Overwatch uses a lot of different methods to explore its colorful cast of characters. Aside from character bios and in-game dialogue, comic books have been released for several members of the cast. Short stories have also appeared, as have some young adult novels focusing on Orisa and the Deadlock Gang. However, it is hard to top the excitement that comes with a brand-new animated short.
It has been some time since the last Overwatch animated short, Zero Hour, was released. As such, many are hoping to see some more shorts focused on Overwatch 2. While these new shorts will surely feature the same gorgeous animation and important story moments that were seen in their predecessors, they also have an interesting dilemma to deal with. While they could be used to focus on the sequel’s new heroes, they could also fill in some gaps when it comes to the current roster of characters. If Blizzard does take the latter route, here are some Overwatch characters in need of animated shorts.
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While her kit is plenty of fun, Pharah is in desperate need of something fresh when it comes to her story. While she trained to join Overwatch from a young age so she could be like her mother Ana, the group disbanded before she could enlist. While she now protects a secret military AI as part of Helix Security International, Overwatch coming back together could see her finally joining the team in the sequel. Not only could an animated short show the rocket queen meeting the group of heroes, but it could see her confront Ana over her disappearance. With Ana letting her daughter believe she was dead for several years, Pharah should be able to fight and make up with her mother in an emotional cinematic.
To this day, Zenyatta remains the most mysterious figure in the Overwatch universe. While he was responsible for helping Genji come to terms with his cyborg body and become a better person, nothing else is known about the Shambali monk. He lacks meaningful lore, with comics and short stories being nowhere to be found. As such, an Overwatch animated short would finally give fans some much-needed insight into his origins. Likewise, fans would also get some more information on the Shambali and the “iris” Zenyatta speaks of so often. While the short would likely be similar to Bastion’s in the sense that it is relatively action-free, it could give fans some of the answers that they have been looking for.
There is a lot that Overwatch 2 can do to make the most out of Reaper, but an animated short feels like a necessity. Gabriel Reyes was not always the ruthless killer that he is now, and a short could give fans an idea of who he was before Overwatch collapsed. Thus far, fans only know that a fight between Reyes and Soldier 76 led to the destruction of the Swiss HQ and the fall of Overwatch. Gamers are still in the dark as to why that fight broke out, though some proper answers could add a lot more depth to Reaper’s character. Learning why he and Soldier 76 nearly killed each other is something that is long overdue, and if it turns out that Reyes was not in the wrong, his obsession with revenge could become more understandable. While other options could see the wildly popular Lucio performing on stage, or Zarya continuing to become less hateful toward Omnics, Reaper should be a priority for Blizzard.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.