EDMONDS—Compass Health, in partnership with the Northwest Washington Civic Circle (NWCC), will be hosting a screening of the short, animated film Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II this Saturday, January 24, from 12 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Edmonds Theater. The film explores anxiety, loneliness, and stress among young people and will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s producers and Snohomish County mental health advocates regarding youth mental health and early intervention.
The 15-minute short follows Xerxes Hughes, a Black teenager navigating through his mental health journey. The story is framed through Hughes’ therapy sessions, where he recounts his experiences as an amateur superhero, confronting “Depression Demons” – physical manifestations of his trauma and insecurities. According to the film’s producers, the film blends action and drama to explore themes of trauma, identity, and self-worth.
Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II originally debuted at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival and was positively received by critics who praised its innovative approach to superhero storytelling, focusing on a Black protagonist’s mental health struggles with depression, stunning 90s-inspired animation, authentic voice acting, and exploration of self-doubt, in addition to its depth and unique voice in a saturated market. It is a sequel to the 2022 animated film Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part I.
The film is currently in the works of potentially receiving theatrical release in 2027.
Captain Zero’s writer, director, and one of its producers, Z Cher Aimé, is a Haitian American filmmaker, artist, writer with a close connection to the film’s subject matter and wanted to change the narrative on addressing mental health issues, especially among the Black community where mental health issues are rarely discussed and highlighted. Aimé also leads the production company, Cutting Edge Animation, which produced the film.
“While screenings and discussions have happened in Seattle and other parts of the country, as a Black person living in Snohomish County, discussions geared towards our community don’t happen regularly here,” Alicia Crank, Founder of the NWCC, told the Lynnwood Times. “I wanted to bring this to my city as an expression that ‘we are also here’, not just in Seattle. The director and Cutting Edge Animation staff were excited to showcase their work here.
The overall goal of the event, Crank added, is to foster a community gathering space that encourages dialogue and raises awareness around mental health, particularly within communities of color where these conversations are often stigmatized.
This will be the first time Compass Health and the Northwest Washington Civic Center have partnered together for an event like this.
Attendees can expect to gain a deeper understanding of mental health experiences, insight into creative storytelling as a tool for awareness, and practical information about local mental and behavioral health resources.
Following the film screening, there will be two moderated Q&A sessions. The first panel features Cutting Edge Animation leadership and producers discussing the film’s creative vision and process. This panel includes Alicia Crank, Founder of NWCC, as moderator, Chris Carthern, Director Z Cher-Aime, and Queen L. Hibbler with Cutting Edge Animation.
A second panel featuring local mental health professionals and advocates will then explore the film’s themes and discuss available resources. This panel will include Sarah Adams, with Compass Health, Deante Damper, with Converge Media, Ashley McGirt-Adair, with Therapy Fund Foundation, and Mena Peebles, with Mercy Housing.
Tickets for the event are $5 and are available for purchase through the Northwest Washington Civic Circle’s website.
Edmonds Theater is located at 415 Main Street in Edmonds, Washington.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
