The Legend of Spyro 3D (found production material of cancelled CGI animated film based on video game series; 2007-2011)
Teaser poster of The Legend of Spyro 3D.
Status: Lost
The Legend of Spyro 3D was a cancelled CGI animated adaptation of the Spyro the Dragon video game franchise, specifically it’s reboot, The Legend of Spyro. It was to be produced by Universal Animation Studios, and set for release in December 2009, then being pushed back to April 10th, 2010, before being cancelled completely in favor of Activison’s new direction for the series, which was later revealed to be Skylanders in 2011.
Development
In October 2007, The Animation Picture Company obtained the film rights for the Spyro series from Activision, with Daniel and Steven Altiere to write the script. [1] John Davis, Dan Chuba, Brain Manis, and Ash Shah were to produce, with Mark A.Z. Dippe to direct while producing at the same time. Velvet Octopus also would’ve done advertising for the film and distributed it alongside Universal Pictures. [2] [3]
Plot
The film would’ve opened with Ignitus, an egg guardian, who lets a yet unborn Spyro in his egg drift across a swamp only for it to land to a family of dragonflies and let him be raised among them. Following the aftermath of a village attack by unknown forces and learning the ability to breathe fire, the dragonflies tell Spyro he is adopted and not actually a dragonfly, but he destined to bring peace to the land due to a prophecy and as of a result of the truth being broke out to hi, he leaves the swamp out of confession and sadness to find his proper home, with his best friend Sparx, an actual dragon fly, tagging along on his quest. Throughout their journey, the duo resources other dragons and try to defeat the deadly Dark Master, but first they fight against Cynder, who is a powerful black dragon due to the red crystal around her neck to enslaves her to the Dark Master, and her armies. After acquiring new skills and training, Spyro finally learns the real identity behind Cynder, destroys the red crystel and releases the dead from enslavement of the Dark Master, and restores the world’s order without at the cost of his spirit. [4] [5]
Cancellation
Though it was scheduled for a Christmas 2009 release for the U.S and Canada, it did not happen and was delayed to April of 2010. But, no sights of the film premering were present during that date either. It was later revealed later that month that the film was scrapped due to Activision planning to take Spyro into another direction, which came to be in the form of Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure released in 2011. [6] Other then a teaser poster, nothing else from the film has yet to surface, and it's likely that it will never be produced.