From Live Action to Animation: Heroes that explored both media

There are times when the scriptwriters of a movie want to tell a story from that universe, but it is not long enough for a feature film, it is not an attractive enough idea, or it would simply be too expensive to carry out. And there are cases in which a company wants to continue exploiting an intellectual property by releasing more related material.

Both cases lead to a live action franchise exploring the field of animation, allowing us to see our heroes in a new medium.

These are some of those cases:

• The Animatrix

This animated film is produced by the Wachowskis and has nine anime shorts set before or during the tetralogy. Each short has a different animation and among the directors we can find some greats in the industry such as Shin'ichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) or Peter Chung (Æon Flux).

As with any anthology, there are some stories better than others, but overall it is an incredible film that could easily be the best sequel to the original Matrix. 

Personally my favorite short is “Matriculated”, where a rebels outside the Matrix give the machines a taste of their own medicine by inserting them into a matrix designed by this group to bring the robots to their side. But the most important are “The Second Renaissance Part I & II”, which tells how the fall of humanity occurred in a story that could be classified as horror.

• Hellboy Animated

Unfortunately at this point it is clear that we will not see Guillermo del Toro finish his Hellboy trilogy, but at least the cast of these films lent their voices to two animations: “Hellboy: Sword of Storms” and “Hellboy: Blood and Iron”.

In them we follow Hellboy, Liz and Abe first against two Japanese demons and then against a powerful vampire. And I'll be honest, they're not on par with the live-action movies, but they're entertaining, short, and the animation provides both beauty and darkness as the occasion requires.

• The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

In 2021 Netflix decided to expand the universe of its series through an animated film, this time leaving Geralt of Rivia aside and exploring a story prior to the series. In it we follow Vesemir, Geralt's mentor, in a story that probably would have been quite expensive to adapt otherwise.

This is something very subjective, but I think this movie is even better than the series, and can be seen perfectly separately. So if the series didn't grab you, you could give this story a chance.

Luckily Netflix apparently took note of the good reception of this spin-off and soon we will be able to see “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep”, a new animation part of this world .

• Van Helsing: The London Assignment

Hugh Jackman's Van Helsing movie is one of the public's favorites, thanks to the fact that they knew how to adapt the classic monsters in a brutal and modern way. And even though we never had a second installment (hopefully it happens now that delayed sequels are in trend), there is an official animated prequel that accompanied the film in its domestic release.

Set shortly before the events we know about, the story follows Helsing fighting Dr. Jekyll for the first time, with gadgets and an attitude that make us feel like we are seeing an alternate version of Batman.

• Tron: Uprising

Set between both films, this animated series follows the story of Beck, a young program that seeks to free The Net from the reign of Clu 2, while receiving training from Tron.

Unfortunately, the franchise does not have the best of luck and the series was canceled after one season of 19 episodes, but they were enough to be able to see Tron (the character) in its splendor.

• Batman: Gotham Knight 

Set within Nolan's universe, this animated film was produced by Madhouse (Death Note, Monster) and is made up of six stories, each animated in a different way.

Although at times it is doubtful that it is really a sequel to “Batman Begins” due to more fanciful events than those used in the trilogy and the absence of Bale in the cast, the quality of the film is completely up to par, being one of the best animated films of the character.

If you didn't know the movie, give it a chance, you won't regret it.

• Riddick

Vin Diesel's character has two forays into animation, each serving as a bridge between the films of the trilogy.

One is “Riddick: Dark Fury”, directed by Peter Chung (yes, the same one of The Animatrix), that pits riddick against an entire spaceship of mercenaries. A delight for action and science fiction lovers that leaves you wishing it lasted longer.

While the other is “Riddick: Blindsided” a 6 minutes motion comic.

Maybe we will see another animated short film with the imminent premiere of the fourth part of the franchise?

Did you know these animations?

What franchise would you like to see expand into animation? I think “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” would know how to exploit the freedom of the medium very well.