Report suggests Netflix working on Dark Souls anime
Netflix has reportedly started work on a Dark Souls anime, according to GiantFreakinRobot.
While nothing has been confirmed at this stage, Netflix is no stranger to video game adaptations and a Dark Souls anime would fit in with some of the other animated shows on offer on the platform.
Would Dark Souls work as a Television series?
Click to enlargeThe report from GFR comes from the site's "trusted and proven sources", but it's still worth taking these rumours with a healthy pinch of salt until confirmed.
Dark Souls is a trilogy of games developed by FromSoftware. Initially released in 2011, with sequels in 2014 and 2016, there has not been a new addition to the franchise in over seven years.
Despite their popularity, Dark Souls is an unusual choice for an adaptation for a number of reasons. There is little main story in Dark Souls, with the majority of it being built upon background lore. While there is very little story in-game, Dark Souls has previously been released in the form of a comic book published by Titan Comics in 2016.
The difficulty of Dark Souls’ gameplay is the main reason the games are popular amongst players, which may be difficult to capture through animation, but its dark, brooding lore and settings could be stunningly recreated nonetheless.
Video game adaptations are becoming increasingly popular
Click to enlargeVideo game adaptations have become incredibly popular in recent years, ranging from television series to entire films.
Animated shows like Arcane and Cyberpunk Edgerunners have proven extremely popular, with both receiving scores of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The highly-anticipated sequel to the streaming platform’s Castlevania horror series, Castlevania: Nocturne, is due to premiere on 28 September.
Similarly, live-action TV adaptations like The Witcher have become beloved franchises appealing to people outside of the gaming world. While not a Netflix title, HBO’s The Last of Us TV series saw game sales spiking each week.
If GiantFreakinRobot is correct about the show being produced, it will be interesting to see how Netflix chooses to capture the essence of the Dark Souls universe for the screen.
