The upcoming movie Press Start, the upcoming low-budget film that will parody all video games (including Mortal Kombat) has released the first in a series of online Flash cartoons that will premier once a month on their site.

The first episode features the Sub-Zero character (named Lin-Ku for reasons that should be obvious to MK fans) and an unexpected event that happened to him at a recent tournament. Hardcore gamers should recognize characters from The Legend of Zelda, Bubble Bobble, and Street Fighter as well.

From the article on their site:

The idea to create a series of animated shorts to complement our upcoming movie was pretty much a no-brainer. The actors are there, the animation is free, and the jokes at the expense of the gaming world are seemingly endless. Also, the animated medium allows us to tell stories and introduce characters that simply didn't fit the scope or budget of the film. Thus, we give you "Press Start: Bonus Levels," a monthly animated series that gives you a sneak peek into our nonsensical videogame world and its outrageous cast of characters!

"Press Start: Bonus Levels" is a bit of an experiment at heart, and each episode is its own unique learning experience. The Flash animation may be a bit crude, but you'll at least find it more detailed than the graphics on your dust-caked Atari. With time, both sound and animation quality will steadily improve.

And some obligatory screenshots:

To check out the site and watch the 'toon, click here. Be sure to read the press release on this here.