If ever there was a medium that was ripe for cross media offerings, it’s video games. Whether in the form of music, movies or merchandise, adapting the source material of most any game series is possible and, in the right hands, capable of capturing the heart and aesthetic of a series or even expanding on it to make it even better. It’s no surprise then that more and more series have seen anime or animated feature adaptations of their games, and successes like the Castlevania animated series have proven the merits of what a good adaptation can do for the reputation of even a well established franchise. With that in mind, these five game series are at the top of our list for receiving a quality animated adaptation.
Ori and the Blind Forest
A stand out indie platformer title on the Xbox One, Ori and the Blind Forest has all the makings of a great animated series. Set in the ethereal forest of Nibel, the game follows Ori, a white guardian spirit, as he tries to restore balance and life to his home. Along the way, he meets other denizens of the forest who have their own reasons to assist and hinder him, leading to a grand adventure full of danger and excitement.
The visual style of the game alone is enough to warrant an anime series dedicated to the game – even the lush and colorful images available online don’t do the game justice compared to when it’s in motion – but combined with the great characters and storytelling, it could make for something on par with even the best animated series around. It also helps that a second game, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, is in development, providing more content for a potential show as well as a great supplement to the game’s release should it ever come to be.
The Binding of Isaac
If you’ve ever watched an animated series on Adult Swim – namely Super Jail, Metalocalypse, or Rick and Morty – you know that there’s a certain draw to dark and disturbing ideas given shape through moving pictures. Enter The Binding of Isaac, a long-time indie darling about a young boy who must fight his way through the darkness and devilry of his basement in order to escape his murderous mother. Full of depraved and demonic character designs masked in an almost cutesy aesthetic as well as a bevy of different items which change the appearance of Isaac, there’s plenty of potential for how a full animated series could work: It could offer a monster of the week framework with a different completion scenario each time, showing Isaac twisted into a strange new form each time in order to overcome different bosses. It doesn’t even have to be a full-length series either; weekly shorts about Isaac’s misadventures could make for some great bite-sized bits of entertainment, much as a quick round of the game is for regular players.
Wolfenstein
If there’s anything the latest reiteration of the Wolfenstein franchise has shown, it’s that there’s still plenty of love for hyper-violent, Nazi killing action. Ripe with fast-paced shoot outs, over-the-top melee kills and terrifying cybernetic enemies to tear through, the series still stands tall as a great piece of action gaming while still maintaining the flair which made it such a hit when it first arrived on the scene. Not only that, but there’s room for plenty of depth and complexity in the game’s characters, whether it’s the endlessly fighting B.J. Blazkowicz, the sadistic Irene Engel or any of the supporting cast members on either side of the conflict.
By taking these elements and applying them to an animated series, fans could experience the newly reinvigorated series in an even more visceral and artistic manner, providing episodes focusing on the characters and their interactions within a world still under siege by Nazi forces. The gore would apply well to the series as well, with the red and crimson hues of blood and viscera adding a visual flourish to the action by the bucket-full.
Soul Calibur
This one is a no-brainer: Set in a world where warriors wander the land in search of ancient and powerful blades, each encounter leads to an epic clash of steel and different fighting styles. Some characters are as straightforward as Siegfried, a disgraced knight looking for redemption; others, meanwhile, are as varied and strange as Voldo, a BDSM aficionado who moves and fights like a deranged yoga instructor.
In the form of an anime, a lot of fun could be had with the insanity this series has always carried, pitting characters in flashy battles against each other much in the same style as shows like Fate Zero or Sword of the Stranger. Plus, by taking the characters outside of the confines of the games’ bare-bones stories, the characters could be expanded upon in fun and creative ways. What is the process like for a character like Maxi, who falls to the temptation of wielding the wicked Soul Edge? What would the lead-up be like for a confrontation between Nightmare and the chosen warrior of Soul Caliber? Why IS Voldo? The possibilities are endless, and it remains to be seen why someone hasn’t jumped on this opportunity sooner.
Metroid
Let’s be clear here: This is not, in any way, a call to try and redo what Metroid: Other M did by trying to inject character into Samus Aran. Instead, imagine an anime which focuses on what makes the series so great: Haunting, atmospheric music that sets the scene for lonesome exploration; Sweeping, otherworldly settings filled with intriguing alien wildlife and unknown threats; and secrets to be uncovered in the pursuit of a high stakes mission. All of this is to say nothing of the series’ already stellar sense of style and Sci-Fi aesthetic, which could easily translate to a 2D animated venture.
A series which focused on these aspects and strived to be a more contemplative, relaxing and stylized affair – a la Mushishi or Kino’s Journey – could be the best way for this legendary series to find its way into other mediums, and help it find more fans it so readily deserves.
Know of any other game series which would make for great anime or animated shows? Mention them in the comments below, and check out our list on some of the best games based on anime. If you’re in the mood for some animation related content, check out all of our most recent anime lists and features here.
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