Netflix's 'LA Originals' Chronicles the Careers of Mister Cartoon & Estevan Oriol
An in-depth look at the LA-based duo’s simultaneous rise to the top of their professions.
Netflix is exploring the careers of influential tattoo artist Mister Cartoon and photographer Estevan Oriol with a new LA Originals documentary. Both Los Angeles natives, Cartoon and Oriol’s friendship and creative partnership is explored over the course of the film.
Cartoon began his career as a graffiti writer before shifting into tattooing, eventually inking memorable pieces on luminaries of hip-hop like Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. Meanwhile, Oriol was on tour photographing some of the biggest acts of the ’90s like the Beastie Boys, No Doubt and The Fugees. The two were brought together by their shared Chicano heritage and LA homebase, eventually opening Soul Assassin Studios and building an empire that remains influential and impactful to this day.
A deep dive into the path traveled by two creative forces, LA Originals is a rich history lesson for hip-hop heads, lowrider aficionados and tattoo enthusiasts alike — with commentary from the dynamic duo themselves as well as peers like Kobe Bryant, Eminem and Michelle Rodriguez. See the trailer above and Netflix’s official synopsis below, and expect an arrival on the streaming service April 10.
Photographer Estevan Oriol and artist Mister Cartoon turned their Chicano roots into gritty art, impacting street culture, hip hop and beyond.
Elsewhere, ESPN has moved up the launch date of its Michael Jordan & Chicago Bulls docu-series The Last Dance.