When it comes to the colliding worlds of video games and animation, anime is the first thing people usually think of, especially classics like pokemon and Yo-Kai watch. Even card games have gotten anime adaptations. But western animation has also had a few adaptations of popular games.
Some classic game characters have even appeared in both western cartoons and anime. And many of these cartoons still have cult followings to this day, to the point where even shows that have lasted one or two seasons have their fair share of fans. For some viewers, the cartoon may have been their introduction to the games.
10 Nightmare Ned: The Show & The Game were made side by side
When it comes to Nightmare Ned, there is some debate as to which came first, as both the video games and the cartoon were created side by side. However, the video games were released later. In the Disney-produced cartoon, Ned falls asleep and has a nightmare that revolves around the problem he faces in real life.
Ned’s problems can be anything from a pig family trying to eat him to accidentally marrying a corpse. While most of his dreams end on a scary note, he usually wakes up safe and sound in his bed, with all the monsters in his head – except for that one episode with the aliens.
9 Viva Piñata: Animal piñatas were the stars of this Saturday morning cartoon
In the Viva Pinata game allows players to breed their own piñata animals. Later it got a draw on Saturday morning. Generally more energetic and comical than the games, individuals of every kind were adapted into characters.
The Horstachio piñata, often used as the mascot for the games, was used as one of the main characters. Hudson Horstachio is a self-proclaimed celebrity who serves in the same way as a flagship. Other characters include the cowardly Ferdy Fudgehog, who is terrified of actually being used as a piñata, the deadpan fox-esque Paulie Pretztail, and the friendly Franklin Fizzlybear.
8 Dragon’s Lair: This cartoon tried to translate the gameplay as much as possible
The Dragon’s Lair video game franchise is already famous for its animated graphics, to the point where people who view scenes out of context often mistake them for something from an animated movie. However, the game later got a short-lived series of the same name.
Although there are a few differences between the Dragon’s Lair game and the cartoon, as new characters are added, there were many attempts to translate elements from the game into the series. Before the commercial breaks were interrupted, the narrator asked viewers what they think Dirk’s next action should be, then showed what would happen if the show resumed. In one episode, Dirk also slowly turned into a skeleton, a reference to his infamous death scenes in the game.
7 Wing Commander Academy: The Series Was Lovingly Accurate For The Games
Most cartoons that come out of video games try to keep the story going or retell everything, but the ’90s cartoon Wing Commander Academy is something of a loose prequel to the Wing Commander game. The main focus of the series is a group of young cadets fighting the Kilrathi warrior race.
Known for being relatively loyal to the Wing Commander games, even details like the instrument panels were accurate in Wing Commander Academy. The series also had a notable voice cast, such as Malcolm McDowell, Thomas F. Wilson, and Mark Hamill, who would even appear in the games themselves.
6 Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?: This cartoon had a prominent cast
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? revolved around the exploits of world-famous thief Carmen Sandiego and the two agents, Zack and Ivy, who had to find her. The series is not only based on the series of games but is also suggested as an in-universe video game played by an unseen character known as ‘The Player’.
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? stood out for his voice cast. Rita Moreno voiced the title character and Rodger Bumpass, who would later become known for voicing Squidward Tentacles on Spongebob Squarepantssaid the automated Chief.
5 Clash-A-Rama!: This web series features the characters from Clash Of Clans & Clash Royale
The characters from clash of clans and Clash Royale get their own stories in Clash-A-Rama!, an animated comedy web series. In the games, characters appear as identical units and the cartoon follows suit. Instead of individualizing them, characters normally appear as the different lookalikes with identical voices.
Sometimes the limitations of the games are made fun of. In one story, a balloon skeleton tries to travel the world and discover new lands, but finds himself traveling in a circle. Prominent voice actors such as Tom Kenny and Tress MacNeille provide voice work for Clash-A-Rama!.
4 Wakfu: This French cartoon is a sequel to the Dofus game
Wakfu is a French animated series based on the fantasy world of the dofus video game and is known for its anime-inspired art style. The series, intended as a sort of sequel to the game, takes place 1000 years after the game and revolves around a group of adventurers, led by Yugo, who search for his lost family.
Wakfu later had a kind of sister series in Dofus: Kerub’s Bazaar. It also had a spin-off, Mini-Wakfuwhich was animated in a chibi-like style.
3 Earthworm Jim: the cartoon is as silly as the games
earthworm Jim revolves around a normal earthworm who becomes a powerful superhero thanks to his super-powerful spacesuit. The series is known for being as silly as the game it’s based on and lacking a fourth wall. Jim’s sidekick is Peter Puppy, who can turn into a monster thanks to the demon behind his anthropomorphism.
Jim also has a love interest and an ally in the Insectican princess Whats-Her-Name, who was imprisoned by her evil sister, Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, for her hideous appearance. The joke, though, is that she’s actually considered very beautiful by Earth standards.
2 The Cuphead Show: Both the game and the cartoon are love letters to animation
The cup game is a love letter to classic animation, especially to the work of Fleischer Studios. It makes sense that the series would eventually get a cartoon spin-off, Netflix’s The Cuphead Show.
The Cuphead and Mugman brothers find themselves in a series of strange adventures, including clashing things like the devil and befriending a character who is secretly a ghost. As with the game, the series is full of references to the world of animation, from classics like The Skeleton Dance and Betty Boop cartoons and even animated video games like Dragon’s Lair.
1 Castlevania: The Japanese Video Games has an anime-influenced series on Netflix
Castlevania is an adult animated Netflix series based on the Japanese video game series, most notably: Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. Animated in an anime-influenced style, many of the cartoon’s crew have actually worked in the Japanese animation industry, although the cartoon is generally considered to be made in the west.
In CastlevaniaDracula declares war on the living after his wife is burned as a witch. Fighting the dark forces falls to the surviving monster hunter, Trevor Belmont, and his allies, including Dracula’s own dhampyr son, Alucard, and the magical scholar, Sypha.
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