Biohazard Village × Ningyou Geki

Released in 2021 to promote the launch of the video game Resident Evil Village, known as Biohazard Village in Japan, this short series of stop-motion puppet theater episodes serves as a whimsical and macabre marketing companion. Produced by Capcom in collaboration with the animation studio Dwarf, the project reimagines the game's terrifying protagonists, such as Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters, as endearing, hand-crafted puppets. This stylistic choice draws on the traditional Japanese art of bunraku, albeit with a dark, gothic flair that reflects the game's Eastern European setting and atmospheric horror.

The series was designed to provide a humorous, lighthearted contrast to the intense gameplay experience of the Resident Evil franchise, effectively engaging fans through the juxtaposition of familiar, high-stakes characters with the charming, tactile nature of puppet animation. The production was well-received by the gaming community for its creativity and its ability to humanize monstrous entities without losing the core aesthetic of the franchise. By embracing a nostalgic, analog medium, the creators successfully deepened the lore and public engagement surrounding the game's release.