Koala Man
Koala Man is a superhero animated sitcom created by Michael Cusack for Hulu. Developed by Cusack, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit, the series premiered on January 9, 2023, on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ in Australia. The series pilot aired on ABC in 2018.
The series is set in an alternate universe where the United States has been destroyed, and Australia is the world's last surviving superpower. A middle-aged family man serves as the resident superhero of Dapto while having no superhuman abilities and devoting minimal effort to hide his secret identity.
Plot
The series takes place in an alternate universe called "Bushworld", where the sinking of the Titanic never happened, indirectly resulting in the United States being destroyed, Australia becoming the world's superpower, and Nicole Kidman becoming its Queen.The story follows Kevin Williams, an average middle-aged family man who decides to serve justice to the town of Dapto as the incredibly average superhero Koala Man. Possessing no powers and a simple costume, which is apparently enough to hide his secret identity, Kevin encounters various evildoers who wish to do harm to his town.
Kevin is joined by his family, who put up with his misadventures, including his down-to-earth wife, Vicky, and his 14-year-old twin children, a popularity-obsessed daughter, Alison, and a nerdy son, Liam, who secretly possesses psychic powers.
Cast
Main
- Michael Cusack as Kevin Williams/Koala Man, a father and IT expert who moonlights as a low-rent superhero
- * Cusack also voices:
- ** Liam Williams, Kevin's son, who possesses psychic powers
- ** Damo and Darren, a pair of low-level criminals
- ** The Tall Poppy
- ** The Great One
- ** Nicole Kidman, the Queen of Australia
- ** Huge Greg, Big Greg's older brother
- ** Additional Voices
- Sarah Snook as Vicky Williams, Kevin's wife, who works at the school canteen
- Demi Lardner as Alison Williams, Kevin's daughter
- Hugh Jackman as Big Greg, a beloved celebrity fishing expert and the head of the town council, who is Kevin's boss
- Jemaine Clement as Principal Bazwell/Christopher/The Kookaburra, the ineffectual principal of North Dapto High who is Vicky's boss and reveals himself to be a supervillain.
Guest
- Alexandra Daddario as Herself
- Rachel House as Janine, Vicky's friend and co-worker at the school canteen
- * House also voices Louise, the owner of the local bowling club, who harbors an attraction to Koala Man
- Angus Sampson as General Peckmeister, Wizened Garbage Man, Summer Santa, and many more.
- Jordan Shanks as the Town Shopkeeper, Chippy, Snuff film victim
- Hugo Weaving as King Emudeus
- Justin Roiland as Chad Wagon, an American who wants to turn Australia into a second United States
- Jarrad Wright as Spider, Kevin's boorish next-door neighbor
- * Wright also voices:
- ** Maxwell, a wheelchair-using septuagenarian with a long, complicated history
- ** Maxwell's father
- ** Additional Voices
- Michelle Brasier as McKayla Taylor Mercedes, a popular girl who speaks with a vocal fry, and Alison's initial nemesis
- * Brasier also voices Tanya, a fish who is Huge Greg's wife
- Miranda Otto as Mindy, a koala that Kevin found and cared for before she died after being hit by a car, before the events of the series.
- Claudia O'Doherty as Rosie Yodels/Rosie 2, the most popular girl in school
- * O'Doherty also voices:
- ** Rosie 1 and Rosie 3, Rosie's sister clones, who want to take over Australia
- ** Additional Voices
- Natalie Tran as Lulu Liu, Neighbour
- Nisrine Amine as The Egyptian Mummy, a survivor of the Titanic who became the US president and fled to the Moon
- Anthony Salame, Jordan Shanks, and Steph Tisdell as The Tradies, corrupt tradespeople who secretly run every aspect of Dapto and possess supernatural abilities.
- Michelle Brasier, Leigh Joel Scott, Anthony Salame, and Ian Zaro as The Tigglies, villainous parodies of the Wiggles who kill their victims, who are children, by draining them of their youth.
- Liam McIntyre as Emus
- Nazeem Hussain as Clarko
- Nina Oyama as Little Nina
Production
In March 2021, Hulu announced that it had given a series order for the show. Michael Cusack, who is the creator, voices the titular character, with Hugh Jackman, Sarah Snook, and Demi Lardner joining the voice cast. In October 2022, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, and Jarrad Wright joined the cast, with Miranda Otto and Hugo Weaving announced to be making guest appearances.On January 25, 2023, Justin Roiland was removed from the show, alongside sister show Solar Opposites, after he was charged with felony domestic abuse. Both shows are produced by 20th Television Animation and distributed by Disney Entertainment Distribution.