The following contains spoilers for Secret Level season 1 episode 6, “The Circle,” now streaming on Prime VideoSecret Level’sPac-Man inspired episode highlights how an adaptation can turn even a somewhat benign concept into a horrifying story.Secret Levelis an ambitious project from series creator Tim Miller and his collaborators.Secret Levelreimagines different video game propertiesas a series of self-contained animated shorts, each one telling a different story in a different setting. Some of the adaptations have been faithful recreations of their original settings, while others take the broad strokes of the concept to create something new.
One of the best examples of this approach inSecret Levelis “The Circle,“which adapts the classic 1982 arcade gamePac-Maninto a sci-fi horror short story. The plot revolves around a clear stand-in for Pac-Man, dubbed Puck, leading a Swordsman through a monster-filled Maze in search of the exit. It’s a surprisingly grim and horrifying story, especially as it reaches the final stretch of the story. The result is an impressive (and grisly) reminder how adaptation can reshape basic concepts into something unexpected.
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“The Circle” TurnsPac-ManInto A Horror Story
“Circle” is a dark reinterpretation ofPac-Man, highlighting how easy it is to reimagine the basic video game into a horror story. “Circle” takes place within the Maze, a mysterious and alien landscape populated by fearsome creatures. The short centers around the Swordsman, a lonely figure who struggles to survive the environment. His only companion is the robotic orb dubbed Puck, which seems to be a guide through the Maze. The entire short is played for grim sci-fi horror, with the Swordsman barely escaping plenty of near-death encounters with the creatures that populate the Maze.
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The designs of the Maze are purposefully unsettling, with the creatures and Ghosts being far more fearsome than they appeared in the original game. The reveal that Puck is desperately trying to escape the maze and is willing to eat her only companion to reach that freedom underscores the sheer horror of their situation. Even from Puck’s perspective,“Circle” is an existential horror, as every new cloned Swordsman that fails to breach the maze leaves Puck trapped for another cycle. The final lines of the episode hint at the psychological toll of that situation, giving the Pac-Man stand-in a genuine pathos and sense of dread.
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This is also a far more horrifying take onPac-Manthan any other version that’s appeared on television before.Two animatedPac-Manshows were released in 1982 and 2013 respectively.Pac-Manwas produced by Hanna-Barbera and was similar to the other cartoons produced by that animation studio. There was also the subsequentPac-Man and the Ghostly AdventuresCGI-series, which debuted on Disney XD in 2013. Both of the shows used Pac-Man and his supporting cast for light-hearted adventures. This is a far cry from the gory and scary take thatSecret Levelembraced.
The fact that [Pac-Man] can consume others to empower itself takes the mechanics of the game and applies a frightening element to them.
There have been thwarted attempts to bring Pac-Man to the big screen, although the closest that has come to fruition was in the Adam Sandler video game comedyPixels.That film also positioned Pac-Man as a major threat, albeit one that could be defeated. InSecret Level, Puck is a seemingly endless creature that can survive all sorts of torture in its attempts to escape the Maze. The fact that it can consume others to empower itself takes the mechanics of the game and applies a frightening element to them.
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It makes sense to transformPac-Maninto a horror, even if it can seem unexpected on a surface level. There’s the existential horror of an endless maze that players find themselves exploring, coupled with the ghostly apparitions that are constantly chasing after the player. EvenPac-Man itself can be frightening when thought of as an unfeeling and all-consuming monster.Secret Levelisn’t even the first animated propertyto consider that idea, with the popular web seriesSomething About…combining the arcade classic with the horror gameDead Spaceto create something unsettling and horrifying.
Secret Levelbrings a certain grounded dread to the concept, even while leaning into a full sci-fi approach to the series. “Circle” highlights how even seemingly benign concepts can be given horrifying elements if given the right approach. “Circle” works as a horror story on multiple levels, ranging from gory violence to more heady fears about the unknown and the cycles people find themselves trapped in. It’s also an effective reminder of the kind of creative freedom that can be found in adaptations, somethingSecret Levelhighlights across its 15-episode run.
Secret Level
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Secret Level is an adult animated series exploring original short stories set within the worlds of popular video games. Each episode introduces new adventures, delving into iconic gaming classics and forthcoming titles to unlock captivating narratives and immersive experiences. Created by Tim Miller, the series celebrates gaming culture.
