Streaming on: Netflix
Episodes viewed: 8 of 8
Ever since debuting as a blocky adventure video game back in 1996, the Tomb Raider series has shown remarkable sticking power. Lara Croft has appeared in over 20 games, three live-action films (with another reboot planned), comics, novels, and now this new anime-inspired animated series. Set between the recent game reboot trilogy and the original ’90s series, The Legend Of Lara Croft looks to find the balance of the character, landing somewhere between the brutally violent recent games and the less serious adventurer from the earlier entries. The result is a different but not entirely successful take on one of gaming’s most enduring icons.
It hits the ground running in Episode 1, making a case for its animated medium with the kind of high-flying action sequences that would not have been possible with Lara, live-action edition. The show does a decent-enough job of capturing Lara’s signature gymnastics, although the animation is not at the same standard as other recent shows from Powerhouse Animation Studios (such as Castlevania or Blood Of Zeus).
Too many of the set-pieces feel uninspired.
In fact, there are points where the visuals creak under the weight of what Lara’s high-octane battles require. Ten years ago, this might have been top-tier, but with the standard of animation at such high levels these days, we expect more. Save for an ingenious segment in Episode 6 (a neat parody of old ’80s-style hammy educational videos), it’s a disappointment.
Lara’s new animated form also seems to lead to a greater focus on magic and the supernatural. The Tomb Raider franchise is no stranger to the occasional mythical beast, but The Legend Of Lara Croft leans too heavily in this direction. Lacking the wicked, gothic flair of a series like Castlevania, the endless parade of otherworldly threats seems only to borrow from lacklustre old video-game tropes. Too many of the set-pieces feel uninspired — including multiple weapons-upgrade side-quests, and what can only be described as an outdated boss battle from the ’90s.
At the very least, it gets characterisation mostly right, and seems to understand Lara Croft’s enduring appeal as an ass-kicking archaeologist. Led by a pitch-perfect performance from Hayley Atwell, the voice cast (including Earl Baylon as Lara’s long-suffering friend Jonah) are a lot of fun. They do a lot of heavy lifting in grounding the overblown fantasy elements with warm banter and heartfelt camaraderie. It’s in those less legendary human connections that the show draws its biggest strength. If only the rest followed suit.