Resident Evil’s animated endeavors have never really had the success or popularity that is associated with the games, and that is largely due to their heavily stylized and CGI-intensive approach to storytelling. None of the animated movies are canon to the primary franchise continuity or its remakes, either, which sidelines them along with the live-action movies which fans also tend to dislike. The live-action movies are starkly opposite to the games while the animated movies at least feature proper resemblances for actual characters from the games, but it is still shaky ground they both stand on.
If nothing else, animated movies such asResident Evil: VendettaandResident Evil: Infinite Darknessare a fun way for fans to see the iconic legacy characters that they have missed inResident Evil’s games. Leon has not been around in the games sinceResident Evil 6in the main continuity, for example, and even if the movies are non-canon it is a way for fans to fill in the blanks on what he might have been up to between games. However, one iconic legacy character is being brought back for the upcomingResident Evil: Death Islandwho should make a similar return to the games.
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Resident Evil: Death Island Reveals a Modern Jill Valentine
Jill Valentine is a fan-favoriteResident Evilcharacterafter having starred as one of two playable protagonists in the franchise’s original entry, as well as starring as one of two playable protagonists inResident Evil 3: Nemesis. Even though Chris Redfield has starred in many more entries since the originalResident Evil, the impact that Jill has had is undeniable and is precisely why fans are still upset that she has not made her own grand reintroduction to the franchise.
Chris was brought back in a staggering way inResident Evil 7as he bore a brand-new look that no fans thought was appropriate for the character, and was hastily retconned thereafter for his subsequent appearance inResident Evil Village. Capcom has really wanted Chris back in the mainResident Evilcontinuity for whatever reason, and if the trend of remakes continues down the path it is currently on, it will soon feature him as a playable protagonist in two upcomingResident Evilgames.
Chris’ oversaturation might be favorable for some fans, but a lot of players would also like to see more Jill, andResident Evil: Death Islandreveals how that could become a possibility. In the animated movie, it is reported thatJill features herResident Evil 3remake lookand has not aged as much as other characters have sinceResident Evil 5because of the effects of the T-Virus.
This admittedly sounds like a convenient way for Jill to retain her conventional, youthful beauty instead of allowing her to age like Leon Kennedy or Chris have, but the implications that this explanation could have are legitimately great if they were to also translate toResident Evil’s games. Having Jill be featured as youthful and physically competent as she was inResident Evil 5would be a massive boon for the franchise, as it would mean that she could easily be reintegrated as a playable protagonist for several installments.
Resident Evil: Death Islanddeciding to examineany trauma or PTSD Jill still experienceswould be an interesting character development to see unfold, but it could be even better to see that happen in a mainlineResident Evilgame instead.Resident Evil: Death Islandmay not be canon, though its explanation for why Jill has returned the way she has should absolutely be adapted to the games for the same potential reason.
Resident Evil: Death Islandreleases this summer.
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