Impending live-action anime remakes...

Since Hollywood is fast running out of comic book superheroes for its big summer blockbusters it's starting to seem like they've found an untapped barrel from which to scrape new ideas from - namely, some of our most beloved anime greats. Some of the more well known ones that I can remember off the top of my head:

James Cameron is to direct a 3D live-action version of Battle Angel Alita; Leonardo DiCaprio will be one of the people producing a 2 movie remake of Akira, directed by Ruairi Robinson; M. Night Shyamalan is giving Avatar: The Last Airbender the big-screen treatment; Neon Genesis Evangelion has had a reputed movie remake in the works since 2005; and Steven Spielberg has recently been connected to a remake of Ghost in the Shell.

Judging by the production teams and technology to be used in some of these upcoming films I have to say I'm kinda intrigued... particularly by James Cameron and Ruairi Robinson's efforts... but would this be the most unspeakable sacrilege?

What do you folks think of this?

I'm not sure how things will go without checking them out, but I will definitely check them out when they are in theaters. They could end up being very good - at least that's what I hope.

I also bought 2 movies made in Japan from the Death Note anime/manga. I haven't watched them yet, though, so I'll report back once I do.

I liked the Death note movies. They were pretty cool for what they were. They were different from the manga/anime. There's a third one...it's pretty much a spinoff and it's about L.

I've never seen any other live-action movies based on a manga or anime, but I have seen live-action dramas.

I'm looking forward to see how Battle Angel Alita turns out. I heard the movie would be based of the two (three?) first volumes, and if that's true it'd be great. I really liked the second one with Hugo, the ending was so sad it had me in tears.

But Shyamalan and Avatar? Not too sure about that, the Sixth Sense was good, but otherwise I'm not too fond of him. Not too sure Avatar will work very well as a movie either, it is fine as it is.

These could be good if they stay true to the originals, but I wouldn't expect too much.
Since Hollywood is fast running out of comic book superheroes for its big summer blockbusters it's starting to seem like they've found an untapped barrel from which to scrape new ideas from - namely, some of our most beloved anime greats.
It's not just anime. Most of Hollywood's recent horror films have been remakes of asian movies.(The Grudge, The Eye, One Missed Call, and probably more that I'm not thinking of)

Personally I CANNOT WAIT for Avatar, I'm obsessed with the show (siggy :p)! From what I know he is putting a lot of effort into this film and I really feel he's going to do a good job for it. :D
I'm also hoping I could try out for it :blush:.

Isn't there going to be a DragonballZ movie?

Hollywood needs to stay FAR away from Asian cinema including anime . There's talks of a Hollywood live action Death Note movie too. The thought of that horrifies me. It's going to be terrible and I refuse to see it or have anythign to do with it.
L will be portrayed as a little emo kid, Light will be portrayed as being pure evil (whereas the manga/anime/Japanese movie is somewhat sympathetic towards him)... it's just going to be awful.

I'm praying nobody touches Naruto or Fullmetal Alchemist. There is no way Hollywood could make good movie versions out of those.

Anime is not supposed to be Americanised. The Japanese voices are always better on the anime than the American dubs, what makes Hollywood think they can do a good job having real actors play the characters if they cant even do the voices well?

Not an anime (a Japense movel turned manga turned Japanese live action movie) but a Hollywood remake of Battle Royale is also in the works. *shakes head in disappointment* When will they learn? If it's not broken don't try and fix it!

Sorry for the rant, this subject is very close to my heart :grumble:

Hollywood needs to stay FAR away from Asian cinema including anime . There's talks of a Hollywood live action Death Note movie too. The thought of that horrifies me. It's going to be terrible and I refuse to see it or have anythign to do with it.
L will be portrayed as a little emo kid, Light will be portrayed as being pure evil (whereas the manga/anime/Japanese movie is somewhat sympathetic towards him)... it's just going to be awful.

I'm praying nobody touches Naruto or Fullmetal Alchemist. There is no way Hollywood could make good movie versions out of those.

Anime is not supposed to be Americanised. The Japanese voices are always better on the anime than the American dubs, what makes Hollywood think they can do a good job having real actors play the characters if they cant even do the voices well?

Not an anime (a Japense movel turned manga turned Japanese live action movie) but a Hollywood remake of Battle Royale is also in the works. *shakes head in disappointment* When will they learn? If it's not broken don't try and fix it!

Sorry for the rant, this subject is very close to my heart :grumble:
Hollywood couldn't care less how badly it destroys a series, as long as there is money to be made. An American remake of Death Note may not match the intelligence and moral ambiguity of the original, but most American movie goers don't want those things anyway. Give them a bit of blood, some shallow romance (which I fear will undoubtedly be inserted into Light and Misa's relationship), and a lot of good-looking actors, and you've got yourself a blockbuster. Unnecessary explosions never hurt either.

I have seen Anime-turn-live-action movies before, and most popular might be Death Note, Initial D, Battle Royale... They can't adapt a different culture and sell it to your own different culture.
I'm not saying it won't work, but it is highly unlikely. If they're going to take it seriously on Death Note.. Maybe. But how about Nana? How about we huge huge huge part of Shoujo Manga market?
FMA, Neon, GIS, even to Naruto or Bleach (but these both is REALLY unlikely), these are all Shounen. What about classics like Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura? Or even Shonen+Shoujo mix like, Negima?
I can't see this happening if they're preparing to: 1) spoon-feed the audiences, 2) market the huge audience therefore changing a lot of things... I MEAN, LOOK AT DRAGON BALL. GOKU, IS AN EFFING, CAUCASIAN?!, 3) Do not understand how much potential there is for this market... and not take it seriously.

I've begun to lose my point because of an annonymous anger =/

I know it's all about making money but I think they're flogging a dead horse. A manga/anime like Death Note for example is so Japanese in essence. I fail to see how they can make something work if they 'Hollywood-ise' it- the shinigami for example. I find it almost insulting.

As for FMA, Neon, Naruto, Bleach etc I agree with evlyra (although from those I think Bleach is the only one with a chance of being a Hollywood movie), they probably wont be touched. FMA and Naruto for instance would make dreadful live action movies, whether made by an Asian company or by Hollywood. Surely Hollywood aren't THAT stupid?

Also, the Hollywood remake of Battle Royale is going to be PG13 *dies a little on the inside* The original was rated R18+. Anybody who has seen the original, read the manga, read the novel would know that it is impossible for them to do a fair version of this story with it being PG. Why even bother!? Gah makes me angry :grumble:

They won't make it work. The Death Note remake will be a disaster, no doubt about it. Hollywood will mutilate Death Note in much the same way that most anime licensing companies used to mutilate the shows they released, and in the same way that some still do mutilate their licensed shows (Naruto). There obviously hasn't been much thought put into this, it's just that Death Note is popular and Hollywood wants to cash in.

Anime to holywood movies sound intriguing to me...if they're serious. I think if they got the right director, cast, and genuinely want to make a good story, they might be able to do it.

That being said, the Dragon Ball movie looks horrible, and I will not be seeing that trainwreck unless someone pays for me and I'm not even sure if Evangelion will ever be finished, so... I do only have some hope for Cowboy Bebop right now. (I'm either not too familiar or not interested in the rest that's been confirmed)

They might not take themes like Naruto or whatever seriously, but bigger potentials are like, if they're much more modern, like Ghost in Shell, or Neon Genesis Evangeleon.

Dragon Ball = fail. I just can't set my eyes on them.

They might not take themes like Naruto or whatever seriously
Gosh I hope so!

but bigger potentials are like, if they're much more modern, like Ghost in Shell, or Neon Genesis Evangeleon.
I agree. I think another possibility sometime down the track is Hellsing, but not for a few years since that atrocious Van Hellsing movie is still pretty recent.

Dragon Ball = fail. I just can't set my eyes on them.

I'm no DB fan but that's wrong on so many levels.

