Microsoft's Minecraft game to get an animated series on Netflix

Microsoft’s Minecraft will join the echelon of adaptive game properties from the company following a joint announcement from Netflix earlier today.

While Microsoft sent out an email offering scant details on the Mojang Studios inspired project, Netflix released a 20-second trailer ala Pixar’s opening credits, that also teased the animated art style the series would follow.

In Microsoft’s email, the company explained that the series would follow an “original story with new characters,” as it attempts to portray “the world of Minecraft in a new light.”

While all of that sounds risky on Microsoft’s part, the company is still reaping the benefits of a critically successful launch and release of the adaptive Fallout series on Amazon as well as notching two seasons of a live-action adaption of its franchise shooter gamer Halo.

Minecraft fans can also seek a bit of solace that Netflix is using its in-house animation team which has worked on projects that include its Carmen San Diego show, Sonic Prime, Ninjago: Dragons Rising to helm the series.

WildBrain, the Vancouver based art studio is known for both its 2D and 3D animation projects with the latter earning them an Annie Award for Hubert’s Brain.

In addition, Microsoft and Netflix have successfully worked in the past to produce another animated project based on a first-party game from the company with the animated series Cuphead.

While there are no confirmed dates for the Netflix show, both companies have mentioned that the project is coming soon, and speculatively speaking, could be a precursor to the Warner Bros produced movie based on the same property.

Microsoft and Warner Bros also have mixed live action and CGI Minecraft movie slated for release in April 2025, whereby this Microsoft and Netflix announcement could serve as weather ballon for that movie and how it’s released next year.

Microsoft is also in talks to license out Gears of War for an adult themed animated series, perhaps in the same vein as Netflix’s Cyberpunk Edgerunners or Castlevania.