Renowned as a PlayStation gaming pioneer, Spyro the Dragon has captured the hearts of many fans. Recently, an imaginative enthusiast breathed new life into the purple dragon by reimagining Spyro in a classic Disney rubber hose art style. Speculation about a potential Spyro announcement for 2024 started swirling following a tweet from the official Spyro the Dragon social media account, reigniting the adoration for this iconic PlayStation figure.
The original Spyro the Dragon trilogy, first introduced in the 1990s, comprises a series of action-adventure 3D platforming games. The franchise skyrocketed to immense popularity, establishing Spyro as synonymous with PlayStation, alongside the beloved anthropomorphic character Crash Bandicoot. While newer versions of the series have resonated with audiences, the classic games continue to be immensely popular, prompting curiosity about a vintage portrayal of Spyro.
Spyro the Dragon enthusiast, HarrisonTheHutt, unveiled their rubber hose artwork of Spyro, offering a glimpse of how the cherished dragon might have appeared in a classical black-and-white Disney animation. Early works from Walt Disney Studios prominently featured a distinct animation style known as rubber hose, characterized by simplified physiology that resulted in flexible, hose-like movements. Notable characters animated in this style include Felix the Cat, Betty Boop, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Steamboat Willie, one of the initial interpretations of Mickey Mouse. HarrisonTheHutt ventured into reimagining Spyro in a rubber hose style, creating an endearing rendition of the iconic dragon. While modernized versions of rubber hose characters exist, such as Oswald in the Epic Mickey video games, it is rare to witness contemporary characters depicted in this old yet familiar art style.
Enthusiasts have lauded the rubber hose Spyro the Dragon artwork, expressing a desire to see more characters from the Spyro franchise depicted in this iconic style. The artist mentioned in the comments that their exposure to the classic trilogy was solely on the original PlayStation, possibly underscoring the enduring appeal of the original releases. As the trend of retro game collecting gains traction, many players exhibit a preference for classic game editions over recent remasters. Given the sustained popularity of classic PlayStation gaming icons, there is widespread hope for the release of new games featuring Spyro the Dragon and other vintage mascots. Meanwhile, the Spyro community and others continue to revel in these classic characters through retro gaming and creative artwork.
Spyro remains one of the most adored PlayStation icons from the 90s, even receiving a recent remastering in the form of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. While the prospect of new releases for the purple dragon remains uncertain, fans can indulge in community-generated content as a tribute to Spyro the Dragon.