Minecraft (franchise)
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| Based on | Minecraft by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 30 (list of episodes) |
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| Production location | Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| Release | June 10, 2022 – present |
Minecraft is an American fantasy drama television series created by Freddie Goodwin for Netflix. It is an adaption of the popular video game Minecraft, originally developed by Markus "Notch" Persson and Mojang Studios. Set in the Craftinverse, the first season was released on Netflix in the United States on June 10, 2022. The second season was announced in 2023 and premiered on July 1, 2024 and concluded on August 19, 2024 with 10 episodes. The third season was released on March 15, 2025 with 10 episodes. The fourth season is scheduled to release on February 18, 2026 with 10 episodes. A fifth season is in development for release in 2027.
The series was conceived by Goodwin shortly after the film of the same name was released in 2017. Goodwin was approached by Mob Productions, with the intention of making a comedy driven series with the characters Steve Stonecutter and Alex Stonecutter as the lead characters. The series was confirmed to run for at least six years through seven seasons and the first season was confirmed to be releasing in 2022 with a second season planned for 2023. Following the release of the first season, Goodwin delayed the second season to 2024 due to poor reception following some episodes from the first season.
Since its release on June 10, 2022, over 20 episodes have been released weekly with over 35 hours total; with at least 40 episodes being made for the next 4 years—Goodwin confirmed the series would be larger and be interconnected and adopt a floating timeline system to allow the characters to be used forever as long as they aren't killed.
Set in the fictional world of the video game dimension known as the Overworld, Minecraft features multiple storyline arcs throughout the course of the show. The first major arc features the "Villains of Doom", featuring Herobrine, Null, and Entity 303. The second season was confirmed to feature the same villains who "resurface" after their "defeat". In the second season, Steve must overcome his previous trama and Derp must defeat a mysterious villain that comes from the Good Justice Society.
Minecraft attracted a record viewership on Netflix and has a broad, active, and international fan base. Critics have praised the series for its voice acting, complex characters, story, scope, and production values. The first season was nominated twice but didn't win any rewards.
Premise
Overview
In the first season, siblings Steve and Alex Stonecutter, along with their ally Derp, face unforeseen challenges in their journey through a vast multiverse. Haunted by visions and pursued by relentless threats, they encounter the enigmatic Good Justice Society (GJS) and confront the malevolent Angel of Death. As they battle formidable foes like Herobrine and uncover dark secrets, the trio must navigate through treacherous dimensions, including the Nether and the End, to protect their world. Along the way, they forge new alliances, face heartbreaking losses, and ultimately confront a powerful evil that threatens to engulf their reality in chaos.
In the second season, Steve and his allies embark on a quest to find the Nether Star, which they need to empower Alex's Staff of Wonder, leading them to face dangerous battles and uncover mysterious visions hinting at greater threats. Along the way, they confront the resurfaced villain Warewolf, contend with a monstrous titan in the Nether, and grapple with the emerging menace of the Celestials. As they work to protect their world, the team faces escalating challenges, including powerful enemies from the Nether and dark secrets within the Good Justice Society, testing their resolve and unity.
Characters
The main characters are the known called "Heroes", including Steve Stonecutter, Alex Stonecutter, Derp, Nova, Jackster, alongside the side character Buddy. The series features multiple villains who aim to eradicate the heroes including Herobrine, Entity 303, Null, Warewolf, and Malgazar.
The characters are portrayed by Amy Poehler, Danielle Rogueson, Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Tom Holland, respectively.
The show includes a vast array of quirky supporting characters, which include Homer's friends Barney Gumble, Lenny Leonard and Carl Carlson; the school principal Seymour Skinner and staff members such as Edna Krabappel and Groundskeeper Willie; students such as Milhouse Van Houten, Nelson Muntz and Ralph Wiggum; shopkeepers such as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Comic Book Guy and Moe Szyslak; government figures Mayor "Diamond" Joe Quimby and Clancy Wiggum; next-door neighbor Ned Flanders; local celebrities such as Krusty the Clown and news reporter Kent Brockman; nuclear tycoon Montgomery Burns and his devoted assistant Waylon Smithers; and dozens more.
The creators originally intended many of these characters as one-time jokes or for fulfilling needed functions in the town. A number of them have gained expanded roles and subsequently starred in their own episodes. According to Matt Groening, the show adopted the concept of a large supporting cast from the comedy show SCTV.
Continuity and the floating timeline
The series was initially designed to follow a traditional timeline, with the intention of creating six seasons. However, by the time they reached the second season, the writers realized that the timeline wouldn't be well-suited for that format. Recognizing this, the team decided to implement a floating timeline starting with the third season. In this new approach, episodes generally occur in the year they are produced. Additionally, the series includes flashbacks and flashforwards that show the characters at different stages of their lives. These depictions also follow a floating timeline, aligning roughly with the production year of each episode.
Setting
The series unfolds across three distinct dimensions inspired by the video game of the same name: the Overworld, Nether, and the End. Each dimension is governed by its own set of unique rules, adding to their distinctiveness. Within the series, these dimensions are crucial plot devices, often shaping the journeys and challenges faced by various characters and beasts.
Production
Development
In 2012, Mojang received offers from Hollywood producers who wanted to produce Minecraft-related TV shows; however, Mojang stated they would only engage in such projects when "the right idea comes along." In July 2013, Freddie Goodwin began developing a animated television series that would explore the story that fans created between Steve and Alex. Goodwin explained he took inspiration from Squared Media when writing the scripts and stated multiple villains would appear in the season, but only one would be the "big one" that would cause chaos in the season. Goodwin wrote most of the episodes alongside Greene. The episodes were all directed by Goodwin. He expressed interest in making a second season if the cast would want it and that the first season recieves positive reviews and reception from fans.
