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Finished drafting? or |
| Lunella Lafayette | |
|---|---|
| Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur character | |
| First appearance |
|
| Created by | Brandon Montclare Amy Reeder Natacha Bustos |
| Based on | Moon Girl |
| Adapted by | Steve Loter Kate Kondell Jeffrey M. Howard |
| Voiced by | Diamond White |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Moon Girl |
| Gender | Female |
Lunella Lafayette is a fictional character voiced primarily by Diamond White in the animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and associated media, based on the character of the same name created by Marvel Comics—commonly known by her alias, Moon Girl. After accidentally bringing Devil Dinosaur into the 21st century while trying to help her family during a series of blackouts, Lunella decides to become a superhero alongside Devil to protect the Lower East Side in New York City from supervillains.
Concept and creation
editThe character of Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl made her debut in Marvel Comics' Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 (2015), created by writers Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder and artist Natacha Bustos. She was created as a modern-day successor to the character Moon Boy, created by Jack Kirby.[1]
In 2018, Marvel Animation announced an animated Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur series was in development,[2] to be co-produced by Laurence Fishburne's Cinema Gypsy Productions and Disney Television Animation.[2][3] The series was conceived by Fishburne after he began reading the Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur comics.[4] Steve Loter had joined the series as an executive-producer by 2020,[5] and Diamond White was cast as Moon Girl in 2021.[6]
Casting
editEarly during development, multiple actresses auditioned for the role of Moon Girl, with Diamond White getting cast in the role after "three or four" auditions.[7][8] After Steve Loter was brought into the project and redeveloped it, he heard White's audition tape and let her stay in the role.[8] White wanted to play the character due to an interest on increasing positive Black representation on superhero media media,[9][10] as well as due to finding Lunella to be a relatable character for both herself and teens, noting how many of the character's experiences reflecting real-life teenagers to have been unexplored in animation.[10][9][11]
White also served as a consultant, in order to make the character more authentic.[12] She gave the writers a list of her experiences growing up as a Black girl for them to incorporate into the series. One of her notes, regarding a Black girl's hair, inspired the writers to conceive the episode "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow".[10][9] While recording her lines, White drew inspiration from herself as a 13-year old.[10]
Characterization
editWhite said that "all Lunella wants to do is to protect [...] her home, the LES, and her family and [their] roller rink".[12]
Fictional character biography
editBackground
editSeason 1
editIn other media
editOnline videos
edit- Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl appears in Disney's Chibi Tiny Tales shorts.[13][14][15]
- Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl makes a non-speaking cameo in the Broken Karaoke music video "Born To Be Strange".[16]
- Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl appears in the How Not To Draw short How Not To Draw Moon Girl, with Diamond White reprising her role.[17]
- Lunella Lafayette appeared in a Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur-themed Theme Song Takeover short, voiced again by Diamond White.[18]
Theme park attractions
edit- Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl appeared as a temporary meet-and-greet character at the Disney California Adventure during February 2023 as part of the Black History Month.[19]
Comic books
edit- Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl appears in the graphic novel Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll!, released in April 2024.[20]
Critical reception
editAccolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Annie Awards | Best Voice Acting — TV/Media | Diamond White (for "Moon Girl Landing") | Pending | [21] |
References
edit- ^ Whitbrook, James (October 29, 2015). "How Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Became One Of Marvel's Biggest (And Cutest) New Comics". io9. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (February 20, 2018). "'Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur' Animated Series Produced By Laurence Fishburne In Works At Disney Channels". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ Dinh, Christine (August 24, 2019). "D23 Expo 2019: Disney Channel Greenlights Original Animated Series 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur'". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ Darwish, Meaghan (November 13, 2022). "'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Team on Marvel Animated Series & Villain Songs". TV Insider. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ White, Abbey (October 10, 2022). "'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Team on New York-Inspired Animation Style, Diversity in Marvel Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ "Disney Channel Announces 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Cast". February 10, 2021. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ Curran, Brad (2023-02-13). "Diamond White & Fred Tatasciore Interview: Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ a b "@steveloter". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ a b c King, Scott. "Diamond White On How 'Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur' Focuses On Representation". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ a b c d Amin, Arezou (2023-02-06). "'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur': Diamond White on Seeing Herself In the Series". Collider. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ "Diamond White takes superhero strides with 'Moon Girl'". Boston Herald. 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ a b Diamond White & Fred Tatasciore talk Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur | FULL INTERVIEW, retrieved 2023-12-13
- ^ The First Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Chibi Tiny Tale | Hot Dog 🌭 | Disney Channel Animation. Disney Channel. June 3, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Chibi Tiny Tales! | Perilous Parade | Disney Channel Animation. Disney Channel. July 1, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Chibi Tiny Tales! | Carnival Carnivore | disneychannel. Disney Channel. August 1, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ High School Musical TMTS Born to be Brave Parody | Big City Greens | Broken Karaoke | @disneychannel, retrieved 2023-11-22
- ^ Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Cartoon Comes to Life! 🖌 | How NOT To Draw | disneychannel. Disney Channel. September 4, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur's Devil Takes Over! | Theme Song Takeover | @disneychannel, retrieved 2024-03-10
- ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (February 9, 2023). "Newest Marvel Hero Debuts at Disneyland Resort: First Look". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Your First Look at the Cover to Original Graphic Novel 'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll!'". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "51st Annie Awards Nominees: 'Nimona' Scores 10 Nods; Several Major Studios Shut Out of the Best Feature Race". Animation Magazine. Retrieved January 11, 2024.