Mortal Kombat: Legacy

The first season of Mortal Kombat: Legacy reframes the lead-up to the original game tournament by presenting a series of short origin vignettes instead of a single, linear plot. Each episode isolates a character or pair of characters, showing the events, rivalries and personal choices that gradually push them toward the tenth Mortal Kombat contest. The show opts for a modern, gritty aesthetic that strips some of the franchise's mythic elements down to human conflicts, crime and political tension, while still hinting at supernatural stakes. Episodes are compact, keeping scenes tight and action-focused.

Released in 2011, the series was created by Oren Uziel, Ed Boon and Kevin Tancharoen, with Tancharoen directing several episodes. It adapts stories from the Mortal Kombat games and was distributed as a web series on Machinima and YouTube.

Fans noticed and debated its darker, more realistic tone, and the show's fight choreography became a frequent talking point online. Though targeted at franchise fans, it helped prove that live action interpretations could treat the source material with grit and seriousness, earning a cult following. It also inspired fan cosplay.

On aggregate it sits around a 6.9/10 user score, with viewers praising the action and the fresh framing of character motives, while some critics pointed to inconsistent episode quality and scripting. Major themes include revenge, legacy, loyalty and the human causes behind mythic conflicts. Viewers liked the short format.

The series did not rack up major industry awards, but it did gain attention on the web and within gaming communities for its production value and choreography. Its buzz kept fan interest alive between releases. Genre outlets and fan sites widely highlighted its choreography and production values.