Hit-Monkey Season 2"s Ally Maki Talks Haruka"s "Gray Area" Story Arc & Potential Toy Story 5 Return

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Summary

Haruka's morals are tested in Hit-Monkey season 2 as she helps him clear his name and becomes imbued with mystical powers.
In addition to her moral journey, star Ally Maki also teases the tested friendship of Akiko and Haruka as the former hunts Monkey down after taking up the Lady Bullseye mantle.
Maki has not yet heard whether she will be back for Toy Story 5, though is keen to return to the role that "changed my life forever".

Haruka will find her morals truly put to the test in Hit-Monkey season 2. The character, voiced by Wrecked alum Ally Maki, was introduced in season 1 of the animated Marvel show as a fresh-faced officer in the Tokyo Police Department who desires to put an end to the rise in organized crime in the city. Throughout the season, she becomes closer to the titular hero as she realizes his killing spree is actually exposing some of the criminals she is looking for, ultimately leading to her sneaking Monkey out of the country after he kills the corrupt politician, Yokohama.
Hit-Monkey season 2 picks up shortly after the events of its predecessor, with the eponymous hero and his ghost mentor, Bryce, now in New York City after escaping from Japan. Haruka comes to join the duo in NYC, headquartered in Bryce's old apartment, and continues to try and find a way to clean Monkey's name, as well as redeem her former friend, Akiko, who has become corrupted and turned to carrying on Lady Bullseye's name. As Haruka also learns more of the supernatural forces at play around the world, including an ancient sword that imbues her with mystical powers, she herself must fight the temptation of becoming corrupted.

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Alongside Maki, the ensemble Hit-Monkey season 2 cast features the returns of Fred Tatasciore in the titular role alongside Jason Sudeikis as Bryce and Olivia Munn as Akiko, as well as the show introductions of Leslie Jones, Cristin Milioti, Reiko Aylesworth, Rob Corddry, Keith David and Jim Gaffigan. With the stakes higher than ever for its characters, season 2 delivers some shocking twists in the lead up to its wild finale, namely for Haruka and Akiko.
Ahead of the show's return, Screen Rant interviewed Ally Maki to discuss Hit-Monkey season 2, Haruka's journey of embracing moral gray areas, the heartbreaking devolution of her and Akiko's friendship as the latter seeks revenge against Monkey, her thoughts on a potential Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover, and potential Toy Story 5 return.
The Wait For Hit-Monkey Season 2 Has Been "Such A Journey" For Maki

Hit-Monkey season 2 is arriving some two-and-a-half years after its original season premiered, with a variety of factors attributed to its delay. Much like her co-star Fred Tatasciore, Maki was eagerly awaiting the call for season 2 to proceed with production, describing it as "such a journey", though is "excited" the season is finally about to release:

Ally Maki: Yeah, like you said, it's been such a journey. We started this over the pandemic, or even before the pandemic, is when I auditioned, so it's been such a journey. I love working with this team so much. Now, we've recorded everywhere; Atlanta, LA, New York. So it's been fun to kind of take this on the road, and we're in a new city this season, in New York, so it's just such a wild ride. I'm excited that people are now finally gonna get to see it.

Hit-Monkey Season 2 Really Tests Haruka's Morality

While season 1 saw the character seeing the world on a very black-and-white spectrum of morality, Hit-Monkey season 2 pushes Haruka to the limit as she is not only working outside the confines of law enforcement, but also slowly becomes a killing machine as she acquires a mystical sword with the spirit of an ancient warrior inside. Maki was thrilled when she saw where her arc would take her in season 2, and teases that, despite its serious nature, it "brought more comedy" to the character:

Ally Maki: It was cool, because in season 1, I think she came to the Tokyo police department really thinking she knew what it meant to be honest, and what good and bad meant, on these very kind of simple terms. But I think, over season 1, and dealing with Bryce and dealing with Monkey, she's learned what that gray area is. Now, she's very much committed to righting Monkey's name, and she's gonna take things into her own hands and go to New York. I think what's awesome is temptation is a really big theme for her this season, of learning, "What is justice, really?" And, "What does that look like for her?" And, "What does it mean to fight for justice?" And, "What is that line?" I think that's something that she's balancing, so it's really fun. I think, weirdly, it brought more comedy to her this season, because I think she's putting herself in situations that are a little more uncomfortable for her, which is always so much fun.

