10 Worst Anime That Should Never Be Adapted Into Live Action

Article Overview

Live-action adaptations of anime face challenges that can lead to infamously bad adaptations, but some have overcome these obstacles and become hits.

Live-action adaptations of certain anime series, such as Spy X Family and K-On!, pose logistical challenges due to potentially losing their comedic highlights or necessitating actors with musical talents.

The transition to live-action may result in unfair comparisons or the sacrifice of their unique visual identity for anime series like Little Witch Academia and My Hero Academia.

Adapting anime to live-action poses numerous challenges and pitfalls, which, if not carefully navigated, can result in infamously bad adaptations. However, there have been notable successes where these obstacles were overcome, making certain live-action adaptations runaway hits. Nonetheless, there are still anime series that are simply unsuited for any medium other than anime.

In general, live-action anime adaptations possess a mixed track record. While Japanese-produced adaptations tend to be better received, there have also been successful Western adaptations. For instance, the Netflix live-action One Piece has garnered praise as one of the finest anime adaptations in this format, and Detective Pikachu, drawing inspiration from both the Pokémon video games and anime series, found success with critics and at the box office. Nevertheless, there are instances where the risks associated with a live-action adaptation outweigh the potential rewards, making it inadvisable to adapt certain anime series.

10. Record Of Lodoss War

Elves Wouldn't Look Good in Live Action

Record of Lodoss War/AIC

Historically, portraying realistic elf ears in live-action fantasy works has been a challenge. Even high-budget productions like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Amazon's Rings of Power, which are renowned for their costume and special effects, have struggled to accurately depict elf ears on-screen. They have chosen to go for small, subtle, and hardly pointed ears. This poses a significant difficulty in creating a live-action version of Deedlit from Record of Lodoss War, as anime elves typically have longer and narrower ears. Considering that Deedlit is one of the series' most important characters, her ears would frequently be in view, making it essential to portray them exceptionally well; otherwise, they would become a constant distraction for the audience. Discover the series now on Crunchyroll.

9. Spy X Family

The Best Visual Gags Wouldn't Work in Live-Action

Spy X Family's art style, inspired by mid-20th century Germany, lends itself well to a potential live-action adaptation. Despite minor alterations needed for Yor's exaggerated hairstyle and Anya's vibrant pink hair, most of the characters could seamlessly make the transition to the big screen. However, it's important to note that a live-action version would lack one of the manga and anime's strongest assets. The series' comedic brilliance shines through the hilariously exaggerated reaction faces, predominantly portrayed by Anya. Unfortunately, replicating these moments with real actors would be impossible, leaving a live-action Spy X Family without the comedic highlights that make it so memorable. Catch the show now on Crunchyroll.

8. K-On!

Would Need to Cast Actors Who Are Also Musicians

Casting a live-action adaptation of K-On! presents a clear challenge. Being one of the top anime series centered around musicians, the cast of K-On! would require actual musical abilities. Consequently, this limits the potential casting options for a hypothetical live-action rendition. Not only would the actors need to be of high-school age or be able to convincingly portray high-schoolers, but they would also need to possess the ability to play the same instruments as their characters. While it may be possible for the actors to pretend to sing and play the instruments, and then have the music dubbed in later, doing so convincingly and avoiding the obvious lip-syncing in live-action would prove significantly more challenging compared to animation. Enjoy watching it now on HiDive.

7. Little Witch Academia

Would Be Dismissed as a Harry Potter Rip-Off

Little Witch Academia, a story centered around students attending a magical school, often invites comparisons to Harry Potter. This connection would become even more prominent if a live-action adaptation were to take place. However, such an association with Harry Potter could potentially be detrimental to a Little Witch Academia adaptation. This is because the Harry Potter franchise has faced criticism and diminishing popularity recently, largely due to controversial remarks made by author J.K. Rowling on social media, which have alienated a significant portion of its fanbase. Furthermore, it would be unjust to link Little Witch Academia solely to Harry Potter, as the two narratives have limited similarities beyond the shared setting of a magic school. In fact, Little Witch Academia bears a much closer resemblance to the Worst Witch series. You can now stream Little Witch Academia on Netflix.

6. Vinland Saga

Would Feel Less Distinct

There has been a market for gritty and epic historical fiction for a long time, as proven by HBO's Rome. It is possible that a live-action adaptation of Vinland Saga would generate interest. However, in order to work in a live-action format, the unique and stylized elements of the series would most likely need to be toned down or altered. Unfortunately, this could potentially harm the adaptation by diminishing its visual and thematic distinctiveness. This drawback is particularly significant since the Vikings TV series, including its sequel Vikings: Valhalla, already covers similar historical territory in a live-action setting. Therefore, a live-action version of Vinland Saga may struggle to differentiate itself adequately.

