Microsoft opted against pursuing a Banjo Kazooie animated series in the 2000s, disappointing fans: "Microsoft deemed this project as unfavorable for investment"
In the year 2007, during the development of Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, a separate project was in the works - an animated series based on the beloved Banjo-Kazooie franchise. This series, developed by 4Kids Entertainment, was set to coincide with or be close to the release of Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts[1].
Artist Emilio Lopez, who worked on the project, described the Banjo Kazooie animated series as a "somewhat of a retelling" with new elements[2]. Lopez's designs for the series took into account elements from the original games, but the series was not bound to the art style of the then-upcoming Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.
However, this promising project did not come to fruition. Despite the Banjo Kazooie animated series being well-received by those involved, Microsoft, which owned Rare (the studio behind Banjo-Kazooie), decided not to invest in it[1][2]. This decision came shortly before the release of Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008), which was the last major installment in the franchise for many years and received mixed reactions from fans.
The lack of further Banjo-Kazooie projects after this period hints at a possible internal shift away from the franchise within Microsoft, but no definitive reasons or official statements about the cancellation have been made even nearly 20 years later[1].
Interestingly, other Rare properties, such as Battletoads and Sabre Wulf, were also being considered for adaptations during this time[3]. Meanwhile, 4Kids had lost the rights to localize the Pokemon franchise, which left a huge hole, and new shows were being developed[4].
Fast forward to today, other studios, including those responsible for Crash Bandicoot 4 and Spyro remakes, are reportedly interested in a new Banjo-Kazooie game[5]. The cancellation of the animated series in 2007 seems to have left an unfulfilled potential for the Banjo-Kazooie franchise, but fans remain hopeful for its return.
References:
- The Banjo-Kazooie animated series that never was
- The Cancelled Banjo-Kazooie Animated Series
- Rare's Cancelled Animated Series
- 4Kids Entertainment
- Rare's Future Plans
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