Next year marks a significant milestone: the 30th anniversary of the very first Crash Bandicoot game. Despite his enduring popularity, this iconic anthropomorphic character has never had his own TV show or film adaptation — until now, perhaps. Exciting news suggests that Crash Bandicoot may finally be getting his own animated television series, slated for release on Netflix.
Reports indicate that WildBrain Studios is currently developing the Crash Bandicoot animated series. While details about the creative team are still under wraps, WildBrain is no stranger to successful video game adaptations, having previously produced fan-favorites like Sonic Prime and Carmen Sandiego. Their portfolio also includes other well-known animated shows such as Johnny Test, Go Dog Go, The Snoopy Show, Fireman Sam, and Polly Pocket.
Netflix has been expanding its library of video game-inspired content, with a growing roster that includes titles like Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, multiple Castlevania series, Devil May Cry, and the recently launched Splinter Cell: Deathwatch. The streaming giant is also in the process of developing a live-action Assassin’s Creed series.
The original Crash Bandicoot game, a PlayStation 1 classic, was developed by the acclaimed studio Naughty Dog. Over the years, ownership of the Crash Bandicoot franchise changed hands, eventually landing with Activision. The most recent installment in the game series, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, was released in 2020. Interestingly, a concept artist from Toys for Bob revealed last year that a planned Crash Bandicoot 5 had been cancelled during its development.
Earlier this year, Shuji Utsumi, a former Sony executive and the current CEO of Sega of America, shared that Hollywood had previously rejected a pitch for a Crash Bandicoot movie. Even Naughty Dog’s head, Neil Druckmann, has expressed his support for a Crash Bandicoot film, though he pointed out that such a decision would now rest with Microsoft, following their acquisition of Activision.