Bloody Hell, Disney+ is Delivering a Death Stranding Anime – And They're Not Stopping There!
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Disney+ is jumping into the Kojima-verse with a *Death Stranding* anime, *Isolations*, set for 2027 and featuring Hideo Kojima as executive producer, telling a new story within the game's eerie world, joining two other *Death Stranding* film adaptations already in the pipeline.
Right, so I've been tinkering with the latest news, and fair dinkum, it's wilder than if a BT just popped up on my morning commute. Apparently, the House of Mouse, Disney itself, is getting into the Hideo Kojima business, snagging an anime series based on *Death Stranding* for its Disney+ platform, slated for a 2027 release. You know that feeling when you cast a spell, and it works a bit *too* well? Or maybe it's less 'works too well' and more 'opens a portal to a dimension of endless adaptations.'
Now, anyone who's traversed the desolate, beautiful, and utterly bizarre landscapes of *Death Stranding* knows it's not exactly your typical family-friendly fare. We're talking about a world where touching the dead causes a Voidout, spectral entities roam, and Norman Reedus spends most of his time delivering packages while a baby in a jar gives him psychic guidance. So, Disney+ diving headfirst into this particular brand of existential dread? Colour me intrigued, and maybe just a tad bit cautiously optimistic.
According to the whispers I've heard bouncing around the digital ether, this anime is tentatively titled *Death Stranding Isolations*. And here's the kicker: Hideo Kojima himself is on board as an executive producer. That's a good sign, right? It means there's at least *some* authorial intent trying to keep the spectral goo from getting too diluted. My big question, though, is how much 'executive producer' actually means. Is it a guiding hand, a blessing from on high, or just a name on the credits list while the actual creative heavy lifting is done elsewhere? Only time, and probably a few trailers, will tell, mate.
What's particularly interesting, and honestly, a bit of a relief, is that *Isolations* isn't just going to rehash Sam Bridges' epic journey from the first game, nor the recently-ish released *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach*. (Seriously, another one out already? The game dev world moves faster than a MULE on a jet-powered trike!) Instead, we're getting a completely new story, following a young man and woman adventuring through that post-apocalyptic, connection-starved world. This is where my curiosity really pings. What happens if you get to explore the fringes of this universe? See how other folks are trying to *reconnect* or, indeed, *isolate* themselves? It's a vast world with so much lore hinted at; opening it up to new perspectives could be genuinely brilliant.
Driving this animated endeavour is E&H Production, the studio behind Adult Swim's *Ninja Kamui*, which had some rather slick action sequences. And at the helm, making his directorial debut, is Takayuki Sano, who's got some serious animation credits under his belt from big hitters like *Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods* and *Jujutsu Kaisen 0*. That's a solid pedigree for visual flair, which *Death Stranding* has in spades. Hopefully, they can capture that unique blend of haunting beauty and mechanical oddity that makes the games so distinctive.
But wait, there's more! Because, apparently, one *Death Stranding* adaptation isn't enough to satisfy the demands of the streaming wars. Oh no, mate, we're getting *three* of them! It's like someone threw a handful of Chiral crystals into a dimension-altering blender. Beyond the Disney+ anime, there's a live-action prequel film from A24 – the studio known for its more arthouse, quality horror and dramas, which feels like a surprisingly good fit for *Death Stranding*'s vibe. Michael Sarnoski, the chap who directed *A Quiet Place: Day One*, is writing and directing that one, promising to delve into the very origins of the Death Stranding events. Now *that* sounds like a properly intriguing bit of lore expansion, eh?
And then, not to be outdone, there's *another* animated feature film in the works, tentatively titled *Death Stranding Mosquito*. *Mosquito*! Honestly, these titles are giving me a chuckle. This one's also an original story, with Aaron Guzikowski (from *Raised by Wolves* and *Prisoners* fame) attached to write, and Hiroshi Miyamoto (of *Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero* fame) directing, with ABC ANIMATION STUDIO producing. A trailer for *Mosquito* apparently dropped in September, which I completely missed amidst the usual deluge of gaming news. Goodness, it's getting harder to keep track than a package strapped to Sam's back in a gale.
On one hand, it’s exciting to see a game world as rich and idiosyncratic as *Death Stranding* get so much love and expansion across different mediums. It speaks volumes about the impact Kojima's vision has had. On the other hand, three distinct adaptations, all with different creative teams, all tackling original stories? It's a classic case of 'too many cooks in the kitchen' syndrome, isn't it? Will they all feel cohesive? Will they resonate with the core themes of connection and isolation, or will they just be an excuse to churn out content based on a popular IP?
My gentle skepticism pings loudest when I see so many projects tied to a single franchise. It can dilute the magic, you know? Like trying to stretch a single strand of Chiral network across the entire continent – eventually, it's just going to snap. But then again, with Kojima involved, and studios like A24 having a reputation for quality, there's a chance, a real chance, that these could be genuinely interesting additions to the lore rather than just cash grabs. I'm choosing to remain cautiously optimistic, mate, because frankly, the idea of more weird, wonderful, and utterly unique stories set in the *Death Stranding* universe is just too enticing to dismiss outright.
So, prepare yourselves, Porters. It looks like we'll be making deliveries not just across America, but across our screens for years to come. Just make sure you've packed enough patience and perhaps a spare BB pod for the journey.
Tags: Death Stranding, Anime, Gaming Adaptations, Hideo Kojima, Streaming Wars
Original article: Polygon