Artist Reimagines Original Metal Gear as anime Sequel too The Phantom Pain
LOS ANGELES, CA – Artist Mitchell Hammond is meticulously reinterpreting the 1987 Metal gear for MSX2 as an anime-inspired continuation of the storyline established in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, all created without the use of AI image generation. The project breathes new life into the franchise’s origins, showcasing a unique visual style blending the game’s initial aesthetic with the later designs popularized by Yoji Shinkawa.
The Metal gear series, now renowned for titles like Metal Gear solid, began with 2D installments for Japanese MSX computers. These early games laid the foundation for Hideo kojima’s signature storytelling and character progress, notably featuring Snake‘s confrontations with Big Boss and the complex narrative surrounding Ven Snake – a character whose story profoundly impacts the entire series.
Hammond’s work features a striking depiction of an aged Ven Snake,seamlessly integrating elements from the original Metal Gear artwork,1980s action films,and Shinkawa’s later character designs. The artist has outfitted Venom with a Mad Max-inspired leg brace and a general’s military uniform, complete with overalls and a tie. Other artwork includes scenes depicting operations to conceal the “devil’s horn” – a fragment of a helicopter – and portraits of the game’s memorable bosses,alongside a fabricated Time Magazine cover featuring big Boss.
Hammond has also produced several trailers for a planned full animated retelling of the game, utilizing the original chiptune soundtrack. The first trailer, released in 2022, combines gameplay footage from the original Metal Gear with Hammond’s animated recreations.
A recent video, uploaded in August, showcases Venom piloting the original Metal Gear and launching a rocket. The artist notes the head-tracking interpretation of the pilot’s VR helmet evokes the vehicle designs of Akira Toriyama.
Animating the original Metal Gear for MSX2 remains Hammond’s ongoing side project, developed “when it’s ready.”
