Key Takeaways
- The Tomb Raider Netflix series uses animation to continue the story of Lara Croft.
- An increasing trend sees video game adaptations moving towards animated series for success.
- Animation is favored for video game adaptations for cost-effectiveness and narrative exploration.
As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the recent trend of turning video games into animated series is a breath of fresh air. It’s like someone finally figured out how to make a perfect fusion of my two favorite pastimes – gaming and cartoons!
Streaming on Netflix is the action-packed Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, which follows the trend of video game adaptations currently popular. Unlike previous Tomb Raider series, this one is not live-action but rather an animated continuation from the Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider games.
In the narrative of “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft”, we find Lara Croft, portrayed by Hayley Atwell, embarking on a journey following the events of the trilogy of games – Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The story unfolds as an artifact is pilfered from Croft Manor, leading our heroine on a thrilling world tour. This series is the brainchild of creator Tasha Huo, who has also worked on “Blood Origin”, the prequel to “The Witcher”. Distinctively, unlike previous Tomb Raider movies, this television debut opts for an animated format.
Tomb Raider Jumps on the Animation Trend
| Stars | Hayley Atwell, Richard Armitage, Earl Baylon, Allen Maldonado |
| Creator/Showrunner | Tasha Huo |
| Animation Studio | Powerhouse Animation Studios |
| Release date | October 10, 2024 |
| Number of episodes | 8 |
| Streaming on | Netflix |
In an anime-inspired art style, “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” is brought to life by Powerhouse Animation Studios. Notably, this studio has also worked on projects like “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” lending a vivid 90s cartoon aesthetic to the “Tomb Raider” franchise. Additionally, Powerhouse Animation has previously contributed to the adaptation of another video game into an animated series, “Castlevania.” This shared style is part of a contemporary trend in the industry where video games are being transformed into animated television shows.
Over the past few years, many video game adaptations have chosen to go the animated route. For instance, CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 was turned into an anime series on Netflix called Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which received a flawless score on Rotten Tomatoes. Interestingly, the studio is working on another adaptation of Cyberpunk 2077 with Netflix, also in an animated style. Additionally, Netflix has been behind other successful animated video game adaptations like Castlevania, Dota: Dragon’s Blood, Arcane: League of Legends, and Dragon Age: Absolution.
This trend is also one that is not slowing down. Netflix has already confirmed an animated adaptation of Devil May Cry is in the works and an animated series titled Splinter Cell: Deathwatch with Liev Schreiber will soon be released by the streamer. Additionally, there are plans to adapt Xbox’s Gears of War franchise into an adult animated series.
Why Are So Many Video Game Adaptations Turning to Animation?
In today’s cinema landscape, animated films have emerged as the preferred choice for adapting popular video game franchises in Hollywood. This trend is driven by their consistent success, with most animated game adaptations receiving critical acclaim, scoring over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Moreover, these adaptations are usually appreciated by fans of the original series. Amidst a history littered with unsuccessful video game adaptations, this approach seems to be a surefire hit.
Additionally, one advantage is that animated productions tend to be more affordable than live-action series, especially for video game franchises requiring elaborate fantasy landscapes or intense action scenes. For instance, the 2018 Tomb Raider movie with Alicia Vikander had a production cost of nearly $100 million and failed to recoup its expenses at the box office. However, compared to this, the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft was able to traverse various countries in one season, execute numerous high-risk action sequences across diverse terrains, and visually depict captivating fantasy elements that would require hundreds of hours of CGI work in live-action. While it’s feasible to accomplish this in live-action, the cost would escalate rapidly; but the animated Netflix series achieves it just as successfully and economically.
Video games and animations have a common root, as video games serve as a platform where artists can experiment with diverse animation techniques. While some games strive to replicate reality, such as The Last of Us or Detroit: Become Human, others leverage the artistic liberty that animation offers, like Cuphead, The Plucky Squire, and Spiritfarer. Turning these kinds of games into animated series or films feels more organic than attempting to adapt them for live-action. Although it’s possible to make a live-action adaptation, as demonstrated by Sonic the Hedgehog or the upcoming Minecraft movie, fan reactions to these projects have been mixed at best.
It appears that when it comes to adapting video games, there’s a growing preference for animated series rather than films. Although movies like “Super Mario Bros.” have had their moments of glory, an episodic format seems to be more suitable for larger open-world game adaptations. This is because expansive worlds filled with numerous characters and rich lore, such as those found in franchises like “Cyberpunk 2077” or “Dragon Age,” can be better adapted over a series of 8-10 episodes. This format allows the creators to present the story more accurately than trying to fit it all into a compact 2-hour movie.
As a devoted fan, I’ve always appreciated how Tomb Raider offers an immersive narrative within the action-adventure genre. Translating this into a movie format was definitely feasible. However, the Netflix series has demonstrated that Lara Croft’s captivating story can also thrive when unfolded across multiple episodes, offering a deeper exploration of her journey. Remarkably, it has shown that an anime-style adaptation can be just as true to the original, enriching the Tomb Raider experience in a new and engaging way.
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is now streaming on Netflix.
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2024-10-13 23:03