MECH CADETS Animated Series is a Global Hit on Netflix

MECH CADETS, an animated series based on the BOOM! Studios comic book series Mech Cadet Yu by writer Greg Pak and artist Takeshi Miyazawa, premiered on Netflix August 10th, and has since gone on to become a global phenomenon!

- The full series is available to stream now globally on Netflix.

- In its first week the series was ranked as the #7 most watched show worldwide on Netflix, with it taking the #5 position for the US and the #2 position for kid shows in the US.

- Set fifty years in the future after a terrifying alien species attacked our planet, teenager Stanford Yu works as a janitor at the Sky Corps Military Academy. But he’s only dreamed of one thing his entire life -- to pilot a Robo Mech, giant robots from outer-space who came to our aid. When he finally gets his shot, Stanford and his classmates must put aside all personal differences and work together as a team in order to defend humanity against a new invasion of aliens.

The animated series is based on the hit BOOM! Studios comic book series Mech Cadet Yu by writer Greg Pak, artist Takeshi Miyazawa, colorist Triona Farrell, and letterer Simon Bowland.

“We are thrilled to see how MECH CADETS has found its audience on Netflix this past week and how the story continues to resonate with people all over the world. The response has been incredibly rewarding and we have the fans to thank for this enormous achievement. The success of our show would not have been possible without the genius of our creators Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyasawa, our partners at Polygon Pictures Inc., Jane Lee, our brilliant supervising director Tohru Patrick Awa and showrunner Aaron Lam, our phenomenal writers and cast, as well as the amazing team at Netflix Animation. Our goal for this show has always been to spark inspiration in a new generation of animation and comic book fans, and ideally, encourage them to tell their own stories. We hope MECH CADETS will continue to do that for years to come.” said Mette Norkjaer, Vice President of Development & Co-Executive Producer of MECH CADETS.

A brand new comic book sequel by Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa meanwhile arrived just before the launch of the animated series and was quickly rushed back for a second printing after the debut of the show. MECH CADETS #1 is available now at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle. 

Be sure to catch up on the story with Mech Cadets Book One SC, collecting issues #1-#12 of the original series, on-sale everywhere books are sold now!

Mech Cadets Continues this August at BOOM! Studios

Ahead of the launch of the highly anticipated Netflix animated series, BOOM! Studios is thrilled to announce a brand new chapter in the hit mecha series, MECH CADETS by co-creators Greg Pak (Ronin Island) and Takeshi Miyazawa (Ms. Marvel), with colors by Ian Herring (Deadpool) and letters by Simon Bowland (Mech Cadet Yu)!

Stanford Yu, Olivia Park, Maya Sanchez, and Frank Olivetti are back in action a year after saving the world from the threat of a Sharg invasion. But how will the Sky Corps Central Command and the cadets themselves handle the fact that Mech Cadet Olivia Park, the teenaged pilot of the Suprarobo Hero Force 2, has become the most powerful person on the planet? Meanwhile, the threat of the Sharg takes on a whole new dimension with a shocking revelation that threatens everything our heroes know about their robos and themselves!

Greg Pak is a Korean American comic book writer and filmmaker best known for writing blockbuster comics like Planet Hulk and Darth Vader and acclaimed independent comics like Mech Cadet Yu and Ronin Island. In addition to his comics work, Pak is currently writing 35mm Love Letter, a memoir and guide to analog film photography. For more, please visit gregpak.com.

“The original Mech Cadet Yu series is one of my favorite of all the things I've ever written, so I'm beyond thrilled to be working with Tak on the next chapter in the Mech Cadets saga,” said Pak. “Tak's bringing all his magic to every page and every panel, with that special combination of incredible genre thrills, amazing humor, and fantastic emotional subtlety. And all of our characters are a bit older and the world has gotten a bit more complex, with some shocking twists and challenges. I'm biased, of course, but it feels vital and real and just as fun as ever, and I can't wait for y'all to see it!”

Takeshi Miyazawa is a Japanese-Canadian comic book artist and illustrator living in Tokyo. He is best known for his work on Marvel’s Ms. Marvel, Runaways and Silk. He is also the co-creator of Mech Cadet Yu with Greg Pak. When not drawing comics, he has provided storyboards and in-game art for game companies such as Capcom, Tango Gameworks and Cygames. For samples of his art and further info, please visit Instagram and Twitter at @takmiyazawa

“I’m thrilled to be able to work with Greg again on the next chapter of the Mech Cadet Yu series. I’ve missed these characters and can’t wait to dive back into the world and experience the ups and downs that Greg is so wonderful at creating,” said Miyazawa. “The first series was a big test for my skills as an artist and I’m eager to face new artistic challenges and visualize the world once again.”

