Anime In the Flesh - 7 Upcoming Live-Action Anime Adaptations
There have been plenty of Hollywood remakes of Asian films over the years, but one genre that’s largely escaped the notice of Hollywood’s production machinery is anime. Over the last few years, however, Hollywood has been snapping up the rights to animated series left and right. Some of these re-makes sound promising …and some, not so much. Here are seven high-profile re-makes that Hollywood has in the pipeline.
Akira
Synopsis: If you’re reading this, you know what Akira’s all about. If not, here’s a quick rundown. A Japanese motorcycle gang, led by juvenile delinquent Kaneda, runs afoul of a government agency that’s conducting experiments with telekinetic children. Things get complicated when one of their members, the destructively self-conscious Tetsuo, turns out to be a TK powerhouse. Lots of stuff gets blowed up real good.
Who’s making it? Ruairi Robinson (Director), Gary Whitta (Screenwriter)
Who’s gonna be in it? Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
What’s the lowdown? Rumor has it that the adaptation has shifted location from post-apocalypse Japan to post-apocalypse New York City. Oh, and all the Japanese people are now gaijin (look for that to be a running theme for all these adaptations). Interestingly, Akira will supposedly be an adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga, and not the 1988 anime everyone is familiar with. In addition, the film will be released in two parts, each one covering three volumes of the manga…which leads to some interesting conclusions. (Spoilers ahead). There are several major differences between the manga and the anime, including the fact that Akira is not dissected and placed in jars in the manga, and that Neo-Tokyo gets re-destroyed about halfway through the series. Whether either of these turns out to be true for the film remains to be seen.
As for the quality of the film itself, it’s really hard to say. I’ve never seen either of Robinson’s other films, and with only two under his belt it’s difficult to see this coming out well. Then again, Zack Snyder only had a handful of flicks in the can before turning in the amazing 300, so maybe there’s hope.
Chance of total suckitude: 50%
Robotech
Synopsis: Assuming the film covers the fan-favorite Macross saga (essentially the first third of the Robotech series), the plot should run thusly: inexperienced pilot Rick Hunter is caught up in a war with an invading alien race, the 50-foot-tall Zentraedi who seek to recapture their lost battlecruiser, the SDF-1. The SDF-1 has been retrofitted for human use, and a solar-system-wide battle ensues during which Earth is nearly destroyed…and many eardrums are shattered by the pithy wailings of ’singer’ Lynn Minmei. Rick makes a good choice.
Who’s making it? Tobey Maguire (Producer), Craig Zahler (Screenplay)
Who’s gonna be in it? Tobey Maguire
What’s the lowdown? Robotech is one of the Holy Grails of American anime fandom. Most of us old-skool fans grew up watching Robotech, and have been looking forward to a live-action version for the better part of two decades. That said, this sorta feels like a vanity project for Maguire. Word is he’s eyeing the role of Rick Hunter for himself. I like Maguire, but I’m not so sure he’s right for the Rick Hunter role. Actually, I’m not sure he’s good for any role in this. That said, I admire his desire to get this project off the ground.
Hard information on the production is a little hard to come by. Other than Maguire and the screenwriter, Craig Zahler, nobody else seems to be officially attached to Robotech. Harmony Gold, the American production company responsible for adapting the three Japanese anime series into what would become Robotech, is expected to be involved to some degree - which is heartening. After having a number of conversations with several Harmony Gold employees, I can honestly say that they are all huge Robotech fans and their involvement - however small - is encouraging.
Chance of total suckitude: 40%
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Synopsis: Reclusive student Shinji Ikari is recruited by his father to pilot the semi-sentient mecha Eva-001 in humanity’s war against a mysterious alien force, the Angels, which seem hell-bent on destroying humanity. He is joined by two young females, Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley (who each pilot their own Eva units) - but as the battle intensifies, Shinji’s mental state becomes increasingly fractured leading to a decidedly bizarre end to the series - one whch has left anime fans debating it’s meaning ever since.
Who’s making it? ADV (production), WETA Workshop (visual effects)
Who’s gonna be in it? Unknown
What’s the lowdown? In all honesty, this is the film on this list which has the highest potential for greatness, but the lowest potential of actually getting made. It’s a damn shame, too. Announced in 2003, fans across the internets were treated to some very cool concept art from WETA Workshop (the talented folk behind the Lord of the Rings films). At one point ADV even claimed they had raised half the film’s expected budget (somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million). As of this writing, however, the film seems to be no farther along than it was five years ago. Which is a damn shame. Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered one of - if not the - best anime series ever created, and a faithful adaptation (wierd ending and all) would simply rock. Especially if WETA does all the effects work. Alas, Evangelion seems relegated to the file cabinet labeled ‘Dream Projects Which Will Never Materialize’.
Sigh.
Chance of total suckitude? 20% (if it ever gets made)
Battle Angel Alita
Synopsis: Alita is a cyborg rescued from a scrap heap by a rogue scientist named Daisuke Ido. Though her memories are scattered, it soon becomes apparent she is not a mere piece of cast-aside flotsam. After being re-constructed, she discovers a number of powers and abilities. Like Evangelion (see above) Alita has a number of religious alliterations, including many references to the Kabbalah.
