Kiki's Delivery Service Live Action Trailer

Anime has a lot of live action adaptation coming in 2014. One of those anime's getting the live action treatment is the beloved Kiki's Delivery Service. The film stars as Fuka Koshiba as Kiki and the film is directed by Takashi Shimizu (Ju-ON: The Grudge). The theme song is called "Wake Me Up" by Mai Kuraki. Check out the trailer below.

Toriyama: Hollywood’s Dragon Ball Sucked

With unusual candour for a top mangaka, on the eve of the release of the first animated Dragon Ball movie in over a decade series creator Akira Toriyama has taken some time out to bash the notoriously bad Hollywood adaptation he authorised.

A recent interview with Akira Toriyama about the new (2D) Dragon Ball Z movie, which for the first time he is helping to script, includes the admission that he was less than pleased with the Hollywood version:

With the Hollywood live action version, the script didn’t contain much evidence of the distinctive Dragon Ball world, and wasn’t even that interesting, and despite me warning them and suggesting changes they were so sure of themselves that they ignored me.
What they came out with in the end was a movie I can’t really call on par with the usual Dragon Ball.

Prior to the movie’s release he esteemed “the super talent of the production staff and actors” and enthused that “thanks to their power this may become a major masterpiece!”, and since its release has generally kept quiet about it.


Source: Sankaku Complex

Animes That Will Work In A Live Action Film Adaptation

With anime growing and growing and gaining more mass appeal to American audiences. Hollywood has taken note and are starting to license some anime's for a big screen adaptation such as Bleach, Akira (was scrapped), Robotech and many more. However Hollywood has not been successful with faithfully adapting anime for live action. Today I wanted to give a list of anime shows and movies that I think will work in live action and appeal to American audiences. I will name the anime, the genre I think it will fit in, how long I think the movie should be, the rating of the film and estimated budget cost.

Lupin The 3rd
Genre: Action/Comedy
Running Time: 1hr & 45 Mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 50 Million Dollars

Lupin The 3rd is a anime I can see working in live action. It has all the elements that can make it a long running movie series. The tale of a master thief and his crew has been done over and over again in Hollywood. However I don't think Hollywood has encounter someone quite like Lupin and his gang. The characters in Lupin The 3rd are off the wall and will be guaranteeing fun as well as laughs. The movie should start with a mini backstory on Lupin and his crew using sources from the original manga and some of the anime movies. Then transition into the big mission and goal of the film. A live action attempt was tried in the 70's but I think it's time to bring Lupin into the big screen.

Grave Of The Fireflies
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 2hr and 20 mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 70 Million Dollars

For the record I know this movie has tons of live action adaptation. However I don't think it did good job as the anime. A "Grave Of The Fireflies" live action with a bigger budget will be great. This is my favorite anime movie of all time, and I would love American audiences to see a story on these two orphans struggling to survive after losing they mother in a time of World War 2. If it has the right direction and the best of the best Asian actors, and a revamped of the anime's original soundtrack, I think this could be an Oscar contender. However it will have to be in the hands of people who care deeply about the message and the characters.

Perfect Blue
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Running Time: 1hr and 40 mins
Rating - R
Estimated Budget - 35 Million Dollars

Some critics said that if Alfred Hitchcock got into anime he would have made "Perfect Blue." I have to agree with that statement. "Perfect Blue" is a psychological thriller that just happens to be in anime form. The story of Japanese pop idol wanting more for her career decides to become an actress. When she leaves things become very dark as she is stalk by someone who was not happy with her decision. This anime is very mature that is why I the live action will be rated R. The anime is filled with graphic images, rape scenes and nudity, but the overall psychological aspect of the main character is what I want audiences to see on the big screen.

Gunslinger Girl
Genre: Action/Drama
Running Time: 2hr
Rating - R
Estimated Budget - 50 Million Dollars

This will be a very controversial film for American audiences and it's just wishful thinking. I don't think a movie of teenage girls as assassins will fit well with some people. However if Hit-Girl can kill why can't the Gunslinger Girls. The movie is not just about the kills. This anime has heart about girls who were near death and save by a government organization and trained as assassins. The relationship between the girls and the mentors should be the main focal point of the movie. Gunslinger Girl will be an emotional but action pack ride if it's done right.

A Wind Named Amnesia
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 1hr 50 mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 35 Million Dollars

The apocalypse didn't happen by a zombie outbreak, or by a nuclear war but it happen with a simple whisper in the wind. "A Wind Named Amnesia" is a movie I will like to see a live action version of. It has great characters and a nice plot of only one man remembering what it's like to be human while others have forgot. 

Mobile Suit Gundam
Genre: Action/Drama
Running Time: 2hr and 20 mins
Rating - PG-13
Estimated Budget - 100 Million

If a Robotech movie is in the works than you can't forget about Mobile Suit Gundam. This is one of the anime's that started the mech crazed in anime. The story is pure classic and with war like the original Mobile Suit Gundam it will be nice to see who American audiences choose the Zeon or Earth Federation. The action will have to be top notch and taken with care that is why the budget is 150 million dollars. 

Vampire Hunter D
Genre: Action/Horror
Running Time: 1hr and 50 mins
Rating - R
Estimated Budget - 45 Million

Who doesn't love a tale about vampires and the people that hunt them? This would be one hell of a movie that I could probably see Tim Burton producing. Vampire Hunter D is one of the most beloved anime characters and with the right studio it can easily become a franchise. All I ask is that they use the manga and the two movies as source material.

Elfen Lied
Genre: Horror/Drama
Running Time: 1hr and 50 mins
Rating - R
Estimate Budget - 45 Million

Another anime that might be hard for American audiences. However  Elfen Lied has great commentary on bullying with Lucy's backstory. This will be a great horror movie with drama elements. I can imagine the rampage Lucy will go on in this movie. This film will have a lot of gore, but keep intact the core dramatic story of Lucy. The vectors CGI will be pricey to make it look realistic as possible. 

Those are my choices of for anime's that I think will work in a live action film. Let me know your choices in the comment section and what do you think of my choices.