When it comes to video game adaptations, the ones you can get done depend mostly on the kind of game you make. For example, with the one and only Lara Croft, it’s true that she’s had numerous live-action films done because of the true nature of the titles, but she also had a successful anime on Netflix recently. Sonic the Hedgehog has had different animated adventures over the years, and Mario has sadly gotten a live-action adaptation all to himself. With something like Metaphor ReFantazio, though, there is only one true option: an anime adaptation. Thankfully, that is indeed what’s coming in 2026.
As you’ll see below, the game will have an anime adaptation released in 2026 by studio A-1 Pictures. It’s actually a bit impressive that a game that came out in late 2024 is coming out in 2026, given the time it takes to animate a single episode, but hey, we’re not complaining. Plus, it could be that the show will only have a certain amount of episodes, thus lessening the production time.
One of the ironies of this game getting an anime adaptation is that the game has multiple cutscenes that were made in the anime style. In fact, it’s fair to say that this game had more animated scenes than pretty much any other Atlus title of the past. Not that this is the first anime adaptation for Atlus, as they had one made featuring their Phantom Thieves…but it wasn’t exactly the best-received thing.
Anyway, what makes Metaphor ReFantazio something that fans will be eager to see in anime form is its fantasy aesthetic and the storyline that plays out within it. Characters like Strohl, Hulkenburg, Heismey, Junah, and more will get to be seen in true anime stylings for longer, and we’ll get to see how key beats in the story play out, including combat with the Archetypes.
Not to mention, when you have something like this going on, it’s possible to get even more story content to help “fill things out,” which could lead to even more personal stories with the characters or new side stories to fill out the game’s world.
Either way, this game will be fun to see in the anime-style, and one has to wonder if this will help with the game’s sales overall once it comes out. After all, some people are inspired to get certain games after they are released in other formats. Only time will tell.
