It’s been a while since we last heard about theGenshin Impactanime. It’s presumably still in the works, but the wait has been unbearable. Thankfully, even if there isn’t an official anime yet, the fanbase has us covered.
There are a lot of talented animators out there, and some of their work was featured in the latestHoYoFair exhibit. I encourage you to check out the presentation in full, but here’s a highlight of some of my favorite segments!
1. Progenitor: The Surface
Progenitoris an animatedGenshinproject fromDillonGoo Studios. Dillon Gu, director and head of the studio, is a former animator forRWBY, and the influence shows in his unique 3D anime style.
ProgenitortakesGenshincharacters and places them in a dystopian cyberpunk setting. I won’t spoil the story for you, but I’m blown away by the detailed environments, fluid fight choreography, and unique takes onGenshincharacter designs.
If you want to check out theProgenitorseries in full, I suggest starting withepisodes 1 and 2. I also enjoyThe Last Bakery, which features Neuvillette, Xiangling, and Navia in a similar futuristic setting.
2. Ranked Daycare
Ranked Daycareis an animated short byNo_Tables, following Lumine and Klee as they fight their way through mobs of enemies in a ranked game mode. Unlike the usualGenshincombat with swords, spears, and elemental abilities, though, Lumine and Klee are equipped with a vast arsenal of elemental firearms.
I love the fresh character designs and how elemental reactions are worked into the gunplay. The animation is a joy to watch, especially with Klee’s adorable giggles as she sets off massive explosions.
If you want to see moreGenshinwith guns, check out No_Tables’ previous HoYoFair entry titledTimes…Changed?
3. Domain 404
If you prefer a hand-drawn anime style,Domain 404has you covered. Directed byLucHD,Domain 404perfectly portrays the chaotic fun ofGenshinco-op. A group of four players takes on a domain, but soon find that the game isn’t behaving as they expect.
I thought it was fun to see 5-star characters fromGenshin Impactplaying the game with different characters. They were playing an actual meta team too, indicating that the creators know the meta. I loved seeingGenshin’sunique co-op combat system portrayed in an animated format. If you’ve ever played co-op inGenshin, you know the pain of realizing that someone brought theirC6 Bennett.
4. Moonlit Bamboo Forest
Moonlit Bamboo Foresthas a gorgeous painted art style. This short, produced by Passion Paris and directed by David Pagaille, takes place in the forests of Liyue. The story follows a boy setting out on a journey from his hometown, only to run into some strange forest spirits.
It’s stylistically stunning and a real treat for the eyes. Even better, it’s an adaptation ofin-game lorethat you’ll only come across if you buy a book series from an NPC. When’s the last time you sat down to do some reading inGenshin?
5. Titanslayers: Edge of Oblivion
Created byKIERU,Titanslayers: Edge of Oblivionis an epic fight between some of my favoriteGenshincharacters and a mysterious beast from the Primordial Sea. As an added bonus, it also features a sweet moment between Beidou and Ningguang.
The short that premiered during the HoYoFair presentation actually appears to be a work in progress. KIERU has commented that, to stay true to their original vision, the full short will be released next month. The version we’ve seen looks fantastic already, so I can’t wait to see what the finished animation will look like.
From beyond the sea of stars rises a terrifying new titan: the Primordial Kraken, a towering omen of antediluvian calamity.Our#genshinshort from today’s#HoYoFair2024! We’re releasing a follow-up next month with more setting we couldn’t quite fit in timepic.twitter.com/tSZzysKOV3
The Song Burning in the Embers
Unlike the others on this list,The Song Burning in the Embersis an official animated short from HoYoverse. It provides a glimpse intoArlecchino’sbackstory and how she became the Father of the House of the Hearth. I love everything about it, except the fact that it’s not part of the officialGenshin Impactanime series.
I’m glad there’s plenty of animatedGenshincontent to enjoy, whether it comes directly from HoYoverse or from a myriad of talented creators. The wait for theGenshin Impactanime series continues, but in the meantime, we’re being fed well. I just hope the anime doesn’t end up floating around forever, like the potentialNintendo Switch versionofGenshin Impact.
