Exclusive Interview: Jeanine Mason Talks Imagination, Resilience, and the Sense of Wonder in ‘WondLa’ Season 2

Jeanine Mason has always had a gift for bringing heart, humor, and humanity to every role she takes on—and in WondLa, she elevates that magic to new heights. Based on Tony DiTerlizzi’s beloved novel, the animated series follows Eva Nine, a curious and spirited teen raised underground by a robot caretaker. When an attack forces her onto the surface of a planet now called Orbona, Eva embarks on a breathtaking journey across an alien world, determined to find her people, her home, and her true purpose.

As WondLa continues its journey in Season 2, Jeanine opens up about tapping into her imagination to bring Eva’s story to life, the physicality of voice acting, and the personal parallels between Eva’s search for connection and her own experiences. After achieving what she set out for at the end of Season 1—finding the humans she longed for—Eva now faces even greater questions about the world she’s discovered. Jeanine reflects on the powerful themes of resilience, found family, and the unshakable sense of wonder that drive Eva forward, even when the truth becomes harder to face.

PC: What I love so much about this series is how it resonates with audiences of all ages. There’s something universally relatable about your character’s journey. What can you share about what’s ahead for her in Season 2? And what has playing her taught you, especially when it comes to resilience and embracing the unknown?
Jeanine: I love that question. She definitely inspires me every day. I’m an optimistic person by nature, and I love that Eva shares that quality. But what I admire most about her is how fearless she is—no matter how unfamiliar or uncomfortable the landscape is, she’s always ready to dive in and figure it out. That’s something I find incredibly inspiring.

I’m really excited for audiences to continue the journey with her. In Season 1, she set out with the hope of finding the humans—finding her people—and she did. But that was just the beginning. As she starts to uncover answers about what really happened all those years ago that led the humans here, she realizes there’s still so much more she doesn’t know. And the more she learns, the more concerned she becomes.

What I love about Eva is that, even in the face of all that uncertainty, she remains so deeply connected to the world around her—whether it’s her alien community, her plants, or everything else she loves. She’s a real role model in that way. She’s the one saying, “What are you talking about? Everything’s fine. We’re going to be okay.”

PC: That’s the perfect segue into my next question. One of the themes that really resonates with me in this series is the idea of found family and how each character plays such an influential role in your character’s journey. Looking ahead to Season 2, who do you think has the biggest impact on her growth? And on a personal level, who have been the people in your own life who have held space for you in a similar way? Did you find yourself channeling them into those dynamics?
Jeanine: That’s such a sweet question. The relationship that I’m most excited for fans to see play out this season is between Eva and Rovee. They have a journey that I was so protective of and had the support from showrunner Bobs [Gannaway] and author Tony [DiTerlizzi] in the recording booth. We went back and forth so much on navigating the nuances of that journey and audiences will see that play out this season. But it’s one of the things that I’m most proud of with this show as a whole.

I’m an artist and a nomad. I go from gig to gig and town to town. I gather people along the way. A lot of that feels familiar to me. That absolutely plays through into their relationship and a lot of the relationships that Eva starts to piece together, especially in Season 2.

PC: There’s also such an interesting parallel between the show’s sense of wonder and what it takes to bring that to life in the recording booth, especially when you’re relying so much on your imagination. How helpful was that as you were tapping into this character? How does Season 2 double down on the visual aspect and that animation? Is there a moment that took your breath away?
Jeanine: That’s such a sweet question. The relationship I’m most excited for fans to see unfold this season is between Eva and Rovee. They go on a journey together that I was really protective of, and I’m so grateful to our showrunner Bobs [Gannaway] and the book’s author Tony [DiTerlizzi] for supporting me through it in the recording booth. We had a lot of conversations about how to navigate the nuances of their bond, and I’m really proud of what we created. Audiences will see that story come to life this season.

On a personal note, I’m an artist and a bit of a nomad—I go from gig to gig, town to town, and I gather people along the way. That feeling of finding and building your family wherever you are is something I know intimately. It absolutely influenced how I approached Eva’s relationships, especially in Season 2, as she continues to piece together her own found family.

PC: There’s also such an interesting parallel between the show’s sense of wonder and what it takes to bring that to life in the recording booth, especially when you’re relying so much on your imagination. How helpful was that in tapping into your character? And how does Season 2 double down on the visuals and animation? Was there a moment that took your breath away?
Jeanine: These are such great questions. There’s a lot that happens toward the end of the season that I don’t want to spoil, but I remember them describing what it might look like—and at the time, it was still so conceptual. You really have to tap into this hive mind and ask yourself, “What are they seeing? Is it as colorful as I’m imagining? How big, how deep is this world?” And then when I finally saw it, it was often so different than I had pictured—but somehow it just works. What I’ve learned is that it’s not about getting it exactly right; it’s about believing in something unbelievable in your mind. [laughs]

There are also moments, like when Eva is riding a flying whale, where I knew I wanted to capture that pure, sixteen-year-old sense of wonder—the feeling of riding a roller coaster for the first time. It’s so fun to tap into my body, to move around the booth, to stand on my toes and feel my stomach drop. I definitely feel much more comfortable doing that now in Season 2 than I did in Season 1. I work with these amazing engineers here in New York at Outlaw Audio, and they’ve been so supportive. I can’t just stand still and pretend I’m flying on a whale—I have to move. They’ve helped create this space where I can physically find that suspended joy.

PC: There’s so much unexpected physicality that comes with voice work. Your performance in this is incredible—as is the rest of the cast’s—and when you pair that with the visual component, it’s just breathtaking. You’ve shared that this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of your career. What has made it so meaningful for you?
Jeanine: I think it’s the scope of it. You step into this world and meet all these people who are passionate about world-building and creating magical moments that stay with audiences for generations. It’s so inspiring to be surrounded by people who genuinely care about making something lasting—something that sparks wonder and joy.

I was especially moved by how committed everyone was to raising the bar in television animation. You could feel it in every part of the process. Sometimes there’s a lot of big talk without much follow-through, but here, from John Lasseter to Skydance to Apple TV+, everyone was truly dedicated to making something that would blow young audiences’ minds. I have so much respect for that level of care—to put that much heart and energy into creating smiles, magic, and unforgettable moments for young people. It’s such a worthwhile mission, and I’m just so grateful to be a part of it.

To keep up with Jeanine, follow her on X and Instagram. WondLa Season 2 is now available on AppleTV+.