Who’s making it? James Cameron (Director / Screenwriter)
Who’s gonna be in it? Unknown
What’s the lowdown? If anyone can make a good adaptation of Yukito Kishiro’s manga (and the anime), it’s James Cameron. Word is he’s gonna make use of the 3D camera technology he developed for use with his current production, the sci-fi epic Avatar, as well as a number of other techy gadgets and techniques, including “…new devices for interacting between actors, director and the digital characters and environments, such as a real time virtual camera and virtual retinal display technology (VRD).” People can say what they want about Cameron, whatever he does is fascinating, if even on a mechanical level.
It must be said, too, that I was always under the impression that the television series Dark Angel, which was created by Cameron, owed more than a little debt to Alita for many of it’s plot devices. I’m half-hoping that Cameron will tap Jessica Alba for the lead role in Alita, too.
Chance of total suckitude? 25%
Ghost in the Shell
Synopsis: Major Makoto Kusanagi is a cybernetically-enhanced special-ops badass who heads a secretive black-ops anti-terrorist unit called Section 9. She and her fellow S9 members defend Japan against a slew of high-tech threats, including the mysterious Puppet Master, and the info-terrorist the Laughing Man.
Who’s making it? Avi Arad and Steven Paul (Producers), Jamie Moss (Screenwriter)
Who’s gonna be in it? Unknown
What’s the lowdown? The one big name missing from the list of production staff above is Steven Spielberg. Spielberg claims he’s a big GitS fan and that it was his influence that led to Dreamworks picking up the rights to Masamune Shirow’s popular manga. What influences this film will draw from Mamoru Oshii’s two films or the Stand Alone Complex television series remains to be seen. Indeed, the manga, the films, and the television series differ in a number of major ways, and each of them are equally cool. Personally, I love the police procedural feel of the television series, but this may make it unsuitable for film adaptation. If Dreamworks chooses to go with the films, or simply plumb the original manga to craft a wholly new storyline, I’ll be just as happy.
I do hope they keep the setting in Japan, or at least Asia, however. Oshii took the liberty of re-locating the storyline to Hong Kong, which I thought was a wise decision. Dreamworks would do well to take a hint.
Chance of total suckitude? 10%
Dragonball
Synopsis: You know, I don’t follow DBZ, at least not enough to encapsulate it, so I’ll just swipe quote the synopsis from Wikipedia:
The series continues the adventures of Son Goku who, along with his companions, defend the Earth and other fictional planets against various supervillains. While the original Dragon Ball anime followed Goku through childhood into adulthood, Dragon Ball Z parallels his adult life with the maturation of his first child, Son Gohan. The series also gives focus to the evolution of his rivals, Piccolo and Vegeta, from evil to good, with the former’s evolution occurring early in the series and latter’s spanning across the entire series. The separation between the series is also significant as the later series takes on a more dramatic and serious tone, with a number of villains either threatening or committing acts of mass murder or outright genocide.
Who’s making it? James Wong (Director), Ben Ramsey (Screenwriter)
Who’s in it? Justin Chatwin (Goku), James Marster (Piccolo), Emily Rossum (Bulma), Chow Yun-Fat (Master Roshi)
What’s the lowdown? Despite dropping the ‘Z’ from the title, this film is clearly based on the later (and vastly more popular) ‘Dragonball Z’, not the earlier series. Depending on who you ask, that’s either a good thing or a bad thing. I’ve never been a big DBZ fan, and this film doesn’t look to change that. That said, the DBZ franchise has a legion of loyal (some would say ‘fanatic’) followers. The problem is, will this film satisfy the fan base, or try and introduce newbies? That’s a fine line that plagues any adaptation, and Dragonball looks as if it’s saddled by the same weighty challenge. Leaked production photos don’t do much to bolster my confidence that the film will turn out to be anything other than a bizarre amalgam of anime action and Hollywood technique. Then again, it’s hard to tell exactly what the final product will look like just from a handful of behind-the-scenes shots. I’m holding out hope that Wong adds a heavy dose of post-production CGI craziness to match the show. That might be fun, if not exactly brain food.
Chance of total suckitude: 75%
Speed Racer
Synopsis: Greg ‘Speed’ Racer is the best at what he does - namely drive. Actually, make that ‘drive fast’. With off-road help from his dad ‘Pops’, sidekicks Spridle and Chim-Chim, and the ever-bubbly Trixie, Speed takes on challengers from around the world. And just who is the mysterious ‘Racer X’?
Who’s making it? Andy and Larry Wachowski (Directors, Screenwriters)
What’s the lowdown? Speed Racer has the sole distinction of being the only film on this list that’s actually in the can. The film’s production history has been a fairly drawn-out affair, with Johnny Depp at one point being rumored for the lead role. Eventually, newcomer Emile Hirsch was cast, and based on what I’ve seen from the trailers, I’d say it was a wise choice. The film’s supporting cast is just as promising, featuring John Goodman (Pops), Susan Sarandon (Mom), Christina Ricci (Trixie), and Matthew Fox (Racer X). The film itself looks decidedly wonky, with all the craziness of the anime series intact. I have faith that the Wachowskis have turned in a fun, thrilling flick - and it’s also the first Wachowski-made film I can take my son to.
Chance of total suckitude: 15%
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I am keeping my fingers crossed that Ghost in the Shell never happens…there are just far too many ways for Hollywood to screw it up. : (