Word has emerged that Adi Shankar, the man responsible for the amazing and underrated reboot Dredd and the Youtube shorts The Punisher: Dirty Laundry and the reimagined Power Rangers fan film (which Saban pulled down and then subsequently restored due to fan outcry), announced on Facebook that he is going to be working on a Castlevania animated series that will supposedly be a ‘super violent’ anime styled show and based on, perhaps, the strongest entry in the 8 bit offerings, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. As anyone who’s seen Shankar’s work knows from its thoughtful intensity and uncompromising nature, the man strives to retain the integrity of the property he’s adapting above all other concerns. Collider has a brief interview with him about the announcement that you can check out here.
Also, it should be noted that Shankar recently updated his Facebook page with confirmation that they are working from a script by Warren Ellis, of long standing comic book fame as well as writing the well received animated web series G.I. Joe: Resolute, which you can check out here. Shankar and Ellis are a good pairing for this project. Both seem to really care about the source material of whatever they work on, they understand what makes it special and they focus on those elements. This makes them, in the truest sense of the word, ultra fans who have the clout and connections to make their, and our, dreams reality. And Castlevania III, with its large cast, numerous areas and branching paths, is perfect for adapting to a narrative format. The content is there to sustain a gripping storyline for many episodes if handled properly. If Shankar’s previous work is any indication, he’ll do Ralph C. Belmont (Trevor in the US version) and the gang justice.
There is no word yet on when the Castlevania animated series will launch, but as we learn more about it we’ll be sure to keep you informed!
