It can be difficult for video games to successfully transition over to other mediums, but Resident Evil has become one of the most recognizable zombie franchises of all time across multiple forms of media. The Resident Evil series has been an important pillar of the video game industry for decades, but it’s also a title that’s managed to find a second life as an extremely successful movie franchise.

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It’s a testament to Resident Evil’s enduring appeal that it remains popular even though the zombie genre is incredibly overcrowded. Resident Evil has had its ups and downs over the years, but one area that often goes overlooked is the other Resident Evil movies that have been released. These CG animated films may look like extended cutscenes to some, but they’re full of insight towards the Resident Evil franchise.

10 They’re Set Within The Canon Of The Video Games

CG Movie Resident Evil Damnation Ada Wong Solemn

The live-action Resident Evil films started as a loving tribute to the video games, but they progressively developed their own mythology and are their own entity. The CG Resident Evil movies could have also taken a similar approach and gone in a radical new direction with the franchise or even just turned the events from video games into movies.

The animated RE movies instead exist within the canon of the video games and help enrich the series rather than fight against it. All of the movies either function as prequels to the next Resident Evil game or feature some important connective tissue.

9 Resident Evil: Degeneration Is Considered To Be Resident Evil 4.5

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Resident Evil: Degeneration was the first big CGI Resident Evil feature film. When it was time to figure out the story, it was determined that it shouldn't just be an original tale, but also one that can help bridge some of the gaps that are present between the main titles in the series.

Resident Evil: Degeneration reunites Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they take on a new G-virus-fueled threat. It also lays the groundwork for the Tricell, who are integral in Resident Evil 5, as well as handle much of the fallout from Resident Evil 4's events.

8 The Movies Were Sony Pictures Entertainment's Idea

CG Movie Resident Evil Degeneration Zombie Soldier

The Resident Evil CG films have heavy involvement from Capcom and they're deeply interwoven into the events of the video games. However, the idea for this new approach for Resident Evil actually came from Sony Pictures Entertainment, who distribute the live-action Resident Evil movies. 

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Sony's success with those movies had them eager to pursue a completely CG movie that could lean into the popularity of both the films and the video game series. The process has turned out to be very beneficial for Capcom and Sony and there’s likely to be more content in this style in the future.

7 Resident Evil: Vendetta Was Initially Advertised As A Reboot

CG Movie Resident Evil Vendetta Chris Redfield Leon Kennedy

Degeneration and Damnation were both animated by Digital Frontier, but the news of an upcoming third CGI feature from Marza Animation Planet was teased as being a reboot and fresh entry point into the series.

In reality, Resident Evil: Vendetta is still a sequel to the previous films and fits within the Resident Evil canon, but Capcom clarified that the "reboot" claims were in reference to the movie's new tone and style. Vendetta definitely feels different and even though its reception remains mixed, it still brought in new fans.

6 Extensive Motion Capture Technology Was Used With The Animation

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It's been incredible to see how the graphics and fidelity of realness in Resident Evil video games have improved over time. The whole reason that a CGI animated feature seemed feasible is because the cutscenes in the video games had reached such a high level of quality.

3D animation is used in Degeneration, but there was also a heavy push to incorporate motion capture technology. Seven actors had their faces and bodies captured with a combination of over 50 PCs and hundreds of CPUs to help bring these characters to life.

5 Resident Evil: Degeneration Received A Video Game Spin-Off

Game Resident Evil Degeneration Mobile Leon Aims

The Resident Evil CG films all pull from the video games, but the reverse takes place when one of these movies spawned its own video game. Resident Evil: Degeneration received a mobile spin-off that was also available on Nokia's short-lived N Gage mobile phone/gaming handheld hybrid.

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The title is primarily set during the airport from Degeneration's first act and it only features Leon as a playable character, not Claire. The title mixes in a number of enemies and tyrants from past games that aren't in the movie, but it's not a long experience.

4 Resident Evil: Vendetta Brings Back Rebecca Chambers For The First Time In Over A Decade

Movie Resident Evil Vendetta Rebecca Chambers Lab

Resident Evil: Vendetta is set between the events of Resident Evil 6 and 7 and it features a large cast of characters with a very global threat. Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield take the center stage as two different generations of the Resident Evil franchise, but Vendetta also makes Rebecca Chambers a major character.

Rebecca's spotlight is quite exciting since she hadn't been featured in a major way in over 15 years, since the game Resident Evil 0. Rebecca has been around since the very first Resident Evil game and Vendetta helps give her a little more appreciation.

3 The Films Marked A New Approach In How Capcom Works With Third-Parties

Resident Evil Degeneration Cast

The Resident Evil CG films are surprisingly careful with the video games’ canon and there's clearly a lot of love for the source material. Capcom was used to allowing their third-party licensees creative freedom to do whatever they wanted, but they decided to become much more hands-on with the development of Degeneration since the movies would naturally influence public opinion of their games.

Sony Pictures and Digital Frontier were in charge of production, but Capcom was directly involved and had a producer on hand with the power to veto any ideas. Capcom has kept this approach as the movie series has continued.

2 The First Resident Evil CG Film Is Part Of A 3D Ride

Game Resident Evil Biohazard 4D-Executer Tyrant

The trilogy of Resident Evil CG films that have been released over the past decade are full movies that show how far technology has come along, but technically the first Resident Evil CG effort is an 18-minute film called Biohazard 4D-Executer.

The film came out in 2000, only in Japan, and it's akin to Universal Studios' T2 3-D: Battle Across Time. Special effects and moving chairs amplify the chaotic Resident Evil experience that plays out. 4D-Executer doesn’t feature any of the regular Resident Evil cast, but does contain a deadly Tyrant battle.

1 Resident Evil: Vendetta Has A VR Experience Expansion

Resident Evil Vendetta Z Infected Experience VR Attack Game

Resident Evil: Vendetta benefits from being the latest of the Resident Evil animated CG features and its release in 2017 allows it to take advantage of some modern technology. Vendetta received a free PlayStation VR title, Resident Evil: Vendetta - Z Infected Experience.

It's a small title, but it's notable for being an early Resident Evil VR title and it's able to use and feed into the groundbreaking technology that's used for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard's VR experience. They're equally terrifying, even if Vendetta - Infected Experience comes across as more of a tech demo. 

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