It’s easy to dismiss animated entertainment as children’s programming, but that’s not the case. Animated films and shows have addressed some of the most mature and sombre ideas. It’s gotten to the point where a lot of these serials have an R-rating. This is frequently due to strong violence, sensuality, language, or a storyline that is simply too harsh for children!
However, R-rated animated entertainment is frequently made up of sequels to movies and video games! It’s a lot easier to delve further into pre-existing ideas that haven’t been developed in their particular medium.
These chances are provided by the cartoon platform, and some great creators have taken advantage of them to shatter the creative barriers in adult animation media! This video will give you a taste of what you can expect from animated material. Things are about to get a lot more extreme!
Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic – Based on the Dante’s Inferno Game
For over three years, Dante has been fighting in the Crusades. When he returns home, he discovers that his father has been assassinated and that his lady love, Beatrice, has been fatally wounded.
Because her soul is bound for heaven, Lucifer transports her to Hell and uses his dirty ways to show Dante’s betrayal. Dante follows them to the Underworld, where he must travel through Hell’s nine circles to find his true love.
A painful journey full of symbolism, this is adapted from the video game Dante’s Inferno, which in turn was a loose adaptation of the first part of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. It retains the format of the game to some extent, as the narrative is about crossing one level of Hell after another. If you observe carefully, you will even realize that every stage has a boss-fight and the usual beasts for fodder.
However, the seemingly simple scenario is far more intricate than it appears. We learn that Beatrice had made a wager with Lucifer that he would be loyal to her and not fall into sin while he was abroad, based on her naïve confidence in her spouse. Lucifer joyously shatters her faith in God, mankind, and ultimately her spouse throughout the film. The Circles of Hell appear weird and inventive, and the animation is outstanding.
The voice-acting is spot on, with Mark Hamill and Peter Jessop being the standout performers. There is a lot of blood and violence, making it no surprise that it got an R-rating. Granted, we don’t think that the complexities of the plot would have appealed to children anyway!
The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury – Based On The Riddick Movies
Riddick, a criminal, and his allies Jack and Imam manage to escape from a barren planet. They are quickly arrested by a bounty hunter starship captained by Antonia Chillgsworth. She is an imperial woman with an odd passion of gathering the galaxy’s most notable criminals.
She converts them into statues and preserves them in her prized collection instead of returning them to the areas where they await punishment. Will Riddick be able to find a way out now that he’s been cast as one of the criminal statues?
This movie is a part of Riddick franchise and was meant to serve as a filler for the five-year void between Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick. Peter Chung, the man behind Aeon Flux, deservingly fills the director’s shoes and brings his unique style to the Riddick Universe. Dark Fury’s fast-paced narrative is full of non-stop action and violence- it’s quite entertaining to see Riddick kick some ass in animation!
The short video also introduces Toombs, a bounty hunter who will play an important role later on. The animation quality, on the other hand, is subpar, and the rushed nature of the production is evident in the rare grainy image.
The voice-acting, however, makes up for it, with the likes of Vin Diesel, Keith David, and Rhiana Griffith all adding credibility to the whole thing. If you don’t mind a trip to the dark side, this might be a delightful little gem for you!
Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars – Based On The Starship Troopers Movies
Johnny Rico has been demoted to colonel and transferred to a shoddy Martian Space Station. He tries to train his new team, but they prove to be too inept to meet the demands of a genuine conflict. They were complacent and taken off guard when the insects attacked because their planet was relatively unscathed by the Arachnid conflict. Rico must now rally his forces to recapture Mars from the deadly bug invasion.
The success story of the Starship Troopers franchise has been a turbulent one with grand hits like the Paul Verhoeven live-action film and some abysmal sequels. Traitor of Mars stands somewhere in the middle and is kind of in the same category as the previous Starship Troopers: Invasion.
As you can understand from the plot, the focus is always on the non-stop action sequences that look at the combat between humans and space-bugs. The makers invested heavily in this CGI animated movie, and the attention to detail is admirable.
With the exception of Casper Van Dien, who was nominated for his performance, all of the superb work in visual effects and design is destroyed by a terrible narrative, poor dialogue, and substandard voice acting.
Overall, this Starship Troopers animated attempt will be fairly entertaining provided you aren’t disturbed by the fun and wacky side of things.
Dead Space: Downfall – Based on the Dead Space Game
This animated film serves as a well-crafted prelude to the events shown in the original Dead Space film. The Red Marker is an unusual and potentially dangerous relic carried by a mining starship.
It was discovered at the Aegis VII colony, where the residents were infected and committed suicides and murders as a result of the contamination. Barrow, the ship’s senior security officer, is on board to predict the dangers they face, but it’s too late as the horrors are released on board!
