Rapid Insights: Secret Level Proves Games Are Tailor-Made for Animated Storytelling
Last month, Amazon Prime Video released an exciting new animated series for adults that celebrates all types of board and video games and the many possibilities found within their storytelling. An episodic anthology, each installment features a standalone original short story from a different beloved franchise, from Mega Man, Pac-Man, and Spelunky to Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer 40,000, and Honor of Kings.
Here’s what you need to know about Secret Level:
Vault uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs:
≤79 Disappointing 80-89 Challenging 90-109 Average 110-119 Promising 120+ Outstanding
Does this series appeal largely to the gaming audience?
Yes. We’re seeing a heavy skew toward men (76%) and a slight lean toward those under 30 (52%), the sweet spot for the typical video and tabletop game player. This viewership profile is also an exact match for Marvel’s What If, another animated genre entry that explores imaginative new directions within familiar properties.
What types of stories is Secret Level telling?
Fantastical ones. In addition to its obvious grounding in the realm of Animation (137), the series pulls genre-focused elements from the various games that inspired its episodes: Sci-Fi (135), Adventure (135), Action (129), Fantasy (128), and even War (115). These pieces combine to weave rich, complex new stories that fit perfectly within the show’s various pre-existing worlds.
What’s bringing in so many viewers?
Gaming excitement. The same thrilling selling points that have made the source games so popular and timeless are pulling audiences into this streaming series. Viewers are geared up to watch epic clashes between white hat heroes (Heroism, 116) and their evil opponents (Good vs Evil, 130) set in a series of elaborate, Distinctly Realized Worlds (126) that they recognize from each beloved franchise. Add in a heavy dose of suspense via perilous adventures (Life in Danger, 125) and brutally effective action sequences (Bloody Violence, 122) and audiences can’t look away. These same top ratings drivers are also propelling the show’s longevity and helped it win its already-announced renewal for season two.
What type of emotional experience is appealing to audiences?
An eclectic one. The fifteen different stories included in the fifteen episodes of season one cover a wide range of tones and sentiments, and all play a part in attracting viewers and keeping them hooked. Fans are signing on to experience everything from Rage (122), Aggressiveness (117), Fear (115), and Disgust (113) to Amazement (117), Optimism (117), Admiration (112), and Awe (112), all right alongside their various gaming heroes.
How does the show’s social buzz look?
Encouraging for its second season. After the show’s mid-December premiere on Prime Video, it rocketed to the top of our social buzz meter (to 160) and remained there for nearly two weeks, a pattern that suggests widespread interest and prolonged online discussion. Though the chatter has since cooled a bit, that level of engagement suggests that fans are already eagerly awaiting its eventual season two.
Most Popular Rapid Insights:
Introducing Genre DNA™
Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres
Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.
See the insights that others can’t
Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.
Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.
*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.
