When Netflix released Blood of Zeus in 2020, it changed the entire interpretation of Greek mythology in the anime world. The anime is one of the most popular series following a Greek storyline, along with the likes of Record of Ragnarok, Knights of the Zodiac, Rage of Bahamut, etc. And the second season of the series is scheduled for release on May 9, 2024.
The show is created and written by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides for Netflix, who are known for the Death Note live-action adaptation and the 2011 Immortals, starring Henry Cavill. The Parlapanides brothers are of Greek descent, and they once revealed that they wanted to add more authenticity to the stories told by Hollywood about Greek mythologies.
They even targeted gigantic media franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe and called their rendition of portraying Greek culture “Greek Mythology with costumes.”
Vlas Parlapanides Targets MCU and DCU
In an interview with Inverse, the Parlapanides brothers talked about how the stories from Greek mythology they heard when they were kids were completely different from what they saw in the movies. Vlas revealed that because these stories have been going around for centuries, they have been interpreted according to the comfortability of pop culture.
Vlas also pointed out that the interpretation shown by industry giants like Marvel and DC is not fully authentic. Which is why they entered the entertainment industry to set the record straight.
Vlas stated:
“Marvel and DC, truthfully, it’s just Greek mythology with costumes. We’re just taking it back.”
He even explained that the Blood of Zeus is the perfect representation of Greek mythology, and it represents the story to its core. It revolves around the struggles of Demi-God Heron, who is the son of Zeus. He tries to find his place in Olympus and also wants to save Earth from an impending doom.
Blood of Zeus is Different From Other Anime Based on Greek Mythology
The Parlapanides brothers’ work on the Death Note live-action led to the creation of the Blood of Zeus story into an anime. Vlas pointed out that they have always loved Japanese anime, and they got a chance to add a Western touch to the Japanese art form.
Vlas revealed:
“Our generation grew up loving Japanese anime. Now is our chance to step into that arena and tell stories from our point of view. There are sensibility differences. One thing we’re doing is making Blood of Zeus as cinematic as possible. It’s like a movie within the anime space.”
He further stated:
“In Japanese anime you could pause and look at the frame and it’s beautiful. Our show is more about capturing moments, so you might not get those beautiful frames.”
Blood of Zeus is more of a reaction-based anime rather than the traditional Japanese style. The first season received a lot of appreciation for its new yet classic twist on Greek mythology, and the fans are now eagerly waiting for the release of the second season to watch the journey of Heron as a Demi-God.
