Crash Bandicoot Returns to Netflix—Let’s Not Repeat His Last Misstep
Leaks hint Crash Bandicoot is spinning onto Netflix, but after that awkward Skylanders Academy cameo, Naughty Dog’s marsupial needs a long-overdue glow-up if this series is going to stick the landing.
So, rumor has it Crash Bandicoot might be spinning his way into a Netflix series. I want this to be good, but I’m a little cautious. Crash absolutely deserves a proper TV moment, but the last time he showed up on a show, it didn’t exactly stick the landing.
The last time we saw Crash on TV
Crash popped up for a cameo in Skylanders Academy, which streamed on Netflix. That show mostly centered on Spyro, and while it had a fresh angle that still nodded to Naughty Dog’s original blueprint, it never really turned into a must-watch. Crash’s drop-in didn’t click with a lot of fans either.
There were pieces that worked: the Crash-and-Spyro dynamic had a fun little/big brother vibe. But Crash actually speaking — complete with an Australian accent — threw people. And the whole thing felt rushed: he basically shows up, does the bit, then leaps back through a portal to his home world. Design-wise, he looked great in animation, but the personality didn’t feel like the game version most of us know.
The big debate: how should Crash act?
Longtime players expect Crash to be a lovable weirdo — chaotic, expressive, mostly nonverbal. In Skylanders Academy, he was written as more mature and oddly wise. Not a bad creative swing, just not the Crash a lot of people signed up for. On the flip side, some argue that show targeted younger viewers, so giving Crash a voice made him easier for kids to connect with. And yes, there’s a camp that thinks the Aussie accent totally works.
If the Netflix series is real, what would actually work?
If this adaptation is happening (still leaks, not confirmed), the smartest move is to lean into what makes Crash… Crash. Keep the humor, the chaos, the physical comedy. Let him talk sometimes, but don’t turn him into a monologue machine. And give him a proper introduction — no rushed portal exits.
- Keep the goofball energy front and center; that’s the character’s core.
- Let him speak sparingly — short, punchy lines instead of full-on speeches.
- Take the strong visual design cues from past animations and stick closer to the game’s personality.
- Give him an actual arc instead of a quick cameo-style drop-in and out.
Who’s steering this?
Word is WildBrain Studios would be the shop making the call on how Crash is handled. They’ve got kid-and-family hits under their belt — Johnny Test, The Snoopy Show, Sonic Prime — which is a solid resume for this lane. If they’re indeed involved, there’s reason to think they can thread the needle between nostalgia and a fresh take.
Bottom line
I’m cautiously optimistic. The character design history is promising, the studio track record is strong, and the formula for making Crash work isn’t exactly a mystery. Keep him goofy, keep him kinetic, and don’t overexplain him. Do that, and a Netflix series could actually slap.
Your turn: should Crash be silent, mostly silent with a few lines, or fully voiced with that Aussie twang? And did the Skylanders Academy version work for you at all?