Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

I realize we have a movies/TV forum, but doing this in here for a simple reason. We've determined this would make an interesting topic for the podcast this week.

As long as there have been video games, there has been tie-ins. I'm sure we've all heard Pac-man Fever at least once in our life. There have also been movies of varying qualities (From awful to watchable, its a small scale). But as video games are generally seen as kids entertainment, there has also been a ton of animated series tie-ins.

Let's start with the most well known, longest latest one, Pokemon



The show has been around for more than a decade. Has had over 600 episodes, and something like 13 movies. It is probably one of the longest running cartoons in history, which easily makes it one of the longest running in the video game world.

Then you go to gaming's big two mascots, Super Mario and Sonic have also starred in their fair share of cartoons.

Mario has 3 under his belt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w2fi_f5OLY
The Super Mario Bros: Super Show which for the most part is based on the Super Mario Bros 2 video game (even though it features Bowser as the main foe) This show was also famous for the wraparounds which starred a real life Mario (Captain Lou) and Luigi with various guest stars. And on Fridays would also include an episode of the Legend of Zelda cartoon.

Then there was The Adventures of Super Mario Bros, which took its cues from Super Mario Bros 3 including the Koopa Kids who were all renamed for the series (for reasons that escape me), and finally Super Mario World which took its cues from the game of the same name.

Sonic on the other hand, has had various animated shows, with varying degrees of how they are related to the game.

The first was The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog which aired weekday morning. It was a light-hearted affair, which featured Robotnik and a few of the common foes from Sonic 1/2. Around the same time, Sonic Satam (Saturday morning) premiered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4jd0UWGPgY

This cartoon was the first to shake up the premise. While Sonic fought Dr. Robotnik, he was part of the Freedom Fighters which was other wild life critters who tried to save the world from Robotnik's evil influence. Gold rings also granted him super-speed and he only needed one of them. It had a hell of a tune though.

Then came Sonic Underground which pretty much said to hell with the concept. Sonic is one of three children who is orphaned by his mother to protect them. Sonic and his siblings form a type of traveling rock band with magical instruments to fight evil. Yeah, its out there.

After that, I believe Sonic took a minor hiatus before returning in mid-2000s with Sonic X which is an anime-esque adventure that pays homage to the Sonic Adventure games.

As mentioned above there was a Zelda series, and Captain N featured characters from prominent NES games including Megaman, Simon Belmont, Mother Brain and Kid Icarus.

Other than that, Nintendo has tried its hand at two other animated series. Donkey Kong Country

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MecV47MbkY

This of course took influence from the SNES games developed by Rare, and was quite an odd show. One of the first CG cartoons of the day.

Finally, and most recently, Nintendo had Kirby: Right Back At Ya! which was an anime-inspired Kirby cartoon. Not sure if he spoke in it?

Well Nintendo and Sega have had their share of cartoon, as always, Pac-man led the way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3n22GQMgcU

Never seen the cartoon (or don't remember seeing it), but I do watch Christmas Comes to Pac-Land every year. :D

Mega Man was a part of the Captain N cartoon, but that doesn't mean the Blue Bomber hasn't ventured out on his own in the animated world.

First with Mega Man


He's the fighting robot apparently. The show was pretty enjoyable. And most people would remember the episode when Mega Man teamed with Mega Man X as the first real crossover of the two universes.

The next time he came to the small screen was in the form of Mega Man NT Warrior

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlQEK_CI4IU

Which is based off of the Battle NT games on the GBA/DS.

For a time, Capcom also did a Viewtiful Joe cartoon, but Youtube seems to offer up no intro/music for it. I remember it came on during the afternoons.

Capcom has also done a few Street Fighter cartoons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuaJgxUOUlo

It made about as much sense as the movie.

And of course there was Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJHbd...eature=related

I actually enjoyed this cartoon, but I guess because the Mortal Kombat storyline on its own is pretty stupid anyhow.

And this thread is getting long in the tooth, and hasn't even hit on all the animated series nor have we touched on the actual animes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...on_video_games

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

Wow, you totally reminded me of the Sonic show. I remember seeing some of it every now and then and I really loved it. Every time I saw an episode, I couldn't stop running around for the rest of the day. Had to be fast just like Sonic

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

OF those would have to say either the original Pokemon or Donkey Kong Country would be my favorite. Favorite back when they came out, not now.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

I honestly loved watching the first season of Pokemon, with the original Elite Four and everything. I think Pokemon is actually the only show I've ever seen out of that entire list too, but I've been wanting to check out Sonic X and the original Saturday morning Sonic cartoon.

Oh and I've seen a few of the Legend of Zelda episodes too.

Oh glorious Internet, I must search you for these classics and (probably be disappointed.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

Just remembered that bald Donkey Kong is a very disturbing image

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

http://www4.funimation.com/video/?page=show&b=306

Capcom is airing two episodes of Sengoku Basara for free since the game releases soon.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

Sengoku Basara is awesome. I don't think it would be wrong of me to say it's the best adaptation of a video game. Dokuganryu owns your balls.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

I have to start watching it now since I finished Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien. That was also based on a game(/visual novel) funny enough. Must not have been a very entertaining one to play as it was pretty depressing.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

I'm going to have to say Sengoku Basara is the best I've seen so far.

I mean if just for this scene right here:



Also I doubt it will get released in the US as it's not 3 years old or so, but there is a fighting game that we played for a few months based on the games called Sengoku Basara X(Cross). That's why I watched the anime, and damn was that game fun until we realized how easy the infinites were.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

I wanted to get the first PS2 game at a Gamestop somewhere if they had it.

It's like 6 bucks, fuck yes.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

Season 2 comes out this summer, gonna be sick.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

I know, I was hoping to finish the first one beforehand, which shouldn't be a big issue. I think it starts June 10th or some shit.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

Yeah, it's only 12 episodes, so it's not too bad.

Re: Animated Series Based on Video Games
 

You forgot Double Dragon. It was nothing like the games, but it was there.