Indie Spotlight: Imaginative Series ‘This Is Desmondo Ray’ Examines Its Troubled Hero

We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now. Read previous installments here.

It’s only been two weeks since I last sang the praises of an Australian web series, and yet another creation from Down Under has caught my attention. This Is Desmondo Ray, a unique, must-see series funded by the government initiative Screen Australia, has launched a full season of quiet, compelling episodes.

The title character in This Is Desmondo Ray is a man, age 33-and-three-quarters, who possesses an unusual personality and a round physical appearance. After experiencing a personal tragedy, Desmondo is looking to get into the dating game, but his odd look and strange mannerisms make him a hard sell. In a prologue, we meet our hero and hear his pitch to potential suitors. Then, in episode one, creator Steve Baker begins to unfurl his hero’s mysterious backstory.

THIS IS DESMONDO RAY! Episode 1 from Steve Baker on Vimeo.

This Is Desmondo Ray‘s artful visual style, which mixes animation with live action, places it among the most gorgeous shows on the web. Pay too much attention to the colorful backdrop, however, and you’ll miss Desmondo Ray‘s sweet, empathetic sensibilities. This is a show that examines its main character in a careful, measured way, and as a result, Desmondo is one of the more nuanced protagonists I’ve seen. Kudos to Baker, who has managed to create a truly special show full of vivacity and pathos. This one is worth checking out.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• Batman: Master of Fear. This fan series adapts the Caped Crusader in a dark, action-packed manner.
• Good Morning Galaxy. An intergalactic DJ entertains her galaxy-wide audience in this series.
• Tangled and Twisted. Crime and a complex cast of characters set the stage for this Atlanta web series.

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