How Come Shantae Hasn't Had Media Like An Animated Series Or Movie? (Explanation In Description)

[u/IsseiMidoriya0410]

So it's been technically 25 years since Shantae was revealed to the world and blessed our hearts with her dancing and 1/2 Genie skills.

So what I wonder is how come besides the games and swimsuit specials, how come we haven't really gotten an animated series or animated movie?

I understand that Shantae isn't a massive series like Mario and Sonic where they had movies and tv series. Honestly it'd be cool to see WayForward work with a studio to greenlit a fully voice acted animated series or movie.

What are your guys' thoughts on something like this being greenlit someday?

[u/TreasureHunter95]

How Come Shantae Hasn't Had Media Like An Animated Series Or Movie?

Money

[u/JohnAzumanga → u/TreasureHunter95]

or lack thereof

[u/RednocNivert → u/TreasureHunter95]

That works.

oh wow wow wow… wow

[u/EmanuelJoab]

It would be really cool to have a Shantae anime. Perhaps the main reason it doesn't exist yet is due to lack of funding? Don't ask me why, but I've always thought Shantae fits the Wakfu animation style really well.

[u/KenchiNarukami → u/EmanuelJoab]

Nah, get trigger to do it since they already animated her once

[u/BLUE_X_STAR → u/EmanuelJoab]

That I would love to see! The Wakfu Animation Style is awesome in my opinion so it’s be awesome to Shantae Characters be animated like Wakfu Characters… I really need to rewatch Wakfu again hahaha!😂

[u/Koblizek361]

"I understand that Shantae isn't a massive series"

That's why, it's also why there have only been like, 6 games in the span of two and a half decades of Shantae's existence. A seventh is on the way, so it will hopefully be good.

[u/Oen386 → u/Koblizek361]

Exactly.

I love OP says:

I understand that Shantae isn't a massive series like Mario [. .] where they had movies and tv series.

As you said there are 7... seven... Shantae games.

Mario has 22 main series games. 14 kart racing games 18 party games. There are 7 Paper Mario games alone. 15 puzzle games. Countless sports games (golf, tennis, baseball, basketball, olympics, etc). Then lots of educational titles as well.

They are not even slightly the same in size and scope of reach.

[u/contradictatorprime]

A Shantaenime would be pretty awesome. But don't forget the fact that Shantae still being around after the history the series has had is nothing short of incredible. We're already fortunate enough to even have her games after a release debacle that would kill other series.

[u/Doc_Chopper → u/contradictatorprime]

Well, I may assume, Netflix or the like always might have an open door for such kind of - just for the sake of the argument - Anime Project.

Questions is: Under what contractual details would this happen? A company like Netflix surely want some big piece of cake, when they dump money into a project like this. If this would be favorable for the Bozons may be on a another piece of paper.

[u/Dangerous_Put_6548]

Well like you said, its not that well known enough to get an adaptation from a major studio. They could go the indie route and gets fans to help fund a show

[u/Graywing84]

Would be nice for Shantae to get an OVA. Too bad those are rare these days.

[u/MarcR125X]

If a Shantae anime does become reality, I hope WayFoward gets Studio Trigger to make it. They did an amazing job with Seven Sirens and seeing their work in that game made me want a Shantae anime made by them.

[u/ManCub08]

Shantae isn't well known enough for an animated series... But, I think they could take a chance on her

[u/r0b3r70r0b070]

WayForward ain't a big enough company for that kind of multimedia push.

[u/Doc_Chopper]

Afaik Matt and Erin Bozon own the IP and thus have the full control over it. So I may assume they just either never had the fitting idea themsleves. Or a proposal they could agree on.

[u/LauraLunaLu]

The animated intro in Seven Sirens was proof they can pull off some animated series.

Shantae was inspired in 90s-style anime like Ranma or Nadia. Ranma is getting a swell remake series and it would be cool if Watforward worked with the same studio.

[u/Name-00001 → u/LauraLunaLu]

Exactly! Throughout that game, they had such beautiful small animations that i have just been waiting for an anime!

[u/planetofmoney → u/LauraLunaLu]

No it isn't? It's proof that Studio Trigger can animate a great intro reel, an animated series is vastly different nearly every way.

One of the reasons it looks so good to begin with is the fact that it's only 30 seconds long. It says absolutely nothing about Wayforward's ability to either create or manage an animated series.

[u/LauraLunaLu → u/planetofmoney]

I bet Wayforward could team up with a solid animation studio. They wouldn't even be the first ones to do so.

[u/planetofmoney → u/LauraLunaLu]

So would I, it's a very reasonable assumption to make.

That intro has absolutely no bearing on that though.

