Animation Could Bring a New, Fun Twist to Twilight

Ever since its creation, animation has been the go-to storytelling medium for things that are impossible to pull off properly in live-action. While The Twilight Saga took its premise far too seriously, which evidently resulted in its unintentional hilarity, removing it from the bounds and limitations of live-action could be the key to reworking it into something that could not only be more visually engaging but also embrace the fun of its supernatural premise. The romance and intensity of certain moments could still work where they need to be, but the wide variety of expressions and tones in animation provides a perfect opportunity to add a bit more humor and self-awareness. There are several animated series that manage to find the perfect balance between legitimate drama and humor, one example being Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was a show that took its story seriously, with engaging character drama and intense action sequences; but there were also several character moments big and small throughout the show that provided a lighthearted sense of comic relief and ultimately made it even more engaging than it already was.

Other shows like Invincible and even several anime series have all mastered this balance in their storytelling, using their writing and visuals to elicit emotional thrills and investment as well as big laughs from their viewers. If Twilight could potentially do the same, it could capture a new generation of fans, revive the public’s interest, and completely redefine the franchise in a big way. With Meyer’s latest book from 2020, Midnight Sun, retelling the events of the first installment from Edward’s perspective rather than Bella’s, perhaps the show could take some inspiration from it to be even more different. There have been other animated TV adaptations of hit movies that, by breaking away from what made people love the source material in the first place, ultimately results in embarrassingly short runs, from Clerks to Napoleon Dynamite. Considering all the elements that make it such a divisive franchise, however, putting The Twilight Saga in the realm of animation could have a rare result of the opposite effect.

Now Is the Perfect Time For a Twilight Reboot

For better or for worse, The Twilight Saga was a defining piece of media for the “tween years” of the 2010s. The films were box-office successes, while merchandise, advertisements, and even parodies were everywhere and only helped them to climb even higher to the top of the pop-culture zeitgeist. Even the debate between “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” infiltrated news outlets and played a major role in advertising campaigns for massive chains like Burger King. While it remains to be seen whether an animated series will reach the same level of popularity as the films, or even come close to a long-lasting iconic level, such as that of Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Simpsons, a new visual format in a different medium is the perfect way to go about rebooting Twilight in this golden age of television.

It’s understands why people seem divided on Harry Potter’s TV reboot, seeing how it has arguably more memorable characters and a much deeper, well-realized lore and mythology than Twilight. Because of this, several fans will see the film series as the definitive adaptation of the books and won’t be willing to accept anything that will tamper with its vision. Fortunately, The Twilight Saga doesn’t have that strong of a fan base or public attachment, which means it still has a chance to make up for its mistakes. There probably aren’t too many people who will be upset over the recasting of Stewart and Pattinson, considering that they will only be voice-over roles this time around and especially seeing how both actors have been trying their hardest to move on and shed the public image that they previously garnered from their time working on the films. Love it or hate it, The TwilightSaga is about to make a comeback; and if all goes well with the new animated series, the phenomenon will be much more mutual than divisive.