PAC-MAN: Circle

The reason why I think this episode kind of works, is mainly because of the fact that it fits with vibe with the rest of the episodes, we've had games like sifu, dungeon and dragons, etc. So this episode I was wondering how it's gonna work. Cause it felt out of place. Now while this didn't entirely feel like pac man, i didn't care. Mainly because i thought it was a pretty creative idea, and i still can't get the ending out of my head, and the quote, eat or be eaten out of my head. Overall though i thought the episode was alright, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Not everything is gonna be what we want.

Altough many were criticizing this episode, even well before the release, due to how this takes such a different path from the original videogame, I found it to be quite interesting and I actually appreciated that they took such a risk on this episode.

This episode takes the core of the classic Pac-Man game and manages to write a whole lore around it, while still including and referencing parts from the original. I thought the ideas and the overall excecution here were excellent!

While most things here are completely fresh, I found it to be interesting enough to keep me engaged throughout the short runtime. And the way parts of the original game were implemented into this episode was just so creative and actually fun to spot.

However, I think the biggest flaw with this episode is that altough they managed to create something brand new around such a simple game, it still falls into a few clichés that we have seen many times before. Still, overall, this was an excellent and well-crafted episode.

The animation is fine, but this was a terrible, TERRIBLE idea. Totally divorced from the source material for like 8 different reasons, and a the concept is so thin that it doesn't stand on its own, past its "Oh yeah i guess its kinda pacman" moments which arguably are as irritating as all the rest, or worse, because they want you to be like "AHA" but its really more like abn "Uh-huh." and then they give you some final scene thats supposed to give you chills but just feels dumb and pointless. Frankly at this point im just trying to fill up more of this review so i can post it and warn you not to waste this 10 minutes.

It caught me off-guard ! This episode takes an unexpectedly dark and haunting approach to the Pac-Man universe, leaning heavily into horror. We have a change of visual style this time, which is appreciated after all the amazing but repetitive photorealistic episodes. Here, instead of a "commercial" cinematic, the base of the game have been altered to expand into a new approach of the game. The neon-lit maze is transformed into a eery, nightmarish and wild jungle where survival feels genuinely tense. This bold reimagining turns the family friendly chase dynamic into something far more sinister and atmospheric. It's a strikingly different take on the classic game, exploring fear and desperation in a way that's both unsettling and compelling. Reminds me of a recent animation called Scavengers Reign. Those who have seen it, will know what sequence or characters i'm thinking about. While the minimalist, and creepy storytelling might not appeal to everyone, it's a creative and thought-provoking tribute that leaves a lasting impression. More episodes like this one, that expand the base of a game and extend its creativity...I'd like to see more like these !

I never expect anything from the storytelling from these anthology series. In my personal opinion, animated anthology shows like Secret Level should primarily be watched for their animation. While the narratives can vary in quality, the true magic lies in the artistry and creativity each episode brings to life. The Pac-Man episode excels in this regard, delivering a visual feast that proves the potential of animation as a medium. That's also the reason why i would never give an episode with Hyper-Realistic animation a high rating: Hyper-realistic styles can be so fixated on mimicking reality that they forget to innovate, explore surrealism, or push boundaries in ways only animation can.

For anyone passionate about animation, this episode is a must-watch-a reminder of why the art form deserves our undivided attention.

That said, it's truly obnoxious how some people complain that it's "nothing like the video game." Of course, it's not the same! The purpose of reimagining something in an anthology series isn't to copy and paste the source material-it's to take creative liberties and explore new possibilities.