5 Productions Based on Video Games You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

Forbidden Siren 

Dir. Yukihiko Tsutsumi, 2006

Based upon the survival horror game series Siren, and more specifically loosely based on the series’ second title Forbidden Siren 2 (the film released to coincide with the game’s Japanese release). The film follows a journalist, Yuki Amamoto, and her younger mute brother Hideo as they travel to the infamous island Yamijima – which, as all the game fans will know, is inhabited by the horrifying Shibito zombies.

 

Super Mario Bros.: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!

Dir. Masami Hata, 1986

A (now incredibly rare) animated film based on the iconic Italian plumber, the film follows Mario who is playing a Famicom (Japanese counterpart to the NES) game, when suddenly his sweetheart Princess Peach appears on the screen and begs for Mario to rescue her from King Koopa (Bowser to non-Japanese Mario gamers) and his minions. And thus begins ‘The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach’ (what the Japanese title translates to).

 

PaRappa the Rapper

Dir. Hiroaki Sakurai, 2001

An anime series based upon the iconic NanaOn-Sha rhythm game of the same name for the original Sony Playstation, following the friendships and adventures of the title character Parappa, who is in love with a cute sunflower-like girl Sunny Funny. Karate sensei Chop Chop Master Onion even makes an appearance (who doesn’t remember his classic lyrics: “Kick! Punch! It’s all in the mind!”). The series ran for 30 episodes.

 

Onechanbara 

Dir. Yôhei Fukuda, 2008

A feature film based upon the Japanese zombie-slashing game series of the same name by Tamsoft. The three main characters from the games all make an appearance: Aya, the bikini-clad, katana-wielding, cowgirl-style zombie hunter, her younger sister Saki – an innocent looking but lethal schoolgirl and biker girl Reiko. The three girls fight their way through the zombie apocalypse and against an evil scientist.

 

Saru Get You –On Air-

Studio: XEBEC, 2006

An CGI animated series based on various monkey adventures of the Ape Escape series (known as Saru! Get You! in Japan): Ape Escape 3, Saru! Get You! Million Monkeys and Saru! Get You! SaruSaru Big Mission. It follows heroes Kakeru (known to Western gamers as Spike), Hiroki (Jake to NA gamers, Buzz to UK gamers) and Natsumi (Natalie to NA gamers, Katie to UK gamers) who try to stop the antagonist Specter who becomes intelligent and disperses many monkeys to cause mayhem when he receives a Pipo Helmet. The series ran 77 short (10-minute approx.) episodes, running for two seasons.