead protagonist Isabella. She’s the powerful, fist pounding heart of the orphan family. She is the emotional center of the show and her performance hit you in the chest like a ton of bricks. She really gives life to the role. If you’d like to look into this amazing actress she can be heard in the fun new Netflix animated film Back to the Outback and seen in La Casa de Las Flores also on Netflix.

Also, her and Mike Colter should have babies. They’d be gods among men.

But I digress.

Joining our standout stars in animated form is the omnipresent king of the Robert Rodiguezverse, Danny Trejo. As always, this real life teddybear is playing the villain, El Balde. And like always, he’s a fantastic foil. I don’t know what more can be said about this guy. He’s just the best. Anytime I see or hear him in a project I smile. He’s the Mexican Buck Flower.

And then there’s…

The Man

The Myth

The Voice Acting Legend—Vic Chao.

Most won’t recognize the name, but will recognize the voice. He’s one of those “That Guy!” actors who appears on screen and in voice work in various television shows, movies, and prolifically in video games. He’s the voice of half the roster of the recent Mortal Kombat games, most notably being featured as the voice of Goro in both games and movies. He’s the voice of many characters in one of my favorite games of all-time, Sleeping Dogs. He’s the voice of many NPCs in multiple expansions of World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy VII remake, and Ghosts of Tsushima. In this he plays the dual roles of the Kung Fu Master and his twin brother. Although the voice is essentially the same, it’s the masterful intonation given by Chao that provides the subtle hints to the motivations of both.

Just watch this show.

Season 2 has been greenlit according to recent advertisements online. So, it’s not a one-hit wonder.

Watch Seis Manos if you like 70’s grind house horror, kung fu, and great storytelling.

Seis Manos is streaming exclusively on Netflix.