Max’s Most Overlooked Sci-Fi Show with Perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes Might Never Get Season 2

In 2023, Max released Scavengers Reign, an animated sci-fi thriller about survival on an unknown planet. The debut series from two animators, Joe Bennett and Charles Huettner, grew out of their 2016 short film Scavengers and became one of the most strikingly beautiful and unusual animated series of the year.

What is Scavengers Reign About?

In the distant future, the cargo ship Demeter 227 veers off course and suffers irreparable damage. Part of the crew uses evacuation pods and is sent to the nearest planet, Vesta.

They must survive in a dangerous environment, send a SOS signal and rescue the rest of the crew who are still on the ship in cryosleep.

Scavengers Reign Was 2023’s Biggest Animated Event

Fall 2023 was held under the banner of animated series. Invincible returned for a second season, Fionna & Cake reminded us why we loved Adventure Time, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off reimagined an iconic coming-of-age story, and Pantheon proved that uncomfortable stories about the evolution of technology can be found beyond Black Mirror.

Simply put, there were more outstanding animated series released in the fall of 2023 than there have been in the past few years combined. That makes the success of Scavengers Reign all the more impressive – an animated series that not only managed to stay afloat in an impressive list of competitors, but also outperformed each of them.

Scavengers Reign Is One of the Most Unique Sci-Fi Projects of Recent Years

Scavengers Reign is a project that celebrates the rich imagination of its creators and the limitless possibilities of animation. Finally, an animated series justifies its R-rating not with gallons of blood and sex, but with truly adult storylines – like how sad and scary it can sometimes be to be alone with yourself.

There’s Not Much Hope for Season 2

The high quality of the series is confirmed by its rating on Rotten Tomatoes – 100% from critics and 94% from viewers. Of course, immediately after the end of 12 episodes, fans were wondering if Scavengers Reign would have a second season.

However, despite rave reviews, there has been no news of a renewal for Scavengers Reign, and this may be a continuation of Max's depressing trend of animated projects not lasting more than one season. For example, Pac Man, Close Enough and Infinity Train were all canceled after a single season.

Scavengers Reign is an outstanding piece of animation and a sci-fi thriller that you won't forget long after you've seen it. Equally beautiful and brutal, it's a contender for the title of the most original sci-fi of the past year, so let's hope it doesn't suffer the same fate as Max's other animated projects.