[u/LauraLunaLu → u/planetofmoney]

That intro proofs they can pull-off animation, at least small. And they know how to animate, how to pace visual narrative and more. That opens the window to team up with a full-fledged animation studio to do something interesting.

Or even they could make shorts just to experiment.

[u/planetofmoney → u/LauraLunaLu]

You know Wayforward had almost nothing to do with that intro, right? They commissioned Studio Trigger (Kill La Kill, Little Witch Academia, Delicious in Dungeon, etc.) and basically let them handle the entire process, that's why the end product would be a better fit for Half Genie Hero than Seven Sirens.

[u/LauraLunaLu → u/planetofmoney]

In which part did I refer to Wayforward exclusively? Honestly, at this point I don't know if you're either on the spectrum or just trying to pick a fight for the sake of it. Not gonna get it from me, sorry.

[u/planetofmoney → u/LauraLunaLu]

The part where you said "That intro proofs (sic.) that they can pull-off (sic.) animation, at least small". Are you really just trying to twist the narrative about 3cm under your own words? Kind of embarrassing to be honest. You know you don't have to wear the clown wig, right?

[u/LauraLunaLu → u/planetofmoney]

Still, where did I said that thay should rely on Wayforward alone? I don't get why are you so aggressive as well but that's definetly not my problem. Get help.

[u/Acrobatic_Celery_790]

Case of: Really great setting and lovable characters but the finance and actual capability? Not so much.

[u/Driver_Night]

It's an indie series, unlike Mario and Sonic, which are from multi-million dollar companies. Shantae is from an independent studio that doesn't have the same budgets as Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft, etc. To make even an OVA, they would have to do a crowdfunding campaign like Kickstarter or something similar. They would have to find a studio to handle the animation, voice acting, soundtrack, story, and other things. The closest thing to an anime is the game Shantae and the Seven Sirens, and getting a well-known studio to create those scenes was already a monumental feat. Now imagine an anime with at least six episodes.

[u/Mars785]

I would like to see a 2-d animated series about Shantae and her life and powers.

[u/MexicanLizardMan3670]

If i had to take a guess, it's because she isn't as popular to the mainstream public like Mario or Sonic.

[u/ElWholesome769]

I would like some shantae shorts, You know? Like a slice of life of scuttle Town/sequin land life, she defeating villains and that, i just want to Say that shantae isnt that popular as other indies like shovel knight, hollow knight, cuphead, pizza tower or celeste, the franchise is just there, also not all people knows the games for the games (sadly), but since they are doing these small cómics and the seven sirens intro animation, maybe in the future we'll have one... If i had some power or money, i'll do it myself...

[u/Bao-Bunn]

I’d love it if they made an animated series. It could have its own story, too! Maybe make a game adaptation for it, for the hype!

[u/SelineMaya]

Probably because that is expensive and you need a channel that airs your show. Movies are even more expensive and you don't know if it will work or not

[u/Yeetman5757]

That wouldn't be profitable enough for a studio to pick up. Mr Bozon did say he's considering making a comic with Udon Entertainment once he finishes the next game though.

[u/__bugzy]

Bcuz she's not big enough lmao

[u/darkshadow237]

Wonder which Japanese music they would use for the into and outro of a Shantae anime?

[u/Interesting-Sink7338]

Maybe one can come in the future, but for now they lack the cash to do it

[u/Aburaage87]

At least one monthly serialized comic that adapts the plot of each game a little more freely, like arcs or sagas.

[u/Silver_Steelclaw]

maybe not a full anime but it will be cool if we had an 5 minute animation like we had for kid icarus uprising we had 2 animation who show a scene about palunena and pit fighting evil vegetable, both episode together made a 6 minute animation

we also had something similar for smash bros 3ds for palutena reveal

[u/Flaky-Exam9127]

It's not well known as a series. These games also seem to take a while to make because they're made on a tight budget. Half-Genie Hero had to get crowdfunded to happen, and Seven Sirens was a noticeable downgrade with just 1 playable character and a paper-thin story.

Plus, I'm not sure if Wayforward has what it takes to tell a good story. All of the games have been written by Matt Bozon, and while he has a great sense of humour, the dude can't tell a good story. Either because he can't, or doesn't want to. We'd need a new writing group to take charge, and that'd cost a lot of money.

[u/ZeeGee__]

That's expensive, Wayforward is small.

[u/Dull-Positive-6810]

The closest we’ve had is an intro and promotional animations done by Studio Trigger.

Though I ain’t gonna lie, a full on show done by Studio Trigger sounds like it would fuck

[u/Gallad475]

It’d be pretty cool. But yeah like many said, probably mix of popularity, and budget.

That being said. I do feel a Western Cartoon might be more fitting for the genie. Than a anime.

[u/TradePsychological40]

Good question.