Summary
- The Resident Evil franchise has expanded to include nearly 30 games, live-action films, TV series, novels, and animated movies, with the main conflict revolving around the Umbrella Corporation and the fictional Raccoon City infected with zombie viruses.
- The animated films based on Resident Evil have a varying degree of integration with the games' basic plot and cast, with the later films being more aligned and typically taking place in between the games. However, the release order of the animated films does not align with the timeline and shouldn't necessarily be watched in order of release date.
- For example, the first animated film to watch is Biohazard 4D-Executer, which takes place in 1998 during the Raccoon City outbreak. and the third film to watch is Resident Evil: Degeneration, the first feature-length animated movie set in the Resident Evil world and featuring the characters and storylines of the games.
With a franchise as far-reaching as Resident Evil, it's easy to get lost in the varying timelines and stories, including the Resident Evil animated movies in order. Resident Evil, also known as Biohazard, is a horror franchise that began in 1996 and has since produced nearly 30 games and a variety of live-action films, television series, novels, and animated movies. Although the story has expanded to include many different characters and situations, the main premise of Resident Evil is the conflict between the Umbrella Corporation, which infects humans with zombie viruses, and the fictional Raccoon City.
So far, there have been seven animated films based on the world of Resident Evil. While the earlier films are shorter and are somewhat removed from the basic plot and cast of the games, the later films are much more integrated, and typically, take place in between them. However, these films weren't always released in the chronology of the timeline. In particular, the release order of the animated films doesn't align with the timeline. Therefore, they shouldn't necessarily be watched in order of release date.
10 Things Resident Evil Fans Will Love In The Death Island Movie
Resident Evil: Death Island is the fifth entry in the animated side of the franchise, and has a lot for longtime fans of the games and movies to love.
Movie |
Release Year |
|---|---|
Biohazard 4D-Executer |
2000 |
Biohazard 4: Incubate |
2006 |
Resident Evil Degenration |
2008 |
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness |
2021 |
Resident Evil: Damnation |
2012 |
Resident Evil: Vendetta |
2017 |
Resident Evil: Death Island |
2023 |
7 Biohazard 4D-Executer
Released In 2000
The first Resident Evil animated film is the first movie in chronological order. Released in 2000, it's a Japanese biopunk horror film with a running time of just 20 minutes. It was created by Capcom, the same company that is at the head of Resident Evil, and is the first-ever film adaptation of the game.
Though far from a large-scale, feature-length film, Biohazard 4-D-Executer has been the inspiration of many Japanese theme parks and stands out for being the earliest iteration of a Resident Evil animated movie. The film is currently available to watch on YouTube. Biohazard 4-D-Executer follows a military squad of four men sent on a mission to track down Dr. Cameron, a female scientist researching a new type of virus.
However, to find Cameron, the group must traverse through Resident Evil's Raccoon City, which is zombie-infested. Even with its short runtime, the film is full of interesting twists, and is heavily rooted in the Resident Evil world, despite lacking the characters from the games. It's the first to watch because it takes place in 1998, amid Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, wherein the Raccoon City outbreak is in full swing.
Biohazard 4D: Executer
- Release Date
- November 11, 2000
- Runtime
- 19 minutes
- Director
- Kôichi Ôhata
- Writers
- Daisuke Okamoto
Cast
Masaki AizawaClaus-
Hiroto TorihataRoger
-
Hideto EriharaCameron
-
Tadasuke OhmizuNorman
Biohazard 4D: Executer is a 2000 Japanese animated horror film set in the Resident Evil universe. Directed by Koichi Ohata, the film follows a team of soldiers dispatched to contain a viral outbreak. As they navigate a labyrinth of terror, they encounter mutated creatures and face moral dilemmas, testing their resolve amid escalating dangers. The film ties into the broader Resident Evil narrative, adding depth to the franchise's lore.
6 Biohazard 4: Incubate
Released In 2006
The second Resident Evil animated film to watch is also the next to be released: Biohazard 4: Incubate. This film was released in 2006, between the release of the games Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. Like its predecessor, this is a relatively short movie, with a run time of only 97 minutes.
Furthermore, this film lacks its own original story. In actuality, Biohazard 4: Incubate is an amalgamation of cutscenes and moments from Resident Evil 4. In this way, it acts as a sort of summary of the previous game without a player working through it. Resident Evil 4 and Biohazard 4: Incubate take place in 2004 and follow government agent Leon Kennedy as he travels to a remote village in Spain to rescue Ashley Graham, the President's kidnapped daughter.
