Across the universe....of pop culture!
In 2008, I could not believe what I heard, until I saw it. It was the first of many post-credit scenes in the many movies adapted from Marvel Comics. Upon hearing what I heard and saw, I knew there was more coming. Nine years later, we now have an actual "cinematic universe" of movies, television, and the like, connecting Marvel properties adapted for our viewing pleasure. Because of the execution of each film, the praise they received, and the profits they have maintained, more other franchises are entering the "cinematic universe" realm. First, there was DC Comics, with Superman, Batman, and now Wonder Woman leading the way. Now, there's word on the street of the toy company, Hasbro, having a movie universe involving Visionaries, M.A.S.K, ROM, Micronauts, and the soon-to-be-rebooted G.I. Joe franchise. And, yes, even Transformers, another Hasbro toy, will cross into this universe. And, how's this for the latest piece of work? The Mummy will be returning to theaters as a reboot of not just the 90s classic, but more of the original movie from Universal back in the day. Why is this important? It's the start of the Dark Universe of Universal monster movies returning in the future. Others will include the Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Invisible Man, Wolf Man, and Van Helsing. Oh, and as I'm writing this, they are paving the way to a Godzilla/King Kong crossover, merging their universes for the first time. So, King Kong will be joining Mothra, Gheedorah, Rodan, and Godzilla from Skull Island to Monster Island.
Now, as a moviegoer, I'm really excited as to what could be coming. Don't get me wrong. I know this could lead to more universes of a pointless nature, along with a litany of issues. But, what of the universes and franchises we could use? This may be the biggest of all stretches, but, hear me out. Let your imagination run for a bit, and try to see things in a different light. If there are going to be other cinematic universes, at least make them something worth seeing, something worth looking forward to, something worth remembering.
Well, here's my take on the whole situation. Here are my top choices for cinematic universe that I feel can make it to the silver or small screen that I feel are worth watching. Now, some of these may be a longshot. Others, highly possible. Whatever the situation, here are my decisions. Enjoy!
Oh, now this is perfect! First things first. If this is going to be made, it has to be animated. No questions asked. That said, Nippon Ichi Software has been one very active company when it comes to RPGs, specifically of the strategy variety. Disgaea, Phantom Brave, La Pucelle Tactics, and Makai Kingdom are some of the few games that make NIS one of the most popular and talked about companies when it comes to games. To this day, Disgaea has had 5 sequels, Phantom Brave has been re-released on a number of occasions, and other titles made by NIS are still widely received and hoped for. I even wrote an article on how Disgaea should be an animated television show in an animated block based on RPGs. To top it off, NIS does a great job with their characters crossing over into other games, either as special characters or as actual characters to choose from. In my opinion, this company has a great upside to making the move to a cinematic universe. I know it would either have to be severely toned down to make it open to all audiences. However, if it's for the fans, and possibly others, you could have a PG-13 animated cinematic universe on your hands that could practically rival that of Marvel. I say "could". Still, it's all good.
And....that's it. There ain't no more! What do you think of the list? Agree? Disagree?
Just want to enjoy the list? Feel free to comment. It's not a bad thing that there are cinematic universes for viewing and such. So, why not make it from universes we may like? If we are seeing movies about Emojis, storks, and the like, let's get some movies together about pop culture that is worth talking about, eh?
Now, if only this can bring about a Captain N film?
Now, as a moviegoer, I'm really excited as to what could be coming. Don't get me wrong. I know this could lead to more universes of a pointless nature, along with a litany of issues. But, what of the universes and franchises we could use? This may be the biggest of all stretches, but, hear me out. Let your imagination run for a bit, and try to see things in a different light. If there are going to be other cinematic universes, at least make them something worth seeing, something worth looking forward to, something worth remembering.
Well, here's my take on the whole situation. Here are my top choices for cinematic universe that I feel can make it to the silver or small screen that I feel are worth watching. Now, some of these may be a longshot. Others, highly possible. Whatever the situation, here are my decisions. Enjoy!
