WondLa recently returned for its second season. The animated science fiction series continues the adventures of a teenage girl named Eva 9 as she searches for other humans on the the strange planet of Orbona.
SEASON 2 SPOILERS AHEAD!
Eva 9 manages to find people in New Attica and learns that the city’s food supply is dwindling. In order to ensure the survival of the human race, they require a massive energy source known as the heart of the forest. Unfortunately, if the heart of the forest is removed, it would jeopardize all life on Orbona’s surface.
We spoke with WondLa showrunner Bobs Gannaway and creator of the source material Tony DiTerlizzi. The pair, who also serve as executive producers, broke down parts of the finale including the visually stunning scene depicting Eva 9’s link with the heart of the forest.
“It’s difficult because what are you trying to communicate or say in that scene. How can you do it symbolically or visually,” Gannaway said. “I will say the sort of mandala shape actually runs thematically through the show. Maybe it was even set up prior where it’s more overt in these episodes. Yeah, that was just exploring. We wanted to heighten the world and expand the world. It’s hard to answer specifically. We did a lot of iterating on that moment.”
One of the overarching themes of WondLa is the feeling of home. The creators also implemented that theme in the final scenes. Gannaway said, “In season two there is a momentary return to home, a momentary return to safety. The main character has grown and grown and grown, and when it comes to one of the hardest moments for her, she sort of pulls back to home briefly, literally. That was always something we had wanted to do since the beginning.”
Since season two ends on a cliffhanger, some viewers might be concerned there won’t be a satisfying conclusion. Worry not, because there is still more episodes on the way. DiTerlizzi said, “Oh absolutely. We can say that. Yes, there will be a season three. It will conclude.”
“We wouldn’t leave you hanging. I think the ending to season two was a bit shocking, even to us,” Gannaway added. “As Tony says, it gets bigger and grander and deeper. Eva continues to grow into an adult making hard choices. It even gets bigger and better in season three.”