ShiftyLook
Division | |
Fate | Closed by Namco Bandai Games |
Founded | 2011 |
Defunct | September 2014 |
Products | Webcomics |
Parent | Bandai Namco Holdings |
ShiftyLook was a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings that was focused on revitalizing older Namco franchises, with their first step being video game webcomics based on the company's various franchises. The subsidiary later offered webtoons, anime, playable games, music, message boards, and graphic novels as well. Shiftylook attended various fan conventions, either with their own booth, or as part of Namco Bandai's booth.
On March 10, 2014, they announced that the site would stop updating ten days later on March 20, and the server would be shut down after September 30 the same year. Some other digital merchandise also became unavailable that year.[1][2]
Webcomics
ShiftyLook was creating webcomics since the fall of 2011, with the goal of reviving various old Namco Bandai video game franchises. According to Editor-in-Chief Rob Pereyda, the original goal of ShiftyLook was to gain traction through webcomics first and to expand to other media such as web animation, games, and merchandise later.[1] Shiftylook collaborated with a large number of successful webcartoonists in order to produce their webcomics, among which Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik, Scott Kurtz, Ryan North, David Malki, and Zach Weiner.[3] In July 2012, manga author Hitoshi Ariga began creating a webcomic based on Klonoa, becoming the first Japanese person to work on a Shiftylook webcomic.[4]
- Alien Confidential: Black and White (based on the iOS game Alien Confidential)[4]
- Bravoman: Super-Unequalled Hero of Excellence (based on Bravoman)
- Dig Dug[3]
- Dragon Spirit
- Galaga[5]
- Golly! Ghost!
- Katamari
- Klonoa: Dream Traveller of Noctis Sol (based on the Klonoa franchise)[4]
- Legend of the Valkyrie (based on Valkyrie no Densetsu)[4]
- Rapid Thunder (based on Rolling Thunder)[6]
- Rocket Fox (based on an iOS game with the same title)[4]
- Scar (based on Genpei Toumaden)[3]
- Sky Kid[3]
- The Five-Dimensional Adventures of Dirk Davies (based on Warp & Warp)[4]
- Time Crisis (cancelled)
- Tower of Babel
- Wagan Land
- Wonder Momo: Battle Idol[6][7]
- Xevious[3]
Cartoons
In 2012, ShiftyLook produced two animated cartoons, titled Bravoman: Cartoon Of Unequalled Excellence and Mappy: The Beat. The former was a direct adaption of the webtoon and directed by Jim Zub and Matt Moylan. The latter was created by Scott Kurtz, Kris Straub and Mary Cagle in the style of their Blamimations cartoons.[8] In 2014, Graphinica produced five five-minute anime episodes based on Wonder Momo, in collaboration with Shiftylook. This anime series was released on Crunchyroll.[9][10]
Video games
- Bravoman: Binja Bash! (iOS and Android, no longer available)[1]
- Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster (Android, no longer available)
- Namco High (Browser game, moved to another website)[1][11]
- Dig Dug: Burst of Adventure (Browser game, cancelled)
Hardcover graphic novels
Shiftylook published the first volume of two of their webcomics in graphic novel format, namely Bravoman: Super Unequaled Hero of Excellence and Wonder Momo: Battle Idol.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gera, Emily (2014-03-10). "Namco High studio ShiftyLook is shutting its doors". Polygon.
- ↑ Pereyda, Rob (2014-03-10). "ShiftyLook's Next Step". ShiftyLook. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Goellner, Caleb (2012-05-09). "Shiftylook Celebrating 30 Years of ‘Dig Dug’ With Anniversary Webcomic Collaboration". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Big O's Hitoshi Ariga Draws Klonoa Webcomic for ShiftyLook". Anime News Network. 2012-07-14.
- ↑ "The Best Comic Books of 2013, Part Two". ComicsAlliance. 2013-12-10.
- 1 2 ""Rolling Thunder" and "Wonder Momo" Come to ShiftyLook as Webcomics". Comic Book Resources. 2012-04-19.
- ↑ Nakamura, Toshi (29 January 2014). "Japanese Cult Classic Revived as New Game and Anime". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ↑ Johnston, Rich (2012-07-14). "ShiftyLook Moves Into Cartoons – Bravoman, Jim Zub, Scott Kurtz And More". Bleeding Cool.
- ↑ 2014-01-29. "Wonder Momo Game Spawns Web Anime by Graphinica & New Game". Anime News Network.
- ↑ Saabedra, Humberto (2014-03-10). "Namco Bandai's ShiftyLook Ends Later This Month". Crunchyroll News.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2015-11-07.