Nintendo
This has been an idea of mine ever since A) I got back into Captain N: The Game Master and B) Super Smash Bros. Brawl made the Subspace Emissary. I got even more enthused about this after remembering a recent film about video games, Wreck-It Ralph. Many a cameo was had in that film. Now, I realize that there aren't many great video game films as many of them are, well, bad. However, most of them come very rich in story, especially back story. If there is one video game company that can definitely benefit from an extended universe in media, it's gotta be Nintendo. Now, I know they are playing really close to the chest when it comes to their intellectual properties. I also know there's a lot of talk of relaxing their protection at least to allow for...a Legend of Zelda adaptation? So, perhaps there should be a chance for Nintendo to make a go for cinematic universes.
SEGA
What's good for Nintendo's goose, is always good for SEGA's gander, yes? With a plethora of characters, a slew of games, and a historical run in the video games, SEGA has a ton of potential to bring any kind of cinematic universe to the forefront. SEGA and its developers have carved out a large world of stars from games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Shenmue, Streets of Rage, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Phantasy Star, Space Harrier, Space Channel 5 and the like. So, why not bring them together in a cinematic universe? They have appeared to be in a variety of games together. Check out the All-Stars games and Superstar games, be it tennis, racing, or whatnot. In fact, as I type, there will be a slew of movies and television properties coming up via Netflix, the silver screen and even the small screen. Shinobi, Altered Beast, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, and the House of the Dead have already been confirmed, with Sonic the Hedgehog going into CGI/Live Action film development with Tim Miller, Deadpool's director, at the helm. I feel that if these get off the ground, there should be some cinematic crossover, if not by all, then by a slew of them. Can you imagine hearing that SEGA jingle on the screen before the show starts?
Image Comics
Ok, so Marvel is running on all cylinders with about 3 phases of media put together in one overarching story. DC is coming in second with a Justice League movie coming this year and about 4 movies under its belt for its cinematic universe. However, there's still that #3 option that is doing its thing, albeit some hits and misses: Image. Image comics has had its hand in the media with some hits (Spawn: The HBO Series, The Walking Dead) and some distinct misses (Spawn: The Animated Series, Spawn: The motion picture). Having said all this, people still clamor for the return to media of Image, especially with TWD doing gangbusters in television right now. Now as far as a continued, contained cinematic universe, well, there are a slew of other properties that do cross-over. Danger Girl, Gen 13, and even Battle Chasers come to mind, along with the aforementioned Spawn and even Savage Dragon. I'm just saying that DC and Marvel shouldn't hog all the fun.
Capcom
Ok, so Nintendo and Sega have some pretty expansive character rosters and game ideas. In fact, Capcom has had a lot of games where these characters have met up, either with each other or with each other and another universe. We've even seen little Easter eggs and hints in a variety of Capcom games. So, why not a completely connected cinematic universe starring these characters? To be honest, I can see the feasibility of this situation. You've got a bunch of great games like Mega Man, Street Fighter, Resident Evil and such. You've got their ability to be on television and film, be it good or bad. That type of synergy can't be overlooked. If video games makes the move to the possibilities of cinematic universes, this company is spot on for that.
SNK
What's good for Capcom's goose, is good for SNK's gander. Yea, it works for Nintendo and Sega, so why not Capcom and SNK? SNK stands as one of the closest rivals to Capcom, in the world of fighting games, as well as a litany of other games. We have games like Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, The King of Fighters, Magician Lord, The King of the Monsters, Athena, Psycho Soldier, Ikari Warriors, and even Metal Slug. Such an expansive amount of games. And yes, they did cross over into each other, specifically Fatal Fury and King of Fighters. This game company has all the tools intended for a cinematic universe. Matter of fact, crossovers are what SNK does pretty darn well game-wise. So, it's only natural that a cinematic universe can be constructed. Should it be done? I think so.
