'Dragon's Dogma' Preview: Ethan sets out to find the monster that destroyed his home but may lose his humanity
The popular Capcom video game is all set to make its debut as a Netflix anime series, following the story of Ethan, a man whose home and entire world was burned to ashes after a ferocious dragon attack. Ethan has dedicated his entire life to hunting that dragon down, but dedicating one's life to vengeance changes a man, and Ethan might just become as much of a monster as the creature he hunts in his need for revenge.
Ethan will be joined by a mysterious woman he names Hannah, who has vowed to keep him safe and works as his "pawn" -- a concept taken straight from the video game, representing an ally who follows orders but also provides aid and helpful advice in the heat of the battle. When the dragon takes Ethan's heart, Ethan somehow miraculously survives the process, coming back to life as an Arisen -- someone who is destined to seek the dragon out, and slay him to save the world. Though he's been tasked with a heroic goal, Ethan's vision is clouded with his hatred for the dragon, who murdered Ethan's wife and child in the attack on the village.
The series joins the likes of 'Castlevania', another Netflix anime adaptation of a popular video game. The seven-episode season is directed by Shin'ya Sugai, written by Kurasumi Sunayama, with designs by Iku Nishimura. The game itself received widespread praise from critics, though interestingly enough, a large part of that praise was for the gameplay and the feeling that the player made a significant impact on the world of the game. The anime series does not offer its viewers that same immersive choice, and it remains to be seen how well an RPG translates to an animated show.
Netflix has released a trailer for the series, which comes with the following synopsis: "After losing his home to a dragon, Ethan sets out to hunt it down once and for all. A pawn appears by his side and serves to protect his life. But the dangers that lie in wait for Ethan are beyond their imaginations, for when you fight a monster... you just may become one too." You can watch the trailer below:
'Dragon's Dogma' premieres on Netflix on September 17.