Onyx Equinox
Adult animated series based on Mesoamerican mythologies.
Onyx Equinox is an adult animated series from Mexican-American creator Sofia Alexander, produced for Crunchyroll. It draws on the mythologies of Mesoamerica, including Aztec, Maya, and Zapotec deities, with references to the Olmecs. The show premiered on November 21, 2020, and was the first original series fully produced at Crunchyroll Studios.
The story begins when Mictlantecuhtli, the Mexican god of the underworld, starts stealing blood sacrifices from other gods, destroying a Zapotec city in the process. Quetzalcoatl wants to seal the underworld’s gates, but they are made of obsidian, which is toxic to gods. Instead, he bets Tezcatlipoca that he can find a human—"the lowest of the low"—to close the gates before the equinox, or else Tezcatlipoca will wipe out humanity. Tezcatlipoca agrees but sends his champion Yaotl to keep an eye on Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl picks Izel, a slave who lost his sister to blood sacrifice.
The champions include Izel (voiced by Olivia J Brown), a young Aztec boy who resents humanity after his sister’s sacrifice; Yaotl (Alejandro Vargas-Lugo), a jaguar emissary harsh on Izel; Yun (Patrick Pedrazza), a friendly Maya teenager and twin brother of K'in; K'in (Juan Arturo Maldonado), a sarcastic Maya teenager; Zyanya (Carolina Ravassa), a Zapotec warrior whose city was destroyed; and Xanastaku (Kimberly Woods), a Totonac priestess seeking redemption. The gods are voiced by Cástulo Guerra (Mictlantecuhtli), Arin Hanson (Tezcatlipoca), Zeus Mendoza (Quetzalcoatl), Fayna Sanchez (The Healer/Mictecacihuatl), Alicia Ross (Tzitzimitl), and SungWon Cho (Xolotl). Supporting characters include Sofia Alexander as K'i'ik, Meque, and Nelli, and Sanchez and Octavio Solorio as Zyanya's parents.
The series released on November 21, 2020, with a trailer on June 25, a second on September 4, and a final one on October 29. On November 11, Crunchyroll announced dubs in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German. Due to high demand for binge-watching, the remaining seven episodes dropped on December 26, 2020, instead of weekly through February 2021. Sentai Filmworks picked up home video rights on May 18, 2021, releasing a Blu-ray on February 22, 2022. In January 2022, Alexander revealed the budget was "near 1/3 of a lot of western shows" and that she threatened to leave before production to unionize. She also said Crunchyroll allowed her to tell
- Creator
- Sofia Alexander
- Network
- Crunchyroll
- Premiere Date
- November 21, 2020
- Genre
- Adult animated television series
- Based On
- Mesoamerican mythologies (Aztec, Maya, Zapotec, Olmec)
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Status
- Cancelled (announced November 5, 2023)
Lore & Background
The series follows Izel, a young Aztec boy who lost his sister to blood sacrifice and is chosen by the god Quetzalcoatl as his champion to close the gates of the underworld before the equinox. Quetzalcoatl makes a bet with Tezcatlipoca, who sends his jaguar emissary Yaotl to ensure fairness. Izel is joined by companions including the Maya twins Yun and K'in, Zapotec warrior Zyanya, and Totonac priestess Xanastaku. The gods include Mictlantecuhtli, Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, Mictecacihuatl, Tzitzimitl, and Xolotl.
Creator Sofia Alexander initially felt nervous pitching the show due to the lack of stories about Mesoamerica, but Crunchyroll executive Marisa Balkus loved the pitch. Alexander stated she hoped fans of Western animation would see the appeal of action-drama animation for adults. The show was released in two batches: the first on November 21, 2020, and the remaining seven episodes on December 26, 2020, due to viewer demand for binging. Sentai Filmworks released the series on Blu-ray on February 22, 2022.
Reader's Guide
Onyx Equinox holds significance as the first original series produced entirely out of Crunchyroll Studios, marking a milestone for the platform's original animation. The series received mixed reception: Ederlyn Peralta of CBR praised its mesmerizing character designs but criticized character development, while Monique Thomas and Steve Jones of Anime News Network called it a 'big landmark for animation' with a diverse staff. Melissa Camacho of Common Sense Media noted its brutal violence and nudity but called the plot 'worthy of your time.' Raye Rodriguez, creator of High Guardian Spice, recommended the series for its unique storytelling. Anime Feminist criticized the depiction of human sacrifices as an overused narrative. In January 2022, Alexander revealed the budget was near one-third of many Western shows and that she threatened to leave before production started to unionize. In May 2023, she reported that Crunchyroll could not find production assets for episodes 4-12 due to archiving issues. The series was cancelled on November 5, 2023, due to reasons out of Alexander's control. In December 2020, Alexander received Animation Magazine's 'New Voice of the Year' award.
Did You Know?
- Onyx Equinox is the first original series produced entirely out of Crunchyroll Studios.
- Creator Sofia Alexander received Animation Magazine's 'New Voice of the Year' award in December 2020.
- The series was cancelled on November 5, 2023, due to reasons out of Alexander's control.
- Crunchyroll could not find production assets for episodes 4-12 because of how they were archived.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Onyx Equinox?
Onyx Equinox is an adult animated science-fantasy series that reinterprets Mesoamerican mythology through a modern storytelling lens. It was developed by Sofia Alexander and streamed on Crunchyroll.
Who created Onyx Equinox and where did it air?
Mexican-American creator Sofia Alexander developed the show, which was produced entirely in-house at Crunchyroll Studios. It holds the distinction of being Crunchyroll's first fully original series produced at their own facilities.
Which mythologies does Onyx Equinox draw from?
The series weaves together deities and lore from Aztec, Maya, and Zapotec traditions, while also referencing Olmec culture. These mythological frameworks shape the show's worldbuilding, character roster, and central conflicts.
What is the main conflict in Onyx Equinox?
The story ignites when Mictlantecuhtli, the underworld deity, begins hijacking blood sacrifices intended for other gods and destroys a Zapotec city in the process. Quetzalcoatl then moves to seal the obsidian gates of the underworld to stop the chaos.
How many episodes are in Onyx Equinox and when did it premiere?
The series spans 12 episodes in total. It first aired on November 21, 2020, on the Crunchyroll platform.
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