Unveiling the Untold Stories: 10 Live-Action Anime Adaptations That Fell Through the Cracks

Summary

Translating the energy and liveliness of the original format is a major challenge faced by both anime and live-action adaptations, as evidenced by the disappointments of Dragon Ball Evolution and Netflix's Death Note movie.

Numerous renowned anime creations, including Akira and Neon Genesis Evangelion, had promising prospects for live-action adaptations that ultimately fell through due to logistical obstacles such as insufficient funding or studio disengagement. Despite the occasional exceptions like Netflix's One Piece live-action series, the majority of anime live-action adaptations encounter substantial hurdles when attempting to effectively convey the essence of the original content on screen.

Anime and live-action adaptations often fail to successfully merge, resulting in disappointing adaptations that tarnish the source material. Examples of this can be seen in Westernized disasters like Dragon Ball Evolution and Netflix's Death Note movie, as well as Japanese productions like Devilman and Terra Formars. While there are occasional exceptions, such as Netflix's One Piece live-action series that successfully pleased both devoted franchise fans and new viewers, capturing the dynamic energy and vibrant essence of anime on the big screen proves to be an immense challenge for film and TV studios.

Furthermore, there are numerous anime live-action adaptations that never saw the light of day. Iconic works like Akira, a cyberpunk trailblazer, and Neon Genesis Evangelion, a mecha genre game-changer, could have potentially been adapted into live-action projects. However, logistical issues such as lack of funding or studio backing led to the cancellation of these projects. In some instances, concept art and test footage were already created, but without sufficient funding, these adaptations were unable to move forward. Whether these inspired works would have diminished the original anime's legacy or enhanced it even further, anime fans can only contemplate.

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10 Lupin The Third

Lupin III, also known as Lupin the Third, has captivated a dedicated following of fans since manga artist Monkey Punch launched the franchise in 1967. According to a report by Anime News Network in 2003, Gerald R. Molen, the producer of acclaimed films such as Schindler's List and Minority Report, acquired the rights to create a live-action film adaptation. Despite Monkey Punch's lack of interest in an Americanized version of his creation, Molen intended to include the five main characters while making necessary creative alterations to the story. However, for undisclosed reasons, the project ultimately failed to materialize, even though Lupin III continued to receive multiple live-action adaptations in Japan.

9 Tiger And Bunny

Tiger and Bunny, along with My Hero Academia and One Punch Man, are renowned examples of modern superhero anime that cleverly satirize the genre by depicting armored heroes vying for attention on a reality TV show. Back in 2015, Variety reported that Imagine Entertainment, headed by Ron Howard, teamed up with Bandai Namco and All Nippon Entertainment Works to adapt this anime into a Hollywood production. Although Sunrise, the anime studio, announced this collaboration at the 2015 New York Comic Con, it ultimately proved to be an empty promise due to the bankruptcy of Global Road Entertainment, one of the production companies involved.

8 Sailor Moon

One of the most popular shojo mangas ever, Sailor Moon, was transformed into a highly successful anime series during the 1990s. Following the double life of a schoolgirl and her alter ego, Sailor Moon, there was a possibility of a Western adaptation if the pilot episode had been a triumph. With former Bandai America chief Frank Ward granting permission, internet archivist Ray Mona extensively researched the project and determined that the pilot episode had a rather modest budget, considering that the sets were borrowed from the sitcom Saved By The Bell.

7 Bubblegum Crisis

The OVA series Bubblegum Crisis, known for its female mercenaries using exoskeletons to combat rogue robots, had the potential for an intriguing mecha adaptation. In fact, a live-action adaptation was even signed at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, as reported by IGN. This project was set to be an international production with a budget of $30 million. Originally planned for a 2012 release, the movie seemed to face stagnation with no further updates. However, had it been made, the movie would have remained faithful to the original anime, as the director and manga artists were reportedly involved in the production.

