Amazon Secret Level Turns Games into Short TV Episodes

Amazon Secret Level Turns Games into Short TV Episodes

Secret Level, an animated anthology series, has taken the world of gaming by storm. One of its latest episodes, based on Amazon Games’ MMO New World: Aeternum, presents a unique take on the game’s dark and supernatural world.

New World: Aeternum is set during the Age of Exploration, on an island where no one can die, but immortality isn’t always a gift. However, the Secret Level episode puts a darkly humorous spin on this concept, focusing on a key element of the game and teasing out something that can resonate with viewers.

A Unique Take on the Game

According to New World: Aeternum narrative director Rob Chestney, the episode is not quite as light as the game presents it. “We talk about it as grimdark. We talk about it as supernatural, rather than fantasy.” The episode, however, uses a darkly humorous tone to explore the concept of death and resurrection in the game.

The Creative Process

The process of creating Secret Level episodes involves a deep dive into the game’s lore and characters. The animation studio behind the series, Blur Studios, spends time with developers to immerse themselves in the games. They create massive documents, or “decks,” about each game, which are then passed on to writers to pitch story ideas.

Secret Level executive producer Dave Wilson explained that the goal is to distill down the game’s world into something personal that viewers can connect with. “We want to distill it down to something that people can feel, not just something they see.”

With a unique take on the game’s world, Secret Level’s episode on New World: Aeternum is a must-watch for fans of the game and the series. The episode is set to release in December, but you can read more about it on the Amazon Games blog.