'My Dad the Bounty Hunter': An Exclusive Look At Netflix's Black Sci-Fi Series

We're premiering a trailer from Netflix's My Dad the Bounty Hunter by Everett Downing and Patrick Harpin. 

For those of you who’ve been patiently waiting for a kid-friendly  animated sci-fi series featuring Black characters, look no further then Netflix’s My Dad the Bounty Hunter.

Created and executive produced by animator Everett Downing and writer Patrick Harpin, the show centers around a dad played by Laz Alonso who always disappears when it's time for him to go to work. Unbeknownst to him, his kids decided to hop in his car because they’re fed up with his vanishing act. 

The first trailer that emerged last year was jam-packed with BDE (Big Dad Energy). In it, the two kids surprise their dad at work and are then thrust into his chaotic life which consists of capturing villains. But, in the latest trailer which we're exclusively premiering today, the family dynamic is solidified a bit more, and the ultra-high stakes of capturing villains is made crystal clear.

The show which was a joint effort between the series’ creators provides a special moment for the two to pour the lessons they've learned over the years working in animation, live-action, and television. Downing cut his teeth working on films including Hair Story, Toy Story 3, and multiple Veggie Tales movies, while Harpin is known for his contributions to The Emoji Movie and Ice Age: Continental Drift. The latter has also been a storyboard artist in animation since he was 19. 

Representation was the M.O. that guided both Everett and Harpin, in an email, Patrick mentions they felt there weren’t enough Black characters at the center of sci-fi shows or movies, so they set out to fix that. With this notion as a guiding light they also were inspired by their affinity for sci-fi and the classics Stand By Me, The Goonies, and ET – the duo wanted to create a project that had “kids as the main protagonists” and “there were real stakes and real peril.” 

Alien and Brother From Another Planet were additional films that sparked their creativity.  Along with all of these inspirations, they also landed on making the Hendrix family the center of their story. Downing shares he’s a firm believer in the power of imagery in media and how it can have effects on future generations.

With the Hendrix family as the center of My Dad the Bounty Hunter, Downing also expresses that he’s hopeful viewers will fall in love with their dynamic. “I want [people] to see themselves and their family members reflected in these characters,” he adds. 

Alonso who plays the titular role in the 10-episode show admits he grew up watching Star Wars films and Star Trek, so this is a full circle moment for him. “Many times, I found myself imagining certain characters were Black, based on mannerisms and characteristics that felt familiar,” he explained via email. 

Aside from Laz Alonso, the series stars Yvonne Orji, Priah Ferguson, Yvette Nicole Brown, JeCobi Swain, Leslie Uggams, Rob Riggle, Jim Rash, and Jamie Chung. 

My Dad the Bounty Hunter airs on Netflix on February 9. Take a look at the exclusive trailer below.