why is live action anime so bad

by Felipa Zemlak 8 min read
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Perhaps the biggest issue with live-action anime adaptations is tempo. Not only are creators trying to tell an animated story in live-action, but they're also trying to squeeze a wealth of storylines into a smaller format. Any live-action series needs to appeal to those that have never seen the series before.Mar 21, 2022

Full Answer

Why are live-action anime adaptations so bad?

That isn't to say live-action anime adaptations are not good, it just so happens that they're more difficult to pull off successfully. Hence, for every decent or good live-action anime adaptation, there's bound to be some bad ones that didn't do justice. Both Hollywood and Japanese live-action cinema are guilty of the latter.

Why do people hate anime so much?

Ultimately, anime, manga and live action TV series are very different art forms. Different ways of telling a story work in each medium, and when one tries too hard to ape the other, the end result ends up feeling awkward and lackluster.

Can live-action anime be just as successful as superhero movies?

The community is a global one with millions of members, but they will not celebrate two-bit adaptations. Live-action anime can be just as successful as superhero films if studios would give its source material the attention it deserves.

Is Devilman the worst live-action anime adaptation of all time?

Some even consider Devilman as the worst live-action adaptation of all time, period. Surprisingly enough, Netflix does stream a good live-action anime adaptation to balance out how awful Death Note was.

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Why is live-action anime always bad?

When anime characters fight, they often do so with magical weaponry and powers that can't be replicated in live-action form. The fight choreography in animation is often spectacular, so translating it to live action would require levels of strength physically impossible for the actors involved.

Why is anime so much better than live-action?

Whereas live-action movies are more fluid and realistic, anime can more easily depict the magical, futuristic, and otherwise unreal. There are brilliant examples of storytelling in every genre across both mediums, but for some things anime is simply better.

Are there any good anime live actions?

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter 1 is often regarded as one of the best live-action adaptations of an anime series in history, and for good reason.

What is the point of live-action?

A live action movie can easily capture the real-life emotions and elements of human behavior. And real footage helps the audience feel grounded in a sense of reality and purpose. CGI technology is super impressive. But even still, some real-world objects can't be replicated by a computer.

Why is anime addicting?

like myself, some people are addicted to anime because it's fun, action-packed, comedic, and entertaining, it's like a show that's so good you can't help but watch another episode, and the characters are cute and different.

Why is anime so popular 2021?

The Diverse Variety of Stories The wide range of genres in anime is the first reason why it is so popular. Every person enjoys a different story, genre, and style in anime! Romance, comedy, action/adventure, mystery/suspense, and horror are just a few of the many genres explored by anime plots.

What is the best anime adaptation?

Ranked: The 10 Best Anime Adaptations Of Classic Manga1 Ping Pong The Animation.2 Devilman Crybaby. ... 3 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part V: Vento Aureo. ... 4 Revolutionary Girl Utena. ... 5 Hunter X Hunter (1999) ... 6 One-Punch Man (Season 1) ... 7 Prison School. ... 8 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part II: Battle Tendency. ... More items...•

Will there be a Naruto live-action movie?

Further, Shaw says: “This project is not just a film on Youtube, but it is a movement. Lionsgate is currently adapting 'Naruto' into live-action”. He also adds these comments stating, that a live-action adaptation should be all about sharing the beautiful stories from Japan with the world.

Is one piece getting a live-action?

In November 2021, Netflix announced the cast of its live-action adaptation of One Piece. Iñaki Godoy will play the protagonist pirate Moneky D Luffy.

Is animation better than live-action?

While animated films have more visual freedom than live-action movies, they also have more narrative freedom. As mentioned, not every animated film had to be animated, but there are many times it wouldn't make sense any other way.

Which is more expensive animation or live-action?

For the sake of simplicity, an animated video that's 90 seconds to 2-minutes long can range anywhere between $15,000 and $35,000. As for live-action, depending on the type of video you're choosing, the price tag could be between $17,000 to $100,000+.

What can animation do that live-action movies can t?

It's easy for live action film, such as talking head clips, to appear imposing and heavy in information. An animation disarms your audience, makes them feel anything but threatened by the new knowledge being bestowed upon them. It's more engaging, which results in a greater retention of information.

Story

When it comes to making a Live Action Anime movie, you need to consider what you’re trying to accomplish.

Character & World Building

When you watch an anime, each episode tends to lead towards developing a character or developing the world making you feel immersed and invested. Live action anime usually fails to accomplish this.

Casting

Back on the topic of Light from the Death Note live action movie. I think he was miscast. In the anime, Light is this super all-around perfect human-being making him the legendary god-like figure he’s portrayed as.

