Recently, Hideo Kojima, the legendary director of several renowned works, including the popular video game Death Stranding, subtly hinted during an interview that the franchise might expand into the anime world. According to Kojima, his current goal is to “strengthen the intellectual properties” he has developed as an independent studio. To achieve this, he plans to explore new forms of media beyond video games, including film, TV series, and, of course, anime, which, as we know, is a widely spread medium that now reaches every corner of the globe despite its origins in Japan.
Talking about Death Stranding, Kojima expressed that, after the game had been established as an IP in the video game industry, the second phase of his plan is to expand it to different global platforms and then explore other media. Naturally, this includes the creation and distribution of content in formats such as films and anime, which clearly opens the possibility for an animated adaptation of this title.
Death Stranding was originally released in 2019 and has been critically acclaimed by both critics and players, receiving praise for its innovative gameplay, striking visuals, and deep, carefully crafted narrative. Some renowned Hollywood actors, such as Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen, completed the equation, showcasing Kojima’s ability to fuse the audiovisual worlds of cinema and video games. Essentially, we could say there’s nothing the director sets his mind to that he cannot achieve. Now, his focus is on expanding this successful fusion to other frontiers, and it’s inevitable that the fan community will speculate about what an animated version of this already impressive story might look like.
Okay, Hideo Kojima hasn’t literally or explicitly confirmed the production of an anime based on Death Stranding, but his statements suggest that this logical next step is a fundamental part of his future projects. Can you imagine seeing Sam Porter Bridges in animated form? That simple idea has generated tons of excitement among the franchise’s fans, who are already eagerly watching for any possible official announcement in the coming months. The director is still working on the Death Stranding sequel, along with other experimental projects. Nonetheless, the mere idea that Kojima Productions could venture into the world of anime is enough to get the entire community, both anime fans and gaming communities alike, excited and hopeful, right?
Do you remember what Death Stranding is about?
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic United States, devastated by a phenomenon known as the “Death Stranding.” This event brought with it creatures called “Beached Things” (BTs), invisible beings originating from a dimension known as the “Beach,” a sort of link between the world of the living and the dead. These creatures are extremely dangerous, as when they consume a living human, they cause massive explosions known as “voidouts.” Additionally, the rain, called “Timefall,” accelerates aging and deteriorates everything it touches, further contributing to the desolation of the world. In this context, the surviving cities, known as “Knot Cities,” depend on the services of BRIDGES, an organization that connects these scattered settlements through a messaging system and the reconstruction of communication networks known as the “Chiral Network.”
The protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, is a freelance courier who has the unique ability to “repatriate,” meaning he can return to life after dying, thanks to his special connection to the “Beach” dimension. The main plot revolves around Sam’s mission to reconnect these isolated cities to restore the United States under the name of the “United Cities of America.” Throughout his journey, Sam forms an emotional bond with a “Bridge Baby” (BB), whom he calls Lou, a fetus that helps him detect BTs. The main antagonist is Higgs, an individual with advanced abilities who seeks to accelerate the total collapse of humanity. The narrative delves into profound themes like life, death, and the connection between human beings, as Sam faces not only physical enemies but also the emotional scars of his past.
As we all know, after news like this, which hasn’t been officially confirmed, all we can do is wait. HOWEVER, coming directly from Hideo Kojima himself, we at least have a solid basis to hope that, in the not-so-distant future, we’ll get to enjoy an animated series or movie set in the Death Stranding universe. And now is the time for you to drop by the comments and leave us your thoughts on this possible adaptation. You know it, gamer, we’ll be reading! 🙂
