Netflix’sCastlevania, a dark and controversial animated series inspired by the Konami video game franchise, is perfect for fans ofThe Witcher. Debuting in 2017,Castlevaniabecame an instant hit for the streaming platform, with its distinct animation style, action sequences, and flawed characters setting it up for success.The adult animated seriesran for four seasons and has a spinoff TV show,Castlevania Nocturne.
Castlevaniaisone of the best video game adaptationsof the past decade, proving that this is the golden age of the subgenre. Despite its masterpiece status,Castlevaniaremains one of the most underrated TV shows on Netflix.Castlevania’s dark tone, complex characters, and fascinating premise make it a series that fans ofThe Witcherwill definitely enjoy.
Castlevania Is The Perfect Fantasy Show On Netflix For Witcher Fans
Shows likeCastlevaniaandThe Witcherare hard to come by, as it’s incredibly difficult to turn a video game into a story that can be interesting to both players and non-players. However,Castlevania, likeThe Witcher, managed to draw in new audiences as well as fans of the video games.CatlevaniaandThe Witcherare similar on both the thematic and narrative levels.
LikeThe Witcher,Castlevaniais chock-full of well-choreographed action scenes, blood, violence, and a brutality that might appeal to fans of the former. Both shows have a dark, gritty, and gothic tone with religious themes, magic, and politics driving their narrative.
While all of these similarities are worthy reasons as to whyCastlevaniawould appeal to fans ofThe Witcher,the main thing that connects the Netflix animated shows is the characters. Similar toThe Witcher’s Geralt of Rivia, Trevor Belmont is an antihero who sets out on the path of doing the right thing, accompanied by equally complex characters with unforgettable arcs.
Castlevania’s Changes To The Source Material Were As Controversial As The Witcher’s
BothCastlevaniaandThe Witcherare character-driven shows. Although this is essentially a good thing, it didn’t go over well with fans of the video games because, in order for the two shows to place their characters at the center of their narrative, certain aspects of the source material had to be changed.
Castlevaniatook some creative liberties with its story by making Dracula a more sympathetic character, as opposed to the video game’s bad guy with no redeeming qualities. Fans ofCastlevania’s original story were not happy with these changes, as the distinctions made the show differ greatly from the video game in terms of tone and direction.
Castlevania Is The Fantasy Adaptation The Witcher Should’ve Been
The Witcherseason 1 was a great introduction to the seriesas it was packed with lore, original storylines, and great worldbuilding. However, thelater seasons ofThe Witcherpaled in comparison to its first installmentdue to pacing issues and uneven writing, which made it easier for audiences who’ve played the video game to dissect how the show diverged from its source material.
Castlevania, on the other hand, remained consistently high-quality throughout its four seasons. Everything in the show worked well, from its characters to its animation to the show’s intriguing storyline that kept getting better and better. Because of this,Castlevaniaworks as a lone story that isn’t necessarily dependent on being video game-accurate in order to be successful.
Castlevania
Cast
Based on the video game franchise, Castlevania is a Netflix original animated action series that follows the never-ending battle of the monster-slaying Belmont clan as they continue to face off against the hordes of the night. When Count Dracula’s human wife is murdered, his grief leads him to doom the world to eternal darkness. To stop him, it’ll take a team of three unlikely heroes banding together: the last remaining Belmont, Trevor, a magic-wielding seeker named Sypha Belnades, and the tortured half-human, half-vampire son of the count himself, Alucard.
The Witcher
The Witcher, released in 2019, follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter navigating a turbulent world where humanity’s darker nature often eclipses the monstrous.