MECH CADETS features a main cover by series artist Takeshi Miyazawa and Ian Herring, and variant covers by acclaimed artists Sonny Liew (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Junggeun Yoon (Grim).

“It’s an exciting time for Mech Cadets, and while many new fans will be introduced to the amazing and heart-filled world of the Mech Cadets through the animated show this Summer, we wanted to bring Greg and Takeshi’s newest chapter into the world for fans new and old!” said editor Shantel LaRocque.

MECH CADETS is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora; Wynd by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Briar by Christopher Cantwell and Germán García; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; The Approach by Jeremy Haun, Jason A. Hurley, and Jesus Hervas; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Behold, Behemoth by Tate Brombal and Nick Robles; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; Mosely by Rob Guillory and Sam Lotfi; Harrower by Justin Jordan and Brahm Revel; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; The Seasons Have Teeth by Dan Watters and Sebastián Cabrol; and the upcoming Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; Magic from Jed McKay, Rich Douek, and Ig Guara; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine.

MECH CADETS #1 will be available in comic shops August 9, 2023. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle. Be sure to catch up on the story with Mech Cadets Book One Softcover, collecting issues #1-#12 of the original series, on-sale everywhere books are sold now!

Daniel Dae Kim, Ming-Na Wen, Brandon Soo Hoo, Debra Wilson, and More Set to Star in Netflix’s MECH CADETS from BOOM! Studios and Polygon Pictures

BOOM! Studios and Polygon Pictures, Inc. announced the star studded cast for the upcoming 3D animated series, MECH CADETS, streaming globally on Netflix August 10, 2023. Adapted from the bestselling BOOM! Studios comic series Mech Cadet Yu by acclaimed AAPI creators Greg Pak (World War Hulk) and Takeshi Miyazawa (Runaways), the series is set fifty years in the future, after a terrifying alien species attacked our planet, and follows teenager Stanford Yu who works as a janitor at the Sky Corps Military Academy. But he’s only dreamed of one thing his entire life -- to pilot a Robo Mech, giant robots from outer-space who came to our aid. When he finally gets his shot, Stanford and his classmates must put aside all personal differences and work together as a team in order to defend humanity against a new alien invasion.

The ten-episode series hails from Japanese Animation studio Polygon Pictures Inc., whose credits include Star Wars: Resistance, Apple TV+’s Emmy Award-winning Stillwater, and Love, Death, + Robots for Netflix. The first episode of the series is an official selection of 2023’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the TV Films Competition category.

Brandon Soo Hoo (Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series) stars as Stanford Yu, a scrappy teenage underdog working as a janitor at Sky Corps who dreams of being a Robo Pilot.

Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Raya and the Last Dragon) plays General Aiden Park, the battle-hardened leader of Sky Corps Academy and the Mech Cadet program. As a father of one of the cadets and a General he expects nothing short of perfection from his daughter and his soldiers.

Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian, Mulan) plays Dolly Yu, Stanford’s loving, if a bit overprotective, mother and the calm head of the janitorial team at Sky Corps.

Debra Wilson (MADtv, Family Guy) plays Chief Max, a former Robo pilot, head of Engineering at Sky Corps, and mentor to the trainees.

Rounding out the cast are: Aparna Brielle as Ava Patel, Victoria Grace as Olivia Park, Josh Sundquist as Frank Olivetti, Anairis Quinones as Maya Sanchez, and James Yaegashi as Captain Tanaka.

Aaron Lam (Ash Vs. The Evil Dead) serves as head writer and executive producer for the series. Tohru Patrick Awa (Super Mario Bros. Movie) is the supervising director. Mech Cadets is executive produced by Shuzo John Shiota and Jack Liang for Polygon Pictures, Inc., and Stephen Christy and Ross Richie for BOOM! Studios. BOOM!’s Mette Norkjaer is co-executive producer of the series and Polygon’s Bill E. Miller serves as producer. 

Print copies of Mech Cadet Yu Volumes 1-3 are available at local comic book shops and bookstores worldwide. Digital copies can be purchased from all major content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle.