The creators of Secret Level explain the terrifying Pac-Man episode.

The Amazon video game anthology series, Secret Level, features an exceptional episode titled Pac-Man: Circle, which stands out for its unusual narrative compared to the rest of the series, which tends to stay in safer territory. In this installment, an alien-looking man known as the Swordsman is freed by a mysterious spherical orb called Puck, which symbolizes Pac-Man. Emily Swallow's portrayal of this character resembles Hal 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey more than any previous representation of Pac-Man. Puck continually warns the Swordsman that they are trapped in a maze from which they must escape, and that survival involves the constant struggle of "eat or be eaten."

Pac-Man: Circle offers a violent and subversive take on a game generally recognized for its universal appeal. While it may seem surprising, executive producer Dave Wilson asserts that Bandai Namco Entertainment was very clear in its encouragement of this creative direction, indicating that they wanted the audience to question the reinvention of Pac-Man. In the writers' room, the game's basics were distilled into meaningful phrases like "eat or be eaten," serving as the foundation for a tragic and mature story presented in the episode.

Visually, this episode was inspired by artists such as Moebius and Pascal Blanchet, showcasing vivid colors and an aesthetic with a certain degree of rawness. From the outset of the process, the voices of Puck and the Swordsman were performed by Emily Swallow, recognizable for her role in The Mandalorian, and Aleks Le, known for his role in Street Fighter 6, who were not replaced throughout development.

Wilson mentioned that Pac-Man: Circle is significantly longer than other episodes in the series because it stayed true to the original vision. Although a 5-minute runtime was initially considered, the final storyboard clocked in at 9 minutes. In discussing this, Wilson and his team found it would be a mistake to rush it and gave Illusorium Studios the option to keep the extended length. This option was accepted, allowing them to present their complete vision.

The boldness that characterizes Pac-Man: Circle highlights the best of Secret Level, contrasting with other slower episodes that often seem merely like promotions for titles like New World: Aeternum or the PlayStation brand. Episodes that opt for action or take creative risks, such as Pac-Man: Circle, turn out to be the most engaging.

The creators of the series emphasize the beauty of diversity in these adaptations, which range from indie to classic franchises, highlighting the collaboration of various companies within the video game industry. Miller also clarifies that their approach was not limited to establishing a narrative connection between episodes, allowing for broader creativity.

Though some episodes may not reach the same standard of quality, there are notable works like Pac-Man: Circle that manage to reinterpret classic franchises in a bold and meaningful way. This episode, along with others from Secret Level, is available on Prime Video, where an upcoming release of animated short films will be announced for December 17.