Fans have loved Indiana Jones since the moment he first appeared on screen in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Unfortunately, Indy's big-screen appearances have been few and far between with only 5 total films, culminating in next summer's Indiana Jones 5. Sure there's The Young Indiana Jones Chronicle, which fans on YouTube have edited to feel more like the films, but it's still not enough.

But never-the-less, Fans have been given plenty of Indiana Jones adventures to enjoy through the mediums of Books, Comics, Video Games, and more! These adventures are as beloved as the films. With Harrison Ford's final turn as Dr. Jones fast approaching, hand-drawn animation is a great way to keep the franchise going. The question is, which stories deserve to be adapted?

Emperor's Tomb

Gameplay of Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb

This 3D action-adventure game involved the search for the tomb of the Qin Shi Huangdi, the First Emperor of China. Indy raced against both Nazis and Black Dragon Triads. Temple of Doom's Wu Han assists Indy as does the stunning Chinese agent Mei Ying. The game developers unsuccessfully pitched a follow-up game on the events of the first three films which can be viewed on youtube.

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Emperor's Tomb would benefit from an animated adaptation because of its supernatural locations and enemies. For example, the underworld climax and its fight against a dragon could be done very stylishly through the medium of animation.

Temple of the Forbidden Eye

Temple of the Forbidden Eye

Disneyland's Temple of the Forbidden Eye is one of the absolute best Indiana Jones experiences. Located in Bengal in the story, the temple was home to the Eye of Mara which guests were warned not to look into.  Temple of the Forbidden Eye is one of the most thrilling rides in the world and even the line queue is detailed and immersive.

An animated film could expand on the story of the already iconic adventure. Iconic set pieces such as the first look at Mara and the large temple room are evocative of Indy's greatest adventures and would be amazing if brought to the small screen. Best of all, The fan-favorite character Sallah would appear, as John Rhys-Davies recorded material for the line queue.

Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine

Indiana Jones looks into a canyon in Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine

After several failed attempts to make a follow-up to the acclaimed point-and-click classic Fate of Atlantis, Hal Barwood produced the 3D adventure Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine.  The story involved the Tower of Babel and the Babylonian god Marduk. It uniquely featured Russian villains who turned out to not be so bad after a surprise villain was revealed.

Since the game features dozens of different locations, supernatural artifacts, and bosses, a cost-effective animated version would be perfect. Moreover, The game features now-dated graphics which would highly benefit from an animated overhaul.

Staff of Kings

Someone needs to do justice to the Staff of Kings! The 2009 video game had a terrific premise and superb action scene ideas, but the final game was a disaster on every level. Furthermore, the novel adaptation by Rob McGregor was never published, although McGregor is currently reading it section-by-section on his podcast the mystical underground.

An animated version would finally give Staff of Kings the adaptation it deserves by bringing its set pieces to life as intended. For example, The climactic motorcycle chase through the sea bed floor which was an brilliant set-piece for an Indiana Jones game. Furthermore, It has a classic Indy feel with a Jewish artifact and a rival German archeologist.

Iron Phoenix

In 1994, Dark Horse seized an unused video game concept for a gripping comic book miniseries. Taking place two years after the end of World War 2, the story involved the search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone. It sees Indy, Nazis, and Soviets engage in a three-way race for the pieces of the stone.

Iron Phoenix is one of the best Indiana Jones comic books and a story that deserved to be brought to the screen. Its unique setting of post-war Germany is both something different and classic Indy. The animation would work well with the supernatural scenes including Indy's hallucination where he fights a giant Samurai and the ending where an undead Nazi army is raised from the grave.

 Seven Veils

Rob McGregor wrote 6 Indiana Jones novels for Bantam in the 90s which were highly popular. Seven Veils saw Indy follow the footsteps of real-life explorer Percy Fawcett in search of the Lost City of Z in the Amazon jungle. Other McGregor books like Unicorn's Legacy and the Noah's-Ark-themed Genesis Deluge would be great choices as well.

The animation would be great for this story because shooting live-action in the jungle can be hazardous, and Indy 4's solution of a CGI jungle was not convincing. It also would be a great chance to see an unexplored time in Indy's life including his wedding to Dierdre Campbell, who would tragically perish in a plane crash.

Secret of the Sphinx

Indiana Jones and the secret of the sphinx

Max McCoy wrote four Indiana Jones novels and they capture the tone of the movies. His final Indy novel was Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx. The book sees Indy travel to central America, Myanmar, China, India, and Egypt in search of the Omega Book. The book contains a list of every soul to ever live and the secrets of nature.

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This and Max McCoy's other Indiana Jones novels would be terrific choices as animated films because his writing captured the tone of the films better than anyone else. It also would send Indy back to Egypt and reunite him with Sallah and Marcus, all of which were first seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Lost Horizon

Harrison Ford likeness as Indiana Jones and wilford brimley likeness as abner ravenwood in hugh fleming artwork for the cancelled dark horse comic book indiana jones and the lost horizon

In 1995, Dark Horse's Indiana Jones releases were finding their stride and were planning a new mini-series that may have been their best yet. Like James Hilton's Lost Horizon novel and subsequent film, Indiana Jones and the Lost Horizon was to take place in Tibet and would have served as a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Sadly, it was canceled due to poor sales of the Indiana Jones comics.

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The cancellation of this project is one of the biggest shames of the Indiana Jones franchise and an animated version should be made to bring it to life. It tied into Raiders of the Lost Ark by featuring Indy and Abner Ravenwood finding the Staff of Ra headpiece and also featured an appearance by Belloq.

Spear of Destiny

Arguably the best Indiana Jones comic book everSpear of Destiny is a must-read of all Indiana Jones fans. Writer Elaine Lee brilliantly merged Irish and Christian legends and the artwork was the best in an Indiana Jones comic. Sean Connery's Henry Jones Senior returned in a story set entirely in the British Isles in the dying days of World War 2.

Spear of Destiny deserves to be adapted for the screen because it is one of the best Indiana Jones stories. Also, Sean Connery passed away in 2020 and no one could replaced him in live-action so the animation is the way to go.

Fate of Atlantis

For Indiana Jones fans in the 1990s, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis was Indiana Jones 4. An original story by the great Hal Barwood saw Indy travel to Iceland, The Azores, and all over the Mediterranean in search of the lost continent of Atlantis. One of the absolute greatest games of LucasArts' golden years of point-and-click adventure games, it was also adapted as a comic book by Dark Horse and a little-known action game.

If they were to animate one Indy story, it would be this one. The story is full of memorable characters, in particular the feisty redhead Sophia Hapgood who would appear in two other expanded universe adventures. There are a wide variety of situations including a hot air balloon ride and a submarine journey to Atlantis. The breathtaking Atlantis is dripping with personality and its god machine ending would make for a great climax in animation.

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