A writer's room for the series had been formed in 2017 by the time development of the series was announced in 2020. In addition to Goodwin and Greene, writers for the series, announced as the Producers of the season. In November 2021, it was confirmed that the team would adapt storylines from Squared Media productions.
Goodwin expressed interest in doing more than one season and stated the first season would tell "one of many stories". According to both Goodwin and Greene, the season is like the MCU, the team looked at multiple storylines from Squared Media, and took some characters and focused on that. Goodwin confirmed the story would be part "Animation Life 1–3" and potentially other storylines from the Comics.
Development on a second season began shortly after the release of the first season. Goodwin expressed interest in exploring the Nether Dimension further however decided to continue the plot that was left open in the first season. In September 2022, Goodwin announced that the team was using Unreal Engine to make the series; a feat rarely seen done at the time. Shortly after, Goodwin announced that the second season would release in 2024.
Following the release of the second season, Goodwin confirmed he was planning to end the series with the third season, however Netflix approached him and requested he be replaced by a different showrunner as they want to keep the series going for as long as they can. With this intel, Goodwin approached Zachary Bennett to replace him as showrunner.
Voice actors
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| Jack Black | Amy Poehler Zendaya S1 |
Danielle Rogueson | Jason Momoa | Tom Holland | ||||
| Steve Stonecutter | Alex Stonecutter | |||||||
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Mob Productions plan for the series was to have two actors star the series for the two lead roles. However, they decided to take a more traditional approach with set actors for set characters throughout the seasons. During this time, Jack Black was cast to play Steve and Zendaya joined as Alex. Tom Holland joined the project as Derp in 2021.
Austin Madison as "Max" / Erik Ravenwood, Josh Brolin as the Angel of Death (AOD), Dylan Buccieri as Warewolf, Assaf Cohen as Null, Fred Tatasciore as Entity 303, and Michael Cudlitz as Malgazar all appear as part of the second season. James Earl Jones voices Herobrine in the first season, while Dylan Buccieri, Assaf Cohen, Jessica DiCicco, Terri Douglas, Karen Huie, Arif S. Kinchen, Austin Madison, Cole Massie, Alisha Mullally, Kari Wahlgren, and Secunda Wood appear in undisclosed roles.
In January 2023, Zendaya announced that she has left the project feeling she only wanted to do a single season. Mob Productions announced that the character would be recasted. In June 2023, it was confirmed that Amy Poehler replaced Zendaya to voice Alex in all future seasons.
Photorealistic animation
Unlike other animation, Goodwin wanted to use photorealistic animation for Minecraft. They kept the 3D dimension blocked shapes of the game to keep the feeling of the game theme. However, they weren't strict on what they can add and do within the universe.
Music
In order to keep the theme and music for the series as close to the video game, Goodwin approached C418, Lena Raine, Kumi Tanioka, and Aaron Cherof to make the score for the series.
Release
| Season | No. of
episodes |
Originally aired | Viewership | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showrunner | No | Season premiere | Season finale | Time slot (ET) | Avg. viewers
(in millions) | |
| Freddie Goodwin | 1 | 10 | June 10, 2022 | Thursday 8:00 pm | 30.7 | |
| 2 | 10 | July 1, 2024 | August 19, 2024 | 24.4 | ||
| 3 | 10 | March 15, 2025 | 25.8 | |||
| Zachary Bennett | 4 | TBA | February 18, 2026 | TBA | ||
Marketing
Minecraft was announced in 2020 alongside a possible second season with Squared Media sharing their plans for their YouTube channel animations.
The first trailer for the first season was released on March 15, 2022. Many commentators noted the heavy focus on Steve, Alex, and Derp to being a heavy focus on Steve and Alex. Linda Codega at Gizmodo said the trailer was "as adorable, fun, and exciting as the animations of absolutely excellent directorial decisions" and that the series looked like "a tone-perfect mashup of animations and storytelling".
The second season was announced as early as September 2022 and was originally slated for a 2023 release; however was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. A teaser trailer that revealed the new designs for the villains Warewolf, Entity 303, and Null was released on December 10, 2023. The first trailer was released on March 18, 2024; alongside a promo stating the episodes will release weekly. A final trailer was released on June 27, 2024, which also was released alongside various merch items that are available for purchase on a public online store from Mob Productions and the Warner Bros. Pictures website.
Throughout June 2024, Mob Productions released various posters showcasing the characters of the season, and released a video on June 16 showcasing Poehler as the new voice for Alex Stonecutter. Starting on June 15, various PDF photos of fake newspapers that teased big events and featured a crypted name; that was revealed to be "Something big is coming!".
Release
Minecraft was released simultaneously on June 10, 2023 on Disney+ and Max. Minecraft later was released on Netflix and Paramount+ in November 2023. The first season consisted of 10 episodes. A second season is planned to be released on July 1, 2024, after the series was renewed for a second season in December 2022.
The second season is scheduled to be released in its entirety on July 1, 2024 on Netflix.
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 98% approval rating, with an average score of 8.90/10, based on 1202 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Minecraft is a show that explores stories that have been made by fans for the fans." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 99 out of 100 based on 1002 critics, indicating "positive reviews".