Disney
Now, as I'm typing this, there are different articles and evidence that there is some sort of continuity when it comes to Pixar movies. Pixar works in conjunction with Disney, as we know. That said, Pixar may very well have a leg up on the cinematic universe when it comes to Disney. However, I just read an article on the interest of making an Avengers-style movie for, wait for it.....the Disney princesses. Now, I don't know how possible or even true this is, but, if anyone has the possible chance of doing a cinematic universe of sorts for their characters, it's Disney. There have been a few incidences even before these. Almost anything with Mickey Mouse in it opens the door for the other stars to jump in as we've seen. It may never have been that extended but, it is possible. Also, there's Kingdom Hearts. A video game uniting all of Disney's characters with the stars of Square Enix. So, if you need a more solid approach to a cinematic universe, you can start with Kingdom Hearts, right? I know this may seem like more of a pipe dream, but if Disney were to do what Marvel is doing, it should start with Kingdom Hearts or Pixar.
WWE
Talk about a long-shot in the dark! The WWE has only done not one, but two collaborative efforts to involve their stars on a multimedia level, remotely to completely successfully. We had Hulk Hogan's Rock N Wrestling. Hulk Hogan and his good guy buddies went up against Rowdy Roddy Piper and his bad guy pals in an animated cartoon show, full of hi-jinks and live-action segments. The 80s were a funny time. The second time was to sell a WWE toy line called Slam City. The WWE superstars were fired, so they had to get actual jobs. This 13 episode web-show had the stars of 2011 taking part in different odd jobs and actual jobs while dealing with other wrestlers and patrons. This was done with the help of the actual toys from the actual toy line, WWE Slam City. I found this to be very funny, enjoyable, and fun for all ages. Sadly, it's only one season long, and another show (Camp WWE, I believe) is in its place. Now, with the plethora of stars that have been in the WWE, past or present, you've got the characters to make a universe. And, lo, what's this? WWE Films. There's a WWE Film division that churns out mostly to completely crap. How about, you, say, take this poor excuse for a film company, take the awesome collection of wrestlers and superstars, and create some sort of cinematic universe? It's a stab in the dark, but keeping to the fantasy of the wrestler, based on the history of the wrestler would be one very interesting approach, if you ask me. If they can give us these two great series, even on a small level, they can do so much more.
Square Enix
Of course, how could I forget the capital kings of modern role-playing games? Square and Enix, separately, had cornered the market with Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, respectively. In the end, Square and Enix merged to form Square Enix. That said, they now sit as one of the biggest RPG video game makers in the world today, with hits like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and even other games like Parasite Eve, Xenogears, etc. There have been times where there were Easter eggs in various titles from one game to another. There may have even been some slight crossover here and there. Now that I think of it, the character, Cid, was in practically every Final Fantasy sequel and side game. So, how's that for continuity? Anyhoo, with the rich amount of games in both company's library, a cinematic universe would be pretty sweet. Let's just hope they do a better job of it than that of Advent Children and The Spirits Within.
Shin Megami Tensei
So, how did this entity come into the old noodle? I thought I had run out of IPs to place in cinematic universes. What else could there be? After suggesting Square Enix, I figured that RPGs are the last place to look for any more possible IPs. And hence, we get to one of the longer running RPG series that isn't named Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy. That's the Megami Tensei series. Over time, Shin Megami Tensei would have a litany of titles, be it sequels or side stories. Today, the side stories are what's getting most of the attention, specifically the Persona series. It's safe to say that with its popularity, the series Shin Megami Tensei has made it into the mainstream as quite popular. However, let's not forget the various other titles that have come under this umbrella. That said, there have been some references here and there between series, specifically with the powerful creatures that have appeared in the various titles over time. A cinematic universe for this series would do it wonders for more mainstream coverage. If not, at least give Persona a run for its worth. Even if it means creating connections with other franchises....
