# Golden Axe (2026 TV series)
**Golden Axe** is a 2026 American adult animated action-comedy television series based on SEGA's Golden Axe video game franchise, which began with the 1989 arcade beat 'em up. All ten episodes premiered on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, exclusively on the streaming service Paramount+, where the series reunites the game's heroes Ax Battler, Tyris Flare, and Gilius Thunderhead to save the land of Yuria from the evil giant Death Adder, joined by a new character, the inexperienced adventurer Hampton Squib.[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html) • [2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/golden-axe-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-animated-series/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | All 10 episodes streamed September 16, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html) |
| Genre | Animated fantasy action-comedy, rated TV-14[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/golden-axe-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-animated-series/) |
| Creators | Mike McMahan and Joe Chandler, with Chandler as showrunner[3](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-shows/first-golden-axe-trailer-is-a-bloody-romp-through-medieval-times-that-pays-homage-to-the-classic-sega-game/) |
| Main voice cast | Matthew Rhys (Gilius Thunderhead), Danny Pudi (Hampton Squib), Lisa Gilroy (Tyris Flare), Liam McIntyre (Ax Battler), Carl Tart (Chronos "Evil" Lait)[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html) |
| Production | CBS' Eye Animation Productions, Sony Pictures Television, and Original Film; animation by Titmouse[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html) |
| Episode length | About 22 minutes each[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/76188/golden-axe) |
| Renewal status | Not renewed for a second season as of September 17, 2026[5](https://www.macobserver.com/entertainment/editorial-draft-038/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The series follows the three legendary warriors from the games, Ax Battler, Tyris Flare, and Gilius Thunderhead, as they reunite to save Yuria from Death Adder, an evil giant who, in the show's own framing, just will not seem to stay dead. Hampton Squib, a rookie adventurer hopelessly out of his depth whose heroic ambitions tower over his actual skills, throws complications into their journey, and the ill-suited group must set aside their shortcomings and cooperate to defeat Death Adder for good.[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html) In the show's version of the story, Death Adder controls the [Golden Axe](https://www.edgepedia.org/golden-axe) itself.[6](https://bleedingcool.com/tv/golden-axe-showrunners-on-animated-fantasy-series-infusing-comedy/)
The characters carry over their game roles with comic exaggeration. Gilius Thunderhead, voiced by Emmy winner [Matthew Rhys](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-rhys), is a grumpy battle dwarf with exceptionally poor hygiene and a chip on his shoulder; Tyris Flare, voiced by Lisa Gilroy, is a fearsome battle sorceress who is deadly in a fight and even deadlier with her sharp wit; Ax Battler, voiced by [Liam McIntyre](https://www.edgepedia.org/liam-mcintyre), is a barbarian warrior with a strict code of honor and a sweet golden retriever demeanor.[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html) Carl Tart voices Chronos "Evil" Lait, an uncomfortably cheesy humanoid panther who is a character from *Golden Axe III*, while Hampton Squib is a new character created for the animated series.[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html) • [2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/golden-axe-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-animated-series/)
### Episodes
The first season consists of ten episodes of about 22 minutes, all released on September 16, 2026. Episode titles include "The Legend of the Emerald Blade," "Rideable Beasts," "Tender Hamlet," "Fly Like an Eagle," "The Brothers Bad," "Return to Wenisburg," "The Cold Bard Truth," "Into the Cowoods," "Because We're Us," and the finale "For Yuria," in which Gilius realizes he cannot take on Death Adder alone.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/76188/golden-axe) • [10](https://www.intl.paramountplus.com/ca/shows/golden-axe/)
## Development and production
[Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central) announced a 10-episode order for the series in April 2024, when it was intended for that network; the show instead premiered on Paramount+.[7](https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-first-trailer-for-paramounts-golden-axe-cartoon-contains-magic-meta-humour-and-a-release-date/) According to co-creator Mike McMahan, the path to the greenlight ran through his comedy work on the [Sonic the Hedgehog](https://www.edgepedia.org/sonic-the-hedgehog) movies with the production company [Original Film](https://www.edgepedia.org/original-film), whose producers were fans of his series *Star Trek: Lower Decks* and *Solar Opposites* and asked him which old arcade SEGA property he would turn into an adult animated comedy. The success of the Sonic movies and Paramount and CBS's experience with *Lower Decks* helped create the opportunity to pitch Golden Axe.[6](https://bleedingcool.com/tv/golden-axe-showrunners-on-animated-fantasy-series-infusing-comedy/) • [8](https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2026/09/reddit-ama-recap-golden-axe/?amp=1)
Golden Axe is produced by CBS' Eye Animation Productions, the animation arm of [CBS Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/cbs-studios), together with [Sony Pictures Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-pictures-television) and Original Film. McMahan and Chandler co-wrote the first episode, co-created the series, and executive produce it, with Chandler serving as showrunner. SEGA's Haruki Satomi, Shuji Utsumi, and Toru Nakahara executive produce alongside [Neal H. Moritz](https://www.edgepedia.org/neal-h-moritz), Pavun Shetty, and Toby Ascher of Original Film, and the studio Titmouse provides the animation, with Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio, and Ben Kalina as executive producers.[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html)
