Japanese broadcaster NHK releases documentary on the creation of Resident Evil
Japanese broadcaster NHK has released a documentary dedicated to the history of the legendary game Resident Evil from Capcom. The film is built on an extensive collection of archival materials, as well as the memories and interviews with key figures of the project. Shinji Mikami, Hideki Kamiya, Kazunori Kadoi, Yasuhiro Anpo, and other developers, without whom the game would not have acquired its unique identity, appear on screen.
Viewers get a rare chance to look behind the scenes of development: the film shows the first technical demos of Resident Evil for PlayStation. Furthermore, it presents the artwork that formed the basis of the franchise's atmosphere and scenery. Special attention is paid to the influence of cinema — for example, the 1978 film "Zombie" (Dawn of the Dead), whose visual solutions are clearly traceable in the game's aesthetic.
One of the intriguing parts of the film is the story about the search for the project's title. The developers went through many options, each reflecting the dark essence of the future hit. Among the considered titles were Bloody Fear, Call of Death, Bio Slaughter, and Scream. Ultimately, the choice fell on Biohazard — under this name the game was released in Japan. For the Western market, the title was changed to Resident Evil, and it was under this name that the project gained worldwide fame.
After finalizing the title, the team got closely involved in realizing the survival horror concept. The film details how Shinji Mikami and his colleagues gradually built the narrative framework that remains recognizable to this day. Starting with diverse sketches, the developers honed their ideas step by step until they created those very iconic scenes that became the hallmark of the series.
Viewers will learn how the episodes that went down in gaming history were born: the first encounter with a zombie, the blood-curdling attack of zombie dogs jumping through windows, and many other moments that set the tone for the entire genre.
Today, the Resident Evil franchise is rightfully considered one of the most successful in the video game industry: the total sales of the series have exceeded 167 million copies. It all started with the original game released by Capcom in 1996. Since then, the franchise has not only maintained its relevance but continues to attract new fans, proving that its influence on gaming culture remains unchanged.