Nippon Ichi Software
What's good for Nintendo's goose, is always good for SEGA's gander, yes? With a plethora of characters, a slew of games, and a historical run in the video games, SEGA has a ton of potential to bring any kind of cinematic universe to the forefront. SEGA and its developers have carved out a large world of stars from games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Shenmue, Streets of Rage, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Phantasy Star, Space Harrier, Space Channel 5 and the like. So, why not bring them together in a cinematic universe? They have appeared to be in a variety of games together. Check out the All-Stars games and Superstar games, be it tennis, racing, or whatnot. In fact, as I type, there will be a slew of movies and television properties coming up via Netflix, the silver screen and even the small screen. Shinobi, Altered Beast, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, and the House of the Dead have already been confirmed, with Sonic the Hedgehog going into CGI/Live Action film development with Tim Miller, Deadpool's director, at the helm. I feel that if these get off the ground, there should be some cinematic crossover, if not by all, then by a slew of them. Can you imagine hearing that SEGA jingle on the screen before the show starts?
Image Comics
Ok, so Marvel is running on all cylinders with about 3 phases of media put together in one overarching story. DC is coming in second with a Justice League movie coming this year and about 4 movies under its belt for its cinematic universe. However, there's still that #3 option that is doing its thing, albeit some hits and misses: Image. Image comics has had its hand in the media with some hits (Spawn: The HBO Series, The Walking Dead) and some distinct misses (Spawn: The Animated Series, Spawn: The motion picture). Having said all this, people still clamor for the return to media of Image, especially with TWD doing gangbusters in television right now. Now as far as a continued, contained cinematic universe, well, there are a slew of other properties that do cross-over. Danger Girl, Gen 13, and even Battle Chasers come to mind, along with the aforementioned Spawn and even Savage Dragon. I'm just saying that DC and Marvel shouldn't hog all the fun.
Capcom
Ok, so Nintendo and Sega have some pretty expansive character rosters and game ideas. In fact, Capcom has had a lot of games where these characters have met up, either with each other or with each other and another universe. We've even seen little Easter eggs and hints in a variety of Capcom games. So, why not a completely connected cinematic universe starring these characters? To be honest, I can see the feasibility of this situation. You've got a bunch of great games like Mega Man, Street Fighter, Resident Evil and such. You've got their ability to be on television and film, be it good or bad. That type of synergy can't be overlooked. If video games makes the move to the possibilities of cinematic universes, this company is spot on for that.
SNK
What's good for Capcom's goose, is good for SNK's gander. Yea, it works for Nintendo and Sega, so why not Capcom and SNK? SNK stands as one of the closest rivals to Capcom, in the world of fighting games, as well as a litany of other games. We have games like Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, The King of Fighters, Magician Lord, The King of the Monsters, Athena, Psycho Soldier, Ikari Warriors, and even Metal Slug. Such an expansive amount of games. And yes, they did cross over into each other, specifically Fatal Fury and King of Fighters. This game company has all the tools intended for a cinematic universe. Matter of fact, crossovers are what SNK does pretty darn well game-wise. So, it's only natural that a cinematic universe can be constructed. Should it be done? I think so.
Disney
Now, as I'm typing this, there are different articles and evidence that there is some sort of continuity when it comes to Pixar movies. Pixar works in conjunction with Disney, as we know. That said, Pixar may very well have a leg up on the cinematic universe when it comes to Disney. However, I just read an article on the interest of making an Avengers-style movie for, wait for it.....the Disney princesses. Now, I don't know how possible or even true this is, but, if anyone has the possible chance of doing a cinematic universe of sorts for their characters, it's Disney. There have been a few incidences even before these. Almost anything with Mickey Mouse in it opens the door for the other stars to jump in as we've seen. It may never have been that extended but, it is possible. Also, there's Kingdom Hearts. A video game uniting all of Disney's characters with the stars of Square Enix. So, if you need a more solid approach to a cinematic universe, you can start with Kingdom Hearts, right? I know this may seem like more of a pipe dream, but if Disney were to do what Marvel is doing, it should start with Kingdom Hearts or Pixar.