The first trailer was released on August 20, 2026, showing a comedic, satirical take on both the fantasy genre and video games, with meta humor that pokes fun at the medium; in one line, Tyris Flare describes the plan as facing "a series of progressively harder enemies until we have a big final battle with Death Adder. And then we kill him for good."[7](https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-first-trailer-for-paramounts-golden-axe-cartoon-contains-magic-meta-humour-and-a-release-date/)
## Relationship to the games
The show is an adaptation of, and homage to, the SEGA fantasy beat 'em up franchise that began in arcades in 1989 and also appeared on the [Sega Genesis](https://www.edgepedia.org/sega-genesis). In the original game, the player controls one of three characters, Ax, Tyris, or Gilius, to save the fantastical land of Yuria from Death Adder.[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/golden-axe-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-animated-series/) • [3](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-shows/first-golden-axe-trailer-is-a-bloody-romp-through-medieval-times-that-pays-homage-to-the-classic-sega-game/) The adaptation incorporates recognizable game creatures, enemies, and other visual callbacks, and is intended to reward existing fans while giving newcomers a clear entry point; no prior knowledge of the games is required to watch.[2](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/golden-axe-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-animated-series/)
Showrunners McMahan and Chandler have said they wanted to keep the franchise's dark swords-and-sorcery roots while layering in character-driven comedy, describing their approach as sincere rather than relying on meta humor, and they chose to split the party early in the season, giving Gilius a standout emotional arc.[6](https://bleedingcool.com/tv/golden-axe-showrunners-on-animated-fantasy-series-infusing-comedy/) McMahan, a self-described fan of the swords-and-sorcery genre who leans toward Conan over Lord of the Rings, said he wanted to make a hack-and-slash fantasy project, and the Television Academy profile of the show describes the result as a world that is as joyfully silly as it is respectful of the source material.[9](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/online-originals/golden-axe-matthew-rhys)
## Reception and context
The initial trailer divided fans of the game, some of whom wanted a more serious treatment of what they see as dark fantasy material.[11](https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/09/terrible-marketing-hid-a-great-show-first-reviews-of-paramounts-golden-axe-tv-series-are-in) Early reviews after the premiere were more favorable; Time Extension's roundup characterized the series as "an entertaining and frequently funny series" for viewers open to its comedic approach, under the headline "Terrible Marketing Hid A Great Show."[11](https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/09/terrible-marketing-hid-a-great-show-first-reviews-of-paramounts-golden-axe-tv-series-are-in) Common Sense Media describes the show as a video game-based animated comedy aimed at a mature audience, with blood, gore, and language, and rates it for ages 13 and up.[12](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/golden-axe)
It is the third video game adaptation that [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) has produced, coming after the live-action [Halo](https://www.edgepedia.org/halo-tv-series) show, which ended after two seasons, and Knuckles, a hybrid of live action and animation that takes place in the Sonic the Hedgehog film universe.[13](https://gamedaily.com/games/golden-axe-animated-series-first-trailer) Paramount+ is not available in Japan as of August 2026, so the SEGA-produced series does not stream there on the platform.[1](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html)
## References
1. [From Arcade to Animated Series: Golden Axe Set to Premiere Exclusively on Paramount+ Wednesday, September 16, SEGA Corporation](https://www.sega.co.jp/en/release/260821_1.html)
2. [Golden Axe: Everything You Need To Know About The New Animated Series, Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/golden-axe-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-animated-series/)
3. [First Golden Axe trailer is a bloody romp through medieval times that pays homage to the classic Sega game, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/animation-shows/first-golden-axe-trailer-is-a-bloody-romp-through-medieval-times-that-pays-homage-to-the-classic-sega-game/)
4. [Golden Axe, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/76188/golden-axe)
5. [Golden Axe Season 2 Renewal Status, MacObserver](https://www.macobserver.com/entertainment/editorial-draft-038/)
6. [Golden Axe Showrunners on Animated Fantasy Series & Infusing Comedy, Bleeding Cool](https://bleedingcool.com/tv/golden-axe-showrunners-on-animated-fantasy-series-infusing-comedy/)
7. [The first trailer for Paramount's Golden Axe cartoon contains magic, meta humour and a release date, Video Games Chronicle](https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-first-trailer-for-paramounts-golden-axe-cartoon-contains-magic-meta-humour-and-a-release-date/)
8. [Reddit AMA Recap: Golden Axe, Bubbleblabber](https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2026/09/reddit-ama-recap-golden-axe/?amp=1)
9. [How Golden Axe's Creators Gave Their Show Big Rick & Morty Energy, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/online-originals/golden-axe-matthew-rhys)
10. [Golden Axe, Watch on Paramount+ Canada](https://www.intl.paramountplus.com/ca/shows/golden-axe/)
11. ["Terrible Marketing Hid A Great Show" - First Reviews Of Paramount's Golden Axe TV Series Are In, Time Extension](https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/09/terrible-marketing-hid-a-great-show-first-reviews-of-paramounts-golden-axe-tv-series-are-in)
12. [Golden Axe, Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/golden-axe)
13. [Golden Axe Animated Series Gets First Trailer, GameDaily](https://gamedaily.com/games/golden-axe-animated-series-first-trailer)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Animated television series (individual series) › Adult animated comedy series*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license