In recent years, Hollywood seems to be increasingly interested in adapting the most popular films Anime
series from different periods into live-action films. Whether they are original creations or based on manga, novels, or video games, Japanese animated TV shows and films have grown exponentially in popularity in the West. Its expansion certainly exerts a powerful influence on international studios, which would not waste such an interesting opportunity.
However, the anime’s quirky drawing style, heavily inspired by the work of Osamu Tezuka, precise attention to detail, and complex, nuanced plots sometimes make them the worst material to adapt as live-action. Of Once order to Avatar: The Last Airbender, these ambitious live-action projects occasionally struggle to meet the challenges to meet the high expectations of fans; the ability to portray them on TV or the big screen is an art to be cultivated and refined.
It’s not just one component that makes these live-action anime adaptations the best or worst, but a set of factors that writers, directors, and producers must carefully consider. In the past, some of the better anime adaptations that respected the source material have had greater success. About that, There are several plans for the most critically acclaimed and groundbreaking anime of all time to become live-action films or TV series for years to come, hopefully capturing the essence and depth of the original work.
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naruto
Oldest ad: July 2015
naruto is one of the best-selling manga of all time. Its 2002 anime adaptation was also highly successful and ranked 38th on IGN’s Top 100 Animated Series (via web.archive.org). Consequently, it is no surprise that the story has piqued the interest of international producers. Lionsgate announced the development of a live-action naruto film in July 2015. Initially, The Greatest Showman Director Michael Gracey was responsible for the film, but later abandoned the project.
Earlier this year, Tasha Huo, the screenwriter, confirmed that she had completed the script and handed it over to newly appointed director, Destin Daniel Cretton, famous for his work with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Huo also said that this director will be able to capture the nuances of narutoportraying what really makes the story special. Masashi Kishimoto, the original creator of narutois involved as a producer and has given his blessing to the newly appointed director (through comicbook.com).
8
One Punch Man
Oldest Ad: April 2020
One Punch Mancreated by One in 2009, and later adapted into an anime show, it is also one of the best-selling manga of all time. In 2020, Sony’s Columbia Pictures stated that a live-action project based on the material was in development, with Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner attached as writers (via Variety). Since that announcement, however, there have been numerous changes and updates to the live-action. One Punch Manproduction.
The latest news confirmed that Dan Harmon and Heather Anne Campbell, known for their work on the animated sci-fi comedy Rick and Mortyjoined the writing team at One Punch Man film. Harmon and Campbell’s experience in creating witty dialogue and comedic moments makes them well-suited to capture the witty humor of One punch man. The director of the five Fast and Furious films, Justin Lin, will also be involved. The collaboration between these three artists could be a winning formula to balance the story’s humor with its intense action.
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Gundam
Oldest ad: 2018
Since it first appeared on TV on April 7, 1979, Gundam, the military science fiction created by anime writer Yoshiyuki Tomino and Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., has evolved to become a highly popular media franchise. The animated series is just one of countless adaptations of GundaI. In 2018, Legendary Pictures and Bandai Namco announced that the latest live-action film in the series was in development.
The original idea involved the participation of Netflix and Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt Roberts. However, the latest news has revealed a change of plans, with Netflix and Vogt Roberts leaving the project (via Forbes). New director Jim Mickle will also be involved in writing and producing the film. Mickle is famous for his Netflix comic book adaptation Sweet tootha fantasy drama series. This news, however, suggests that Gundam live action may arrive later than expected.
6
Death Note
Oldest Ad: July 2022
The live-action adaptation of Death Note is a long-awaited project among fans of the Grimdark saga. Following the publication of the manga series in 2003, the controversial story of the brilliant high school student turned vigilante gained even more popularity and recognition with the 2006 anime. In 2022, Netflix announced that a TV series based on the original story was under development (via Deadline).
The upcoming show isn’t the first live-action show based on the anime. However, one of these adaptations, the 2017 Death Note film, was not met with critical acclaim or public praise. THE Stranger Things creators, known primarily as the Duffer Brothers, are currently in charge of the new project. Its success depends on the Duffer brothers’ ability to capture the dark complexities of the source material. For example, the portrayal of the multifaceted nature of characters like Light and L. and their larger-than-life rivalry is an integral part of the show.
