Brian Tyree Henry executive produces and voices the lead in Netflix's adult animated series Bass x Machina, a steampunk western arriving Oct. 6 with a starry ensemble and Studio Mir animation
Netflix’s new adult animated series Bass x Machina arrives Oct. 6, staking a claim in the streamer’s growing slate of mature animation. Anchored by Brian Tyree Henry—who not only voices the lead but also serves as an executive producer—the show fuses Western grit with industrial steampunk aesthetics and eerie supernatural threats, promising a dark, genre-blending ride for grown-up viewers.
At its core is a simple, searing premise: a father in a lawless frontier has become judge, jury and executioner to keep his family alive. Every violent choice he makes to protect those he loves risks inflicting the very harm he’s trying to prevent, producing a steady churn of moral tension. By recasting classic Western themes—honor, retribution, survival—against a backdrop of mechanical inventions and horror-tinged set pieces, Bass x Machina pairs intimate character conflict with high-concept spectacle.
The voice cast is strong and eclectic. Janelle Monáe plays Glory, Tati Gabrielle is Dana, Cree Summer voices Ahni, Chaske Spencer appears as Lighthorse, Currie Graham plays Rivenbark, and Starletta DuPois rounds out the ensemble as Etta. Musically, Roman GianArthur and Nate Wonder of Wondaland contribute original material, shaping a score meant to match the show’s tonal ambitions. Executive producers include LeSean Thomas, Jennifer Wiley-Moxley and Chad Handley, among others experienced in serialized animation.
Animation comes from Studio Mir in South Korea, a studio known for marrying dynamic action with emotional subtlety—a fit for a series that needs both kinetic set pieces and quiet, character-driven moments. Henry’s executive-producer credit suggests he had a hand in shaping storylines and arc decisions as well as delivering the lead performance; his previous voice work in major animated projects signals familiarity with big-scale animation production.
Henry’s involvement reflects his knack for layered, authentic portrayals. Here, he appears to be steering those instincts toward a protagonist who’s morally complicated and humanly flawed. More broadly, his dual role mirrors a wider industry move: actors taking on production responsibilities to help ensure nuanced representation—especially of Black men—within genre storytelling.
Tonally, the series walks a tightrope between gritty frontier realism and the uncanny. Vigilante justice, outlaw violence and familial duty sit alongside clockwork technology and supernatural menace, creating a sustained contrast between the familiar and the strange. Bass x Machina is aimed at adults who like morally ambiguous leads, dense worldbuilding and bold visual style, and it looks poised to probe the cost of protection and the corrosive effects when power is used under extreme duress.
From a market standpoint, the show fits neatly into a trend: platforms expanding their adult-animation offerings. Netflix’s global reach combined with Studio Mir’s pedigree and Wondaland’s musical cachet give the series both commercial heft and creative credibility. For talent like Henry, the series also represents strategic career development—melding star power, creative control and strong production partners to create IP that can endure. On the corporate side, attention to diverse creative leadership and responsible representation can bolster a studio’s reputation as much as it does its slate.
Come Oct. 6, viewers and critics alike will be watching to see whether Bass x Machina’s intriguing blend of premise, cast and craft yields a standout addition to adult animation—or simply another ambitious show that doesn’t fully land. Either way, it looks set to spark conversation.