Mating Season

## The Wild New World of 'Mating Season': Netflix’s Latest Adult Animation

If you’ve spent the last decade navigating the hormonal chaos of *Big Mouth*, you might be wondering where the creative team behind it would go next. The answer, it turns out, is the forest—but not in the way you might think.

Netflix’s newest adult animated series, **"Mating Season,"** premiered on May 22, 2026, and it’s every bit as raunchy, neurotic, and surprisingly emotional as its predecessor. Created by Nick Kroll, Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett, and Andrew Goldberg, this show trades human puberty for the raw, instinct-driven landscape of the animal kingdom.

### What Is 'Mating Season'?

At its core, *Mating Season* follows a quartet of woodland creatures as they navigate the exhausting, messy, and hilarious quest for love and connection. Forget the "cute and cuddly" wildlife tropes—these animals are grappling with very human problems: toxic relationships, heartbreak, dating anxieties, and the desperate need to find "the one."

The central ensemble features:

 * **Josh (Zach Woods):** A big brown bear who finds himself single after oversleeping his own hibernation window and returning to find his partner has moved on.

 * **Ray (Nick Kroll):** A horny, chaotic raccoon who serves as the group’s resident skeptic when it comes to true love.

 * **Fawn (June Diane Raphael):** A deer who falls in love hard and fast, often leading to complicated romantic entanglements.

 * **Penelope (Sabrina Jalees):** A queer fox who is working on her self-confidence and exploring her sexuality in a world of diverse species.

### The "Wild" Factor

The show’s visual style is one of its most interesting features. While these animals live in a forest without human technology, they are highly anthropomorphic—often wearing clothes, using human-made objects, and speaking with sophisticated, modern dialogue. However, they aren't afraid to drop back into "all-fours" mode when instinct, panic, or primal urges take over. This jarring shift between civilized dating and wild animal behavior provides a unique comedic rhythm that defines the show's identity.

### Should You Watch It?

*Mating Season* isn't for everyone. Critics have noted that it leans heavily into the *Big Mouth* DNA: expect graphic humor, foul language, and, naturally, a lot of animal-themed sexual situations.

 * **The Verdict:** If you are a fan of adult animation that explores the absurdity of human behavior through a satirical lens, you’ll likely find a lot to love here. As the season progresses, the show moves beyond the shock value to explore surprisingly poignant themes of loneliness and the universal desire to be understood.

 * **The Comparison:** While some viewers feel it’s still finding its unique "voice" compared to the established hit *Big Mouth*, others have praised its strong voice cast and its clever way of filtering adult relationship drama through a woodland filter.

Whether you're looking for a series to binge-watch for some laughs or you're just curious about how far Netflix is pushing the boundaries of adult animation, *Mating Season* is now streaming with its full ten-episode first season.

4.5/5