Last week we heard a rumor Leonardo DiCaprio, that heartthrob of the silver screen, may be the man playing the troubled Kaneda in Warner Brother’s live action adaptation of the iconic manga turned anime, Akira. There was some rumbling among the anime community as to whether Leo would do the role credit or if he would foul up the angsty persona of Kaneda.
Akira isn’t the only anime to get the American live action (LA for short) treatment. We also have this summer’s release of the equally debated, Speed Racer, another iconic anime, at least to some. From the minds that brought us the gits inspired Matrix, the Wachowski brothers, is this over the top CG enhanced live action rendition of the old anime. On to the next American helmed live action anime, Dragonball Z.
This anime turned 100 million dollar American-made LA anime in the works, will chronicle the story of Goku and company on the silver screen. All I have to say about a live action DBZ is, “Why?”
All this American support for live action anime productions means potential cash in the studios’ pockets, but what does it mean for American anime fans, besides getting to watch some LA anime? With the way the anime distribution industry is headed, could these films raise awareness of the medium and pump some much needed funds and interest into a flagging industry?
I guess it all depends on how the studios approach the films. If studios pay heed to the feel of the anime and don’t pull any punches in the way of dumbing down contrasting cultural views, will these movies still appeal to Johnny Midwest and, in turn, will anime also be appealing?
It seems it’s already a given that places and names will be changed in the movies to better connect with American audiences. And none of the series chosen so far for the LA treatment have too much anime-ness which could potentially turn off viewers, moe and the concept of bishounen being examples thereof. All these movies so far have subject matter the average American movie goer can connect with: action, sci-fi action, and racing. Seems pretty straight forward. Except when you get to the age of the heroes (15), Neo-Tokyo (in the case of Akira), and the concept of a hidden power being unleashed. Can these themes work? Will movie-goers be open to remade Japanese media, like they were with the Ring? Are Americans ready to embrace different themes?
All things to ponder as you sip your Ramune at an anime club meeting. Perhaps the question US anime fans should most ask ourselves in the midst of this flurry of live action anime production is: “What does live action anime mean for America?” Does it mean quick cash in Hollywood’s pockets? Are they simply easy movie inspirations for a bored and spent writer’s guild? An influx of Japanese influences in storytelling? A shot of silicon for a sagging distribution industry? More anime for fans? What does live action anime mean for America?
Share your thoughts, your concerns, or your hopes in the comments below on the impact (or not) of live action anime in America!
Not sure. They SHOULD be animated, instead of being live action, because that is the best way to promote anime. Now in some cases the movie does turn out good (see Transformers), but this only reflects where anime truly places in the US culture; it’s not serious business.
Unless it gets more people into drawing manga and making anime, this is just more money for the movie industry.
I think it’s a toss-up until we see what happens. It’ll definitely get money into the hands of the property owners– the studios had to pay SOMEBODY for the use of the storyline. But, it remains to be seen how many new fans these films will generate. If they’re done well, like Transformers, that’s great, but if they’re done poorly (like Streetfighter), it won’t help anyone in the flagging industry.
Additionally, in some online conversation I’ve had with folks, there’s definitely going to be some fans that’ll be turned off by the LA treatment. When I announced Akira on my blog, a lot of people were concerned about the inauthenticity of the new storyline– the “New Manhattan” instead of Neo Tokyo and the casting of Leonardo DiCaprio instead of an Asian-American as Kaneda.
I guess it’ll be a wait-and-see game, especially since nothing’s gone into production yet and there’s been rumors of an Akira movie for years now…
i gotta say it will be one hell of a toss up like rena said but i really think it is all about money and prolly the acting will suck knowing how restrictive anime here in america is but maybe they will do something right
Most hollywood productions these days are decided on because the studios think they will make a ton of money. There seems to be little consideration for keeping the integrity of an original source. And when moving from an animated film from Japanese culture to a US audience with live-action, I can only imagine the resulting film will fail to please anyone at all.
