Centaurworld - Season 2
Centaurworld was released on Netflix on July 30, 2021.[1] A trailer debuted at the virtual Annecy International Animation Film Festival event in June 2021.[12][13] A trailer and release date for the second season was posted on November 9, 2021.[6]
Centaurworld - Season 2
While more subdued than the previous season, the final season of the series ends on a strong note. It does fall into old habits early on, but once we build-up to the final confrontation with the Nowhere King it certainly finds its groove. Plus, we get more insight into our usually wacky sidekicks that feel more centered with their own little plot points. There are some great laughs to have, and some mesmerizing music to surely make you want to stay a bit longer in the insanity that is Centaurworld.
As someone who had season 1 as their favorite show of 2021, I wonder if any other fans can relate to the following critique. The last episode was amazing, but I thought the others didn't have the same number/length or interconnectedness of songs as season 1 episodes, although the Becky Apples one was pretty good. Season 1 had all of these emotional songs that reprised themselves throughout but that only restarted in the last episode of season 2. Also, I think it would have been more interesting to delve into the backstories more via Horse's magic as opposed to introducing the bird-tars, cold-tars, etc.. I get that their point was that each member of the herd convinced a different group to come, but I would rather learn more about the characters we know. Speaking of which, skipping Zulius' past then having him instantly hook back up with Splendib with no drama was completely dropping the ball. Season 1 had an entire episode and song devoted to it just to have an unsatisfying resolution. The same could be said of Tail, who had a whole episode and two songs devoted to them but then has basically no use or contribution whatsoever. And what about Trebor?!
We needed a fuckton more of the General. Period. Especially given how critical he was to the season finale. Introduce him earlier, make him bigger, develop his relationship with Rider, let us feel for his personality and his motivations, spread him across that hypothetical three season storyline. You could have done all that and still had that massive dump of reveals that our S2 finale effectively did.
A new trailer for season 2 of the Netflix series Centaurworld has just been released, giving up a glimpse into the continued adventures of Horse, voiced by Kimiko Glenn, a warhorse who was recently transported into the magical Centaurworld.
The new trailer for season 2 comes only a few months after the series' streaming premiere in July of 2021. The series, created by Megan Nicole Dong, fuses many genres and animation styles to form a kaleidoscopic whole. Featuring musical numbers, whacky comedy, and beautiful animation, the series is a delight for both children and adult viewers. This is not Dong's first venture into children's animation, having previously worked on the Netflix series Pinky Malinky and the How to Train Your Dragon 2 film. Music for the series is composed by Dong, Dominic Bisignano, and Toby Chu. Meghan McCarthy of the My Little Pony franchise also works as a story editor on the series.
In season 2, Horse will be faced with her prior companion, Rider's new Horse, the ever-perfect Becky Apples, and large scale adventures and antics will ensue, plunging Horse and the Centaurs into the unknown, and showcasing some major battle scene animation in the process. From the looks of the trailer, the second season will continue to showcase an eclectic tone and animation style, pushing the limits of children's animation.
The first season of "Centaurworld" was packed full of singing and dancing, jokes and banter ... and horrifying eldritch nightmares. What does showrunner Megan Nicole Dong have planned for the next 10 episodes?
The Nowhere King proved to be a terrifying and menacing villain for the characters of Centaurworld, and yet his death was surprisingly heartfelt and emotional. Centaurworld, one of the best-animated TV Shows of 2021, was released in two parts last year to a fantastic critical response, receiving a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This success could be due to the incredible similarities it shares with the likes of Adventure Time, being an American animated musical/comedy series, full of unusual characters, trippy animations, and ludicrous songs. There are also noticeable similarities between The Lich and The Nowhere King in Centaurworld, from their black, oozy form to their goals of escaping their prisons to overrun the world. Both seasons of Cenataurworld were released on Netflix in 2021, and it appears that the second may have been its last - with the death of the primary antagonist, The Nowhere King.
