ShiftyLook

ShiftyLook was a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings that was focused on revitalizing older Namco franchises, with their first step being video game webcomics based on the company's various franchises. The subsidiary later offered webtoons, anime, playable games, music, message boards, and graphic novels as well. Shiftylook attended various fan conventions, either with their own booth, or as part of Namco Bandai's booth.

On March 10, 2014, they announced that the site would stop updating ten days later on March 20, and the server would be shut down after September 30 the same year. Some other digital merchandise also became unavailable that year.^[1][2]

Webcomics

ShiftyLook was creating webcomics since the Fall of 2011, with the goal of reviving various old video game franchises. According to Editor-in-Chief Rob Pereyda, the original goal of ShiftyLook was to gain traction through webcomics first and to expand to other media such as web animation, games, and merchandise later.^[1]

• Alien Confidential (based on an iOS game with the same title)
• Bravoman: Super-Unequalled Hero of Excellence (based on Bravoman)
• Dig Dug^[3]
• Dragon Spirit
• Galaga
• Golly! Ghost!
• Katamari
• Klonoa: Dream Traveller of Noctis Sol (based on the Klonoa franchise)
• Legend of the Valkyrie (based on Valkyrie no Densetsu)
• Rapid Thunder (based on Rolling Thunder)^[4]
• Rocket Fox (based on an iOS game with the same title)
• Scar (based on Genpei Toumaden)
• Sky Kid
• The Five-Dimensional Adventures of Dirk Davies (based on Warp & Warp)
• Tower of Babel
• Wagan Land
• Wonder Momo: Battle Idol^[4][5]
• Xevious

Webtoons

• Bravoman: Super-Unequaled Hero of Excellence! (based on Bravoman)
• Mappy

Cartoons

In 2012, ShiftyLook produced two animated cartoons, titled Bravoman: Cartoon Of Unequalled Excellence and Mappy: The Beat. The former was a direct adaption of the webtoon and directed by Jim Zub and Matt Moylan. The latter was created by Scott Kurtz, Kris Straub and Mary Cagle in the style of their Blamimations cartoons.^[6]

Video games

• Bravoman: Binja Bash! (iOS and Android, no longer available)^[1]
• Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster (Android, Macintosh, and Windows PC, no longer available)
• Namco High (Browser game, no longer available)^[1]
• Dig Dug: Burst of Adventure (Browser game, cancelled)

Hardcover graphic novels

• Bravoman: Super Unequaled Hero of Excellence - Volume 1
• Wonder Momo: Battle Idol - Volume 1

See also

• Namco Generations - A brand label of games on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network that was an earlier attempt to revitalize older Namco franchises.

References

1. Gera, Emily (2014-03-10). "Namco High studio ShiftyLook is shutting its doors". Polygon.
2. Pereyda, Rob (2014-03-10). "ShiftyLook's Next Step". ShiftyLook. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14.
3. Goellner, Caleb (2012-05-09). "Shiftylook Celebrating 30 Years of 'Dig Dug' With Anniversary Webcomic Collaboration". Comics Alliance.
4. ""Rolling Thunder" and "Wonder Momo" Come to ShiftyLook as Webcomics". Comic Book Resources. 2012-04-19.
5. Nakamura, Toshi (29 January 2014). "Japanese Cult Classic Revived as New Game and Anime". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
6. Johnston, Rich (2012-07-14). "ShiftyLook Moves Into Cartoons – Bravoman, Jim Zub, Scott Kurtz And More". Bleeding Cool.