Netflix hasn’t renewed The Sandman for Season 2 just yet, but they have just surprised us with a new bonus episode (on top of the 10 episodes in Season 1).

The Sandman Season 1 bonus episode is a live-action/animated hybrid episode adapting two fan-favourite stories from Gaiman’s “Sandman” graphic novels from DC Comics: A Dream Of A Thousand Cats and Calliope.

“A Dream of a Thousand Cats” is the animated portion and stars Tom Sturridge in his leading “Sandman” role as Dream, as well as guest voice cast members including Oh as The Prophet, Rosie Day as The Tabby Kitten, David Gyasi as The Grey Cat, Joe Lycett as The Black Cat, Gaiman himself as Crow/Skull Bird, McAvoy as Golden-Haired Man, David Tennant as Don, Georgia Tennant as Laura Lynn, Sheen as Paul, Anna Lundberg as Marion, Nonso Anozie as Wyvern, Diane Morgan as Gryphon, and Tom Wu as Hippogriff.

It’s funny because James McAvoy voices Morpheus AKA Dream in Audible’s “The Sandman” adaptation, while Michael Sheen is the voice of Lucifer, and David Tennant voices Loki. Both Sheen and Tennant also star in another Neil Gaiman series adaptation, which is Amazon Prime Video’s Good Omens.

Speaking with Variety, Hisko Hulsing, who directed the animated story, said:

“We endeavored to make the animated version of ‘A Dream of a Thousand Cats’ as mesmerizing and hypnotic as we could by utilizing the magic of real oil paintings on canvas.

We combined the paintings with classically drawn 2D animation, based on realistic 3D animation of telepathic cats in order to create a trippy world that feels both grounded and dreamy at the same time. Untold Studios in London created the breathtaking 3D animation of the cats.

The wonderful 2D animation, oil paintings and stylizing were all done at Submarine Studios in Amsterdam.”

The live-action story Calliope, directed by Louise Hooper, features Sturridge along with guest stars Melissanthi Mahut as Calliope, Arthur Darvill as Richard Madoc, Nina Wadia as Fate Mother, Souad Faress as Fate Crone, Dinita Gohil as Fate Maiden, Kevin Harvey as Larry, Amita Suman as Nora, and Derek Jacobi as Erasmus Fry.

In the meantime, check out my predictions of what’s to come in The Sandman Season 2 and beyond (though be prepared for full spoilers from both Season 1 and the entire comic book run).