Watch Now On Crunchyroll

5. Oshi no Ko

A High Potential to Come Across as Hypocritical

On one hand, Oshi no Ko is well-suited for a live-action adaptation, considering the existence of several live-action series about the idol industry. On the other hand, it seems contradictory and hypocritical for the Japanese entertainment industry to create a scathing critique of itself without acknowledging its own actions and shortcomings.

The original Oshi no Ko manga belongs to a different genre and industry, making it less susceptible to these issues. However, a live-action version of Oshi no Ko has the potential to be highly uncomfortable. The manga and anime versions of Oshi no Ko have already faced criticism for exploiting real-life tragedies within the Japanese entertainment industry, and these concerns would undoubtedly be amplified in a live-action adaptation.

Watch Now On HiDive

4. My Hero Academia

Would Have to Compromise its Unique Visual Identity

One of the major strengths of My Hero Academia lies in its distinct and instantly recognizable character designs. For instance, All Might's transformation into a muscular powerhouse is visually striking, whereas his weakened state appears frail and skeletal. While these designs can be effectively portrayed in animation, it would be challenging to replicate the same impact in a live-action adaptation without triggering the Uncanny Valley phenomenon. All Might exemplifies the exceptional character designs in My Hero Academia, although many other characters possess powers, costumes, or physical appearances that would either appear absurd in live action or necessitate significant alterations, subsequently diluting their unique visual appeal.

Stream Now on Crunchyroll.

3. The Heroic Legend of Arslan

Would Need a Massive Budget

A live-action adaptation of the Heroic Legend of Arslan would likely attract fans who enjoy epic stories of warfare and political intrigue, such as Game of Thrones. However, bringing this adaptation to life would require a significant budget to cover elaborate costumes, settings, and the cast of extras or CGI effects needed for the series' battle scenes. Unfortunately, due to its niche appeal, it is unlikely that such a budget would be profitable. Additionally, given that the series draws inspiration from Iranian mythology and history, specifically the Shahnameh, there is potential for controversy in the casting decisions made by the producers. Stream now on Funimation.

2. Berserk

Would Struggle to Depict its Darkest Subject Matter

Berserk's original manga, published in 1989, immediately established a dark and somber tone that has characterized the series throughout its history. Renowned as a relentlessly bleak Dark Fantasy franchise, Berserk delves deeply into violence, nudity, and disturbing narratives. The manga's intense content has even prevented some storylines from being adapted into Berserk's anime series. Translating the series into live-action would only amplify these challenges. While bringing human characters like Guts to life on screen might be feasible, accurately portraying the monsters, demons, and especially the Apostles would prove to be a daunting task.

1. KonoSuba

Would Be So CGI-Heavy that Adapting it Would Feel Pointless

Except for Aqua's vibrant blue hair, the main cast of KonoSuba features relatively simple designs that could easily be translated into a live-action adaptation. However, the vividly imaginative world depicted in the series presents a significant challenge for adaptation. The presence of non-human characters, fantastical enemies, visually stunning magical abilities, and intricate set designs would necessitate heavy reliance on CGI. Converting an originally animated series into a CGI-reliant live-action format would seem superfluous and unnecessary, particularly considering that the original art style would undoubtedly be favored by the audience and any deviation from it could potentially tarnish the reputation of one of the most beloved Isekai anime series.

Stream Now on Crunchyroll

While it is undeniable that certain anime franchises have successfully transitioned into beloved live-action adaptations, numerous others have struggled to meet the artistic demands presented by such conversions. Although there remains a possibility of triumph, it is an endeavor not worth undertaking for the esteemed anime series that should forever remain untarnished by live-action interpretations.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about live-action adaptations of anime. On the one hand, I am excited to see my favorite anime characters come to life in a new way. On the other hand, I am worried that these adaptations will not be able to capture the essence of the original anime.

I think that the biggest challenge for live-action anime adaptations is capturing the unique visual style of anime. Anime has a very distinct look and feel, and it can be difficult to translate that to live-action. For example, anime characters often have large, expressive eyes and exaggerated features. This can be difficult to recreate in live-action without making the characters look unrealistic.

Another challenge for live-action anime adaptations is finding the right actors. Anime characters are often very iconic, and it can be difficult to find actors who can embody them accurately. For example, the character of Naruto Uzumaki is very popular, and it would be difficult to find an actor who could capture his personality and appearance perfectly.

Despite these challenges, I believe that live-action anime adaptations can be successful. If the filmmakers are able to capture the essence of the original anime, then I think that these adaptations can be a great way to introduce new audiences to anime. I am excited to see more live-action anime adaptations in the future, and I hope that they will be able to do justice to the original anime.