Fans of the old school Sega Genesis will feel a tinge of nostalgia somewhere in the back of their brains about this news: There is now a Golden Axe animated series. Because, you know, the well of original ideas has officially run dry and Hollywood has once again mistaken familiarity for originality. The Golden Axe cartoon is described as a “hilarious homage” to the original games, featuring the classic characters ’90s kids will remember from the good old days: Ax Battler, Tyris Flare, and Gilius Thunderhead. Apparently, they have names! Or they do now anyway.
The voice cast of Golden Axe, which is coming next month to Paramount+, also includes Danny Pudi and Carl Tart. The series debuts on September 16, with the entire ten-episode season dropping on that date. Because who needs a traditional release schedule when you can just dump an entire season at once and hope for the best? Paramount+ also revealed a trailer for the series, which does suggest the show is less of a straightforward fantasy adventure, and more of a winking spoof of the genre and of old-school video games.
The Never-Ending Quest for Nostalgia
In a hilarious homage to SEGA’s iconic 1989 video game, Golden Axe follows legendary warriors Ax Battler, Tyris Flare, and Gilius Thunderhead as they reunite to save Yuria from the evil giant Death Adder, who just won’t seem to stay dead. Their quest is complicated by Hampton Squib, an inexperienced and wildly underprepared adventurer whose dream of heroism far exceeds his abilities. Forced to work together despite their flaws, they must find a way to stop Death Adder once and for all. It’s a classic tale of good vs. evil, with a healthy dose of self-aware humor thrown in for good measure.
It’s worth noting that Golden Axe debuted as a co-op arcade cabinet from Sega back in 1989. But it and its sequels are probably most remembered as staples of the Sega Genesis library. Ah, the Sega Genesis – now that’s a console that deserves a nostalgia-fueled reboot. Maybe someday we’ll get a Sonic the Hedgehog animated series that’s actually good. But I digress.
The Endless Content Machine
The Golden Axe animated series is just the latest example of Hollywood’s endless quest for content. With the rise of streaming services, the demand for new and original content has never been higher. And what’s more original than a reboot of a 30-year-old video game franchise? It’s not like we’ve seen this same story play out countless times before. The Content Mines remain fully operational, and it seems like they’re digging deeper than ever before.
It’s hard not to feel a little cynical about the whole thing. Another beloved franchise has successfully avoided the sweet release of death, and will instead be reanimated in a desperate attempt to squeeze out a few more dollars. But hey, at least it’s not a straight-up remake. Baby steps, right? Somewhere an executive whispered, “Can this become a trilogy?” and the wheels were set in motion. And so, the never-ending cycle of nostalgia and reboots continues.
In the end, it’s hard to say whether the Golden Axe animated series will be any good. But one thing’s for sure – it’ll be a great way to kill some time while we wait for the inevitable Streets of Rage reboot. Because, you know, that’s definitely happening. It’s only a matter of time before Hollywood’s annual Nostalgia Harvest yields another crop of reboots and remakes. Until then, we’ll just have to settle for Golden Axe. Joy.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