I’m not really a fan of Akira, nor was I of Speedracer. So I’m not too worried if they ham up the LA movies.
I also don’t believe in the idea of anime getting a much larger following from this. It’s a niche entertainment for western audiences. I can’t see live action movies making this niche appeal to a large amount more people.
And that’s good, people like different things and I wouldn’t want the studios who make this stuff to start changing the things I like into the things that other people like.
It’s not different than the Batman, Spiderman, Fantastic Four type movies where they’re from cartoon/comic book to live action. However, at least in the case of Batman, I much prefer the cartoon version to the live action. I think you can do so much more in cartoons and aside from lining the movie studios’ pockets, I don’t see the reason for a live action remake of Akira. And especially not DBZ…if you want to see that, go find some casual anime geeks and watch them pretend to be Goku.
All this “live-action” anime adaptations coming out of Hollywood just means we’re getting tired of seeing American comic books made into movies. When they start having to tell the same origin stories all over again (Batman, Superman, Hulk), they are getting seriously, seriously desperate for material people might give a damn about. Hell, now they’re going after all those old toys/cartoons I grew up loving like Transformers, Thundercats, and Voltron.
it’s nice these days that Americe is more open minded for live action than a few years back. Yeah, i agree that maybe american are tired of their own comic live action and try to find something new from jp live action
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I think, as with any cultural product these days, it is natural for genres and styles to cross-over. It is really nice to see cross-sections even if it is just to discover how they make it all work. I don’t think there is any such thing as authenticity these days…although it does cause enough of a reaction in anime purists to consider it as something that people believe strongly in. I’m not entirely sure whether it means much for ‘America’ but it does make the anime thing more accessible to a lot of people who might then go on to read other manga and watch more anime…this can only be good =)
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@Dm, it’d be great if anime features got as much publicity as LA, because publicizing anime the same way studios do big budget flicks is the best way to promote anime. But that’s not gonna happen any time soon. However, big budget live action anime is coming our way, so we’ll see if it gets as much publicity as other feature films.
@Rena, yeah, die-hard anime fans are definitely up in arms about the way studios Americanize anime. I see it as a way in to mainstream America’s conscience. Once anime is there, then get authentic on ‘em!
@elitesnipeyman, actors will do their best at their craft, it’s not as if a good actor will suddenly suck. However, if American actors are unfamiliar with anime as a storytelling medium and simply act as they’ve always done, I foresee issues. The dramatic pauses and facial expressions are a must if a live action is to be any good. How many actors will study up on the material I wonder?
@Spyhunter, yikes, and too often has this scenario been played out to the detriment of a property. Batman and Robin comes forcefully to mind. But then we have the directors who are fanboys of a property and do well by it. X-men and Spiderman being two comics which turned out well on the silver screen.
@Alternator, while I agree formation of new hordes of anime fans due to these movies is doubtful, I must insist they’ll raise some awareness. If nothing else, I can see movie goers wander into the manga section at Borders when they pick up their Seattle’s Best or Starbuck’s. How many will become hooked? Who knows, but it’ll get some people thinking.
@Caitlin, the difference between anime and comic books as film properties is that comics are what we grew up with. We were surrounded by these comic book icons with toys and cartoons, if not the comics themselves. I imagine familiarity and nostalgia are what made some of the comic book properties so popular as movies. In turn, comic book sales went up.
And no, there’s no need for a live action Akira, but I’m intrigued as hell!
@robin, m’yep, studios are surely banking on America’s nostalgic investment when they make these movies. I hear they’re even doing frick’n G.I. Joe. Hell. no.
@aw, we’ll see how open-minded American’s really are at the LA anime movie premieres.
@JC, I think some producers do strive for authenticity in a property. By authenticity, I mean something which makes sense in the real world. If the X-men wore those horrible neon costumes in the movie, I wouldn’t have gone to see it. But the essence of the comic books was there, and coupled with a new direction, it was authentic to itself and to fans with open minds.
