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The King of Fighters Chinese-Animated CG Film Gets Simultaneous Worldwide Release in 2022
posted on by Adriana Hazra
SNK revealed on Wednesday that the Chinese-animated CG film for its The King of Fighters franchise, titled The King of Fighters: Awaken, will release simultaneously worldwide in 2022. Production company iDragons Creative Studio, distribution company Joy Pictures, and special-effects and animation studio Original Force concluded contracts with SNK for the licensing and production of the film on Wednesday.
The film's previously revealed trailer hinted that the movie will enter the games' "Orochi arc" story, which centers on the Four Heavenly Kings (one of whom is Goenitz) attempting to revive and unleash their master Orochi. The games explored the storyline in The King of Fighters '95 until The King of Fighters '97.
The iDragons animation studio previously announced in 2018 that its The King of Fighters: Destiny CG-animated series would get two more 24-episode seasons that would lead to a film finale. It is unknown if the new film is the same project as iDragons' previously announced film. At the time of the announcement in 2018, iDragons noted that the new projects will take the story to The King of Fighters '97's "Orochi arc."
When SNK announced the animated adaptation in 2016, it also announced a live-action adaptation. The animated series was first slated for the first quarter of 2016. The King of Fighters: Destiny then debuted on Steam in August 2017, and it had 24 episodes. The franchise previously inspired a four-episode original net animation from Production I.G titled The King of Fighters: Another Day in 2005 and 2006.
The franchise has also inspired a new manga titled The King of Fighters: A New Beginning by Kyōtarō Azuma. The manga launched in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket app in January 2018, and will end in September. Seven Seas Entertainment is releasing the manga in English.
SNK released The King of Fighters XIV, the latest installment in the franchise, for PlayStation 4 in August 2016. SNK then released the game for PC via Steam in June 2017. SNK is developing The King of Fighters XV game.
Source: 4Gamer (Kim Dong Wook)
