Netflix is expanding its library of high-quality anime with a new series called Trese, a supernatural crime series based on a comic of the same name. The critically acclaimed comic, written by Budjette Tan and illustrated by Kadjo Baldisismo, stars female protagonist Alexandra Trese, a young and mysterious detective that works closely with police to solve bloody crimes involving non-figurative monsters. If that sounds like a certain masked crusader to you, then you’re going to like this show.
Playing the Commissioner Gordon to her Batman, Captain Guerrero rings up our protagonist whenever crime takes a turn for the unexplainable. Alexandra then leaps into action, taking us with her to the dark underbelly of Metro Manila, where the kingpins of crime are man-eating giants and goblin-like creatures lurk beneath manholes.
More than just a Batman-alike, Trese is bound to delight fans of the Witcher book series and CDProjekt Red games. Our titular protagonist is as much a vigilante investigator as she is a protector of the boundary between the mundane and supernatural. As a descendant of a long line of monster slayers, Alexandra keeps the peace between humans and the creatures of Philippine mythology.
That said, Trese is still a new name to many ears so it’s no wonder if you’re still on the fence about watching it. But here’s what you can expect from Trese:
1. An Action-Packed Experience
Alexandra Trese and her equally mysterious bodyguards are taking us with them on a monster slaying adventure that’s sure to get your adrenaline pumping. The original comics are known for their perfect blend of crime, mystery, and fight sequences that serve justice through fists and knives.
Trese wouldn’t be Trese without Alexandra’s signature knife, a traditional Filipino weapon called a kris. The kris, which Alexandra calls ‘Sinag’, meaning sunray, features a wavy blade that represents serpents in the Maguindanao tradition. As to what Sinag represents for Alexandra, well, you’ll have to find that one out for yourself. Rest assured that it isn’t a situation like that of DC Comics hero Katana…well, not quite.
2. Film Noir-esque Goodness
Spurned murderous women, shady criminal ploys, and a trench coat wearing heroine who seems to forget that she lives in a country where temperatures rarely drop below 25 degrees Celsius? Sign us up.
Trese reintroduces the tired old tropes of both the noir genre and Filipino mythology and combines these to create something that’s familiar but with a fresh twist.
3. A Complete Storyline
If there’s anything we’ve learned from the eigth season of Game of Thrones, it’s that a series that runs out of original source material quickly becomes a train wreck. There’s no risk of that happening with Trese (or so we hope). The Netflix adaptation has a deep well of creativity to draw from seeing as Trese has seven books in its main series and several shorts. On top of that, Trese has a number of crossovers with other comic book series in the same genre.
Trese Netflix universe, anyone?
4. A Star-Studded Asian Cast
It’s not everyday you find a ghost dead and it’s not everyday you get a Filipino anime featuring an all Filipino cast.
Trese is available in three languages, English, Japanese and Tagalog. Both the English and Tagalog dubs have been confirmed to feature voice actors and celebrities who are either Filipino or of Filipino descent. The Tagalog cast stars Philippine TV’s sweetheart, Liza Soberano, for the role of Alexandra Trese while Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell takes up the role for the English dub.
Another famous face lending her voice to Trese is singer and dancer Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. The rest of the English and Tagalog dub cast are listed below.
English voice actors:
Shay Mitchell – Alexandra Trese
Griffin Puatu – The Kambal (Crispin and Basilio), Bantay
Matt Yang King – Captain Guerrero, Dominic
Jon Jon Briones – Hank, Xa-Mul
Steve Blum – Datu Talagbusao, Ibwa
Carlos Alazraqui – Anton Trese, Santelmo
Manny Jacinto – Maliksi
Eric Bauza – Nuno the Snitch, Bagyon Lektro
Darren Criss – Marco
Nicole Scherzinger – Miranda Trese
Lou Diamond Phillips – Mayor Sancho Santamaria
Dante Basco – Bagyon Kulimlim
Rodney To – Aswang market guard, man in drag
Tagalog voice actors:
Liza Soberano – Alexandra Trese
Simon dela Cruz – The Kambal (Crispin and Basilio)
Apollo Abraham – Captain Guerrero
Christopher Carlo Caling – Hank
Eugene Adalia – Anton Trese
Cheska Aguiluz – Miranda Trese
Christian Velarde – Nuno
Bryan Encarnacion – Datu Talagbusao
Nica Rojo – Ramona
Jo Anne Orobia-Chua – Emissary
Jose Amado Santiago – Marco
Steve dela Cruz – Maliksi
Rene Tandoc – Mayor Santamaria
Steffi Graf Bontogon-Mola – Young, Teen Alexandra
RJ Celdran – Santelmo, Señor Armanaz
Elyrey Martin – Ibwa, Dominic
Steven Bontogon – Jobert
Trese stays true to its Filipino roots down to the last detail. Jay Oliva, who started his career with Fox’s 1996 animated version of Spiderman, serves as the show’s director and showrunner. Plus, the show has been confirmed to feature an original soundtrack by Filipino band UDD.
Netflix released the official trailer for Trese earlier this month. The trailer is available for you to watch in English, Japanese, and Tagalog. The show itself is set to release on June 11th so mark your calendars.