Skull Island, the animated sequel to Kong: Skull Island on Netflix, attempts to blend the pulp roots of the film with elements from Hanna-Barbera’s Jonny Quest franchise. However, the results are underwhelming. The series lacks well-developed characters and fails to evoke a sense of care for their fates. It reuses threats from the 2017 film while adding little depth or personality to the castaways.

Following the story of Charlie, a teenage boy named Nicolas Cantu, who yearns to go to college to escape his father’s fruitless pursuit of cryptids. Cantu’s performance bears a resemblance to Jack DeSena’s role as Sokka in Avatar: The Last Airbender, but the writing fails to make Charlie humorous beyond his exasperation with the bizarre events around him.

Charlie’s father, Cap, played by Benjamin Bratt, shares a similar motivation to John Goodman’s character in Kong: Skull Island. Both characters dedicate their lives to finding answers after encountering unknown creatures. However, Bratt’s delivery lacks the charm and charisma of Goodman’s portrayal. Despite this, he effectively explains the Hollow Earth theory that underpins Godzilla vs. Kong.

The crew is rounded out by Mike, played by Darren Barnet, who lacks defining traits other than being Charlie’s friend, and Annie, played by Mae Whitman, a feral teenager who survived on a monster-infested island. Annie’s loyal companion, a large canine-like creature named Dog, adds some comedic moments as Charlie struggles to work with the indifferent beast.

Annie stands out as the most entertaining character in the series. She delivers deadpan and ominous dialogue, adding depth to the group’s circumstances. With her limited knowledge of the world, Annie resembles characters from Avatar and The Legend of Korra. However, Skull Island fails to capture the same character development that made those shows impactful.

Annie’s character contrasts with Mike, who experiences a traumatic loss but quickly returns to bantering about girls with Charlie. The show seems to disregard the emotional impact on Mike, highlighting its lack of care for his development.

In Skull Island, Cap and his crew find themselves stranded on Kong’s home turf after following a map from a soldier who survived the events of Kong: Skull Island. They face off against a giant squid and cross paths with Irene, an ultra-wealthy botanist, and her heavily-armed expedition. While Betty Gilpin brings depth to the role of Irene, the character suffers from poor dialogue and a lack of compelling interactions with Bratt.

The show’s strongest aspect lies in its creature design, although most of the ideas are recycled from Kong: Skull Island. From skullcrawlers to bamboo spiders, the series retreads familiar ground. The well-animated battles and surprises, such as Charlie’s comical sword fighting attempts, add some entertainment value.

Kong faces off against a formidable sea monster, who proves to be a dirty fighter. The sea monster initiates a brawl by throwing a whale onto the island, showcasing Kong’s resilience. Flashback episodes depict Kong’s relationship with the people of Skull Island and his loneliness as the last of his kind.

Despite its creature-centric strengths, Skull Island spends too much time on underdeveloped human characters. The series attempts to combine Vietnam-movie tropes with a Saturday-morning cartoon vibe, resulting in a clash that detracts from the anticipated big fight audiences want to see. Ultimately, Skull Island falls short as a disappointing addition to the MonsterVerse.