When it comes to the colliding worlds of video games and animation, the first thing people usually think of is anime, especially classics like Pokemon and Yo-Kai Watch. Even card games got anime adaptations. But Western animation also had some adaptations of popular games.
In fact, some classic game characters have appeared in Western cartoons and anime. And many of these cartoons still have cult followings to this day, to the point that even shows that lasted one or two seasons have their fair share of fans. In fact, for some viewers, the cartoon could be their introduction to games.
10 Nightmare Ned: The Show & The Game Were Made Alongside Each Other
When it comes to Nightmare Ned, there is some debate as to who came first, as the video games and cartoons were made side by side. However, video games were released later. This may interest you : Breaking News – Prime Video teams up with composer Pinar Toprak to create original soundtrack and themed music for “Thursday Night Football” | TheFutonCritic.com. In the cartoon produced by Disney, Ned falls asleep and finds himself having a nightmare revolving around whatever problem he is facing in real life.
Ned’s problems can revolve around anything from a family of pigs wanting to eat him to accidentally marrying a corpse. While most of his dreams end on a scary note, he usually wakes up safe and sound in his bed, with all the monsters that are in his head – except for that episode with the aliens.
9 Viva Piñata: Animal Piñatas Were The Stars Of This Saturday Morning Cartoon
In the Viva Piñata game, players can raise their own piñata animals. Later he received a Saturday morning cartoon. In general, more energetic and comical than toys, individuals of each species are suitable in characters.
The piñata Horstachio, often used as a mascot for games, was used as one of the main characters. Hudson Horstachio is a self-proclaimed celebrity who also serves as an iconic character. This may interest you : What Should I Watch on Prime Video? Here are 5 TV Shows and Movies Coming in August. Other characters include the vile Ferdy Fudgehog, who is terrified of actually being used as a piñata, the fearless fox Paulie Pretztail, and the friendly Franklin Fizzlybear.
8 Dragon’s Lair: This Cartoon Tried To Translate The Gameplay As Much As Possible
The Dragon’s Lair video game franchise is already famous for its animated graphics, to the point that people who see scenes out of context often mistake them for something from an animated film. This may interest you : Interview: Japanese Video Game Developer Discusses The Rise Of Loli Censorship In Anime And Video Games. The next game did, however, get a short-lived series of the same name.
Although there are a few differences between the game Dragon’s Lair and the cartoon, such as new characters that are added, there have been many attempts to translate elements from the game into the series. Before cutting to commercial breaks, the narrator would ask viewers what they think Dirk’s next action should be, then show what happens when the show resumes. One episode even featured Dirk slowly turning into a skeleton, a reference to his infamous death scenes in the game.
7 Wing Commander Academy: The Series Was Lovingly Accurate To The Games
Most cartoons spawned from video games attempt to keep the story moving forward or put it all back together, but the 90s cartoon Wing Commander Academy is something of a loose prequel to the Wing Commander game. The main focus of the series is a group of young cadets who fight against the Kilrathi warrior race.
Known for being relatively faithful to the Wing Commander games, even details like instrument panels were accurate in Wing Commander Academy. The series also had a notable voice cast, such as Malcolm McDowell, Thomas F. Wilson, and Mark Hamill, who also appeared in the games themselves.
6 Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?: This Cartoon Had A Prominent Cast
Where is Carmen Sandiego? revolved around the farms of the world-famous thief Carmen Sandiego and the two agents, Zack and Ivy, tasked with finding her. In addition to being based on the game series, the series is implied to be an in-universe video game that is played by an unseen character known as “The Player”.
Where is Carmen Sandiego? was noted for its voice cast. Rita Moreno voiced the title character and Rodger Bumpass, who would later become known for voicing Squidward Tentacles on SpongeBob SquarePants, voiced the computerized boss.
5 Clash-A-Rama!: This Web Series Hosts The Characters From Clash Of Clans & Clash Royale
Clash of Clans and Clash Royale characters get their own stories in Clash-A-Rama!, an animated comedy web series. In the games, the characters appear as identical units and the cartoon follows suit. Instead of individualizing, the characters are normally like different likenesses with identical voices.
Sometimes, the limitations of games are fun. In one story, a Balloon skeleton tries to travel around the world and discover new lands, only to find itself traveling in a circle. Prominent voice actors such as Tom Kenny and Tress MacNeille provide voice work for Clash-A-Rama!.
4 Wakfu: This French Cartoon Is A Sequel To The Dofus Game
Wakfu is a French animated series based on the fantasy setting of the video game Dofus and is known for its anime-inspired art style. Intended as something of a sequel to the game, the series is set 1000 years after the game and is centered around a band of adventurers, led by Yugo, who is looking for his lost family.
Wakfu later had a series of sisters in Dofus: Kerub’s Bazaar. It also had a spin-off, Mini-Wakfu, which was animated in a chibi-esque style.
3 Earthworm Jim: The Cartoon Is Just As Silly As The Games
Earthworm Jim revolves around a normal earthworm who becomes a powerful superhero thanks to his superpowered space suit. The series is famous for being as stupid as the game on which it is based and its lack of a fourth wall. Jim’s sidekick is Peter Puppy, who can turn into a monster thanks to the demon behind his anthropomorphism.
Jim also has a love interest and ally in the Insect Princess Whats-Her-Name, who has been locked away by her evil sister, the Slug-for-a-Butt Queen, because of her hideous looks. The joke, though, is that she’s actually considered quite beautiful by Earth standards.
2 The Cuphead Show: Both The Game & Cartoon Are Love Letters To Animation
The game Cuphead is a love letter to classic animation, especially to the work of Fleischer Studios. It makes sense that the series will eventually get an animated spin-off, Netflix’s The Cuphead Show.
Brothers Cuphead and Mugman find themselves in a series of strange adventures, including things like facing the Devil and befriending a character who is secretly a ghost. As with the game, the series is full of references to the world of animation, from classics like The Skeleton Dance and Betty Boop cartoons, as well as animated video games like Dragon’s Lair.
1 Castlevania: The Japanese Video Games Got An Anime-Influenced Series On Netflix
Castlevania is an adult Netflix animated series based on the Japanese video game series, specifically Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. Animated in an anime-influenced style, many of the cartoon’s crew members worked in the Japanese animation industry, although the cartoon is generally considered Western.
In Castlevania, Dracula declares war on the living after his wife is burned as a witch. The fight against the dark forces falls on the surviving monster hunter, Trevor Belmont, and his allies, including Dracula’s dhampyr son, Alucard, and the magical scholar, Sypha.
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