6 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hideaki Anno's groundbreaking anime, blended dystopian sci-fi with philosophy. It has been widely discussed as a potential live-action adaptation that Hollywood needs. In 2003, there were initial plans for a movie, with ADV Films partnering alongside the anime's production studio Gainax. Confirmations of concept art and a rough script draft surfaced, and rumors circulated that John Woo would produce the film. However, the project faced a setback when Gainax refused to hand over the rights, leading to a heated legal battle with ADV Films. Ultimately, Studio Khara acquired the rights from Gainax, dashing all hopes for the live-action movie.

5 Star Blazers

4 Gundam

: Space Battleship Yamato, also known as Star Blazers, was a beloved anime that combined military strategy and space action. It depicted an interstellar war between an Earth spaceship and other forces that threatened the dystopian reality of the planet. Despite having an American animated adaptation and various Japanese live-action versions, Skydance Productions showed interest in turning Star Blazers into an ambitious sci-fi drama in Hollywood. According to Deadline, Christopher McQuarrie was chosen to write the screenplay and direct the film. However, the project did not progress to the production stage, as McQuarrie focused his efforts on the Mission: Impossible franchise instead.

Gundam has made such a massive impact on the military sci-fi genre and the global toy market (thanks to Gunpla) that even non-anime fans are likely to be familiar with it. It's been a longstanding rumor among Gundam fans that back in the 1980s, Hollywood had plans to make a Gundam movie. This rumor has been supported by the Gundam-centric website Zimmerit, which recovered an interview with concept artist Syd Mead that he gave to the now-defunct Anime News Service. In the interview, Mead mentioned that he worked on some initial mecha-suit designs for the project. However, Lionsgate, the production company, ultimately failed to secure rights from the anime studio Sunrise, and as a result, the project had to be abandoned.

3 Naruto

After the unsuccessful attempt to Westernize Gundam, Lionsgate remains determined to produce a live-action adaptation of yet another influential anime. Naruto, a beloved classic among shounen anime enthusiasts, has captivated audiences with the thrilling journey of the eponymous ninja as he strives to become the Hokage. In 2015, Lionsgate made the exciting announcement of their plans to transform this anime into a live-action film. Although no further developments have been disclosed, rumors persist about a potential Hollywood take on Naruto currently being developed. However, it is worth considering that Naruto's complex and expansive narrative, spanning multiple arcs, may be better suited for a TV series rather than a live-action movie format.

2 Space Adventure Cobra

Space Adventure Cobra, an 80s classic, may not have achieved the same level of popularity as other space animes, but it profoundly influenced subsequent works in the genre. Surprisingly, this anime also gained a significant following in France, where French director Alexandre Aja expressed his deep interest in creating a live-action adaptation through numerous interviews, referring to it as his "passion project." By 2011, Aja had managed to secure the support of a few French production companies. However, he sadly revealed on the podcast Post Mortem With Mick Garris that the project was discontinued in 2018 due to financial constraints and an oversaturated market for space science fiction films following the success of Guardians of the Galaxy and the release of new Star Wars movies.

1 Akira

Akira drew inspiration from Blade Runner and has since become a significant influence on modern pop culture, particularly in animation and live-action films and TV shows. Notably, acclaimed directors Jordan Peele and Taika Waititi have expressed interest in remaking Akira in a live-action format. However, Peele decided against directing due to his concerns about reinterpreting the source material, while Waititi experienced a fallout with Warner Bros. over casting decisions and the project faced further delays as he prioritized directing Thor: Love and Thunder.

Interestingly, Warner Bros. first acquired the rights to remake Akira in 2002, and it was rumored that Leonardo DiCaprio would be one of the producers. Since then, numerous script treatments and directorial changes have occurred, causing the project to remain stuck in development. Prior to Peele and Waititi's involvement, directors Stephen Norrington (Blade) and George Miller (Mad Max) had also declined to direct the remake. Another director, Jaume Collett-Serra (Orphan), was briefly attached to the project but ultimately did not bring the live-action adaptation to fruition.