While there, Leon discovers that the village has been indoctrinated with a virus called Las Plagas and that the leader of a local cult, Osmund Saddler wants Ashley to inject her father with the virus to jumpstart Saddler's invasion of the world. Because Biohazard 4: Incubate is simply a retelling of Resident Evil 4, it is the second animated film in the Resident Evil timeline.
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Biohazard 4: Incubate
- Release Date
- September 28, 2006
- Director
- Kuniomi Matsushita
- Writers
- Haruo Murata
Cast
-
Michael Gough
-
Paul Mercier
-
Rene Mujica
-
rino romano
The story of the game Resident Evil 4. Leon S. Kennedy, now a federal agent, is hired to rescue the president's daughter from a sinister cult.
5 Resident Evil Degeneration
Released In 2008
Two years later, Resident Evil: Degeneration was released and became the first feature-length Resident Evil animated movie made by Capcom. Additionally, it was the first in a resulting series of Resident Evil animated films and was the first to be set both in the Resident Evil world and to include the characters and storylines of the video games.
In particular, Resident Evil: Degeneration follows Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Notably, the characters hadn't been seen together in the franchise since 1998's Resident Evil 2. Resident Evil: Degeneration takes place in 2005, between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. However, unlike Biohazard 4: Incubate, this film maintains its own original plot. The film follows TerraSave worker Claire as she is trapped in an infected airport.
After being rescued by Leon, who has presumably just returned from his mission to Spain, the two must work together to stop a terrorist from infecting the entire country with the T-virus. Ultimately, this is the third movie to watch of the Resident Evil animated films because it comes after the events of Biohazard 4: Incubate.
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Resident Evil: Degeneration
- Release Date
- February 13, 2008
- Runtime
- 97 minutes
- Director
- Makoto Kamiya
Cast
-
Alyson Court
-
Paul Mercier
Laura Bailey-
Roger Craig Smith
WHERE TO WATCH
Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield must fight a rebel warrior who seeks revenge after releasing the deadly G-Virus.
Must-See Resident Evil Comparison Shows Just How Far The Series Has Come
A Resident Evil fan's comparison of the franchise's first and most recent appearance is an incredible measure of how the series has improved.
4 Infinite Darkness
Released In 2021
Although Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness was released in 2021, it is actually the next chronological installment in the Resident Evil animated content. In of plot, Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness takes place in 2006. This means that, for the second time, this animated television series occurs in the timeframe between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. Also like Resident Evil: Degeneration, Infinite Darkness follows Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield and it is yet another mission to save the world from Umbrella Corporation's zombies and viruses.
The series consists of four episodes and follows Leon Kennedy as a zombie attack hits the White House in the midst of a hacking investigation. In the series, he meets up with Claire Redfield, who is taking part in her own investigation of a child refugee who has created a strange drawing. Although Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is the second most recent Resident Evil animated release, it falls into the fourth spot in the Resident Evil timeline.
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Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness
- Release Date
- 2021 - 2021-00-00
- Network
- Netflix
- Directors
- Eiichirō Hasumi
Cast
Ray Chase-
Jona Xiao
-
Billy Kametz
-
Doug Stone
WHERE TO WATCH
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is a CG animated movie that stars Resident Evil 2 protagonists Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield in a new story that takes place between the events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. Leon and Claire's paths again cross when a new viral outbreak occurs at the White House with an unknown hacking attempt leading to a zombie attack. However, the attack may lead to a deeper conspiracy than either could have ever expected.
- Seasons
- 1
3 Damnation
Released In 2012
Returning to 2012, the next Resident Evil animated film to watch is Resident Evil: Damnation. This is the second Capcom feature-length film in the Resident Evil series following Resident Evil: Degeneration.
Released in the same year as Resident Evil 6, this film takes place in 2011 and its plot occurs just a few months before the events of Resident Evil 6. Unsurprisingly, the film returns to the life of Leon Kennedy, although this time, he is ed on-screen by spy Ada Wong. Resident Evil: Damnation follows Leon as he travels to the Eastern Slav Republic against orders to investigate whether they are using Bio-Organic Weapons in their civil war.
During his investigation, he becomes involved with a former teacher named Buddy who has a dangerous vendetta against the government for killing his fiancée and former students. Meanwhile, Ada attempts to collect samples of Las Plagas while undercover as a BSAA agent. Her relationship with the president quickly turns sour. This is the fifth submission in the Resident Evil timeline.
