In the world of video games, certain works leave an indelible mark, and Stray is undoubtedly one of them. Enough, in any case, to inspire developers to think bigger.
In July 2022, we discovered the very endearing Stray, a game that we rated 8/10 on Gameblog. The title met with great success upon its release on PlayStation and Steam. And for good reason: what better than a cat to go viral on the Internet and make an impression? Recognizing this strong potential, Annapurna Animation plans to move up a gear.
Stray, a great project in perspective
Annapurna Animation recently announced its ambitious plan to adapt popular video game Stray into an animated feature film. The original game, developed by BlueTwelve Studio, features a ginger cat lost in a mysterious underground city. It is populated by robots and machines. Aided by a drone, this unlikely duo tries to avoid the traps set by the Zurks and Sentinels to find their way back to freedom. A scenario that gives ideas to Annapurna Animation.
Annapurna Animation’s management team is made up of Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein, both former executives at Disney Animation. A guarantee of quality ? In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Baird called the game a comedy adventure, noting a “hilarious dynamic” between the ginger cat and his drone companion. It is precisely this aspect that seems to excite the two men. Baird clarifies:
There is an intrinsic comic dimension to this duo. The game has captivated audiences by offering a perspective of the world through the eyes of an endearing cat, and it is this aspect that we absolutely want to preserve in the film adaptation.
Andrew Millstein adds that the choice of Stray as the first video game adaptation by the company is not trivial. The game has indeed met with great success with players, which makes it an ideal candidate for a big screen adaptation. Nominated in six categories at The Game Awards 2022, including Game of the Year and Best Achievement, it ultimately won the awards for Best Indie Game and Best Debut Indie Game. It was also nominated for three DICE Awards and multiple BAFTAs, and came to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in August. The pressure is therefore relatively high.
Ambition as a driving force
Baird and Millstein are fully aware of the high expectations that audiences have for this animated film adaptation. They declare:
There’s something moving about Stray’s story that we absolutely want to capture on screen. We sincerely hope to do the game justice.
As mentioned earlier, this is Annapurna Animation’s first foray into the gaming world, and understandably, the pressure is on their corporate shoulders.
On your side, what do you think of ae such news?