Prime Video’s Secret Level is shaping up to be one of the most exciting animated series of 2024, especially for gaming fans. The series was officially unveiled at Gamescom 2024 by Tim Miller, the creative force behind Deadpool and Love, Death + Robots. This new anthology promises to bring some of the most beloved video game worlds to life in ways we’ve never seen before.
Creators and Production Team
Secret Level is created and executive produced by Tim Miller, known for his work on Deadpool and the acclaimed anthology series Love, Death + Robots. Miller is joined by Dave Wilson, who serves as executive producer and supervising director. The series is produced by Blur Studio, the same team behind Love, Death + Robots, ensuring that Secret Level will feature cutting-edge animation and compelling storytelling.
Concept and Structure
The series consists of 15 episodes, each focusing on a different video game universe. From classic titles like Pac-Man to more recent hits like Sifu and The Outer Worlds, Secret Level dives deep into the lore and characters of these games, reimagining them in bold and visually stunning ways. The show is set to debut on December 10, 2024, on Prime Video.
Games Featured
Here’s a breakdown of every game featured in the Secret Level trailer, including some surprising appearances and bold reimaginings:
Armored Core
Keanu Reeves makes a surprising appearance in the Armored Core episode, suiting up for battle in a mecha suit. Reeves’ involvement adds even more star power to this already highly anticipated series.
Concord
The series brings to life the steep, vertically-oriented city from the game Concord, showcasing the detailed world previously seen in the game’s cinematic trailer.
Crossfire
Secret Level takes on the tactical shooter series Crossfire, promising a gritty and tense experience as SWAT teams engage in intense action.
Dungeons & Dragons
The series offers a lavish CG-animated take on Dungeons & Dragons, featuring a massive dragon and a sword-shaped bridge leading to a fortress, opting for a more serious tone compared to the 2023 live-action film.
EXODUS
The emotionally charged sci-fi game EXODUS gets a fittingly poignant adaptation, focusing on the effects of time dilation and human connection.
Honor of Kings
Despite its origins as a MOBA game, Honor of Kings receives a realistic and detailed interpretation in the series, diverging from its usual anime aesthetic.
Mega Man
Capcom’s iconic Mega Man is reimagined with a realistic twist, as the cyborg boy with a giant cannon for a hand gears up to battle Dr. Wily’s Robot Masters.
New World: Aeternum
Amazon’s MMORPG New World is also featured, with a short set on the island of Aeternum, showcasing a hero’s journey to prove their worth.
The Outer Worlds 2
Secret Level explores the world of Halcyon from The Outer Worlds 2, blending photorealistic characters with stylized environments, highlighting the game’s distinctive color palette.
Pac-Man
In one of the most radical reinterpretations, Pac-Man is transformed into a hooded, alien-like figure navigating a wasteland, with the iconic character becoming a robotic entity with razor-sharp teeth.
PlayStation Studios: God of War & Ghost of Tsushima
Kratos from God of War and Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima are featured in a short that seemingly blends their worlds with modern-day settings, raising questions about time travel and crossovers.
Sifu
Sloclap’s beat-em-up Sifu is brought to life with a realistic animation style, showing blood-soaked battles in a dojo and neon-lit nightclub.
Spelunky
The quirky indie game Spelunky gets an ambitious visual makeover, with Ana Spelunky exploring a lava-filled cavern.
Unreal Tournament
A quick shot from the Unreal Tournament episode reveals an arena set up for a deadly deathmatch, complete with the iconic Riordan Dynamics logo.
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 comes to life with intense action, featuring Space Marines in brutal combat, making this episode one of the most visceral in the series.
The Mystery Game
The trailer also hints at a mysterious game, showing a man enveloped in pink and blue energy, possibly bonding with a machine or lifeform. The identity of this game remains a mystery, leaving fans eager to find out more.
What to Expect
Each episode of Secret Level serves as a unique short film, taking creative liberties with the source material to explore new narratives and visuals. For example, the Pac-Man episode appears to transform the simplistic arcade game into a dark, dystopian narrative, while the God of War episode places Kratos in a modern city, hinting at potential time-travel elements.
The series is expected to be a celebration of video games, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge animation and storytelling. Given the involvement of Tim Miller and Blur Studio, fans can expect the same level of quality and innovation seen in Love, Death + Robots.
Release and Availability
Secret Level will premiere on Prime Video on December 10, 2024. While it’s unclear whether the entire season will be released at once or on a weekly schedule, the anticipation for this series is already building, thanks to its impressive lineup of game-inspired episodes.
For those interested in exploring more about the series and its development, be sure to check out the full trailer and keep an eye on upcoming announcements as the release date approaches.