@Rachel,
I’d say that anime has already got the exposure (at least where I live NZ… we can thank DBZ and pokemon for that.
Although maybe a movie like Akira would cast a different light on it, I heard that Akira was originally the movie to really kick off Americas interest in Anime back in the day.
I think the concern of purists is that things like what happened to card captor sakura might happen more often in order to open up the range of people to sell the product to.
I’ve been writing on this topic for a couple years now. Live action anime is not just a trend in Hollywooed, it’s popular in Japan as well. Death Note saw a couple Japanese-produced live action adaptations along with Saikano (fun anime if you haven’t seen it). I think the question is not just what it means for America, but what it means for the industry in general.
http://www.protaku.com/post/index/16/Live-Action-Anime-movies-a-trend
@Ramsey Isler, I wonder if this flux of live action anime could be the beginning of a new type of cinema. A cinema which incorporates the styles of anime and translate them into movies. Maybe copying anime and transcribing them to live action is the first part of a potentially bigger movement.
I’m totally fine with Japan turning anime into LA just because its from their culture and they are the ones who made it. When I first started hearing about the LA anime here in the states (Transformers and Speed Racer), it was like, “What the heck?” Sure if the actors look just like the characters and the CG looks great and the story if excellent then maybe it’ll be good. I just think its really stupid that they turning DBZ and Akira into LA and I highly doubt they will make the actors look the characters and have a grand storyline.
@Manda, but how do you feel if America gets its hands on anime and turns it into LA? Japan is one thing, but America is something else all together. Akira might be interesting, but DBZ? Why? Just, why?
of course they’re just doing it for money..but if there goin to make a japanese anime into an american live action movie they should pick a movie they can actually make that can look right..Akira looks like a do-able movie…but this is what i hate about hollywood is that they change the whole concept of anime to make it there own..
im a fan of Dragon Ball..and i guess its official that they are making it into a live action film..and this is one of the anime that ist not goin to be successful like street fighter..and i think they should just leave it be and not make it into a live action film..its just way to complex.. and iv read a couple of how the movie is going to be and what the characters are goin to be like at they’re official website..and it is nothing even close to how the anime/manga are..and i believe it will be a down fall.. because they have change basicly everything to make this movie..iv seen a lot of complaints about this movie being made..especially the main character being a white american actor instead of being an asian actor..and how the character are designed and so on..and a lot believe the movie will fail and Dragon Ball will be ruined in the eyes of the fans..this is just what i have found in the internet about this movie..
so yes i believe it is just quick cash in Hollywood pockets..and if it is suppose to be for fans to like anime or to get more anime fans then they should keep it as an anime and not turn it into a live movie..if thats what they’re saying..and if its suppose to be an insiration for the writer in Hollywood then they should just watch some anime and make up their own instead of having to buy another persons idea..cause then they would have the credit of making there own..how can u be proud of something that you didnt really make in the begining?
Only one thing i can say being a fan of Akira, making an infamous anime a live action film will destroy the open answer mean it has due to the fact most near all american based films and or media needs an ending that people don’t think about.
Don’t know why but every dam sodding thing americans did to past animes, manga and comics a like is to take an open ending in which a viewer can take what they want from it into a hypodermic needle story and tell it the way that one writer/director thinks it should be done.
I feel the more things become live action the more hand drawn work will be soon outted like disney did to most of their 2D animation staff… during their switch to Coputer Generated films and also down to the live action its 2 means that still want to out anime. If something like Ghost in the Shell becomes live action along side Akira I’ll never buy a live film ever again…
Akira as a ‘LA’ film will be and no argument for it lose the meaning it had and WILL not match that of what the anime already has and will always give to the viewer… Akira should be respected and left alone due to what it has done to the animation industry for the past 30+ years!