Michael Carter-Williams and Jamaal Williams Join Afro-Futurist Anime 'Sentinel 6' as Executive Producers
An Afro-futurist sci-fi anime called 'Sentinel 6' is in development with NBA and NFL veterans Michael Carter-Williams and Jamaal Williams serving as executive producers. The series, created by Pat Stout and the late Asa Palmer, is set in 2429 after a catastrophic war and follows six young defenders who awaken a shared sentinel power. LeSean Thomas wrote the pilot and is a consulting producer, while King Vader is among the voice cast.
The project originated in 2019 with writer Pat Stout and the late Asa Palmer under their company Sable Kudzu. Its setting is 2429, roughly four centuries after the Great Phoenix War, a near-extinction conflict fueled by hostility toward powered sentinels. Six young defenders—three male, three female—embody aspects such as mind, heart, sword, and shield.
LeSean Thomas penned the pilot and advises as consulting producer; King Vader is among the voice actors. A 2024 Kickstarter raised almost $20,000 for a trailer made by Chase A Cloud Studio. After Palmer’s death, Carter-Williams and Williams fully financed the pilot in late 2025. Creative Freaks later won the studio bid.
The series may resonate with Black anime fans and broader viewers who rarely see themselves centered in sci-fi animation. Its sports-figure backing could draw new audiences and signal commercial confidence in independent, culturally specific animation. If picked up, it might expand opportunities for diverse creators and voice talent, while its Afro-futurist world could invite conversations about representation and belonging. Impact remains uncertain, depending on distribution, reception, and whether the pilot advances to full series.