To celebrate the upcoming release of Realm of the Damned, we look at some of the most popular titles in this exciting emerging genre.
Motion comics are a relatively new form of media that combine elements of both comic books and animation in order to breath life into the printed page. Sound effects, voice actors, music and animation combine with original comic book artwork to advance the story and create a more cinematic experience.
Realm of the Damned: Tenebris Deos is a new UK animated motion comic of Black Metal horror that unleashes classic gothic monsters on a modern rampage of redemption. Raw, fast-paced and bristling with atmosphere, this is a bloody and blasphemous animated epic that leaves no church unburned!
In Realm of the Damned, the Vatican’s last line of paranormal defence – The Congregation – has been overrun by the supernatural forces of darkness. Our heroes are dead; only the damned remain. Among them is Alberic Van Helsing – addict, murderer, survivor – and the creatures that were his prey now hunt him across America. But when an apocalyptic evil is resurrected in the forests of Norway, it falls to Van Helsing to become the hunter once again if any are to see the dawn…
Broken Saints (2001-2003)
Broken Saints follows the story of four characters from different corners of the world who each experience the same chilling visions of dark forces and a coming apocalypse. Centred around philosophical, religious, political and spiritual themes and featuring experimental music from Canadian band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Broken Saints is widely regarded as the first example of an animated motion comic.
Saw: Rebirth (2005)
One of the first motion comics released to tie in with a film franchise, Saw: Rebirth serves as a prequel to the first Saw movie and focuses on the early life of John Kramer and the events that led him to become the infamous ‘Jigsaw Killer’. With a well-developed story that offered insight into the connections between the films' main characters and an exploration into Kramer’s psychology, the film proved popular with fans looking to deepen their understanding of the Saw universe.
Peanuts Motion Comics (2008)
Proving that not all motion comics are dark in subject matter, Peanuts Motion Comics is a series of animated cartoon shorts based on Charles Schlutz’ long-running and ever-popular comic strip. Featuring Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy and the rest of the gang, the Peanuts style of storytelling is well suited to the motion comic format with each episode perfectly capturing the gentle comedy and relatable life lessons of the source material.
Watchmen (2008)
Legendary comic book writer Alan Moore’s game-changing graphic novel, Watchmen has always been regarded as impossible to adapt. When Zack Snyder’s big screen version of the iconic work came out in 2009, it was met with a decidedly mixed reaction. This motion comic series, put out to coincide with the movie, arguably does a better job. The series is split into 12 episodes based on each of the chapters in the original book. Interestingly just one voiceover artist, Tom Stechschulte, was used to lend his vocals to each of the characters in the expansive story.
Astonishing X-Men (2009)
Comic book titans Marvel decided to get in on the motion comic action in 2009, wisely turning to a pre-Avengers Joss Whedon and his award-winning run on Astonishing X-Men to get the ball rolling. An adaptation of Whedon’s 'Gifted' storyline, the comic features the likes of Wolverine, Beast, Emma Frost, Cyclops and Kitty Pryde as the infamous team of mutant superheroes who risk their lives defending a world that hates and fears them. The same story featured here, of villainous Dr. Rao developing a ‘cure’ for mutation, was also adapted into the narrative of feature film X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006.
Motion Comic: The Walking Dead (2011)
Debuting in 2003, it would be another seven years before the Eisner Award-winning comic book series The Walking Dead would be adapted into the most popular TV series on the planet. It wasn’t long after Sheriff Rick Grimes stumbled out of an abandoned hospital and into the middle of a zombie, sorry, a ‘Walker’ apocalypse that the first 13 pages of Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore’s original The Walking Dead comic saw the motion comic treatment. This animated version features the exceptional voice talent of Phil Lamarr, recognisable from his work on everything from Futurama, Family Guy and Justice League to the Metal Gear game series.
Realm of the Damned (2017)
Marking the first in an upcoming four-part series, Realm of the Dead - Tenebris Deos is an all new animated motion comic adventure from the UK starring the voice talents of heavy metal legends David Vincent (Morbid Angel), Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth) and rising star Jill Janus (Huntress). Based on the successful graphic novel of the same name, Realm of the Damned is a must for fans of gothic horror adventure stories.
Realm of the Dead - Tenebris Deos is available on Blu-ray & DVD from 7th April, 2017
Amazon DVD: amzn.eu/65eIwKq
Amazon Blu-ray: amzn.eu/6xkk4jF