Interview: Gary Anthony Williams Gets Real About The Emotional Final Season of Apple TV’s WondLa

When Gary Anthony Williams starts talking, you listen. The voice behind some of the most beloved animated characters on TV has that rare blend of charm, warmth, and quick wit that instantly lights up a room or in this case, a Zoom screen. As he gears up for the final season of Apple TV’s WondLa, Williams sat down with The TV Cave to reflect on the emotional journey of his character Rovinder, the show’s grand sense of adventure, and why he’s still holding out hope this “final” season isn’t really the end.

WondLa is adapted from Tony DiTerlizzi’s beloved book series The Search for WondLa, the Apple TV production has been praised for its cinematic visuals, heartfelt storytelling, and surprisingly deep emotional core. As Williams puts it, this is more than a show about robots and futuristic worlds, it’s a story about connection, family, and what it means to find your place in an ever-changing universe.

“I saw the words ‘final season’ and I hated them,” Williams admitted with a laugh. “This story ends beautifully, but it’s been such a real journey that I can’t help but feel sad to see it go.” That bittersweet tone pretty much sums up the mood surrounding the series finale. For Williams, who voices the wise and loyal Rovinder, WondLa has been one of his most creatively demanding yet rewarding roles.

And that’s saying something for a guy who’s been in everything from The Boondocks to Bob’s Burgers.

Williams revealed that finding Rovinder’s voice was no easy feat. “When we first started recording, it was more creature sounding,” he said. “We went through so many versions and rerecords to get it right. I probably recorded some episodes five or six times. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it.”

That commitment shows on screen. Rovinder’s relationship with Eva, the show’s central heroine, evolves from prickly to deeply affectionate, creating one of the most emotionally satisfying dynamics in modern animation. “At first, she was just someone he had to put up with,” Williams explained. “Now he can’t live without her. She’s his family. The family he lost, and the one he needs.”

There’s also something undeniably refreshing about how WondLa celebrates its strong female characters. Williams, who grew up surrounded by sisters, shared how much he appreciates that aspect of the story. “Anytime I get to applaud that feminine energy, I’m clapping the hardest in the room,” he said proudly.

Beyond the relationships, WondLa continues to stand out for its breathtaking visuals and “filmic” feel, a term Williams playfully coined during our chat. “I turned to my dog while watching it and said, this should be a film,” he joked. “It looks and feels that good.”

Still, for all the humor and playfulness, there’s no denying the emotional punch of this last season. Without giving too much away, Williams admitted there’s one particular reunion scene that hit him hard. “It really did tug on me emotionally,” he confessed. “It transcended just being animation. You could feel the connection between these characters.”

By the end of our conversation, it’s clear that Gary Anthony Williams isn’t just proud of WondLa he’s genuinely moved by it. He describes the show as “a fantastic emotional family driven beautiful work of art.” Which, honestly, feels like the perfect send-off for a story about heart, hope, and humanity in a world that’s anything but ordinary.

So, is WondLa really over? Williams isn’t convinced. “Maybe a movie,” he teased. “Or maybe that wasn’t really the final season.” Here’s hoping he’s right. Because if there’s one thing WondLa has taught us, it’s that endings are just beginnings in disguise.

Catch the final season of WondLa streaming on AppleTV November 26. And if Gary Anthony Williams has his way, it won’t be the last time we see Rovinder and Eva explore that wondrous world together.

Check out our full interview below: