Fantasy movies often have great potential to be turned into animated series because of their strength in worldbuilding and complex visual language. However, I find it strange that animation and fantasy are thought to be for kids. Though I found the fantasy genre as a young person, my interest in it has only grown into adulthood. Additionally, animation has become more interesting to me as I find shows and films skewered toward older audiences. Dark high fantasy and animation can be mature and take on serious themes that are compelling to older viewers, and children’s content can do the same.
As fantastical stories are often based on books, live-action movies, and shows are common when these types of novels are adapted.
Recently, the new animated take on The Lord of The Rings has been confirmed, and the Lord of The Rings: War of the Rohirrim release date will be in December 2024. This is exciting news for fans of the original books and movies and marks an exciting new trend for fantasy. As fantastical stories are often based on books, live-action movies, and shows are common when these types of novels are adapted. However, as animation becomes more prevalent, animated TV series and movies that take on familiar IP are making their way into the mainstream.
Legend (1985)
Featuring an early performance from Tom Cruise, Legend was a large part of the 1980s fantasy boom. Directed by Ridley Scott, Legend is well-known in fantasy circles and was an indicator of the upward trajectory of the actors and creators behind the film. When watching Legend today, I’m slightly taken out of the story because of the level of stardom Cruise has today, but I can overlook this because of the story’s iconic nature. However, this wouldn’t matter in an animated iteration of Legend. It’s doubtful that Cruise would reprise his role as a voice actor, but it’s not impossible.
Darkness (Tim Curry) is frightening for audiences of all ages in Legend , but his characterization could go even deeper if the series had a multi-season arc.
Additionally, animation has always excelled at making compelling and terrifying villains. Darkness (Tim Curry) is frightening for audiences of all ages in Legend, but his characterization could go even deeper if the series had a multi-season arc. Animation could also be beneficial because many of the main characters are supposed to look young, and this can be difficult with child actors who age out of their roles quickly. Animated characters would not face this problem and could go on as many adventures as the show allows.
Labyrinth (1986)
There’s no question that Labyrinth is a fantasy movie that could do with some updates. Visually stunning and iconic for its combination of practical effects and musical numbers, there are also uncomfortable overtones in the relationship between Jareth (David Bowie) and Sarah (Jennifer Connelly). However, the basic structure of the story is strong and has the potential to be even more compelling in an animated format. The complicated maze and references to paintings and other visual art forms that the movie employs would only shine more when animated.
The film toes the line of family-friendly, as there are some genuinely terrifying plot points. However, this is often a sweet spot for fantasy movies because fantasy inherently grapples with questions about fate, death, and morality. An animated version of Labyrinth would need to understand that even younger audiences are capable of handling these themes. Furthermore, I would love to see the uncomfortable central relationship deescalated in a series in favor of a closer look at the dynamic between Sarah and her little brother.
The Dark Crystal (1982)
Attempting to capture the movement and intricacies of the puppets would be a feat of skill in an animated series.
It might seem counterintuitive for there to be an animated iteration of The Dark Crystal, as one of the biggest draws of the movie is the incredible puppetry. However, attempting to capture the movement and intricacies of the puppets would be a feat of skill in an animated series. Additionally, a new take on The Dark Crystal couldn’t go many other places besides animation. The updated show ran for only one season and did much to renew interest in the material, but it’s unlikely that the show was successful enough to warrant the cost of another season.
The enormous amount of money it takes to create the puppets and sets, as well as paying the experts who control the puppets, is difficult to justify in the modern era of over-consumption and the streaming model. This is a shame, as I admire the Jim Henson Company for keeping the medium of puppetry and practical effects alive. However, transitioning to animation might be the best thing The Dark Crystal franchise can do to remain relevant. I‘m confident that an animated show would be just as beautiful and atmospheric, if in a different way.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
As The NeverEnding Story remake is confirmed, I find myself equally nervous and excited about the possibilities a modern take on the story holds. The original film is inherently nostalgic and personal to audiences who watched it at a young age. It’s an important story for many reasons, but most of all, it encourages children to embrace their feelings. These feelings are positive and negative and center on the importance of imagination. It’s easy for any audience member, young or old, to see themselves in Bastian, as he’s an enduring protagonist who shows courage and vulnerability.
Hopefully, the new movie will be a hit and make strides to expand upon the story to make every viewer feel seen by the characters and plot points. I’m sure the creative team behind the project is working hard to ensure this is the case, but there’s always a possibility that the movie will fall short of expectations. This is where a potential animated series could come in. If the IP is available for multiple companies to adapt, an animated series would generate interest in the new film and stand on its own as a new feature of Bastian’s tale.
Willow (1988)
An animated show wouldn’t necessarily have to follow the same plots or characters as long as it stayed true to the tone and themes of the film and show.
It’s true that Willow has a movie and a TV version, but many fans, like myself, can’t get enough of the story. I know I would be interested in an animated version if it meant I could spend more time in the story’s world. An animated show wouldn’t necessarily have to follow the same plots or characters as long as it stayed true to the tone and themes of the film and show. Blending epic adventure and plenty of heart and humor, Willow has become a hallmark of the fantasy genre for a reason, and it shouldn’t fade into obscurity.
