Not to be confused with the Ash vs Evil Dead live-action series, the plot of the animated series is entirely different. It has the same themes and characters but with a different plot. Unfortunately, there is no information on the release date for the first episode. This is due to delays caused by several reasons. Because of this, even though news about the Ash vs Evil Dead animated series came earlier this year, progress for the show’s development is still unclear.
Ash vs Evil Dead
Ash vs Evil Dead was based on the horror and comedy series made by Bruce Campbell, Sam Raimi, and Robert Tapert, originally titled Evil Dead. According to the franchise’s timeline, the first was a film in the horror and comedy genre called The Evil Dead. It emerged in 1981, introducing the main character, Ash, and the setting. Evil Dead II came next in 1987, expanding the universe, and several more films and sequels were made, along with video games and a comic. This continued with some reboots, remakes, and sequels until 2013.
The most recent version is Ash vs Evil Dead, a horror TV series that began in 2015 and ended in 2018. Ash vs Evil Dead has 3 seasons, with 10 episodes each. This TV series occurs thirty years after the previous Evil Dead films, where Ash has become rugged and uncaring. He has been avoiding his duty and growth and pretending to know nothing of the evil dead, which would make sense for traumatic reasons. It isn’t until a deadite plague comes about, that he realizes he is the only one with the full knowledge to fight against it. Thus, he is forced to pick up his chainsaw once again and be the reluctant savior.
Ash vs Evil Dead Animated Series
Bruce Campbell himself teased about or dropped hints about a new animated version of the beloved gory show, somewhere at the beginning of 2021. More discussions came in July 2022, before an official announcement for the animated series was made in 2023. The specific plots or what the animated reboot of Ash vs Evil Dead will be about is unclear. The only news about the storyline is that it will be an animated copycat of the live-action Ash vs Evil Dead plot.
One of the known reasons as to why it was decided that the popular series would get an animated remake, is due to Campbell’s willingness. Playing the live character Ash took a toll on his body, and with his age, he wouldn’t be able to continue acting as the infamous chainsaw hero. Fortunately, Campbell followed this new information by stating how he’d gladly voice the character instead. For the sake of the original actors, it is preferable to voice the characters instead.
The animation will allow the characters to move and fight in ways that stunt doubles can’t. This is also the same when it comes to all the special effects, makeup, CGI, and VFX that were used in the previous films. It’s less work when it comes to no longer needing all the prop items, sets, recording locations, and cameras. Instead, they will be working in sound rooms for voice acting and burning their eyes by watching computer screens for this less laborious yet difficult project.
Reasons for Delay
There are a couple of reasons why the animated version of Ash vs Evil Dead is being delayed. One is that Campbell has stated that animation projects like these take time. An example they used to emphasize their point was the show Invincible, which has taken years between seasons. The second reason is that the animation team strongly wishes to perfect every detail, as fight scenes require both fast pacing but also details that fans will notice.
Support
The next reason is that other projects are being worked on alongside the animation project. It was announced earlier in 2024 that two spin-offs were made by Sebastien Vanicek and Francis Galluppi. The final known reason is that Campbell and the ones working on the projects are waiting for the franchise to gain more popularity. Ash vs Evil Dead 2015 only had 3 seasons because it was scrapped when the views weren’t high enough. The teams and animators suspect that the project might develop faster depending on how much popularity the other films receive.
While waiting for the Ash vs Evil Dead animated series, the spin-off film Evil Dead Rise, which came out in 2023, has given them a huge boost. Campbell and others are hoping for the same results from the other ongoing spin-off, Hysteria! that was released on Peacock on October 18th. The series is an 80s thriller with satanic themes and a band in a small town, in which Bruce Campbell will be having a cameo. Adding more popularity to this series will also help boost the support needed to quickly get the animated show developed.
Final Thoughts
The Evil Dead franchise has gone a long way with its ups and downs, starting in 1981, from movies to sequels, and video games. It began as a last attempt between three guys who didn’t want to give up and go home. After the Ash vs Evil Dead series ended in 2018, fans nearly thought that was it, until 2023. Now, there are Evil Dead Rises, Hysteria, and two more spin-offs about to be made, all with original storylines. Depending on the success of each of these, the production for the Ash vs Evil Dead animated series may develop faster with more support.