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Akira
Oldest ad: 1990s
Akira is a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk fiction first presented as a manga written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo. The animated film adaptation was released in 1988 and received critical acclaim around the world, breaking new ground in animation. Given its widespread success, There have been countless conversations in Hollywood over the years about developing Akira for live action. However, the film’s production journey was long and complicated.
Sony first acquired the film rights in the 1990s, but was later replaced by Warner Bros. Since then, Akira saw many attempted live-action adaptations, but none of them came to fruition. Somewhat recent updates about the project revealed the involvement of Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok. Waititi was in charge, along with Michael Golamco, of co-writing the script in 2019, but other commitments further delayed the film’s production.
4
Your name
Oldest Ad: September 2017
Your nameThe animated romantic fantasy film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai and released in 2016 received widespread critical acclaim when it was released. Your name is without a doubt one of the best anime films of all time and soon gained the interest of Hollywood producers. The live-action was first announced in 2017 by producer JJ Abrams and screenwriter Eric Heisserer.
The original plan was to construct a Western adaptation of the story, replacing the two original characters with a Native American woman from a rural area and a man from Chicago (via Deadline). However, in recent years there have been numerous creative changes. For example, in 2022, Carlos López Estrada was hired as the writer and director of the remake (via Variety). Among Estrada’s most notable works is Raya and the Last Dragon. The film’s release has not yet been announced.
3
Detective Pikachu 2
Oldest Ad: January 2019
The sequel to the first Detective Pikachu the film has been in development for some time. The 2019 film, largely based on the video game, also took inspiration from the original anime and ended up being a hit with audiences. Legendary Entertainment had already confirmed that there would be a second film months before the first live-action film aired. However, recent news has left some uncertainty regarding the timing of the long-awaited Detective Pikachu sequence production.
Justice Smith, who played the main human character in the first film, stated in January that he has not yet received any updates. Oren Uziel was tapped to write the script, and Rob Letterman, who directed the first film, was expected to return. In 2023 it was announced that Jonathan Krisel would direct the film with Chris Galletta as main screenwriter. However, a recent data leak seemed to confirm that the launch of Detective Pikachu 2 It’s closer than expected (through Game rant).
2
My Hero Academy
Oldest ad: 2018
With its eighth season scheduled to premiere in 2025, My Hero Academy is currently one of the most popular anime on TV. The original manga on which it was based has been a success with audiences and critics. So it was only a matter of time before talks about a possible live-action adaptation arose. In 2018, Legendary Entertainment announced that it would produce a live-action adaptation of the series.
In 2022, Netflix revealed that it had acquired the rights to the film (via Variety). Joby Harold is responsible for the script writing process. Shinsuke Sato was reportedly hired to direct this iteration of My Hero Academy. Sato is already known for the 2016 adaptation of Death Note and the acclaimed TV program Alice on the Border. However, given the complex nature and length of the story, as well as its extensive cast, My Hero AcademyThe live-action adaptation has some hurdles to overcome to be successful.
1
Voltron
Oldest ad: July 2005
Plans for a live-action adaptation of the animated television series about the giant super robot Voltron have been around since the early 2000s. The original announcement came in 2005 from producer Mark Gordon; the trajectory since then has been long and complicated. Its development was hampered by legal battles, studio changes and the bankruptcy of Relativity Media in 2015, the company responsible for distribution.
However, in 2022, news broke that the live-action Voltron the film was once again in development. Rawson Marshall Thurber was hired as director and co-writer along with Ellen Shanman (via The Hollywood Reporter). After a bidding battle that saw the involvement of Warner Bros, Universal Pictures and Amazon Prime Video, the latter officially acquired the rights to the film. More news about the live-action anime The project also revealed Daniel Quinn-Toye as the lead actor and Henry Cavill in a currently unknown role.
Source: web.archive.org, comicbook.com, Variety, Forbes, Deadline, Game rant, The Hollywood Reporter