I think another possibility sometime down the track is Hellsing, but not for a few years since that atrocious Van Hellsing movie is still pretty recent.
A Hellsing movie could be excellent. Hopefully people know better than to compare movies with similiar titles because there is so much difference between the two. But, I'm sure there are those who would.

The anime/manga Hellsing is very different to the film Van Hellsing true... I think if done properly it could be awesome, but I'd want an Asian adaptation, none of this Hollywood nonsense.

A Hollywood Hellsing would be more watered down than the original 13 episode of Hellsing. I personally am hoping Hollywood does not touch that.

That being said, I am not a big fan of American remakes of Anime. The DBZ movie, based off the trailers, is enough for me to gag. I'm a DBZ fan so it makes me cry to see Goku as a caucasian. That hair just doesn't look right anyway.

Personally I'm waiting to see if they will try their hand at Sailor Moon.

I highly doubt they will attempt something like Naruto. There would be too much special effects and too costly.

I'd agree with that. Series like Bleach and Naruto would be a stretch even for Hollywood to pull of.

Hellsing would be a disaster in live-action whether made by an Asian studio or someone in Hollywood.

Has anyone else heard the rumor about an American remake of Death Note? What are your thoughts?

Personally, I'm dreading it. Especially if the rumors of them considering -shudders- Zac Efron for Light are true.

Has anyone else heard the rumor about an American remake of Death Note? What are your thoughts?

Personally, I'm dreading it. Especially if the rumors of them considering -shudders- Zac Efron for Light are true.

That's no rumor, Hollywood fully intends to destroy Death Note. Not sure about Efron, but it won't really make any difference who they choose, since they're still going to dumb it down and Americanize it.

That being said, I am not a big fan of American remakes of Anime. The DBZ movie, based off the trailers, is enough for me to gag. I'm a DBZ fan so it makes me cry to see Goku as a caucasian. That hair just doesn't look right anyway.
Hollywood's philosophy seems to be "If if doesn't happen in America or to Americans, then who cares?"

A Hollywood Hellsing would be more watered down than the original 13 episode of Hellsing. I personally am hoping Hollywood does not touch that.They could just make it a horror film.That being said, I am not a big fan of American remakes of Anime. The DBZ movie, based off the trailers, is enough for me to gag. I'm a DBZ fan so it makes me cry to see Goku as a caucasian. That hair just doesn't look right anyway.Getting right down to it, Goku as a "caucasian" isn't really that bad. Technically, for Dragon Ball's storyline, the guy's an alien...well, he's supposed to be. Getting right down to it, none of the Dragon Ball characters seem remotely Asian, aside from the fact that they speak Japanese and characters like the Turtle elder and Tenshinhan and Chaotsu. Most of the names of the characters are puns and use "foreign" words for the names, like how all of the Saiya-jin names seem to be associated with food. Anywho, aside from the actual martial arts (and even then, seemed more prominent in Dragon Ball), the show doesn't have an Asian feel to me.

The thing to "cringe" over, imo, is the fact that Piccolo isn't green.Personally I'm waiting to see if they will try their hand at Sailor Moon.I would hope that they wouldn't touch that with a 2000 foot pole. Now "caucasian" characters for something like that would be all wrong since the characters literally are supposed to be Japanese.

SSJ_Jup81
They could just make it a horror film.
Which would be a disaster IMO. It's by no means a mere horror film.

Which would be a disaster IMO. It's by no means a mere horror film.But what else could they do with a movie dealing with vampires and the main character being a vampire killing other vampires without turning it into Blade or something?

Is true Americanized movies based on anime are a disaster!
I let Death Note pass with its Asian live-action version.

And I really think BLEACH would fit except for the names and Shinigami costumes (it would look really awful).
Some friends of mine are really looking forward to watch that DB Evolution movie, but I don't want to.
Goku makes me upset, and I am a real fan of Bulma...now she's nothing to do with the original.
I hate it when the hair color is changed just due to live action.

Anime should stay as it is: ANIMATED.
Without having living actors interpret Asian stories.