New Netflix Series Explores Jewish Identity Through Family Dynamics

LOS ANGELES, CA — The new Netflix animated series, Long Story Short, aired its first episode on August 22, 2025, capturing the complexities of Jewish identity through the experiences of the Schwooper family. Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, known for Bojack Horseman, the show depicts a family navigating life, love, and loss in an unapologetically Jewish context.

In the premiere, the Schwooper family is introduced during a motorcade to a burial site in 1996. The matriarch, Naomi, grapples with her grief and the rabbi’s unconventional eulogy while her children bicker in the backseat. Their quarrels introduce them to heavier questions about Jewish beliefs regarding life after death. Elliot, the patriarch, shares a powerful sentiment: ‘You don’t leave a good, meaningful life for some reward later. You live a good, meaningful life so that you lead a good, meaningful life.’

Bob-Waksberg has expressed that his aim was to craft a story rooted in Jewish themes without overlaying typical pressures associated with cultural representation. ‘I wanted to tell a story that was unapologetically Jewish,’ he stated in an interview, acknowledging his own upbringing in a Jewish environment in Northern California.

The series, told through non-linear storytelling across the ‘90s, aughts, and 2020s, has relatable plots, from conflicts over family traditions to humorous Yiddish punchlines. Bob-Waksberg anticipates that audiences will see reflections of their own family dynamics within the Schwoopers, who are depicted as a diverse and inclusive family.

‘I think people might even be surprised by the ways in which they can relate to characters that maybe on paper don’t seem like them at all,’ he added, highlighting the universal themes embedded within the humor.

In the creation of Long Story Short, Bob-Waksberg collaborated with writers from various backgrounds to depict a wide array of Jewish experiences. This diversity within the writers’ room informed the show’s authenticity, allowing it to resonate with audiences of all identities while still engaging deeply with Jewish culture.

The striking animation style also distinguishes Long Story Short from Bob-Waksberg’s previous work. The intentional visual choices aim to maintain a ‘loose’ artistic feel, adding to the familial and authentic atmosphere of the storytelling.

As the series unfolds, both Bob-Waksberg and the Schwooper family invite viewers to explore what it means to live a life rich with meaning, identity, and humor. Long Story Short ultimately promises to challenge audiences to reflect on their own lives through a distinctive Jewish lens.