Prime Video’sSecret Levelhas a lot of similarities to Netflix’sLove, Death & Robots, but are the two connected?Secret Leveltakes 15 video games - ranging fromGod of WartoPac-Man- and adapts their worlds, characters, and stories into animated television episodes. It already sounded like a perfectreplacement forLove, Death & Robots, even thoughLove, Death & Robotsseason 4 is confirmed. In fact,Secret Levelseems like such a perfect substitute forLove, Death & Robotsthat many viewers may wonder if they’re somehow connected.
Secret LevelandLove, Death & Robotsshare quite a few similarities. Both shows are anthologies, meaning each episode tells an independent and new story. They also both feature a similar style of animation, which is intentionally supposed to look like the 3D animation of video games. Even more than that, however,Secret Levelshares a lot of thematic similarities with thebest episodes ofLove, Death & Robots, and they both often look at dark possibilities for the future. It’s easy for viewers to assume that they’re connected somehow, and they would be right.
Secret Level Shares A Creator & Format With Love, Death & Robots
Tim Miller Created Both Secret Level & Love, Death & Robots, & The Shows Share Several Writers
BothSecret LevelandLove, Death & Robotswere created by the same person: Tim Miller. Prior to creatingLove, Death & Robots, Miller was known for directing the firstDeadpoolmovie as well asTerminator: Dark Fate. As the mind behind both shows, Miller used many of his experiences from working onLove, Death & Robotsto createSecret Level. In an interview withVariety, Miller said that many of the writers worked on both shows, and once they had a story in mind for a specific game, they would “go into “Love, Death & Robots” mode of what’s the coolest way we can tell a story?”
Blur Studio also worked extensively on both Love, Death & Robots and Secret Level, meaning Miller and his team were involved in every step of development, from writing to visuals.
Tim Miller and the writers ofLove, Death & Robotsweren’t just involved in the writing ofSecret Level, however. Miller is also the co-founder of Blur Studio, an animation studio that works on 3D rendered cinematics for games likeCall of DutyandGears of Waras well as films like theSonicfranchise (viaBlur).Blur Studio also worked extensively on bothLove, Death & RobotsandSecret Level, meaning Miller and his team were involved in every step of development, from writing to visuals. With so much creative control over both shows, it’s no wonderSecret LevelandLove, Death & Robotsare so similar.
Secret Level Is Thematically Similar To Love, Death & Robots
Both Love, Death & Robots & Secret Level Tell Dark & Thought Provoking Stories
Secret Levelis, in many ways, not only created by the same people who madeLove, Death & Robots, it’s a spiritual successor to the earlier show. Both series take extremely dark looks at the near future, the potential end of the world, and the role of technology in it all.BothLove, Death & RobotsandSecret Levelshare grim thematic elements, coupled with their anthology formats which deliver grim looks at the darker parts of humanity in both the past and future. They’re essentially both animated versions of shows likeBlack MirrororThe Twilight Zone.
How Secret Level & Love, Death & Robots Differ
Secret Level Has More Fantasy & Hopeful Elements Than Love, Death & Robots
Though they are quite similar, there are also plenty of waysSecret Leveldiffers fromLove, Death & Robots. One of the biggest differences is in their tone: both shows can get quite dark, butSecret Levelmanages to retain a lot more optimism than many of the short stories inLove, Death & Robotsdid.That was partly becauseSecret Levelalso leaned more heavily into the fantasy elements of the games it adapts, whereasLove, Death & Robotsfunctions more as a sci-fi horror show. There’s a lot more room for light moments inSecret Levelthan there is inLove, Death & Robots.
How Deadpool Test Footage Laid The Foundation For Prime’s Video Game Anthology Series Secret Level
EXCLUSIVE: Secret Level’s producers discuss how the Deadpool test footage created by Blur Studios inspired the upcoming video game anthology series.
The clearest distinction betweenLove, Death & RobotsandSecret Level, however, is in their source material. For the former, many of its episodes were either completely original short stories or adaptations of science fiction classics, likeBeyond the Aquila Riftby Alastair Reynolds.Secret Level, on the other hand, uses established characters with known backstories and creates new stories to tell with them, such as Kratos' journey through the city. Because of that,Secret Levelestablished itself as something entirely different fromLove, Death & Robots, even though the similarities between the anthology shows are still clear to see.
Secret Level
Cast
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.
Love, Death & Robots
Love, Death & Robots is an anthology series released in 2019, presenting a collection of animated stories curated by Tim Miller and David Fincher. Each episode explores diverse genres, featuring terrifying creatures, unexpected twists, and elements of dark comedy.