The 2022 series only ran for one season, and while it did bring the original movie back into the spotlight, few audience members of younger generations are familiar with the story. Pivoting to animation and revitalizing the world of Willow could be exactly what the content needs to connect with new viewers. Animating the characters could also mean that the original actors could come back to voice the characters, but they wouldn’t have to jump as far forward in time because the animation can be set at any point in time.
Inkheart (2008)
Based on the book trilogy by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is among the many early 2000s and late 1990s adventure movies starring Brendan Fraser. The movie did a good job adapting the first novel, but it didn’t make a splash with audiences or critics the way producers might have hoped. I’m familiar with both the movie and the book, but this is because I seek out similar material. For most audiences, stumbling upon Inkheart happens by chance. An animated series could change this and bring attention back to the overlooked IP.
With two books following the first, Inkheart has no shortage of plots for writers and creators to spin into multiple seasons of a show. While the Inkheartbook trilogy peaked with the first book, the other two are still high-quality and could be made even better with an iteration in animation. Since so much of Inkheart takes place inside books, I would be intrigued to see how a series would visually communicate that. Blending live-action and animation would be an innovative choice if Inkheart gets turned into a show.
Excalibur (1981)
The best-known animated take on the legend, The Sword in the Stone , fell flat for me.
In one of the best iterations of the legend of King Arthur, Excalibur opens the door to a whole world of stories and myths to develop into a show. Though the story of King Arthur is well-worn, series like Merlin brought it back into the conversation. However, there’s plenty of room for a new TV show, especially in animation. The best-known animated take on the legend, The Sword in the Stone, fell flat for me. I grew up reading about King Arthur in books like The Once and Future King, so I expect a lot from adaptations of the story.
My experience with the story aligns with many people interested in fantasy, so it makes sense that I, and others, have high expectations when watching a piece of King Arthur media. However, this pressure can be just what a show needs and would ensure that the best minds were put to work creating an animated Excalibur show. The movie is a comprehensive take on Arthur’s rise and fall but faces a familiar cinematic pitfall. The film has to concern itself with runtime, so it can’t spend as much time on each plot point as a show could.
Stardust (2007)
The star-studded Stardust movie takes on a lighter tone than the original novel by Neil Gaiman. However, it’s still a delightful adaptation that transports the audience into the offbeat and romantic universe the beloved characters inhabit. Many of Gaiman’s novels have been adapted into films and TV shows, with the recent series, The Sandman, and its loose spinoff, Dead Boy Detectives, performing well on Netflix. I believe Stardust would be the perfect choice for a new series by Gaiman and would shine in an animated format, as his other shows have captured my attention.
Though it doesn’t necessarily have to be stop-motion, using that medium was very effective for the screen version of Coraline. The styles would be vastly different, as the tone of Coraline leans toward horror and is for a younger audience. However, Stardust would work well as a series, considering how many intersecting storylines there are. Additionally, there’s plenty of room for writers and creators to extrapolate further stories and adventures for the characters beyond where the original book and movie ends. I’m interested to see where the story might go, as the world beyond the wall holds so much.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Watching Pan’s Labyrinth was a turning point in my relationship with fantasy on film, as so much of my understanding of fantasy had revolved around high fantasy novels.
Guillermo del Toro is one of my favorite directors and certainly one of the modern masters of dark fantasy cinema. Watching Pan’s Labyrinth was a turning point in my relationship with fantasy on film, as so much of my understanding of fantasy had revolved around high fantasy novels. However, Pan’s Labyrinth showed me that original works from contemporary directors and writers could be just as compelling and fulfilling. The film is part of a loose trilogy by del Toro that includes Cronos and The Devil’s Backbone. An animated series that explored all three movies would be interesting.
The cinematography, sets, and costume design are flawlessly imagined and create a cohesive world that perfectly blends the period piece and fantastical elements of the story. Though the line between reality and imagination is blurred in the story, a series could expand on the magical world where Ofelia is from as well as delve into the surrounding political and social issues. A Pan’s Labyrinth show would appeal to viewers familiar with the movie and those just being introduced to it because of how much material there is to expand upon.
Eragon (2006)
Eragon was the only one of The Inheritance Cycle books to be adapted out of Christopher Paolini’s hit fantasy series. Unfortunately, the movie failed in many ways despite the strength and popularity of the source material. Most of the issues stemmed from the fact that fans felt the adaptation wasn’t faithful to the book and that many important details were left out. This would have been a major problem if the movies had developed into a franchise. However, as a fan of the books myself, I’ve always felt the material warranted a full fantasy series rather than a film universe.
Luckily, the novels are getting a new screen iteration with the upcoming Disney+ show. I have high hopes for the Eragon moments in the Disney+ show, but they will be visually challenging to capture. In fantasy, it makes sense to utilize the abilities of animation because so many magical elements require precise visual effects to communicate in live action. I want the Disney+ show to succeed, as the Eragon story is personal to many people’s introduction to fantasy. However, if it doesn’t work out, pivoting to an animated show could save the longevity of the story.