WWE
Talk about a long-shot in the dark! The WWE has only done not one, but two collaborative efforts to involve their stars on a multimedia level, remotely to completely successfully. We had Hulk Hogan's Rock N Wrestling. Hulk Hogan and his good guy buddies went up against Rowdy Roddy Piper and his bad guy pals in an animated cartoon show, full of hi-jinks and live-action segments. The 80s were a funny time. The second time was to sell a WWE toy line called Slam City. The WWE superstars were fired, so they had to get actual jobs. This 13 episode web-show had the stars of 2011 taking part in different odd jobs and actual jobs while dealing with other wrestlers and patrons. This was done with the help of the actual toys from the actual toy line, WWE Slam City. I found this to be very funny, enjoyable, and fun for all ages. Sadly, it's only one season long, and another show (Camp WWE, I believe) is in its place. Now, with the plethora of stars that have been in the WWE, past or present, you've got the characters to make a universe. And, lo, what's this? WWE Films. There's a WWE Film division that churns out mostly to completely crap. How about, you, say, take this poor excuse for a film company, take the awesome collection of wrestlers and superstars, and create some sort of cinematic universe? It's a stab in the dark, but keeping to the fantasy of the wrestler, based on the history of the wrestler would be one very interesting approach, if you ask me. If they can give us these two great series, even on a small level, they can do so much more.
Square Enix
Of course, how could I forget the capital kings of modern role-playing games? Square and Enix, separately, had cornered the market with Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, respectively. In the end, Square and Enix merged to form Square Enix. That said, they now sit as one of the biggest RPG video game makers in the world today, with hits like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and even other games like Parasite Eve, Xenogears, etc. There have been times where there were Easter eggs in various titles from one game to another. There may have even been some slight crossover here and there. Now that I think of it, the character, Cid, was in practically every Final Fantasy sequel and side game. So, how's that for continuity? Anyhoo, with the rich amount of games in both company's library, a cinematic universe would be pretty sweet. Let's just hope they do a better job of it than that of Advent Children and The Spirits Within.
Shin Megami Tensei
So, how did this entity come into the old noodle? I thought I had run out of IPs to place in cinematic universes. What else could there be? After suggesting Square Enix, I figured that RPGs are the last place to look for any more possible IPs. And hence, we get to one of the longer running RPG series that isn't named Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy. That's the Megami Tensei series. Over time, Shin Megami Tensei would have a litany of titles, be it sequels or side stories. Today, the side stories are what's getting most of the attention, specifically the Persona series. It's safe to say that with its popularity, the series Shin Megami Tensei has made it into the mainstream as quite popular. However, let's not forget the various other titles that have come under this umbrella. That said, there have been some references here and there between series, specifically with the powerful creatures that have appeared in the various titles over time. A cinematic universe for this series would do it wonders for more mainstream coverage. If not, at least give Persona a run for its worth. Even if it means creating connections with other franchises....
Nippon Ichi Software
Oh, now this is perfect! First things first. If this is going to be made, it has to be animated. No questions asked. That said, Nippon Ichi Software has been one very active company when it comes to RPGs, specifically of the strategy variety. Disgaea, Phantom Brave, La Pucelle Tactics, and Makai Kingdom are some of the few games that make NIS one of the most popular and talked about companies when it comes to games. To this day, Disgaea has had 5 sequels, Phantom Brave has been re-released on a number of occasions, and other titles made by NIS are still widely received and hoped for. I even wrote an article on how Disgaea should be an animated television show in an animated block based on RPGs. To top it off, NIS does a great job with their characters crossing over into other games, either as special characters or as actual characters to choose from. In my opinion, this company has a great upside to making the move to a cinematic universe. I know it would either have to be severely toned down to make it open to all audiences. However, if it's for the fans, and possibly others, you could have a PG-13 animated cinematic universe on your hands that could practically rival that of Marvel. I say "could". Still, it's all good.
And....that's it. There ain't no more! What do you think of the list? Agree? Disagree?
Just want to enjoy the list? Feel free to comment. It's not a bad thing that there are cinematic universes for viewing and such. So, why not make it from universes we may like? If we are seeing movies about Emojis, storks, and the like, let's get some movies together about pop culture that is worth talking about, eh?
Now, if only this can bring about a Captain N film?
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