With the announcement and first-look trailer of Predator: Killer of Killers, there’s plenty for Predator fans to dig their tusks into; chief among these topics seems to be the animation style used in the film, which releases June 6. The animation style, reminiscent of Arcane, was crafted by the team at The Third Floor, co-director Josh Wassung’s own studio.
While most fans are simply joyous at receiving not one, but two Predator films in 2025, some have questioned the decision to make an animated film. Will the grizzly, gore-fest zeitgeist of the franchise translate into animation? Director Dan Trachtenberg seems to think so, promising in a recent interview that the film will have all the bloody, R-rated carnage that fans expect.
However, even if Predator: Killer of Killers delivers on the promised violence, some fans may still disagree with the specific animation style chosen for the film. The keyframe animation technique is rooted in traditional hand-drawn design, while at times presenting as low-frame-rate or stop-motion animation. Critics of the style complain that it looks low quality or that it’s unwatchable; and this is precisely the sentiment making rounds on some social media platforms.
Regardless of anyone’s personal preference, I think Predator: Killer of Killers is cause for celebration among fans. For those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, the prospect of new Predator films was unlikely at best. The general consensus was that Predator 2 had killed the franchise, a sentiment repeated in epic fashion with The Predator (2018). Left for dead twice, the franchise received a miracle when Dan Trachtenberg made Prey, bringing the Yautja back from the dead.
So whether Predator: Killer of Killers and Predator: Badlands are successful in 2025 or the franchise takes another major setback, I’ll be front row watching these films. Having journeyed through the wilderness, I’m grateful for the franchise’s new life, even if it turns out to be a mirage.
Tell us what you think! Are you a fan of the animation style for Predator: Killer of Killers? Share your reactions in the comments below or join the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.
Featured Image: Hulu
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