Akiko & Haruka Are "Both Right" In Their Conflicting Ideals

Though they were friends and close allies of the titular assassin in season 1, Hit-Monkey season 2 sees Akiko and Haruka on opposing sides as the former is on a murderous quest for revenge for the death of her uncle by Monkey. In reflecting on this arc and new dynamic between the characters, Maki acknowledges that "they're both right", and addresses how their conflicting ideals will play into their season 2 arcs:

Ally Maki: I think what's so cool is, in season 1, we talked about that it's awesome that, even though the show is called Hit-Monkey, there are these two very strong female Japanese characters at the center of the story, and kind of on both ends of things, because they're both right. Again, it's this gray area of, like, I understand Akiko's feelings to get revenge strongly. I understand, also, Haruka's challenge to fight for what she's seen and believes in. So, I think these characters stand so strong in their morality, and what they see, and what they believe in, and that's what I love about these two female characters. Obviously, Olivia is so fun and amazing, and I just love her in real life, and how she plays his character. So yeah, I think it's really fun to watch that unfold.

Maki Is Very Game For A Hit-Monkey & MCU Crossover (And Knows The Perfect Character)

Though originally produced by Marvel Television, Hit-Monkey has uniquely stood apart from the long-running MCU by seemingly being situated in its own universe. Despite the lack of any major connections with the blockbuster franchise, Maki is very open to seeing a proper MCU crossover with the show at some point in the future, and even knows which character she'd like to see should it come to fruition:

Ally Maki: I think that would be amazing. I think this show is such an amazing representation of the MCU in its own way, because it's so different. It has so many elements that I think make the MCU so great, but I would always be down for a crossover. I am such a fan. I was just saying earlier that I'm such a big baby Groot fan, so anything there with Groot would be so much fun. [Laughs]

Maki Is Ready For Toy Story 5 Return After Role "Changed My Life Forever"

Beyond her role as Haruka in Hit-Monkey, one of Maki's best-known characters is that of Giggle McDimples in the Toy Story franchise, having been introduced in the fourth Pixar movie. With Toy Story 5 currently in development, Maki says she knows "nothing" about whether the creative team intends to bring her character back, but is very hopeful to reprise the role that "changed my life forever":

Ally Maki: I know nothing, I wish I knew anything. The only thing I always say is I would be there in a heartbeat. That movie, and those people, changed my life forever. She's literally right there on my wall, always kind of looking down on all my Zoom meetings. So yeah, I'm so excited, regardless of whether I'm there or not, that they're going to make a fifth. I mean, that's incredible.

About Hit-Monkey Season 2 Close In New York City, Monkey finds a path to escape his life of killing, while Bryce attempts to repair the damage to those he wronged in life. But what will it cost them to undo the past?
A Japanese snow monkey, aided by the ghost of an American assassin, goes on a killing-spree, and becomes the famous “killer of killers.”
Your browser does not support the video tag. Stay tuned for our other Hit-Monkey season 2 interviews with:

Fred Tatasciore
Will Speck and Josh Gordon

Hit-Monkey season 2 is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+!
Source: Screen Rant Plus

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Hit Monkey is a 2021 animated streaming series developed by Marvel Television for Hulu. With Fred Tatasciore, Olivia Munn, Jason Sudeikis, George Takei, and Ally Maki in its star-studded voice cast, the show tells the story of a deadly Japanese macaque who wages war on Tokyo's criminal underworld with the help of the ghost of an assassin.
Cast Ally Maki , Olivia Munn , Fred Tatasciore , George Takei , Nobi Nakanishi , Jason Sudeikis Release Date November 17, 2021 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Hulu

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