An adult-animated anthology series called Secret Level is going to be released by Prime Video. The series, which Amazon MGM Studios will produce in cooperation with Blur Studio, will have fifteen episodes that are visually spectacular from beginning to end. Each episode will include an original short story based on well-known video games.
The announcement was made during the opening livestream of Gamescom, which took place the previous week. A teaser trailer that teases the upcoming animated anthology was included in the unveiling, and we have put it below for your viewing pleasure!
This ground-breaking series aims to provide viewers with an immersive experience that will take them into new and familiar gaming realms. Secret Level will bring together a wide variety of gaming intellectual properties into a single series.
The following video games served as sources of inspiration for the animated anthology: Armored Core, Concord, Crossfire, Dungeons & Dragons, Exodus, Honor of Kings, Mega Man, New World: Aeternum, PAC-MAN, PlayStation (including several well-known characters from PlayStation Studios), Sifu, Spelunky, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament, and Warhammer 40,000.
Tim Miller will serve as the executive producer of Secret Level, while Dave Wilson will serve as both the project's executive producer and supervising director. Secret Level is the product of the creative minds responsible for Love, Death & Robots.
In addition to being accessible in more than 240 countries and territories, the global release of Secret Level is set to take place on December 10th. It will be exclusively available on Prime Video service.
Pac-Man, the iconic yellow, pellet-chomping character from Namco's 1980 arcade game, debuted in animated television in 1982. The show "Pac-Man" was produced by Hanna-Barbera and became one of the earliest examples of a video game character crossing over into other media.
Pac-Man (1982 TV Series)
The 1982 animated series ran on ABC and was a significant hit during its two-season run. The show reimagined Pac-Man as the family-friendly head of a household in Pac-Land. Pac-Man lived with his wife, Ms. Pac-Man (referred to as Pepper), their child, Baby Pac, and their dog, Chomp-Chomp. The show primarily focused on Pac-Man's adventures as he and his family defended Pac-Land from the villainous Ghost Monsters, led by the nefarious Mezmaron, who sought the power pellets.
The show was part of a broader trend in the early 1980s, where popular video games were adapted into children's programming, blending the arcade game's elements with a more narrative-driven format. Despite its initial success, the show concluded in 1983 after 44 episodes, as the arcade craze began to wane.
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (2013-2015)
Pac-Man returned to television with a modern twist in "Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures," which aired from 2013 to 2015. This CGI-animated series was developed by Avi Arad and OLM, Inc., presenting a more action-oriented and futuristic version of Pac-Man. The show targeted a younger audience and featured Pac-Man, now a teenager, defending Pac-World from ghosts and other threats alongside his friends Cylindria and Spiral.
The series incorporated more complex storylines and character development than its 1982 predecessor, with friendship, loyalty, and courage themes. Despite mixed critical reception, it introduced Pac-Man to a new generation and expanded his mythology beyond the original arcade game.
Mega Man, also known as Rockman in Japan, first appeared in Capcom's 1987 video game. The character quickly became a beloved figure in gaming, leading to various adaptations in television and film.
Mega Man (1994 TV Series)
The first major animated adaptation of Mega Man was the 1994 series produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. The show ran for two seasons and 27 episodes. It was an American-Japanese collaboration that took liberties with the source material, adding more humor and action to appeal to a Western audience.
In the series, Mega Man, originally a robot named Rock, is transformed into a super fighting robot by Dr. Light to combat the evil Dr. Wily and his army of reprogrammed Robot Masters. The show retained the core elements of the games, such as Mega Man's ability to absorb powers from defeated enemies, but it also introduced original characters like Mega Man's sister Roll and his dog Rush.
While the series was popular among children, it received mixed reviews from fans of the video game for its deviation from the original tone and storyline. Nevertheless, it remains a nostalgic piece of 90s animation.
MegaMan NT Warrior (2002-2003)
In 2002, "MegaMan NT Warrior" (known as "Rockman.EXE" in Japan) debuted, aligning with the success of the Mega Man Battle Network video game series. This anime adaptation featured a more futuristic and digital setting, where Mega Man was portrayed as a NetNavi, a digital entity that assists its human operator, Lan Hikari, in navigating the cyber world.
The show was successful in both Japan and internationally, running for five seasons with over 200 episodes. It explored themes of technology, virtual worlds, and the relationship between humans and AI. The series was lauded for its engaging storyline, character development, and integration of elements from the games, making it a significant entry in the Mega Man franchise.
Mega Man Fully Charged (2018)
2018's "Mega Man Fully Charged" is the most recent animated adaptation. Produced by Man of Action Studios and DHX Media, this series presented a new take on Mega Man for a younger audience. The show was set in Silicon City and followed the adventures of Aki Light, a schoolboy who could transform into the superhero Mega Man.
This iteration introduced new characters and plotlines while retaining familiar elements like Dr. Wily and the Robot Masters. Despite its attempts to modernize the character, the show received criticism for straying too far from the original games and only lasted for one season.