Centaurworld follows the protagonist of The Horse for the entirety of the show, as they struggle to find their Rider and in turn, save two distant realms from the threat of The Nowhere King. Both seasons of the show demonstrate The Nowhere King's imposing threat as the main characters are forced into a duel in "the realm between", where The King has been stuck for years. In the final episode of season 2, the hero, Horse, is trapped inside The Nowhere King's mind and presumed dead. However, Horse goes on a journey of discovery, exploring the origin of a Moosetaur (that is half Moose and half man) who fell in love with a character called The Woman. The sorrow of feeling not good enough for The Woman - and the eventual separating of his soul - leads to the transformation of the Nowhere King - a beast of pure darkness seeking revenge on the land of Centaurworld.
It is unfortunate this compelling antagonist met his end so soon. However, at the end of the first season, he suffered a similar fate, only to escape to a different world and reform an army there. This army and his subsequent invasion fuelled the main plot of Centaurworld season 2, released in December 2021 on Netflix. If Centaurworld was to receive a third season, it is entirely possible that the Nowhere King could make a third return - although it seems unlikely to occur, as it could cheapen the sense of loss viewers felt at the end of season 2, with The Woman admitting her love for the Moosetaur and his transfiguration back to this form before the villain's death. This emotional connection with the final few scenes provides a sense of completion to a series that may have reached its final season too soon.
This episode contains examples of: Affably Evil: Played with. The Nowhere King is outwardly psychotic and cruel, with little redeeming qualities other than his alleged soft spot for the Mysterious Woman. However, somewhere in his mind, the Elk (a manifestation of his conscience) has many genuinely good or fun traits, despite being a part of the Nowhere King. He's rather polite to Horse, somewhat friendly, and has the quirk of fawning over food memories.
All for Nothing: When Horse learns that the War all started because the General's treatment towards the Elk created the Nowhere King, she's devastated that everything she ever fought for was a lie. If anything, it might've never happened in the first place if only the General had accepted the Elk's proposition they reunite. Unto itself, the Elktaur's efforts to fit in with human society and become a human were all unnecessary. He may have done it for the love of a Princess, but the problem is, she didn't even mind he was a centaur. Many years later, as the Mysterious Woman, she sadly spells it out for him that she would've loved him as the Elktaur he was.
And the Adventure Continues: The series as a whole ends with the herd setting out on new adventures, aiming to help mend the relationship between the two worlds.
Armor-Piercing Question: During their meeting, the Elk and the General have a heated discussion about whether or not they should fuse together again. The General refuses, because as far as he's concerned, his bride only loves him. The Elk's response is a grim and sober "How much will she love you when she knows the truth?"
Armor-Piercing Response: "Look around: that is not what love looks like!" This is Horse's response to the General's argument to the woman that his wrong-doings was out of "love". This prompts the Woman to look upon the wounded Rider and at the desolate, war-torn landscape caused by the war that was born of the General's so-called "love".
Bloodless Carnage: Even when Rider gets stabbed through the stomach, no blood can be seen.
Body Horror: The Elk's gradual transformation into The Nowhere King as a result of the key's radiation was quite the nasty one. Black ooze started leaking from his body until it became his body, his body and antlers became deformed and his flesh melted away, leaving him as just as a skull.
Brick Joke: Stabby's room with posters (which was first mentioned in "My Tummy, Your Hurts") can be seen inside Glendale's portal tummy, alongside a bunch of characters stolen by her throughout the series.
Broken Pedestal: After seeing the Nowhere King's memory (as the Elk) of being betrayed, nearly killed and captured by the General, Horse doesn't take it well to learn what this implies about the General. If he and the Elk's life forces were linked, then the countless lives lost by the Nowhere King's war are on his hands. Now it dawns on Horse that they were fighting a war created by a monster born of the General's selfishness. And it doesn't help matters when he later stabs Rider to keep her from killing the Nowhere King.
Deadly Euphemism: The first half of "The Last Lullaby" has the Woman (and the Elktaur) use several of these just as she's about to execute her former husband. However, once she has her Shut Up, Hannibal! moment, she makes it clear in no uncertain terms that the Elktaur will die for his crimes.
