According to Polygon, Disney is developing an anime series called Death Stranding Isolations that will stream exclusively on Disney Plus in 2027. Hideo Kojima will serve as executive producer on the show, which will tell a completely new story rather than adapting the existing games. The series follows a young man and woman exploring the post-apocalyptic world where civilization collapsed after an explosion connecting the living and dead. Animation will be handled by E&H Production, the studio behind Adult Swim’s Ninja Kamui, with Takayuki Sano making his directorial debut. This is one of three Death Stranding adaptations in development, alongside a live-action prequel from A24 and an animated feature film.
Disney’s gaming ambitions
Here’s the thing – Disney’s been pretty late to the video game adaptation party. While Netflix has been crushing it with stuff like Arcane and The Witcher, and HBO nailed The Last of Us, Disney’s mostly stuck to its own IP. This Death Stranding move feels different. They’re not just adapting a popular game – they’re going after something genuinely weird and artistic.
And let’s be honest, Death Stranding is about as far from Mickey Mouse as you can get. We’re talking about a world where ghosts cause mass extinctions and delivery guys are heroes. But that’s probably the point. Disney needs to prove it can handle mature, complex gaming IP if it wants to compete in the streaming wars where video game adaptations have become absolute gold mines.
Why this actually matters
Look, we’ve seen what happens when streaming services half-ass game adaptations. Remember that terrible Resident Evil show? But when they get it right – like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners or Castlevania – they create must-watch content that brings in both gamers and general audiences.
The fact that Kojima is directly involved as executive producer is huge. It means this won’t be some watered-down corporate version of Death Stranding. We’re getting the weird, philosophical, package-delivering madness that made the games so memorable. And with E&H Production handling the animation – the same studio behind Ninja Kamui’s incredible action sequences – the visuals should be stunning.
The bigger picture
Basically, we’re witnessing the complete transformation of how gaming IP gets treated. It’s not just about movie adaptations anymore – we’re getting anime series, prequels, spin-offs, the whole package. With three Death Stranding projects in development simultaneously, including the A24 prequel and animated feature, we’re looking at a full-blown universe expansion.
This feels like a test case for Disney. If they can successfully bring Death Stranding’s bizarre world to life while keeping what made it special, it opens the door for all sorts of gaming adaptations. But if they mess it up? Well, let’s just say the gaming community doesn’t forgive easily. The pressure is definitely on for that 2027 release.
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