Stray, an animated film is in the works at Annapurna Animation

Exclusively to Entertainment Weekly, Annapurna Animation announced that a animated film of Stray, a game published by Annapurna Interactive and developed by BlueTwelve Studio, is officially in the works.

Released in 2022, Stray puts players in command of a stealthy cat who must traverse an underground city populated by robots and mutant bacteria with the help of a friendly drone, B-12.

“It’s a game that focuses on what makes us human, and there are no humans in this game,” said Robert Baird, head of Annapurna Animation. “It’s a buddy comedy about a cat and a robot, and there’s such a hilarious dynamic. There’s inherent comedy, but there’s not a single human being in this movie. I think that’s one of the reasons the game has been incredibly popular, the fact that you see the world through the point of view of an adorable cat. How did they succeed and how will we succeed in the movie? We will, even though it sometimes seems impossible, but we know that this is the essence of the game and the key to telling the story.”

While Annapurna does not rule out adapting other of its previously published games, Baird explained why Annapurna Animation decided to start specifically with Stray. “First of all, it’s simply very popular,” he said. “People get into the game for a variety of reasons, and I think for us at Annapurna, working with different creatives, it’s a puzzle. What is it about this game that is so popular? Then the question is, how do you adapt a game into a long-form narrative that is incredibly respectful of the game itself and the audience, but also worthy of a film? The process is always part of the challenge.”

More details about Stray’s animated film will be revealed soon.