Production Value

Live action anime films tend to not have much funding. They’re usually running on a smaller budget which results in a lower quality film which IS hard to overcome. We can still point out that the production value will kill a movie though.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, I wanted to bring up a movie that strayed from the original story but nailed the execution of their film. That movie I’m talking about is Ready Player One. I know, I know, that’s not a live-action anime film, but adapting an anime into a movie is relatively the same as adapting a book into a movie.

Does Hollywood Understand the Source Material?

Once again, Hollywood, specifically Netflix, did another live-action anime adaptation. Once again, it was a critical and commercial failure. Once again, the fans are enraged.

Lost in Translation?

I had such high hopes for Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop. It is sci-fi, has a non-linear plot, and has good actors. Besides, the soundtrack is mostly jazz music.

How to Ruin an Anime Adaptation

Since Hollywood is going to insist on making them, and we will continue watching and complaining about them, here is a primer of how to ruin an anime adaptation.

Where was Attack on Titan made?

An example of this would be Attack on Titan , the live-action movie. While it was made in Japan and with Japanese actors (instead of German, oddly enough), it was still critically panned.

Do you have to watch Dragon Ball to see what's wrong?

It was Hollywood's take on the legendary Dragon Ball saga. One doesn't even have to watch the movie in order to see what's wrong with the whole damn thing. Just seeing the trailers or posters ought to be enough of a warning sign to stay away from this live-action adaptation.

Is Devilman Crybaby bad?

Apparently, the live-action adaptation of Devilman Crybaby was so bad, it became the worst of the worst when it came to Japanese films in an annual poll. That says much about how it failed despite being made in Japan.

Is Rurouni Kenshin live action?

Being set in a realistic time period of human history, it wouldn't be too hard to make a live-action version of Rurouni Kenshin. It was a huge part of most anime fans' childhood and even hinted at them some Meiji period history lessons.

Is anime good for live action?

Certain dialogue, storytelling techniques, and even emotional weight can only be achieved through anime. That isn't to say live-action anime adaptations are not good, it just so happens that they're more difficult to pull off successfully.

Is anime a good medium?

Some films have turned out great while others have completely flopped. The most popular and iconic anime shows tend to stay within their medium for a good reason. Certain dialogue, storytelling techniques, and even emotional weight can only be achieved through anime. That isn't to say live-action anime adaptations are not good, ...

Is Blade of the Immortal live action?

4 BEST: BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL. Surprisingly enough, Netflix does stream a good live-action anime adaptation to balance out how awful Death Note was. That said adaptation is Blade of the Immortal, based on the anime of the same name back.

Why are film adaptations so difficult?

Video games, for example, have proven near impossible to adapt successfully, usually because the film turns an interactive experience into a passive one.

What are some examples of weak sauce movies?

This has resulted in weak sauce movies like Super Mario Bros, Max Payne and Doom, which bore little resemblance to their source. Outside of video game movies though, it’s hard to think of another genre that’s more critically reviled than live action anime.

Is the anime a live action movie?

The anime was gory, exaggerated affair that was very much suited to animation, though with the right approach a live action version could have worked. Unfortunately, the producers of the movie didn’t have the right approach – or the budget – to make it work.

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Story

Character & World Building

  • When you watch an anime, each episode tends to lead towards developing a character or developing the world making you feel immersed and invested. Live action anime usually fails to accomplish this. For example, the Fullmetal Alchemistlive action movie expected the viewers to have already watched the anime to have a single clue of what was going on....
See more on theouterhaven.net

Casting

  • Light From Death Note (Film/Anime… You should know the difference though) Back on the topic of Light from the Death Notelive action movie. I think he was miscast. In the anime, Light is this super all-around perfect human-being making him the legendary god-like figure he’s portrayed as. He’s a huge wuss in the live action movie though… I know I mentioned that following your own st…
See more on theouterhaven.net

Production Value

  • Live action anime films tend to not have much funding. They’re usually running on a smaller budget which results in a lower quality film which IS hard to overcome. We can still point out that the production value will kill a movie though. If there’s a movie like Fullmetal Alchemist that relies heavily on CGI in its action scenes, we expect some decent CGI. Sadly, the CGI in Fullmetal Alch…
See more on theouterhaven.net

Conclusion

  • To wrap things up, I wanted to bring up a movie that strayed from the original story but nailed the execution of their film. That movie I’m talking about is Ready Player One. I know, I know, that’s not a live-action anime film, but adapting an anime into a movie is relatively the same as adapting a book into a movie. Ready Player One didn’t copy the book chapter by chapter, but instead just ba…
See more on theouterhaven.net