Castlevaniashowrunner Adi Shankar is returning to the world of anime videogame adaptations soon with the upcoming release ofDevil May Cry,but in a new post on X, Shankar teased that he had originally pitched a much different adaptation to videogame giant Capcom. According to Shankar’s post,the acclaimed creator had actually gone to Capcom to pitch aDino Crisisanimein 2017. Instead of the long-dormant survival horror classic though, Capcom gave Shankar the thumbs up to work on ananime adaptation ofDevil May Cry.
Though it may be surprising to some that Shankar would initially pitch onDino Crisis, he clearly shows his love and respect for the franchise in his initial post. Shankar writes about how the first game is a classic survival horror title while the second is an action masterpiece. Unfortunately, as Shankar writes,Dino Crisis3was a major departure that left the series dormant since 2003. Given that the franchise hasn’t been active for two decades now, it’s understandable why Shankar would want to resurrect it with an anime adaptation.
Adi Shankar Wanted to Bring Dino Crisis Back From Extinction
The Franchise Has Been Dormant for More Than Two Decades Now
Unfortunately, though the franchise is beloved, evenDino Crisis’creator has cast doubt on a new gamereleasing any time soon. Despite a teases from Capcom’s social media account and a trademark renewal forDino Crisisin 2019, the franchise’s last official release was 2003’sDino Crisis 3. That game made the controversial decision to take the series into space where players fought against mutant creatures resembling dinosaurs. As Shankar writes in his post, many fans felt the third entry lacked the sense of tension that made the first two games beloved classics. Since then, the series has laid dormant.
Netflix Just Released The Perfect Show To Watch If You Miss Castlevania
Audiences who miss Castlevania on Netflix can now check out another animated series on the streamer, which is reminiscent of the game adaptation.
However, an anime helmed by a creator like Shankar could be the shot in the arm the franchise needs. A veteran producer, Shankar has helped usher in anime adaptations of videogames likeCastlevania,Captain Laserhawk, and nowDevil May Cry.Castlevaniain particular might be a great comparison toDino Crisis, as the former franchise is also a beloved series that was mostly inactive by the time Shankar’s adaptation released.
Could Adi Shankar’s Take on Dino Crisis Bring the Franchise Back?
Despite the critical and commercial success of Netflix’sCastlevaniaanime, combined with high-profile appearances inSuper Smash Bros Ultimate,Castlevaniahas only seen ports and releases of the franchise’s best gamessince the anime premiered in 2017. Though this paints a grim picture of whether aDino Crisisanime could help gather interest for a new game, it is important to note thatCastlevaniadeveloper Konami is very different fromDino Crisisdeveloper Capcom, so it’s possible the latter company would be more receptive to fan demands.
Still though, the fact that Capcom apparently asked Shankar to work onDevil May Cryrather thanDino Crisissuggests that Capcom’s focus remains on maintaining currently popular franchises likeResident EvilandStreet Fighterrather than on bringing back legacy franchises likeDino CrisisorDarkstalkers. As tantalizing as a potentialDino Crisisanime fromCastlevaniashowrunner Adi Shankar could have been, it seems like fans waiting for a revival may need to turn to fan projects to get their fix of dinosaur-themed horror.
