Amazon’s Next Lord Of The Rings Show Should Copy Prime Video’s 10/10 Fantasy Franchise

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When Amazon announced it would create a TV series set in Middle-earth, excitement was enormous. However, “The Rings of Power” quickly became a very controversial addition to the history of adaptations based on Tolkien’s work. Fans have strongly disagreed about many aspects of the show, including how characters develop and the speed of the story, and this mixed reaction has cast doubt on Amazon’s future plans for television series based on “The Lord of the Rings.”

Even with its flaws, The Rings of Power doesn’t prove Amazon is incapable of making good fantasy. Actually, some of the best fantasy stories of recent years have come from Prime Video. The surprising thing is that Amazon’s biggest successes in the fantasy genre aren’t the live-action shows – they’re animated series.

To ensure its new Lord of the Rings series is a hit, Amazon should look no further than its own existing content. The Legend of Vox Machina demonstrates that well-made animated fantasy does very well on Prime Video. An animated Lord of the Rings series wouldn’t just be successful—it would be outstanding, and Amazon already possesses everything needed to create it.

Prime Video’s Next Lord Of The Rings Show Should Be Animated

Amazon’s Animation Success Shows How A New Middle-Earth Series Could Thrive

To keep building on the world of The Lord of the Rings with a long-running TV series, Amazon should likely create another show. While a live-action series might seem like the natural choice, The Rings of Power proved that it quickly invites criticism about its style, faithfulness to the original stories, and how it stacks up against Peter Jackson’s famous movies.

Animation offers a fresh path for creative storytelling, allowing worlds like Middle-earth to thrive without constant comparisons to big-budget live-action films. We’ve already seen how well this can work with The Legend of Vox Machina, which became one of Prime Video’s most popular shows, earning a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critical success like this isn’t a coincidence. It’s the result of The Legend of Vox Machina‘s striking animation, well-developed world, and ability to seamlessly shift in tone – something animation does best. If Amazon applied that same approach to The Lord of the Rings, they could create a version of Middle-earth with a distinct artistic style, different from Peter Jackson’s movies and other high-budget fantasy shows.

Animation allows for more creative freedom than most live-action adaptations of Tolkien’s work. Although the animated film The War of the Rohirrim wasn’t a huge success, that doesn’t mean animation can’t work well with this material. Amazon didn’t produce that film, and a TV series format gives creators much more space to develop a complex story and tone.

An animated series set in Middle-earth could avoid the problems that plagued The Rings of Power and offer a fresh take on Tolkien’s world. Since Prime Video has successfully used animation before, Middle-earth is a natural and exciting choice for their next project.

Some Of Prime Video’s Best Fantasy Shows Are Animated

The Streamer’s Strongest Fantasy Track Record Comes From Animation

Amazon has become a major player in animated fantasy television, and its lineup is remarkably strong. While The Legend of Vox Machina is its biggest hit, it’s not the only example of Prime Video’s success in the genre. Coming in 2025, The Mighty Nein will continue the story started in Vox Machina, delivering the same blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and impressive magical effects that made the original series so popular.

Beyond typical superhero stories, Invincible demonstrates Amazon’s ability to create visually stunning, epic narratives that still prioritize compelling characters and emotional depth. This combination of grand scope and personal stories would work incredibly well in bringing the vast world and rich history of Middle-earth to life.

Beyond The Lord of the Rings, shows like Hazbin Hotel demonstrate Amazon’s commitment to investing in unique and visually striking animated series that aren’t afraid to experiment with style. These programs prove Prime Video excels not only at animated fantasy, but also at finding shows that effectively combine humor, emotional depth, and imaginative world-building.

To make its next Lord of the Rings series even more successful than The Rings of Power, Amazon should focus on a format where it’s already a leader – it’s the most sensible and effective creative choice.

How An Animated LOTR Show Could Fix The Rings Of Power’s Problems

Animation Could Solve The Challenges That Held The Rings Of Power Back

As a huge fan of Tolkien, I think an animated Lord of the Rings series would solve one of the biggest problems with The Rings of Power: the massive cost. That show was unbelievably expensive to make, which meant every creative choice felt super risky and was picked apart by fans. With animation, they’d have so much more freedom to experiment and try new things, without all the logistical headaches and budget worries. It would really open things up creatively!

Middle-earth is full of incredibly fantastical places and stories from Tolkien’s world that would be difficult to bring to life with actors and sets. Animation, however, has no such limitations. It allows us to fully explore things like the ancient history of the Valar, the journeys of the blue wizards through bizarre lands, and the myths of the First Age without needing realistic special effects. Animation can easily handle all of it.

As a critic, I think an animated series set in Middle-earth has a real opportunity to do something different. It doesn’t need to try and be the next Game of Thrones or a massive hit for Amazon. Instead, it could really lean into what makes Tolkien’s world special – rich storytelling, staying true to the lore, and pushing the boundaries of animation. That’s where an animated series could truly shine and find its own dedicated audience.

Switching from live-action to animation would allow Amazon to escape the pressures surrounding The Rings of Power and craft a more imaginative, unrestrained, and faithful adaptation of Middle-earth.

Will There Be More Lord Of The Rings Shows After The Rings Of Power?

Amazon Hasn’t Announced Any New LotR Shows, But The Door Isn’t Closed

As of today, Amazon hasn’t announced any plans to create another Lord of the Rings TV show beyond The Rings of Power. While they are still working on season 3, the studio hasn’t hinted at any further expansions of the Lord of the Rings universe for television. Considering the mixed reactions to The Rings of Power, Amazon might be cautious about investing in another big adaptation.

Despite the recent challenges, a return to Middle-earth isn’t off the table. Amazon still owns important rights to Tolkien’s world, and their animated fantasy shows are performing well, making a new animated series a tempting option. Animation could be a safer way to reignite interest in the franchise than attempting another expensive, high-profile live-action series.

It’s unclear if Amazon will create more shows set in Middle-earth after The Rings of Power, but they have a real opportunity to develop a fresh, animated take on the world. The Legend of Vox Machina demonstrates that Prime Video is uniquely suited to bring this kind of project to life.

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2025-11-25 01:44