It is tough to fill in the shoes of a video game that is considered to be among the best. However, this animated movie does manage to retain the scary and fun parts of the games. The animation work is subtle, and the necromorphs are well-drawn and believable. You will get to experience a mix of western and Japanese animation.
Downfall goes quickly, and horror lovers will like the abundance of blood and gore on display. However, the game isn’t just about cutting and slicing; the makers have worked hard to create an unnerving atmosphere of dread and uncertainty.
The plot could have been more thorough, and the explanations were at times a little lacking. But, in the end, it’s a seamless blend of The Thing and Alien, two timeless classics that you can’t go wrong with!
Devil May Cry (2007) – Devil May Cry Games
Dante is the human son of a strong demon. He owns a supernatural organisation and, despite some financial difficulties, never backs down from his mission to exorcise demons. Despite his mounting obligations, his people continue to provide a regular source of work, and he continues to fight evil forces. However, one task comes across his desk that could jeopardise his own existence! Will he rise to the occasion this time?
This was an animated series based upon the Devil May Cry games that were a huge hit. While watching the series, however, it is best not to constantly compare it with the legacy of the games. The games have an intriguing plot, but the books have the most detailed descriptions, and this series is more in line with those novels. It’s an engaging plot, with the creators emphasising finer details such as character development over endless fighting.
The action sequences, however, are totally worth your time and will pose for some of the most hardcore sights in anime history. The animation quality is a gift for this series and the character designs, in particular, are outstanding. In a nutshell, Devil May Cry’s animated adaptation is a joy to see, encompassing twelve episodes that will be a treat for fans of the games.
Resident Evil: Degeneration (2012) – Based On Resident Evil Games
Special Agent Leon S. Kennedy finds himself in a warzone where there are reports that the US is employing Bio Organic Weapons. He confirms the rumours and defies orders from his superiors to call off the expedition.
He intends to eradicate the threat posed by the infamous Umbrella Corporation’s terrible weapon. Agent Leon enters the battlefield to put an end to this agony, as it has the ability to unleash ultimate hell on Earth.
You know an animated movie has done well when it outperforms its live action counterparts. Though it starts off strange, the narrative quickly picks up steam and packs quite a punch. With the use of full CGI, the visual effects are brilliant, and you will be amazed at some of the wicked action scenes that are on offer. The clever manipulation of the lights and the gruesome details of the zombies make it a must-watch for fans.
As Degeneration proceeds, the action intensifies, and the climactic moment will not find too many rivals in quality! We loved how the ambiance of the Resident Evil games has been recreated for this effort- in particular, you will be reminded of the older titles. The events shown in this film take place prior to the release of Resident Evil 6, which was released in 2012. If you enjoy the survival horror genre, you must see Degeneration as soon as possible!
Highlander: The Search for Vengeance – Based On Highlander Movies
Many sequels have followed the success of the first Highlander film, but few are as fantastic as this animated continuation of the brand. It’s all about eternal Colin MacLeod seeking vengeance for the assassination of his sweetheart by the immortal ruler Marcus Octavius.
He’s followed by the wise-cracking ghost Amergan, and their search for Octavius takes them through the ages. When he comes across a submerged New York full of troubled individuals, he faces a critical decision. Should he aid the surviving or stick to his mission of apprehending Octavius?
This animated venture was a joint American and Japanese production where the latter handled the direction and animation. This ensures the authentic Japanese style of work and the brilliance of veteran director Yoshiaki Kawajiri. He begins with a plot that is based on the Highlander legend, and the narrative retains the imprint of his own format. Even if the plot is a little cliched, it still outperforms any Highlander sequel! There are some gorgeous fights to take your breath away, and the stellar CG shots will leave you asking for more!
The visuals of post-apocalyptic New York City are a bit too realistic for comfort, and the full-fledged battle against the dictator Octavius is one for the thrill-seekers! Despite the fact that it is based on the Highlander films, it has an air of originality that makes it feel like a different storey. This timeless drama comes highly recommended, but keeps the kids away from the violence!
Hellboy: Blood and Iron – Based On Hellboy Movies
Someone is attempting to recreate a dangerous female vampire who was extinguished in 1939. Professor Broom examines the situation and enlists the help of the top B.P.R.D. Agents, including Hellboy. They quickly discover a horrific secret hidden inside a haunted home and must figure out how to stop the bloodshed.
Hellboy must combat all forms of evil, including werewolves, hell hounds, and the vampire herself, as the menace of the vampire grows. To find out what happens next, watch this stunning animated film!
This animated attempt to recreate the heroics of Hellboy is an interesting dark romp with the paranormal evil entities. In our opinion, it is much better than the first Hellboy animated film and feels a lot like the live-action movies by Guillermo del Toro! It might be R-rated, but this brave attempt is appropriate for elder children. There are some cool action scenes, with most of them consisting of the team fighting off evil beings in the region.
