La Cazadora

"La Cazadora" (English: The Huntress) is a 2023 TV series aired on Visión produced under AMETEL Producciones. 
The plot is loosely based on the 2007 anime, "El Cazador de la Bruja" directed by Kōichi Mashimo and animated by Bee Train studio. 
This is the twentieth original fiction production of the channel. Maria Gabriela de Faria and Tessa Ía plays the lead roles of Nadie and Ellis, along with Luciana Echeverría as Jody Ojos Azules Hayward. 
Saúl Lisazo, Jessica San Juan and Luis de la Rosa stars as the antagonists, while Demián Bichir, Fernando Bonilla and Maya Zapata have supporting roles.
==Synopsis==
A fateful encounter between Ellis, a fugitive girl with amnesia, a troubled past, and supernatural powers, and Nadie, a maverick bounty hunter, leads both girls to a dangerous travel across Mexico together in search of answers to Ellis's past. The only clues they have are a mysterious pink jewel given to Ellis by Salma, a fortune teller she was staying with, and Ellis's notion that she has to go somewhere south.
==Cast==
*Maria Gabriela de Faria as Nadie, the bounty hunter.
*Tessa Ía as Ellis, the gifted girl.
*Luciana Echeverría as Jody Ojos Azules Hayward, the undercover agent.
*Saúl Lisazo as Douglas Rosenberg, main villain.
*Jessica San Juan as Melissa, Rosenberg's wife.
*Luis de la Rosa as L.A. Ellis's stalker and Rosenberg's agent.
*Demián Bichir as Heinz Schneider, the sciencist behind Ellis' story.
*Fernando Bonilla as Ricardo, the bounty hunter.
*Leticia Huijara as Doña Salma, the Fortune Teller.
*Jesús Ochoa as El Senador. Sponsor of Rosenberg's project.
*Maya Zapata as the Witch Council President.
==Production==
Principal photography started in November 13, 2021, in several municipalities of the semidesertic region of the state of Querétaro, then continued during January and February 2022 in the neighbouring state of San Luis Potosi, on its capital city and the selvatic town of Xilitla, and was concluded in May 2022 in Lagunas de Zempoala National Park in Morelos, Puebla and archaeological zones in Veracruz. The series is dedicated to the memory of Héctor Bonilla, legendary Mexican actor and father of Fernando Bonilla who plays Ricardo.
===Controversies===
Mexican rivaling media criticized the series while on filming because thay felt that it glorified the culture of gun violence and war on present-day Mexico, however, the producers and director defended the series by showcasing its female empowerment, native culture and supernatural themes, along with being inspired by Classic Western movies instead of current narco-themed fiction, which, coincidentally enough, many of the aforementioned media outlets currently produce and air on prime-time.
The anime fan community in Mexico also was worried about the adaptation of a Japanese animation on Mexican television, citing negative views of the manga and anime culture on mainstream media over recent years, to the point of mocking the series with memes. 
AMETEL decided to change the age of the protagonist duo from teenagers to young adults, due to a policy on the network of not employing child actors in fiction. Because of the same rule, the character of Lirio from the original anime was discarded for this live-action version.
===Soundtrack===
AMETEL acquired permission to the original soundtrack of the anime by Yuki Kajiura, but some pieces were denied and re-arranged by Mexican composer Felipe Pérez-Santiago. Both opening and ending themes were adapted to Spanish and covered by well-known Mexican singers. Many Mexican and Latin American singers and songwriters also participate on the soundtrack: Beto Cuevas, Carla Morrison, Natalia Lafourcade, Saúl Hernández, Ximena Sariñana, etc. Along with the bands Enjambre, Hello Seahorse!, El Mató A Un Policía Motorizado, among many others.
== Broadcasting ==
A first sneak peek was revealed during the halftime of the broadcast of the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final in Visión. The series was premiered on Palm Sunday. April 2, 2023 (same date than the original anime). At 21:00 Mexico City Time on Visión, with new episodes premiering on subsequent Sunday nights. La Cazadora is aired abroad on the Vié cable network of AMETEL starting May 1st at midnight. Eastern Time and on Americavisión.
Category:Fictional TV series
Category:Television programmes in Mexico
Category:Television programs established in 2023