Amazon Doubles Down on Video Game Adaptations With New Animated Series

Amazon Doubles Down on Video Game Adaptations With New Animated Series

As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for all things digital and a lifelong devotee of both cinema and video games, I must say that the announcement of Amazon Prime Video’s new animated anthology series, “Secret Level,” has me positively giddy with anticipation. Having grown up in the golden age of arcade gaming and witnessing firsthand the evolution of the medium into the expansive, immersive world of MMORPGs, I can’t help but marvel at the potential of this ambitious project.


Enthusiasts of video games, get ready! Amazon Prime Video is stepping up its game with a brand-new animated anthology series, titled “Secret Level”. This captivating series will delve into various gaming universes and is being spearheaded by the director of Deadpool, Tim Miller, along with Blur Studio. As per Deadline, this upcoming series shares similarities with Miller’s previous work, Love, Death, and Robots, which was introduced on Netflix in 2019.

Love, Death, and Robots is an animated series showcasing diverse short tales from multiple studios, each with its unique art style. While robots feature in some episodes, others delve into horror or science fiction themes. In a similar vein, the hypothetical game scenarios for Secret Level might encompass Amazon’s MMORPG New World and Spelunky from Amazon Games, along with unannounced PlayStation games. This means that players could encounter a mix of video game narratives in various styles, making it an appealing experience for gamers everywhere.

Beyond the hit launch of Miller’s “Love, Death, and Robots” series, Miller is also known for his work on “Deadpool” and “Terminator: Dark Fate”. While specifics about the PlayStation games to be featured in the upcoming project remain scarce, it’s possible that the animation could draw inspiration from styles seen in games like “Ratchet & Clank”, “Uncharted”, or “Astro Bot”. At present, no official confirmation has been made.

Video Game-Based TV Shows Are on the Rise

Amazon Doubles Down on Video Game Adaptations With New Animated SeriesAmazon Doubles Down on Video Game Adaptations With New Animated SeriesAmazon Doubles Down on Video Game Adaptations With New Animated SeriesAmazon Doubles Down on Video Game Adaptations With New Animated SeriesAmazon Doubles Down on Video Game Adaptations With New Animated Series

The debut of “Secret Level” arrives at a time when numerous popular video game adaptations are making their way onto streaming platforms and television screens, such as the highly-rated Prime Video show “Fallout”, HBO’s series “The Last of Us”, Peacock’s “Twisted Metal”, and Netflix’s animated series “Arcane”. In light of the success of “Fallout”, Amazon is currently developing a second season, with an upcoming show based on the Yakuza/Like a Dragon game franchise also in the works.

Dave Wilson will take on the roles of both executive producer and supervising director for the project named “Secret Level“. This production is a collaboration between Amazon MGM and Blur Studio, an animation and art studio founded by Miller in 1995. Originally established as a platform for animators and artists to have more control over their creative paths, Blur Studio has also made a name for itself in producing video game cinematics, commercials, and feature films.

Despite being a significant risk for Amazon Prime, this brand-new adult-oriented game series is generating considerable optimism for its triumph. The success stories of games like Fallout, Arcane, and The Last of Us – the latter being acclaimed as one of 2023’s top shows and frequently recognized as one of the best video game adaptations ever made – have encouraged Prime Video to explore more video game adaptations. Likewise, PlayStation enthusiasts are undoubtedly excited to discover what Secret Level will contribute to the ongoing success of the rejuvenated gaming franchises based on video games.

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2024-08-15 15:31