Revisioned: Tomb Raider Animated Series, stylized as Re/Visioned: Tomb Raider, is a ten-part series of short animated episodes based on the Tomb Raider series, which was originally aired on GameTap in 2007. The series consists of varying renditions of Lara Croft, from the hands of noted animation and comic artists, which range from the semi-realistic to downright cartoony. Although enjoying the alternate takes on the character, criticisms from viewers did tend to include that the shift from one to another was somewhat confusing and that the stories of each episode were a little too simple and non-explanatory. The series was meant to be the first in the Re/Visioned series of cartoons based on game franchises.
Episodes 1-3: Keys to the Kingdom
- Lara is drawn into a web of religious intrigue and assassins when an archaeologist is murdered just after he claims to have discovered a way to bring the dead back to life.
- Hijinks ensue when Lara Croft stumbles upon the resurrection of Moctezuma, an Aztec mummy.
- This short takes on a lighter, self-parodying tone, compared to the previous set.
- At the request of a professor, Lara is given a sample of a mysterious substance called "Angel Spit", that was retrieved during a 19th-century Antarctic expedition, and is comprised of a mass of stem cells that can be used to cure any disease. She is tasked with finding more where it came from. Things take a squickier turn once she discovers what it really is...
- Lara searches for an ancient scepter with the ability to turn men into animals, and vice versa. Along the way, she finds herself followed by an aspiring young sidekick who proves to be more trouble than she's worth.
- This episode was done in a 70's cartoon style, right down to the flickering and static over the image.
- At school, a young 12-year-old Lara shows off the Dagger of Sitaran to her friends, but it is confiscated by the headmistress. At night, Lara breaks into the school to retrieve it, evading the workers and guards in the process.
- Lara searches for the lost, underwater city of Thaumopolis, when she is confronted with a mysterious old man who claims to be her "salvation". Lara is taken to the city, where she meets a rival who is also interested in the city's ancient armory. They are thrust into a series of dream challenges, but only one will survive...
- While recovering the ancient Treasure of Perseus, three fortune hunters tell the tale of how each of them killed Lara Croft... or did they?
The series can be viewed in its entirety on the office Tomb Raider Youtube channel.
This series contains examples of:
- Art Shift: Each segment is drawn in completely different style.
- Back from the Dead: "Keys to the Kingdom". Lara resurrects Dr. Heinrich and Zahir using the Osiris Arc. They both die for good later. Heinrich commits suicide, and Lara undos the spell she used on Zahir ( aka Osiris) with the arc.
- Badass Adorable: The young Lara and her hijinks in the 8th episode.Lara: ...But surely the Lord looks kindly on innocent, utterly charming young girls who wish merely to borrow an item, purely for its educational value? Besides, what can I say?... I like pretty things.
- Department of Redundancy Department: In "Revenge of the Aztec Mummy", Zolton actually orders his mooks "Kill! Her! To! Death!" -
years before Superboy-Prime would utter the words and make them infamous. Only in this case, it was done for comedic purposes. - Deranged Animation: "Keys to the Kingdom". Hey, it is by Peter Chung.
- Domestic-Only Cartoon: Some of the shorts.
- Forced Transformation: The scepter from episode 7 turns the normally helpful and kind monks into feral, carnivorous beastmen.
- Is This Thing On?: Spoken by a reporter at the beginning of "Keys to the Kingdom".
- Let Us Never Speak of This Again: "Revenge of the Aztec Mummy". To quote Lara herself, "The less said about this adventure, the better."
- Lighter and Softer: "Revenge of the Aztec Mummy" and "Pre-Teen Raider".
- Kick the Dog: In "Keys to the Kingdom", Lara attacks some Mooks while they're bowing their heads in respect to a holy icon.
- Kraken and Leviathan: In episode 10, it turns out that the Kraken is the guardian of the Treasure of Perseus. We only get to see his humongous Combat Tentacles and his Lamprey Mouth.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Rodrigo. Lampshaded too.
- Physical God: "Keys to the Kingdom". All of the Gods that exist in the Pleroma. Zahir turns out to be the human form of Osiris.
- "Rashomon"-Style: One episode is composed mostly of three villains' stories about how they met, and presumably killed, Lara Croft. They even describe her differently, adding to the Rashomon effect. In the end, she shows up to kick their asses.
- Victoria's Secret Compartment: At the end of "Revenge of the Aztec Mummy", Lara puts the Scarlet Scarab (a gemstone) down her top.
- In "A Complicated Woman", she keeps the scroll with the coordinates to the Treasure of Perseus in the same place.
