Video developer Mojang and streaming giant Netflix are joining forces to produce a new animated series based on the hit video game Minecraft.
The new series, announced last week, is in development by WildBrain, the award-winning creators of popular kids animated series Sonic Primei, Ninjago: Dragons Rising, and Carmen Sandiego.
Not much is known about the newly announced series, although Mojang confirmed it will tell an "original story with new characters and reflect the world of Minecraft in a new light."
Released in 2011, Minecraft is an open-world sandbox that gives players the freedom to do basically whatever they want. The game is known for its survival-based gameplay, as players scavenge, craft, build, and explore to their heart's content.
"Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. Blocks can be used to reshape the world or build fantastical creations. Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on your playstyle. Experience epic adventures solo or with friends, there’s no wrong way to play," the game's description reads. "Unless you’re digging straight down."
Although Mojang has updated the game to include more quest-based gameplay, including enemy bosses that players can work towards defeating, there's no real story or any "main character." Given the lack of a structured storyline in the game, it's no surprise that WildBrain will be telling its own original story for the animated series.
Minecraft, which has been out for over a decade now, has sold over 300 million copies. Despite its age, it remains incredibly popular with around 140 million monthly active users as of 2023.
In addition to the original game, there have been multiple video game spin-offs, including Telltale Games' narrative-driven Minecraft: Story Mode (2015), Double Eleven's dungeon crawler Minecraft Dungeons (2020), and Blackbird Interactive's real-time action strategy Minecraft Legends (2023).
Netflix's animated series also isn't the only adaptation of Minecraft on the way. Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. are releasing a live-action movie based on the game starring Jason Mamoa, Kate McKinnon, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Jennifer Coolidge, and Jemaine Clement. The movie is being directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), from a screenplay written by Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer, and co-produced by Momoa.
Filming officially wrapped last month with the movie scheduled to hit theaters next year on April 4, 2025. Like the animated series, we don't know much about the upcoming movie, although Jack Black is believed to be playing Steve, one of the default player character skins and the character most commonly associated with the game.
More details on both Netflix's animated series and next year's live-action movie should be shared soon.