Video game adaptations seem to be entering a bit of a golden era with animated projects likeArcaneandCyberpunk: Edgerunnersblowing audiences away. This renaissance is not exclusively relegated to animated projects either aslive-action projects likeThe Last of UsandSonic The Hedgehoghave also been very well received. So many video games are finally getting the adaptations that they have deserved for years, and Blizzard’sWarcraftfranchise should be next.
TheWarcraftseries is one of the most iconic fantasy series in gaming, but it has failed to make waves in other major entertainment industries. There was a live-action movie a couple of years ago, but that failed to pull in audience members and was met with mediocre reviews. This seems to have shuttered any plans for a largerWarcraftcinematic franchise, but the story of Azeroth does not deserve to stay within the confines of gaming. While it may have stumbled in the live-action world, shows likeArcaneandCyberpunk: Edgerunnerssuggest that the series may still be able to thrive in animation.
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Warcraft is the Perfect Setting for an Animated Show
TheWarcraftfranchise has been going strong ever sinceWarcraft: Orcs & Humanslaunched in 1994, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. The series is currently composed of three classic RTS titles, and the MMO juggernautWorld of Warcraftwhich just saw its ninth expansion pack launchlate last year. The series has even branched out into novels, comics, and manga. All of these projects are chock-full of interesting characters, engaging stories, and fantastic locales that are just waiting to be explored in other mediums.
Blizzard tried to bring Azeroth to the masses in 2016 withthe live-actionWarcraftfilm. That movie explored the events ofWarcraft: Orcs & Humansand was supposed to set up a much larger franchise. It introduced viewers to many popularWarcraftcharacters like the villainous Gul’dan, the heroic Anduin Lothar, and the powerful Khadgar. It successfully brought the fantastical locales of Azeroth to live-action, but everything else about the film was mediocre. It received pretty negative reviews on release, and there has been no news of anotherWarcraftmovie since. Many factors caused this film to fail, but the franchise’s story was not one of them.
TheWarcraftfilm barely scratched the surface of Azeroth’s potential. There are so many different stories that aWarcraftanimated project could adapt. Viewers could watch Arthas Menethil’s descent into evil, see the popularWar of the Ancientsbook trilogy play out, witness the second great war, or even watch asDeathwing ravages Azeroth. All of these tales could make for some pretty great settings, and there are loads more stories that could follow.
One of the highlights ofArcanewas that it was a character-focused story, and there are dozens ofWarcraftcharacters that could replicate that model. Not only could a show adapt the iconic Arthas story, but it also could go for some of the lesser-known ones. The animated show could follow Malfurion Stormrage and Tyrande Whisperwind’s story, give viewers an insight into the Tauren lifestyle from the perspective of Cairne Bloodhoof, followKing Varian Wrynn’s time as a gladiator, or be a simple journey across Pandaria alongside Chen Stormstout.
TheWarcraftseries seems to have endless storiesto tell, and one of the best places to tell them would be in aWarcraftanimated show. The world that Blizzard has constructed is one of the most interesting fantasy worlds in gaming, and it only gets bigger as the years go by. Hopefully, the failure of theWarcraftmovie did not scare studios off of the property permanently, because the world of Azeroth deserves to be explored.
World of Warcraftis available now on PC.
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