Game of Thrones spinoff pivoting to animation, says Blue Eye Samurai stan George R.R. Martin

Following the conclusion of Game of Thrones in 2019, HBO announced a number of spin-off series. 2024 brings the promise of a wave of Game of Thrones content, with House of the Dragon, the first spin-off to debut, set to return for a second season this summer. Other spin-offs, such as A Knight of Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, based on George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg tales, have been given the go-ahead. There's even speculation about a potential Jon Snow series, although nothing official has been announced. Despite the lack of concrete news, Martin, renowned for his tantalizing narrative endings, maintains fans’ engagement by periodically sharing updates about his HBO Max-exclusive Westeros universe spin-offs. The latest news concerns Nine Voyages, a ship-centered spin-off following Lord Corlys Velaryon. Previously known as The Sea Snake, the series was initially set to be a live-action production but has now pivoted to animation. In a blog post, Martin revealed that the scale of Nine Voyages, akin to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, proved too cost-prohibitive in a live-action format. The animated version of Nine Voyages is one of three developing animated spin-offs, although none have received official approval from HBO/Max yet. Whether these animations are designed for HBO Max or potential cinematic releases remains to be seen. The transition from live-action to animation hasn't dampened Martin's excitement for the project. In fact, it has fueled his enthusiasm to adapt more of his A Song of Fire and Ice series. His praise for Netflix's animated series, Blue Eye Samurai, reveals his high expectations for his own animated projects. Jane Wu is the common thread between Game of Thrones and Blue Eye Samurai, having worked on both the original series and House of the Dragon, then transitioning to supervising and choreographing the animated Samurai series. Martin fervently hopes the forthcoming Thrones animations can meet the high bar set by Blue Eye Samurai.