Info in Movie News | Crash Bandicoot, a crazy and clever marsupial from the PlayStation era, is maybe going to be spinning his way onto Netflix pretty soon. After the success of a number of video game adaptations like Arcane, Castlevania, Tomb Raider, and Splinter Cell, Netflix seems to be broadening its animation universe once again with the next one entirely being one of the most familiar characters of the gaming world. The news has sparked excitement among long-time fans who grew up with the orange bandicoot’s chaotic adventures through islands, labs, and alternate dimensions.
According to Polygon, Netflix is said to be "quietly developing" an animated series with Crash Bandicoot as the central character. The initiative is said to be linked with WildBrain Studios, the Canadian animation studio responsible for Sonic Prime, Carmen Sandiego, and Ninjago: Dragons Rising. WildBrain has a great relationship with Netflix as it has been in charge of a number of the high-profile game-based animations. Nevertheless, the next-day stories state that the studio might have just been at an early stage of the engagement and that it may no longer be there, implying that the series is still in the early stages of development.
Why the proposal to be the most fascinating is the fact that it would be the first time that Crash is the solo main character in a TV or streaming show. Basically, he was one of the characters in Skylanders Academy, a Netflix animated series made by Activision Blizzard Studios and TeamTO. If the project is picked up, the bandicoot character's story will be the next gaming-based series from Netflix to be adapted, which currently consists of Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed and Guerrilla's Horizon.
Crash Bandicoot was initially launched in 1996, a game made by the same company, Naughty Dog, that later developed Uncharted and The Last of Us. In a vibrant, comical and humorous platforming adventure, the players assumed the role of Crash as he went to thwart the evil plans of Dr. Neo Cortex. The game was the brainchild of Naughty Dog founders Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin, alongside artists Joe Pearson and Charles Zembillas; and Crash hurriedly turned out to be Sony's PlayStation unofficial mascot. His quick animations and gameplay of rapid rhythm were the features that distinguished him from other characters during the last decade of the 20th century.
As time passed, the franchise continued its journey through a series of sequels and spin-offs. The likes of Crash Team Racing and Crash Bash enriched the world, while the series was shuffled between different publishers changes from Universal Interactive to Vivendi and finally to Activision. The bandicoot went silent in the 2000s only to be back with Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy in 2017, a remastered original trilogy that sold millions worldwide. The return was so successful that it resulted in the release of the Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time in 2020, the very first fan of the character still had lots in store, the game was met with critical acclaim.
Netflix appears to be a content producer based on video games, which seems to be a tactic aimed at both nostalgic players and new audiences. The streaming service was enormously successful with two anime series, Arcane based on Riot Games' League of Legends, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners by CD Projekt Red, that were loved for their artistic brilliance and storytelling complexity. Such a success is what the Crash Bandicoot series can attain if it takes a similar route. However, the series might use more humor and be a family-oriented show, as its tone is consistent with the original games' spirit.
Although the official storyline of the show is not yet disclosed, the users have started guessing it. Whether the show would be a portrayal of the game events or a totally different story? Perhaps we can come across with the likes of Coco Bandicoot, Aku Aku, or Dr. Cortex, who will be the characters of the cartoon? The not answered questions are what make people even more enthusiastic towards this hypothetical show.
Without a doubt the series has a lot of fans, but it also faces a certain amount of risk. It was mentioned in the news that a Crash Bandicoot animated project with Amazon Studios was canceled after initial development. A few analysts think that the Netflix version might encounter the same problems in production, especially because the animation industry is changing and there are corporate changes due to Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard. Nevertheless, if everything works out well, the nostalgia factor, familiar characters, and Netflix's global platform make this a quite probable project.
On pretty much all the socials, the franchise community is hugely excited and reminiscing about their night gaming sessions and especially recalling their favorite moments of Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped or Crash Team Racing. Many of them wish that the animated series will represent the same vibe, comedy, and disaster-like fun as the original games. For Netflix, the series could be another step in its transformation to the ultimate destination of video game adaptations of high quality.
Regardless of whether the Crash Bandicoot's animated series eventually gets green-lit or not, the need for such adaptations of popular game franchises is, without a doubt, at an all-time high. Whether pixelated or hand-drawn, the characters of the next generation of on-demand consumers are waiting to see their favorite heroes make the jump from the console to the spotlight once again. In case this project is successful, it may be the beginning of a new era for the marsupial where Crash Bandicoot is no longer just a platforming legend but a fully-fledged animated star.
Sources: Polygon, IGN, Animation Magazine
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