When a group of British developers began work on a video game about an archaeologist travelling the world to find precious artefacts, they surely couldn’t have imagined that Tomb Raider and its main character, Lara Croft, would become such a cultural colossus. But after a string of huge-selling games, two films starring Angelina Jolie, a TV series, various spin-off comics and novels, and a rebooted film starring Alicia Vikander, it’s still as popular as ever.

And to prove it, here’s Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft, a new animated series beginning on Thursday 10 October on Netflix (Apps > Netflix). Taking place after the Survivor trilogy of games (released between 2013 and 2018) that served as Lara’s origin story, it begins as Lara sets off on a solo adventure to learn more about herself and what kind of hero she wants to be.

But Lara must return to Croft Manor when a thief makes off with a powerful Chinese item that, in the wrong hands, poses a serious threat. Here’s a look at the series.

That’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One star Hayley Atwell as the voice of Lara, imbuing the character with appropriate levels of bravery, inquisitiveness and good old British stoicism. Earl Baylon returns to his role as Jonah Maiava from the Survivor video games, while the voice cast also includes Allen Maldonado (Black-ish), Zoe Boyle (Downton Abbey) and Richard Armitage (Fool Me Once).

The series is animated by Powerhouse Animation, which has previously worked on Netflix series like Castlevania and Masters Of The Universe, harnessing influences from both Western and Japanese styles. Making the show animated allows Lara’s story to be truly epic, with locations all around the globe, large-scale action scenes and in-your-face fights that positively leap off the screen.

“It’s the animation that I wish I’d seen earlier,” showrunner Tasha Huo told Animation magazine. “Animation has always created this huge sense of epicness and fantastical brightness. There’s something cool about being able to set Lara through a larger-than-life world made from what we can do with paintings and backgrounds… And we don’t shy away from big adult themes and set pieces.”

And although both Jolie and Vikander made memorable onscreen Laras, she’s a character created by artists, and it’s terrific – not least because of the nostalgia – to see a newly drawn version of the British adventurer.

There are brilliant things going on with animated TV these days – it’s definitely not just for kids any more. The phenomenon that is Japanese anime has had a huge effect on animation made around the world, and Studio Ghibli films from visionary directors such as Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, The Boy And The Heron) and Isao Takahata (Grave Of The Fireflies) have been huge international hits. But TV makers have also embraced the possibilities to give us some of the most inventive, ambitious and unusual stories on telly.

Once you’ve watched Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft, if you want some more animated goodness but aren’t sure where to start, allow us to make some suggestions.

The Legend Of Vox Machina

Find season 3 in in Apps > Prime Video with new episodes every Thursday. Seasons 1-2 available now

Based on a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, this initially Kickstarter-funded series has earned mass acclaim. The seven members of the Vox Machina team take on classic D&D challenges with some eye-popping action scenes, while the camaraderie among the characters gives it emotional resonance.

Arcane: League Of Legends

Find season 1 in Apps > Netflix

With appeal beyond those who’ve played the League Of Legends video game, this is the story of sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), part of a rebel group fighting back against authoritarian rule. Its awe-inspiring steampunk design helped it win an Emmy for Best Animated Series – and a second season is coming in November.

Terminator Zero

Find season 1 in Apps > Netflix

Return to the Terminator universe as a soldier (Sonoya Mizuno) is sent to 1997 from 2022 to protect a scientist (André Holland) who could protect the world from Skynet. But as always, there’s a merciless cyborg assassin (Timothy Olyphant) in the mix too. With input from Japanese animators Production IG, this is a visually arresting thrill ride of a series.

Delicious In Dungeon

Find season 1 in Apps > Netflix

A band of adventurers stage an assault on a dungeon populated by fantastical creatures to save a damsel in distress. The twist? They cook and eat any beasts they bump off along the way. An adaptation of a popular manga comic, this anime has it all – comedy, action, supernatural derring-do and tasty meals.

One Piece

Find sagas 1-3 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

There are more than a thousand episodes of this family-friendly adventure set in a world of daring pirates, and BBC iPlayer has the first 206 of them – the rest will be available by the end of the year. As the Straw Hat Crew search for the mythical One Piece, the treasure that will make its bearer King of the Pirates, there’s action and laughs aplenty.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Find season 1 in Apps > Netflix

Science Saru is the Japanese company behind the kaleidoscopic anime visuals of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, based on the same graphic novels as the cult film Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. It reunites the movie’s cast for an alternative telling of Scott’s story in which he goes missing and new girlfriend Ramona is left to figure out what’s occurred. Colourful and charming.

Bojack Horseman

Find seasons 1-6 in Apps > Netflix

Washed-up sitcom star Bojack Horseman (Will Arnett) employs a writer (Alison Brie) to help him with his memoir – but isn’t prepared for the journey of self-discovery he embarks on. Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg builds a shockingly real world with fully rounded characters in this endlessly inventive sitcom, which is often screamingly funny but also goes to dark places. A modern classic.

Big Mouth

Find seasons 1-7 in Apps > Netflix

A refreshingly – and sometimes disturbingly – frank exploration of the horrors of puberty, in which animated adolescents interact with manifestations of the changes they’re going through including Hormone Monsters, the Depression Kitty, the Anxiety Mosquito and the Shame Wizard. You’ll laugh, you’ll relate, you’ll watch through your fingers. The final season is due in 2025.

Inside Job

Find seasons 1-2 in Apps > Netflix

This sharp workplace comedy is set in a world where many popular conspiracy theories are real and the US Government has a shadowy department devoted to covering them up. Reagan (Lizzy Caplan) spends her days shutting down stories about reptilian shapeshifters and the Moon landings, while dealing with her unruly colleagues.

Marvel’s What If…?

Find seasons 1-2 in Apps > Disney+

Marvel’s What If…? flips the script on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways. Marvel Studios’ first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles.

X-Men ’97

Find season 1 in Apps > Disney+

X-Men ’97 revisits the iconic era of the 1990s as the X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.

Invincible

Find seasons 1-2 in Apps > Prime Video

Like Spider-Man, Buffy and others before him, Invincible’s titular hero (Steven Yeun) is juggling superpowers and a regular life. He also has to live up to the legacy of his superhero father Omni-Man (JK Simmons), who he discovers is not as all-powerful as he imagined. A clever mixture of genres with a bold and evocative animation style, Invincible offers sophisticated world-building and storytelling.

Love, Death + Robots

Find seasons 1-3 in Apps > Netflix

Each instalment of this series is a short film made by a different team and all in different animation styles – the only unifying thread is they are all linked to love, death or robots. From cybernetically enhanced bears to wandering post-apocalyptic robots via an astronaut psychically communing with one of Jupiter’s moons, it’s a wild and wonderful world. Created by Deadpool writer/director Tim Miller.

YOLO

Find seasons 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4

The surreal adventures of Sarah and Rachel include shamans, wormholes, star signs come to life and pottery – imagine The Mighty Boosh if it was animated and Australian. YOLO is part of the Adult Swim strand on Channel 4, and there’s plenty more to explore if you like this including Robot Chicken, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and The Venture Bros.

Undone

Find seasons 1-2 in Apps > Prime Video

After a car crash, Alma (Rosa Salazar, Alita: Battle Angel) finds she has the ability to manipulate time. She uses this to find out the truth about her father’s death, but her mental health begins to suffer. This unique comedy drama uses rotoscoping techniques to create gorgeous visuals that bring both realistic and hallucinatory moments to life vividly.

When is the new Tomb Raider series on Netflix?

All eight episodes of Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft will be available on Thursday 10 October on Netflix (Apps > Netflix).