Michelle Yeoh, Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, and more star in an animated series based on a dinosaur game

It’s available now.

In a surprise move, Paramount dropped the first six episodes of Ark The Animated Series onMarch 22, 2024, catching fans off guard with its unannounced release.

Based on the popular video game Ark Survival Evolved, the series was first unveiled during the 2020 Game Awards, followed by a teaser in 2022.

Ark The Animated Series main character Helena Walker

The animated adaptation boasts as much star power as a blockbuster movie, with Hollywood heavyweights like Michelle Yeoh, Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, and more gracing its cast.

Here’s everything you need to know about the show, including the story, the game it’s based on, the full cast, and where to watch it.

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What is Ark?

Ark Survival Evolved, the game that inspired the series, introduces players to a world teeming with dinosaurs, dangerous environments, and fantastical creatures.

Players must scavenge, hunt, build, and even tame dinosaurs to survive. The game’s multiplayer mode allows players to form tribes and collaborate with other survivors.

Ark Survival Evolved gameplay image taken from Steam

Initially released in early access in 2015 and fully launched in 2017, Ark has attracted players with its blend of action-adventure and survival gameplay.

The animated series now offers fans a new way to experience the dangerous world of Ark, filled with dinosaurs and challenges.

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What is the Ark Animated Series’ story?

An Australian paleontologist, Helena Walker, deeply mourns the loss of her wife, Victoria. One night, she finds herself inexplicably transported to a vast ocean after consuming pills and wine.

Fleeing from a shark, Helena reaches a mysterious island where she befriends a wild Dodo.

Russell Crowe as Kore, The Prophet in Ark The Animated Series

She soon encounters Bob, a human tribe hunter who also similarly arrived on the island.

Bob becomes her mentor, teaching survival skills in this world teeming with dinosaurs, advanced technology, and tribal conflicts. Helena is determined to survive and find a way back home.

Michelle Yeoh as Meiyin Li in Ark The Animated Series

Ark The Animated Series release date

The first six episodes of Ark The Animated Series’ first season were surprise-released on Paramount Plus onMarch 22, 2024.

Where to watch the Ark Animated Series

The Ark Animated Series is exclusively available onParamount Plus.

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Gerard Butler as Gaius Marcellus Nerva in Ark The Animated Series

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