Streamer casts leads and drops storyline and teaser art; coming later this year, the new CG project will be produced by Capcom, TMS Entertainment, and Quebico.
With over 100 million units shipped worldwide, Resident Evil is one of the most successful game franchises in history. The series has spawned over 140 different titles on consoles, phone apps, and other platforms to become one of Capcom's most popular brands. Heading toward its 25th anniversary in 2021, the series is nearing the release of its newest upcoming game, Resident Evil Village on May 7, 2021.
Now, Netflix is bringing yet another adaption of the prolific zombie horror adventure franchise to audiences worldwide with the new Netflix Original Anime Series, RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness. The CG anime series will be produced and supervised by Capcom's Hiroyuki Kobayashi, who has been responsible for bringing numerous titles in the Resident Evil series to life. TMS Entertainment, producer of numerous anime series like Lupin the 3rd and Detective Conan, is leading production, with Quebico, led by Kei Miyamoto (Resident Evil: Vendetta), in charge of 3DCG animation.
Netflix has reveled some teaser art and casting news as well. In the new visuals, Leon S. Kennedy is pictured in a suit, a first for the Resident Evil series, holding a gun with a serious expression. Meanwhile, Claire Redfield is searching for something with a flashlight in one hand. This teaser art gives a glimpse of Leon and Claire in action, while a horde of zombies are headed towards one of the major sites of the series: the White House. The new stills of Leon and Claire show their coincidental reunion at the White House.
The two main characters have been cast: Leon S. Kennedy will be voiced by Nick Apostolides, and Claire Redfield will be voiced by Stephanie Panisello, well known to fans as the voice actors from the reimagined Resident Evil 2 from 2019.
They’ve also shared the series’ storyline:
In 2006, there were traces of improper access to secret Presidential files found in the White House’s network. American federal agent Leon S. Kennedy is among the group invited to the White House to investigate this incident, but when the lights suddenly go out, Leon and the SWAT team are forced to take down a horde of mysterious zombies. Meanwhile, TerraSave staff member Claire Redfield encounters a mysterious image drawn by a youth in a country she visited, while providing support to refugees. Haunted by this drawing, which appears to be of a victim of viral infection, Claire starts her own investigation. The next morning, Claire visits the White House to request the construction of a welfare facility. There, she has a chance reunion with Leon and uses the opportunity to show him the boy’s drawing. Leon seems to realize some sort of connection between the zombie outbreak at the White House and the strange drawing, but he tells Claire that there is no relation and leaves. In time, these two zombie outbreaks in distant countries lead to events that shake the nation to its very core.
RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness will be appearing on Netflix’s stage at AnimeJapan 2021, the streamer’s fourth year participating in the huge anime fan event. The Way of the Househusband and Eden will appear as well. Set your calendar for March 27, 9:45~10:20 Japan Standard Time, where you’ll find Netflix on the Infinity RED STAGE.
RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness is an original work being produced and supervised by Capcom Co., Ltd.
Other Capcom franchises include Monster Hunter, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Devil May Cry, and Ace Attorney.
Source: Netflix
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
