Netflix’s 3-Part KPop Demon Hunters Predecessor Is One Of Its Best Fantasy Shows

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Before releasing KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix had already found success with fantasy programming, particularly with a well-received three-part fantasy series. The streaming service continues to create both live-action and animated content, and has become known for its strong animated fantasy shows. Titles like Arcane, Castlevania, and Love, Death, & Robots are already considered some of the best TV shows ever made.

Animation is a fantastic fit for fantasy shows because it unlocks more creative possibilities and simplifies the process of building imaginative worlds, characters, and creatures. A prime example on Netflix is Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, created by Guillermo del Toro. Based on the 2015 novel Trollhunters (co-written by del Toro and Daniel Kraus), Tales of Arcadia premiered in 2016 and ran for three seasons, concluding in 2018.

The world of Tales of Arcadia is rich and detailed, filled with interesting creatures and a story that works for viewers of all ages. Given the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters, another animated fantasy series with similar themes, it feels like a good time to revisit Tales of Arcadia and acknowledge how well-made it is.

Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Is One Of The Most Creative Netflix Fantasy TV Shows

I’m so excited about Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia! It’s about this normal kid, Jim Lake Jr., who unexpectedly discovers a magical amulet. This amulet basically turns him into a superhero – a Trollhunter, actually – and he’s the first human ever to get the job! Now he’s responsible for protecting both the human world and a hidden world of trolls and other awesome creatures. It’s a really cool story about how he tries to juggle being a regular high school student with all this crazy hero stuff. It’s tough, but he’s doing his best!

Jim is fortunate to have help from his friends – both human, like Toby and Claire, and troll, including Blinky, Draal, and AAARRRGGHH!!! His adventures, which have been divided into three parts, have been very well-received by both critics and viewers. Tales of Arcadia is celebrated for its unique story, imaginative world, beautiful animation, and emotional depth. The series features a main character who is easy to connect with, and he, along with the other characters, experiences meaningful growth throughout the story.

Guillermo del Toro’s unique style is all over Tales of Arcadia, featuring intricate creatures that are rarely the true villains – often, the real monsters are people. The show’s world-building is remarkably detailed, something you don’t often see in animated fantasy, particularly those aimed at families. Tales of Arcadia also cleverly flips traditional tropes, using trolls as mentors and giving villains complex motivations and backstories, making them far from simple bad guys.

Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Spawned One Of The Most Underrated Fantasy Franchises

Although Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia only ran for three seasons, the world it created was so expansive that there were many more stories to tell. This led to the Tales of Arcadia becoming a fantasy series that, sadly, doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

The story continued with a series of children’s books and graphic novels, and then expanded into the Netflix shows 3Below: Tales of Arcadia (2018) and Wizards: Tales of Arcadia (2020), completing the Tales of Arcadia trilogy. Both of these shows were well-received by critics, and in 2021, the world of Trollhunters was brought to the big screen with the movie Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans, which takes place a year after the events of Wizards.

As a huge fan of Trollhunters, I thought Rise of the Titans was going to be the end of the story, and it seems like that’s true – there aren’t any plans for more shows or movies. Honestly, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia is one of the best animated fantasy series Netflix has ever made, and I think it’s just incredibly creative and well-done compared to other shows in the genre, not just on Netflix, but everywhere!

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2026-05-03 17:28