Tony DiTerlizzi’s imaginative middle grade series WondLa is leaping from page to screen in an animated adaptation premiering June 28 on Apple TV+. Produced by Apple and Skydance Animation, the show brings to life the fantastical world introduced in The Search for WondLa, first published in 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
The story centers on Eva Nine, a young girl raised in an underground sanctuary by a robot caretaker named Muthr. When their bunker is destroyed, Eva is forced to surface—and is shocked to discover that no other humans remain. Her quest to find her place in the world leads her on a perilous and transformative journey.
This seven-episode first season boasts a strong creative team. DiTerlizzi joins as executive producer, alongside showrunner Bobs Gannaway and others including Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, Julie Kane-Ritsch, and Skydance veterans John Lasseter, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg. The head writers include Gannaway, Bob Snow, and Christian Magalhaes.
Voicing the characters are Jeanine Mason as Eva, Teri Hatcher as Muthr, Brad Garrett as Otto, Gary Anthony Williams as Rovender, Chiké Okonkwo as Besteel, D.C. Douglas as Omnipod, and Alan Tudyk as Cadmus Pryde.
The road to adaptation has been a long one. Paramount originally acquired the rights in 2011, intending to make a live-action film, but the project stalled. Years later, Skydance Animation reached out with a new idea—an animated series. DiTerlizzi, who hadn’t considered animation as a format, was intrigued.
Gannaway, with credits on Inside Out and 101 Dalmatians: The Series, came on board and embraced the scope of the story. “This was the most ambitious project I’ve ever worked on,” he said. “We had to build new environments and characters constantly. Every detail—from costume textures to color palettes—was carefully crafted.”
For DiTerlizzi, whose work on The Spiderwick Chronicles has previously been adapted for screen, this project has been a more collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience. “I was actively involved, attending meetings via Zoom and traveling to L.A. over four years,” he said. “Getting to hear Jeanine Mason voice Eva was unforgettable—she captured every emotion perfectly, making Eva both lovable and complex.”
DiTerlizzi draws inspiration from classic animation legends like Disney, Don Bluth, and Hayao Miyazaki. “What I’ve always admired in animated films is their appeal to both children and adults. That’s the audience I write for, and it’s the audience this show hopes to reach.”
With three seasons already greenlit, WondLa is positioned to become a major offering in Apple TV+’s animation lineup. DiTerlizzi hopes the series will resonate with families. “More than anything, I hope it creates a shared experience,” he said. “At its core, WondLa is about connection—something we all need. Whether through books or animation, that’s the thread I always want to follow.”