Death Song: 'Last Lullaby Part 1' becomes this for the now re-fused Elktaur as he meets his end at the woman's hands. 'Last Lullaby Part 2' however is a subversion for Rider as it turns out, she ends up surviving.
Deconstruction: The Elktaur's backstory is one big deconstructed variation of the "Beauty and the Beast" storyline. He was a half-animal creature who had self-loathing for what he was, she (the Princess) was a beautiful woman. He fell in love with her and (unknown to him at the time) the feeling was mutual. But his self-loathing got in the way of accepting that love, to the point where he banished his animal half (the Elk) just to have a happy ending as the changed human suitor (the General). The problem is, the Elk still loved the Princess, and the General locked him up so as not to risk losing his "Happily Ever After". This set off the domino effect of the Elk becoming a manifestation of the Elktaur's self-hatred, leading to the war that ruined the lives of both Centaurworld and humankind. Not to mention how the Beauty-stand in turns cynical at learning her husband lied to her and essentially abused his animal half.
Does This Remind You of Anything?: The Elktaur is shown to have extreme self-esteem problems and wants nothing more than to be human. While attending a human gathering he's without his antlers and seen wearing a hat. When the Woman asks about his antlers the Elktaur tries to pass it off as seasonal shedding. In the next scene, there's a full shot of the Elktaurs antlers on his worktable with a handsaw near them.
Disney Death: Rider seemingly dies from her injury, but it's ultimately a fake-out.
Dramatically Missing the Point: The Woman frames the Elktaur's motives as this during their last confrontation. From where she stands, if only the Elktaur had understood just how much his beloved would've wholly loved him regardless of his centaur heritage, he might not have separated his human and animal halves. And it wouldn't have set off the chain events that lead to the very war that caused so much grief (including the Princess learning her husband lied to her). To build on this, back when she was a princess, the Woman commented on how she liked the Elktaur's antlers and thought they were cute. She was disappointed he no longer had his antlers, but politely accepted his hat was a nice change too. The Elktaur misunderstood that she really did prefer him without any elk or centaur features.
Disney Villain Death: The General is kicked off a cliff by Becky Apples.
Dramatic Irony: The wedding scene becomes this in hindsight. The Woman and the General are exchanging wedding vows about their love. What the Woman didn't know is, the missing half of her husband (the Elk) was hiding in the shadows, vowing his undying love for her.
Dying as Yourself: Before she executes the final blow on her foe, she requests the magic unite the General and the Nowhere King, so she may see the Elktaur as he was one last time. The Nowhere King obliges, allowing her to see the Elktaur as a whole before she goes in for the kill.
Earn Your Happy Ending: The war has ended. Horse has become a Shaman, she and Rider can spend the rest of their days together and with the Herd, and they're off to explore Centaurworld. Even for having to slay Elktaur, the Woman too recieves reprieve from her pain when she finds friends of her own with Beartaur and Becky Apples. In between both Centaurworld and the human world can start to heal from the war and live in harmony.
The End: The episode ends with this caption.
Extra-Long Episode: This episode is over an hour-long in length (70 minutes), due to it originally having been three separate episodes.
Fantastic Racism: In the flashback that shows the interactions between the human world and Centaurworld, humans aren't shown to have a high opinion of the centaurs. This doesn't seem to bother the centaurs, for the most part, then again our focus is largely on the Elktaur.
Five-Second Foreshadowing: The Elk informs Horse early that he's just a part of the Nowhere King, but the way he walks her through his memories (and how Horse's backstory magic usually works) lures the audience into thinking that he's in charge. He isn't, and warns Horse again a short moment before the Nowhere King himself startles her.The Elk: He knows you're here now.
Foreshadowing: When the Elktaur travels to the rift to perform his experiment to remove his centaur-half, the way he carries his equipment up the stairs obscures his back legs, making him look human. This establishes the Elktaur's intentions of becoming a human.
Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: From the very moment she entered his backstory, this trope was Horse's intuition about the Nowhere King. True, his self-hatred drove him to split his Elktaur self into the Elk and the General. True, it was tragic circumstances that the Elk was an intelligent being who couldn't marry the Princess or integrate into society the way the General did. And sure, the Elk's steady transformation into the Nowhere King was born from a place of hurt that drove him to believe he didn't belong anywhere. But at the end of the day, Horse won't take any of it as a sound excuse for what he's done. As much as she sympathizes with the pain of ever being separated from a loved one, no amount of sympathy can change how his machinations have destroyed many innocent lives in the long run.
Gory Discretion Shot: When the General pulls his sword out after backstabbing Rider, all that the audience gets to see is the characters' black silhouettes on a brown background. However, something liquid is clearly ejected in the blade's motion.
Grand Finale: For the series, complete with a "The End" title card.
Grief Song: 'Last Lullaby Part 1' is this to the woman just before she kills the reformed Elktaur, lamenting that she would've loved him the way he was, but now she has to kill him for his sins and finally end the war.
Happy Birthday to You!: The original (formerly) copyrighted song can be heard being sung to the King of Leaves while Gebbery ends up in Glendale's portal. Doubles as a Brick Joke as he previously declared it was his birthday just before Glendale stole him in her backstory.
Hypocrite: During "Once Shattered, Now Whole", the General's wedding vows to the Princess involves him saying he'll never hide from his bride, whilst his elk half stands by hiding from the woman he loves. In a way, the General has already broken his vow: he is hiding from her, hiding that he's a centaur.
I Was Quite the Looker: In the present day, the Mysterious Woman is rather miserable-looking and unkempt. But many decades before the war even began, the Woman was but a lovely young princess.
Ignored Epiphany: During the memory of their meeting, the Elk tries to reason with the General that perhaps the Princess might've loved the Elktaur as he was before their separation, as they never even tried asking if she loved him. To this response, the General argues she only loves the Elktaur's human half (himself). Sure enough, the Elk's argument is prove when, many years later, the former Princess tells her mortally wounded Elktaur beloved she would've have indeed loved him as he was.
Ironic Echo: Played with. The Nowhere King's lullaby previously was a song to herald him and give the story an ominous feeling whenever he entered the scene. In this episode, it's sung differently by the Mysterious Woman and Elktaur. But rather than a completely opposite mood, it's sung to be a bittersweet and even tragic ballad duet about the Mysterious Woman executing the Elktaur. Inverted with "Once Shattered, Now Whole". When it was first song in the series, it was sung as the Mysterious Woman stepped forward to bring down the killing blow on the Nowhere King. But chronologically, the very first time it was sung was at a wedding between her and the General, a cheery and romantic song about their union. In other words, the version the audience first heard is actually a Dark Reprise of a wedding song.
Irony: "Once Shattered, Now Whole" is a wedding ballad between the General and the Princess, celebrating their union as husband and wife. While that's fitting unto itself, it's being sang while the Elk stands in the shadows, heartbroken that he'll never get to be with the Princess and vowing to love her forever. The cherry on top is how the General's marriage to the Princess was only made possible because the Elktaur separated his animal and human halves, henceforth he was "Once Whole, Now Shattered". In the past, when she only visited Centaurworld for short outings, the Woman (once a Princess) was happy and cheerful and open-minded to centaurs. In the present, she's lived in Centaurworld for many years now, yet she's a miserable and cynical Broken Bird who sees the herd as fools.
Last Episode, New Character: An odd variation. This episode is the first appearance of the Elk and the Elktaur, but in all technicality, they were already present in the series as the Nowhere King and the General.
The Last Title: The episode title itself.
Love Makes You Evil: Defied, so so much. When the General tries to reason with the Woman he lied to her and prolonged the war (on top of causing the war as the Nowhere King) because he loves her, Horse tearfully remarks that this is not love. Despite his insistence to the Woman that everything he did was "for love", her response to such an excuse is to make Becky Apples kick
