Review: Castlevania “The Art Of The Animated Series”

After four seasons of streaming on Netflix, Castlevania is getting ready to embark on a Warren Ellis-less spin-off that is slated for premiere alongside a number of video game adaptations from Adi Shankar including Devil May Cry, Far Cry 6, and others.

The hardcover release features full-color artwork from the animated show by Rooster Teeth with exclusive commentary from the writers, animators, creators, artists, and voice actors of Castlevania. Included in the pages is full-color artwork from the show and sketches and notes about the development and production of the series. It’s a great primer for a series that is currently streaming on Netflix with nearly 200 pages of gothic imagery produced by Powerhouse Animation/Frederator Studios getting the much-needed attention that the franchise deserves.

I can’t help but think that Warren Ellis would’ve had a positive contribution to this release had he not gotten into his #MeToo shenanigans that ultimately helped cancel the series after four seasons despite the critical acclaim. Furthermore, very little input from the aforementioned Adi Shankar, or really any of the voice actors. I would think hardcore Castlevania fans forking over $40 would want to hear from some of these names, but that’s not happening.