We also enjoyed Ron Perlman’s performance as Hellboy, because there was no one better to bring this iconic character to life. Despite all of the positive qualities of Blood and Iron, we must confess that there are several areas where it could have been better. Dr. Broom is frequently overused in the tale, and Hellboy should have had more hard fights!
Besides these, you have a remarkable animated film on your plates for a fun evening with friends!
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge – Based On Mortal Kombat Game
Gamers all across the world are familiar with the thrilling Mortal Kombat series, which has enthralled successive generations. The story of Hanzo Hasashi, whose entire clan is slaughtered by a rival ninja, is told in this animated martial arts film based on the massive game series.
Now he has a chance to save his family, but he must first compete in an infamous inter-dimensional fighting contest. Other fighters are also fighting for the Earth realm, attempting to prevent its annihilation!
Scorpion’s Revenge counts as one of those movies that disappoint you by being too short. This R-rated animated film is absolutely badass and comes in the pristine package of a gripping plot and incredible fight scenes. Since the original Mortal Kombat film was released in 1995, this is the second animated Mortal Kombat film, and the R-rating shows that the filmmakers did not shy away from the essential violence. The gory fatalities are bloody without a care for the censor boards, and the gorehounds will love the adrenaline-pumping brutality on offer.
All your known characters are back, from Sonya Blade to Jonny Cage, and they all have their signature moves that they are known for. Every scene in the film is based on the games, which adds a dose of individuality that we enjoyed. Even in the midst of the bloody conflicts, there’s some wacky humour! We cannot wait for part two of this magical experience- heck, a Mortal Kombat cinematic universe on these lines would be a special gift for the fans!
Constantine: City of Demons – The Movie – Based On Constantine’s TV series
The Constantine TV series was the inspiration for this American animated series. Detective John Constantine is featured in this animated version of the narrative assisting a family man, Chas, in saving his daughter’s soul from the wicked demon Beroul.
They travel through a world of evil magic, where every misstep comes with a price. Will Constantine be able to overcome the cunning demonic elements and his own demons in order to complete this perilous mission?
An animated movie is elevated to a different dimension with quality voice-actors and this film is a perfect example. It has one of the darkest plots that you will ever see, and that is saying something given the number of highly disturbing animated content out there. It elaborates on the painful burden that the hero has to bear to make the world a better place.
With impressive animation and vivid detailing, every scene comes to life and will leave you in a trance. The entire duration of City of Demons is gripping, and the climactic revelation in the last few minutes is genuinely startling. There is something for lovers of Constantine, and even if you aren’t, you can always enjoy the clear storyline that is put out in front of your eyes!
Harley Quinn – (2019) – Loose Spinoff from Batman The Animated Series
You’ve seen numerous versions of Harley Quinn before, and this one portrays her as a proud individual determined to make Gotham City her own. The character’s greatest qualities are developed with authenticity, and it is everything that the Birds of Prey film could not be!
A spin-off loosely based on Batman: The Animated Series is as challenging as it sounds. Yet, this refreshing take on order in Gotham City with Harley Quinn in the mix of things is a spirited attempt that is fun and relatable. We were in awe of the Ivy-Harley chemistry, and the natural flaws of the villainess make it look like a real-world story despite the comic book elements.
You wouldn’t think Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory would be an appropriate voiceover for Dr. Quinzel, but you would be pleasantly surprised. She comes across as a wonderful opponent, and it’s refreshing to see her take centre stage.
Although this was one of the first Warner Bros. shows to receive a TV-MA rating, the explicit content manages to capture the real essence of the dark DC universe.
CASTLEVANIA – Based On Castlevania Video Games
Castlevania is a well-known video game franchise from the 1980s and 1990s. The animated adaption continues the dark mediaeval fantasy by following the only surviving member of the Belmont line on his journey.
When Dracula Vlad Tepes and his horde of vampires try to wipe out any surviving human life, it poses a serious threat to Eastern Europe. To avoid the inevitable, Belmont joins up with his companions to organise a resistance.
Castlevania is 22 episodes of pure joy and is one of the rare video game adaptations that does not disappoint. The first season was an indication of what was to come, with the series maintaining a fluid history line. Every episode topsits preceding one with more twists to follow.
The action-filled narrative shines with impeccable animation work and innovative designing. We loved how the villain, Dracula, is humanized and not portrayed as a mindless slayer. A word of caution to the spiritual: there are times when religious figures, women, and even children are brutally murdered.
It’s still accessible on Netflix for those who want to see it! Castlevania aficionados will gladly appreciate the game because it always keeps loyal to the original source material.