Groundbreaking anime series brings the legendary DOTA 2 universe to life in eight thrilling episodes
LOS GATOS, CA / BELLEVUE, WA — March 25, 2021 — Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service, and Valve Corporation, creators of the iconic DOTA 2 franchise, today announced the global premiere of DOTA: Dragon’s Blood — Book One, an all-new anime series that expands the beloved gaming universe into an epic animated fantasy saga.
The eight-episode season, available now exclusively on Netflix, marks a landmark collaboration between the streaming giant and one of gaming’s most celebrated developers, bringing together world-class animation talent and AAA storytelling to deliver an adult-oriented fantasy experience that welcomes both longtime DOTA fans and newcomers alike
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A Legend Reborn: The Story of Davion
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood follows Davion, a renowned Dragon Knight devoted to wiping the scourge of dragons from the face of the world. Following a fatal battle between the demon Terrorblade and the ancient Ember Eldwurm Slyrak, Davion’s life changes forever when the elder dragon merges his soul with the knight—granting him immense power at the cost of his very identity
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Accompanied by Mirana, the Princess of the Moon on a secret mission of her own, Davion becomes embroiled in events far larger than he could have ever imagined. Together, they must stop Terrorblade, who seeks to collect the souls of the Eldwurms to remake reality in his terrifying image
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“Fans will love how we’ve imagined the DOTA 2 universe and woven together an epic, emotional, and adult-oriented story about some of their favorite characters,” said Ashley Edward Miller, series showrunner and executive producer (X-Men: First Class, Thor, Black Sails). “The cinematic animation, acting and music are simply next level and I’m grateful to Valve for supporting our creative ambitions”
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World-Class Production Partnership
The series represents an unprecedented collaboration between industry leaders:
- Valve Corporation — The legendary game developer behind DOTA 2, Half-Life, and Counter-Strike
- Netflix Animation — The streaming platform’s acclaimed original content division
- Studio Mir — The renowned South Korean animation studio celebrated for The Legend of Korra and Voltron: Legendary Defender
- Kaiju Boulevard — Ashley Edward Miller’s production company
Animation services for Book One were provided by Production Reve, with Studio Mir taking the helm for subsequent seasons. The series features a distinctive visual style that blends anime aesthetics with Western animation sensibilities, creating a unique look that sets it apart in the crowded fantasy landscape .
Stellar Voice Cast Brings Characters to Life
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood assembles an all-star voice cast led by:
- Yuri Lowenthal (Spider-Man, Naruto) as Davion, the Dragon Knight
- Lara Pulver (Sherlock, True Blood) as Princess Mirana
- Tony Todd (Candyman, The Rock) as Slyrak, the Ember Eldwurm
- Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Uncharted) as The Invoker
- Josh Keaton (Voltron: Legendary Defender) as Bram, Davion’s squire
- Kari Wahlgren (Rick and Morty) as Luna, the Moonrider
- JB Blanc (Breaking Bad) as Terrorblade
Critical Acclaim and Fan Reception
Upon release, DOTA: Dragon’s Blood earned strong critical recognition, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 75% approval rating based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 7.60/10. Critics praised the series for successfully adapting DOTA lore into an exciting adventure welcoming for both franchise veterans and newcomers
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IGN’s review highlighted the show as “a strong start to a story that should satisfy both casual viewers and longtime fans of the games,” noting that “its best strength and worst flaw is that it immediately leaves us wanting more”
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Episodic Journey: Book One Chapter Guide
All eight episodes of Book One launched simultaneously on March 25, 2021:Table
| Episode | Title | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “What the Thunder Said” | 27m |
| 2 | “Princess of Nothing” | 26m |
| 3 | “Neverwhere Land” | 26m |
| 4 | “The Monster at the End of This Book” | 26m |
| 5 | “The Fire Sermon” | 25m |
| 6 | “The Knight, Death and the Devil” | 25m |
| 7 | “Speak the Words” | 25m |
| 8 | “A Game of Chess” | 25m |
Each episode delves deeper into the rich mythology of the DOTA universe, introducing key characters like Selemene (Goddess of the Moon), Fymryn (the lotus thief), and the mysterious Invoker, while building toward a climactic confrontation that sets the stage for future adventures
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A New Era for Gaming Adaptations
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood represents Netflix’s continued investment in high-quality video game adaptations, following the success of The Witcher and preceding the massive phenomenon of Arcane (League of Legends). The series demonstrates that with the right creative vision and production values, gaming properties can transcend their interactive origins to become compelling standalone narratives
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The collaboration also highlights the growing synergy between Netflix and major gaming companies, with Valve’s deep lore and Studio Mir’s animation expertise combining to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
Availability
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood — Book One is streaming now exclusively on Netflix in over 190 countries, available in English with subtitles and dubbing in multiple languages including Japanese, Filipino, Malay, and Chinese
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The series is rated TV-MA for mature audiences, featuring intense fantasy violence and adult themes befitting its epic fantasy setting.
About Netflix Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 200 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages.
About Valve Corporation Valve Corporation, founded in 1996, is a global leading game developer headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Its game titles include Half-Life, Portal, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, DOTA 2, and more. DOTA 2 is one of the leading online games in the world, hosting millions of players daily and holding multiple records for top e-sports tournament prize earnings.
About Studio Mir Studio Mir Co., Ltd is a South Korean animation studio specializing in complete production from start to finish. Founded in 2010, the studio is best known for The Legend of Korra, Voltron: Legendary Defender, and The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.
