Bandai Namco is no stranger to mixed media partnerships and collaborating with companies outside of the video game world. With close ties to anime and manga franchises out of Japan, like Shonen Jump, the company works well with outsiders to bring franchises to life through video games. Bandai Namco is looking to continue its work with companies outside the norm, announcing a collaboration with Aardman Animations, the studio behind Wallace & Gromit.
Bandai Namco has a number of projects in the works with third-party studios like Aardman, as well as its own in-house development. Famitsu magazine readers’ most anticipated game is Tales of Arise, the latest entry in the company’s flagship franchise. With this kind of hype, the future looks strong for the company, so shoring up new partnerships will help keep that excitement high.
Aardman Animations, known for not only Wallace & Gromit but also for the movies Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep, will be joining forces with Bandai Namco on what is being described as a “multimedia project.” Nothing specific has been announced, but the collaboration will focus on a completely new IP, not based on any properties in either Aardman or Bandai Namco’s portfolio. Given the two companies involved, it would not be a surprise to see an animated television series or movie accompany this project, similar to the long-enduring Pokemon franchise.
This is not Aardman’s first foray into video games, as the company lent their talents to the World War I third-person narrative adventure game, 11-11: Memories Retold. That game showcased Aardman’s animation chops, with a dreamlike watercolor art style. The game shows what kind of work the company is capable of, and is a departure from the iconic claymation style found in its animated work.
Working with a company like Bandai Namco is smart for Aardman, as Bandai Namco has successfully spun multimedia franchises like Gundam into huge empires. Aardman Managing Director Sean Clarke says the company hopes this new IP will “cement our studio’s reputation as a multi-disciplinary hub.” For Bandai Namco, the collaboration gives the company another unique partnership to build new and, hopefully, exciting IPs out of.
Work on the first project in this collaboration is scheduled to begin in 2021, with more details to come at a later date. While this collaboration percolates, Bandai Namco can focus on a number of other projects due to launch in the near future. Scarlet Nexus just revealed new gameplay, and SoulCalibur 6 DLC continues to drop, so the company is plenty busy at the moment.
Source: IGN
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