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Resident Evil: Damnation
- Release Date
- September 25, 2012
- Runtime
- 101 minutes
- Director
- Makoto Kamiya
- Writers
- Shotaro Suga
Cast
-
Matthew Mercer
-
Dave Wittenberg
-
Wendee Lee
-
Val Tasso
Special agent Leon S. Kennedy goes against his superior's orders and looks for a way to destroy a series of biological weapons that are being used in a war zone.
2 Vendetta
Released In 2017
Next up is Resident Evil: Vendetta. This film was released in 2017, which was the same year as the release of the video game, Resident Evil 7, although the movie takes place in the year 2014 while the game catches up to real time in 2017. This is the third film in Capcom's series and the third to present Leon Kennedy as its star. This time around, Leon is ed by Chris Redfield and Rebecca Chambers of the original Resident Evil video game.
Resident Evil: Vendetta begins with Chris as he tracks down Glenn Arias, a former CIA operative and terrorist intent on getting revenge against the U.S. government for setting a drone strike on his wedding. Chris soon meets up with Rebecca, who has discovered a new kind of virus that has connections to Las Plagas. From there, the two connect with Leon, and the group works together to take down Arias, his associates, and his new virus. As this film takes place in 2014, it is the sixth installment in the Resident Evil timeline.
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Resident Evil: Vendetta
- Release Date
- June 19, 2017
- Runtime
- 1h37
- Director
- Takanori Tsujimoto
Cast
-
Kevin Dorman
-
Matthew Mercer
-
Erin Cahill
-
John DeMita
WHERE TO WATCH
Resident Evil: Vendetta is an animated horror film that continues the saga of the popular video game series. Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto, the film features protagonists Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and Rebecca Chambers as they confront a new bio-terror threat from Glenn Arias, a death merchant seeking vengeance. The storyline takes viewers through various harrowing and action-packed scenarios, blending elements of suspense and survival horror.
1 Death Island
Released In 2023
The final animated film to watch as part of the Resident Evil franchise is Resident Evil: Death Island. Along with being the fourth film in the Capcom Resident Evil film franchise, this is also the most recent release in of Resident Evil animated content and coincides with the release of the Resident Evil 4 remake.
Resident Evil: Death Island takes place in 2015, meaning it occurs after Resident Evil 6 and Resident Evil: Vendetta, but before the events of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Resident Evil: Death Island seems to be the biggest production yet, bringing in elements of previous Resident Evil films and characters not yet seen in the video games.
The film follows Leon Kennedy and Ingrid Hunnigan as they search for a kidnapped robotics engineer, meanwhile Chris Redfield and Rebecca Chambers delve into an advanced strain of the T-virus. Jill Valentine and Claire Redfield also make appearances. At this time, Resident Evil: Death Island is the most recent Resident Evil animated film.
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Resident Evil: Death Island
- Release Date
- July 7, 2023
- Director
- Eiichirō Hasumi
- Writers
- Makoto Fukami
Cast
-
Matthew Mercer
-
Nicole Tompkins
-
Kevin Dorman
-
Stephanie Panisello
WHERE TO WATCH
Resident Evil: Death Island is a computer-animated action-horror film and the latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise. Directed by Eiichiro Hasumi, the movie follows series protagonists Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield as they confront a new biohazard on Alcatraz Island. The film combines the franchise's signature blend of suspense, action, and horror, bringing a new chapter to the enduring saga of bioterrorism.
Is The Animated Movie Timeline Easier To Follow Than The Live-Action Films?
The animated movies are not released chronologically and, therefore, are not always easy to follow for people who want to see the events as they happen. That is not a problem in the live-action Resident Evil movies, which are released in the order in which they happen. This does not mean that the timeline in the live-action Resident Evil movies is totally clear, though, as the time frame the movies mention doesn't line up with reality in that universe.
Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Apocalypse take place in 2002, but the last movie, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, is supposed to take place in 2012, one decade later. This date doesn't make sense. Resident Evil: Extinction takes place five years after the original movie's outbreak, and Afterlife is 18 months after that movie. Since The Final Chapter starts just three weeks after Retribution, it should take place in 2009 and not 2012. However, the dates notwithstanding, the live-action Resident Evil movies are at least in order based on release date.
Things do get a little confusing in the next live-action releases, the 2021 reboot Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City and the 2022 Resident Evil Netflix series. However, this is easily explained since they are not connected to the Paul W.S. Anderson movies. Welcome To Raccoon City is a reboot, so it doesn't slide in at all on the timeline of the other movies. The Netflix series is canon to the video games and not the movies. This means that these live-action Resident Evil releases don't connect with the rest.
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