Released on September 20,2019,Untitled Goose Gameis a puzzle stealth video gamefrom developer House House that took the industry by storm.Loosely inspired by theHitmanseries, in the game the players control a mischievous goose, who bothers the inhabitants of a quaint English village; as said goose, they honk and flap their way through a series of trouble-inducing objectives (such a throwing a rake in a lake). Praised by critics and fans alike for its charm and creativity (Game Informer aptly commented “pranking people is fun, and doing it as a goose just adds to the thrill”),Untitled Goose Gamewas a massive success as far as indie titles go,selling around a million copies in just under three months.
Related:Untitled Goose Game Wins Game of the Year at GDC 2020
There has recently been a renaissance of videogame-movie adaptations. The relative success ofDetective Pikachu(2019),Sonic the Hedgehog(2020), andTomb Raider(2018), as well as the upcoming releases ofUniversal’s animated Mario filmandSony’sUnchartedprequel (starring Tom Holland), illustrates that if there ever was a time to bring a game to the silver screen, it’s now. Moreover, the majority of these films received only middling reviews, with critics often disparaging how the adaptations don’t accurately translate the characters from videogame to movie. Why? Because often the videogame personalities have had decades of characterization built into them, only for the film to throw it all away under the guise of ‘medium specificity’ (i.e., what’s worked for videogames won’t work for films).Untitled Goose Gamedoesn’t have this problem; it’s new, it’s fresh, it’s popular, and it’s practically beginning to be adapted.
And who better to helm the adaptation than Pixar? The Disney-owned animation studio has been pumping out charming and visually-arresting titles since being founded in 1979, often starring personable animals. From the marine magnificence ofFinding Nemo(2003) andFinding Dory(2019) to the rodent-richRatatouille(2007), to the upcomingTurning Red(2022) which centers around a girl who transforms into a red panda when embarrassed,Pixar has an impressive catalogue of animal-centric movies, more than equipping them to translate the charming art style ofUntitled Goose Gameinto film form. Who knows how beautiful they can make the scene where the goose throws a rake in the lake?
Of course, some may argue that the tone and general vibe of the game is rather antithetical to Pixar’s usual output – their protagonists are normally plucky and optimistic individuals (like Wall-E or Remy the Rat), not psychopathic geese that emotionally terrorize a neighborhood hamlet. Equally, however, this film may be a step towards garnering a new audience for Disney: those older than the age of eight.
And what better way to draw them in than with the first-ever adult Pixar animation, centered around an established and popular videogame? Adult fans of that game could log on to Disney Plus, enter Star, and watch how the goose steals a watering can from a geriatric gardener, all in crisp animation offered by Pixar; the idea practically sells itself.Untitled Goose Moviewould be a new creative foray by the entertainment company, but one backed-up by economic logic and a proven track-record from a hugely beloved game. Although the idea is admittedly a long-shot (Pixar are reticent to even make sequels/spin-offs of their own feature films, let alone make a whole movie based around a pre-established property), the end result could be a massive boon for both Disney and fans; Pixar should totally make anUntitled Goose Gamemovie.
