Ryan Coogler Brings ’90s Nostalgia to Life with New Animorphs TV Series

Ryan Coogler is truly embracing the nostalgia of ’90s kids by reimagining some of the era’s iconic sci-fi classics. He’s set to reboot The X-Files and is also stepping in as executive producer for a TV adaptation of K. A. Applegate’s beloved YA series, The Animorphs, which is currently in the early stages of development for Disney Plus.

For those who missed out on the thrill of racing to the teen section of the bookstore to check out the latest body horror from Scholastic, The Animorphs was a bizarre and captivating series that spanned 54 main books and several spinoffs from 1996 to 2001. It follows a group of teens who uncover a covert invasion of Earth by mind-controlling alien slugs known as Yeerks.

The shape-shifting Andalites are the Yeerks’ sworn enemies, and a dying Andalite reveals the grim reality to the teens, granting them the ability to morph into any animal they can touch. They eventually team up with a young Andalite stranded on Earth. While transforming into a gorilla or a tiger sounds awesome, it’s not as handy as you might think when your mom, brother, or school vice principal is being controlled by an alien parasite. Each installment showcases the kids’ ingenuity as they tackle overwhelming odds.

Though aimed at younger readers, the series delves into complex and dark themes as it progresses. Applegate explores the harsh realities of war, from the loss of cherished characters to the enslavement of peaceful species and the psychological impact of conflict. While The Animorphs may not have reached the global acclaim of Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, it certainly holds its own as a standout series about youth resistance.

In 1998, Nickelodeon adapted The Animorphs into a TV series that lasted two seasons, but it struggled with subpar special effects. With CGI advancements since then, there’s hope that the new adaptation will better capture the bizarre transformations the kids undergo. Bayan Wolcott, who contributed to Hulu’s upcoming dystopian series, is on board to write and executive produce the Disney Plus version.