As a lifelong arcade enthusiast who has spent countless hours navigating mazes and gobbling pellets, I must admit that the upcoming animated anthology series, Secret Level, has piqued my interest like no other. The prospect of diving into the gritty underbelly of one of my all-time favorites, Pac-Man, is a tantalizing proposition.
As a passionate fan, I’m thrilled to share that Prime Video is set to release an exciting new series titled “Secret Level,” inspired by the brilliant minds behind Netflix’s “Love, Death, & Robots.” They’ve got us wondering: What if we were trapped in the world of Pac-Man?
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Drawing inspiration from the relentless loop of Pac-Man, the story unfolds around a solitary swordsman traversing a post-apocalyptic landscape, accompanied by a towering, yellow, levitating orb. This orb is voiced by Emily Swallow, known for her role in The Mandalorian. As reported by EW, the creators have chosen to delve into the gritty depths of the vibrant arcade game universe at Namco’s behest. In this tale, the orb, named Puck after its original character, Puck-Man, guides the “chosen one” on a path of destruction and survival in the wasteland, with the ruthless motto: “Eat, or be eaten.
Following numerous suggestions, Petty developed an idea that stood out as the brightest among the retro-inspired ones. This concept effectively captured the overarching mood of a classic, addictive arcade game, aligning perfectly with the series’ aim to reinvent worlds from beloved video games.
We put a significant effort into maintaining the authenticity of Pac-Man’s 50-year legacy and added elements that were reminiscent of classic, adorable cartoons featuring Pac-Man. After much discussion with Dave, we found ourselves saying, “We need to create a version of this inspired by John Melius.” So, what is the concept behind Blood Meridian Pac-Man? – JT Petty via EW (Paraphrased)
As stated by EW, the acclaimed screenplays such as “Conan the Barbarian,” “Black Mirror,” and “Mandy” were all cited as influences for the 10-minute “Pac-Man” episode directed by Victor Maldonado and Aldredo Torres.
In essence, JT Petty is suggesting that “Pac-Man” holds a similar significance as “Beowulf” does in the realm of narrative storytelling within video games. Essentially, it serves as the seminal text, forming the foundation for character development and serious gameplay exploration. The question then arises: if this world revolves around an insatiable hunger, how does that dynamic unfold?
‘Secret Level’ Represents the Player in a Darkly True Way
The animated collection show, starring voice talents such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Keanu Reeves, Temuera Morrison among others, portrays a character in a gritty yet authentic manner within the violent “Pac-Man” episode. As Petty explained to EW, this swordsman is like a newborn baby trapped in an adult’s body, thrust into a nightmarish world where he must eliminate monstrous creatures that have taken the place of the original ghosts in the game, acting as a puppet for the mysterious forces manipulating the spherical character, whose intentions appear to be sinister.
As a passionate cinephile, I recently had an intriguing chat with Aleks Le, the voice behind our swordsman protagonist, about the extraordinary method they used to create his stand-in character for the game.
In my role as an actor and narrator, I find myself drawn to the hidden aspects of the tales we spin, for they offer a means to delve into the unspoken aspects of ourselves as individuals and society without triggering a defensive response. Consequently, I am particularly intrigued by cultural sensations – what lies beneath something seemingly as innocent as Pac-Man?
It appears that this particular Pac-Man installment delves into the deeper, often troubling aspects of human feelings associated with these cherished games, and we wholeheartedly appreciate it.
Secret Level
will premiere on Prime on December 10.
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2024-11-20 23:02