Klonoa

Bandai Namco (and Tekken) producer Katsuhiro Hamada took to Twitter (or rather TwitLonger) to establish the company's stance on the Klonoa project.

Namely:

• Contrast to what some might be thinking, Bandai Namco Entertainment DID NOT cancel the movie.
• BN didn't plan the project, but were asked by "an outside company" (referring to Henshin) to do it.
• When BN gave permission to Henshin, Henshin immediately announced the project.
• Normally, for stuff like animation, the involved parties would plan it out before outright announcing anything, so BN was surprised as we were when Henshin announced the Klonoa project out of nowhere.
• So BN also dealt with 2 years of radio silence and when they were contacted back by Henshin, it was to hear that Klonoa got canned.
• And no, Bandai Namco doesn't have a clue why the project got shut down either.

TL;DR: It's NOT Bandai Namco's fault that the movie's dead, you guys.

So what happened? If I had to guess, maybe it just got too ambitious for an up-and-coming company like Henshin. Maybe Henshin is kinda going into bankruptcy? (Rather dark, but then why else is everyone being so tight-lipped?)

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Jan 9th 2019 at 1:48:15 PM

Financial problems is the perfect excuse, and makes all the sense. And I know Don Bluth had several movies planned before American Tail entered production. If he announced every project, that would be at least 2 cancelled movies in a year.

Edited by KlarkKentThe3rd on Jan 11th 2019 at 1:21:22 PM

Here's something interesting, apparently Klonoa was trending on the American side of Twitter.And was #1 on Twitch, probably after Games Done Quick did a speed run of the first game a while ago.

Probably won't mean much, though...

We just need PewDiePie to play it.

Edited by KlarkKentThe3rd on Jan 11th 2019 at 1:22:19 PM

...you must be joking

Well, it would get the game noticed more.

I am not.

Jacksepticeye should play it too. Aside from him being another big name, he seems to love old PS games (although mostly Spyro), and he has this wholesome personality that would be great for the game. I feel like if he played it, he would really appreciate it.

Here's something we missed: Apparently the Klonoa trademark was renewed earlier this month.

That's good. It's a sign that they at least somewhat care about him still.

Don't remember finding this anywhere else in this thread, so here you are.

Youtuber ChaseFace gives his personal analysis of the first Klonoa-game. He covers the story (spoiler warnings!) and analyses the game's soundtrack, which is pretty neat.

Klonoa Director Hoping To Release Series Guidebook With Fan Support

Caddicarus, whom ChaseFace made fun of in his video, has done a new review on Klonoa. It goes into more detail on many things and it's in the classic Caddicarus-style.

With all these remastered video games coming out/being announced lately, I wonder if Namco will be convinced to remake Klonoa 2 someday...

Funny you should mention that because...

Bandai Namco filed a trademark for "Klonoa of the Wind Encore".

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Sep 16th 2019 at 9:45:23 AM

incoherent screams of excitement

To add more credence that "Klonoa Encore" is a Klonoa remake/remaster, there seems to be a system to this.

Remember the Katamari Damacy Reroll game that came last year? That was released in Japan as 'Katamari Damacy Encore''.

Furthermore, there are other "Encore" titles that got trademarked around the same time as Klonoa Encore, including:

• Genpei Tōma Den Encore
• Mr. Driller Encore
• Splatter House Encore
• Wagyan Land Encore

Question is, will it be Klonoa 1 or Klonoa 2?

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Sep 16th 2019 at 11:56:26 AM

I really hope this bundles at least the first two games together.

Another article adds a new wrinkle to this development:

Apparently "Encore" has been used in Bandai Namco games to indicate a remake AND a new title.

Hmmmmmm...

Oh man, I'm already trying to keep my expectations in check for a new Klonoa game, don't give me hope for a new Genpei Tōma Den game too!

Like the article states, there's already a remake on the wii. Makes me wonder if it's a remaster of that game, or a full-on remake yet again. I do hope they will also tackle the second game as well, it never got re-released in any form.

I'm also seeing some people calling for Klonoa in smash. Considering Bandai is one of the developers, it might come true. On the other hand, Klonoa never was a big franchise so his chances are slim.

Edited by shadowmanwkp on Sep 17th 2019 at 10:38:38 AM

Klonoa is finally making a comeback!

The chances of it happening are slim, but it'd be great if this Encore title ends up sparking interest for a proper release of Klonoa Heroes.

Just saying.

EDIT:

> Oh man, I'm already trying to keep my expectations in check for a new Klonoa game, don't give me hope for a new Genpei Touma Den game too!

I don't even know what that is.

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Sep 17th 2019 at 3:58:01 PM

Most well known for introducing (Namco's version of) Taira no Kagekiyo, Genpei Touma Den is about him being reborn as a wraith to get revenge on Minamoto no Yoritomo.