The Golden Axe animated series hits Paramount+ this September

Paramount+ has released the first official trailer for its animated adaptation of Sega's Golden Axe, confirming the series will premiere on September 16.

When Sega announced they were going back into their IP vault for new releases, I did not expect this! The project was originally greenlit for Comedy Central back in April 2024, but it has since shifted to its new streaming home. I assumed it was dead.

The official trailer shows off a meta, self-aware take on the 1989 arcade classic. The footage leans heavily into the absurdities of the original beat-'em-up, featuring magic potions, mountable beasts, and side-scrolling boss encounters. It even ends with a 16-bit Genesis-style visual gag.

A great creative team

The creative team behind the show explains the comedic tone. Mike McMahan, who created Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Joe Chandler from American Dad! are the co-creators. Chandler is serving as the showrunner. The animation is handled by Titmouse, the studio responsible for The Legend of Vox Machina and Scavengers Reign.

The voice cast includes Matthew Rhys as the dwarf warrior Gilius Thunderhead, Liam McIntyre as the barbarian Ax Battler, and Lisa Gilroy as the sorceress Tyris Flare. They are joined by Danny Pudi playing a new character named Hampton Squib and Carl Tart as Chronos "Evil" Lait. The plot follows the veteran heroes reuniting to stop the giant Death Adder from destroying the kingdom of Yuria.

Rhys is best known for dramatic roles in The Americans and Perry Mason, making his casting as a grumpy, axe-wielding dwarf an interesting pivot. Pudi brings his sitcom experience from Community to the role of Squib, an inexperienced adventurer who seems completely out of his depth alongside the seasoned warriors.

All 10 episodes drop at once

Paramount+ is releasing the entire 10-episode season on September 16. This fits the platform's recent history of picking up video game adaptations, sitting alongside their live-action Halo and Knuckles series.

The trailer footage shows Titmouse applying its signature dynamic, hand-drawn style to the world of Yuria. The studio has a lot of experience balancing high-octane action with adult comedy, which seems to be exactly what CBS Studios and Sony Pictures Television are aiming for here. Watching the characters navigate the rigid logic of side-scrolling boss encounters is exactly the kind of genre deconstruction you expect from this creative team.

Sega has been aggressively mining its back catalog lately. The company previously revealed plans to revive Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage as new video games. Golden Axe is part of that broader multimedia push, though it is taking a different route by heading straight to television.

The original 1989 arcade game was followed by Golden Axe II in 1991 and the arcade-exclusive Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder in 1992. The series is remembered just as much for its cooperative gameplay and accidental friendly fire incidents as it is for its fantasy setting. The animated series appears to be leaning into that exact brand of chaotic energy.