Secret Levelis poised to continue Prime Video’s successful approach to video game adaptations. An anthology series adapting fifteen different video games from across fifteen episodes,Secret Levellooks to be a fun expansion of the approach series creator Tim Miller and his collaborators at Blur Studio brought to Netflix’sLove, Death & Robots. Each short takes an established video game franchise and filters them through a new animated approach.
The results look incredibly promising, with theSecret Levelpanel at New York Comic-Conconfirming a slew of stars connected to the project like Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ariana Greenblatt, Kevin Hart and Laura Bailey. Notably, the series seems to be approaching the surprisingly tricky prospect of video game adaptations with a similar mindset to Prime Video’s successful reimagining ofFallout. By embracing fresh angles and balancing new stories with respect for the source material,Secret Levellooks like another great videogame adaptation.
Secret Level & Fallout Are Both Huge Examples Of Successful Video Game Adaptations
How The Video Game Anthology Builds On The Past
Secret Levellooks to build on the potential ofLove, Death & Robotsand success ofFalloutby fusing that show’s inventive nature with the deceptively tricky world of video game adaptations. The first season ofSecret Levelwill be fifteen episodes long, with the anthology shifting focus to different properties between episodes.Functionally, this gives it a similar format to toLove, Death & Robots, which similarly shifted from world to world. Similar toFallout, the show seems to take relish in exploring these settings, introducing new approaches to the source material.
Steven Spielberg’s Long-Awaited Ready Player One Sequel Is Getting A Perfect Replacement With This Upcoming Video Game Show
Amazon Prime’s upcoming video game anthology Secret Level may perfectly replace Steven Spielberg’s long-awaited Ready Player One sequel.
These adaptations don’t seem beholden to their source material, . In a similar way to howFallouttackled various storyline paths to create something singular,Secret Levelseems to be embracing several different animation styles that can accompany these tales. While they may be more reimaginings then straight scene-to-scene adaptations,this allows the filmmakers a greater sense of creative control. The focus becomes on the individual stories and characters, instead of attempting to force an entire franchise into compact form. This is quietly the key to any good adaptation, but especially in bringing video games to film and television.
Secret Level’s Adaptation Builds On Another Great Anthology Show’s Success
Secret LevelTurnsNew World: AeternumInto Something Unexpected, And It’s Great
One of the best examples ofSecret Level’s approach to reimagining video game storytelling comes with their adaptation ofNew World: Aeternum. Screened to certain members of the press (including Screen Rant), the episode takes the epic tone of the game’s fantasy setting and finds unlikely comedy in the scenario. By recasting a seemingly clear-cut fantasy adventure into a surprisingly funny and character-driven story,the creatives behindSecret Levelfound new layers to the world ofNew World: Aeternum. It’s similar to howLove, Death & Robotsapproached sci-fi. It respects the source material, while still feeling fresh and unique.
The other entries in the series seem to be following suit, which should give the surprisingly hilariousNew World: Aeternumepisode some strong peers to compare itself to. Instead of being specifically based on any one story from the games or an amalgamation of their worlds,these episodes seem more content to focus on a specific and clear story within a wider world. It’s similar toLove, Death & Robots, which reveled in creating entire worlds to explore within a single episode, which highlights how it’s a proven approach in the right hands.
What Prime’s Secret Level & Fallout Get Right That Other Video Game Adaptations Get Wrong
Secret LevelIs Doing The Same Thing Right That ElevatedArcane,Fallout, andThe Last Of Us
2024 has been an interesting time for video game adaptations. Films likeBorderlandsunderscore the need to adhere to the emotional core of the franchisesto be successful.Shows likeArcane,Fallout, andThe Last of Ushave played with their canon inspiration in unique ways, with the former two seemingly existing within the same continuity as the games that inspired them. All of these successes, whichSecret Levelis poised to count itself among, bring a unique edge to their source material while still reflecting the core of what made them work.
By contrast, these recent [succesful video game adaptations] have payed homage to the originals without being beholden to them.
For years, video game adaptations suffered from attempting to take the surface level elements of video games and apply them onto a more standard film skeleton.By contrast, these recent successes have payed homage to the originals without being beholden to them. This has allowed for invention and made room for depth, something that benefits an anthology approach likeSecret Level. Sometimes, the biggest swings away from the source material lead to the best results. This theory is at the heart ofSecret Level, with the upcoming anthology series promising plenty of imaginative reinvention and unique approaches to adaptation.
Secret Level
Cast
Secret Level is an adult animated series exploring original short stories set within the worlds of popular video games. Each episode introduces new adventures, delving into iconic gaming classics and forthcoming titles to unlock captivating narratives and immersive experiences. Created by Tim Miller, the series celebrates gaming culture.
