For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention this time turns to the best live-action adaptations of anime. From JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to Blade of the Immortal, there’s an excellent choice to whet your appetite! ..
Guyver II: Dark Hero (1994)
Guyver is an anime series that has extremely violent and mind-numbing content that appeals to fans of Attack On Titan or Chainsaw Man. It was many old fans’ version of these shows, and to others, their introduction to anime and manga.
Despite being a live-action adaptation that pays little homage to its roots, the film leaves a decent impression. This film follows Sean Barker, who destroys the Kronos Corporation. This organization was made up of mutants seeking an alien bio-armor suit called Guyver. Due to their failure, Sean becomes Guyver’s new host. ..
Guyver leads Sean to an archaeological site where scientists found a spacecraft. To prevent Guyver’s origins from getting leaked, Sean dawns the infamous suit and plans to fight the Kronor Corporation one final time. Its effects hold up well for a live-action adaptation produced in the mid-90s despite a few inconsistencies with Guyver’s suit.
The Dark Hero adaptation does not offer a great deal in terms of acting and storytelling, but its action sequences are very exciting. The fights feel stylized and look impressive for the time, which makes it a good choice for fans of action movies. If you’re looking for an adaptation that offers decent storytelling but invigorating action, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)
Inuyashiki (2018)
Death Note (2006)
Netflix’s attempt to recreate Death Note saw massive hate amongst anime fans and people who weren’t familiar with Takeshi Obata’s manga. Where the Netflix adaptation failed to capture the beauty of that mind-numbing work, Shûsuke Kaneko’s 2006 adaptation excels. The 2006 adaptation is a beautiful and heartbreaking look at the power of love,hate,and obsession.
The source material for Ruroni Kenshin Part 1: Origins was adapted from the manga and anime series by Hideyuki Matsubara. While fans are haunted by live-action adaptations of their beloved works, Matsubara’s adaptation gave fans hope for a better future.
This movie is based on the manga’s first two-story arcs. Although it doesn’t present anything fancifully, it offers an enjoyable viewing experience for fans and typical movie-goers. The action in this movie is impeccable.
While the film has some quirks, it also has a great pacing and believable characters. The actors play their parts respectfully and the film maintains its anime-like tropes, but everything feels like it’s really happening. Fans of the genre will love seeing this film’s actors go at it with sharpened blades.
The live-action film directed by Shinsuke Sato delivers an impeccable movie that will leave viewers in tears. This film benefitted from going a different route than the manga, making events more realistic and less contrived.
The live-action adaptation of “A Silent Voice” is better than the anime. The CGI in the film looks better than the jarring visuals displayed in the anime adaptation. The fight and flight scenes are better than those in the anime. Some characters that took a backseat in the anime and manga receive more time to shine in the live-action adaptation.
Sato’s live-action remake of Hiroya Oku’s sci-fi work is a decent retelling that is okay if you’re okay with decent retellings.
This film is excellent and captures the feel and feel of the manga perfectly. The CGI for characters is outdated and doesn’t compare to the beauty of Madhouse’s anime adaptation. However, everyone else in the cast looks andacts fine.
The actors playing Light Yagami and L, respectively, give a great performance. They understand the project and evoke the same mannerisms and attitudes as their anime/manga counterparts. While the film adds a few new elements with its adaptation, these incidents won’t turn anyone away from it. ..
Death Note is a popular manga series that has been adapted into a number of movies, TV shows, and games. In 2006, Shûsuke Kaneko’s adaptation of the manga was released. The film was well-received by critics and became a box office success.
Critics panned Alita Battle Angel for multiple reasons, but fans of the source material enjoyed Robert Rodriguez’s 2019 recreation. Alita Battle Angel offers more soul and passion than blasphemous live-action attempts like Dragonball: Evolution (2009) or Netflix’s Death Note (2017).
Alita Battle Angel is set in a world where cyborgs are still used in combat. Alita, a deactivated cyborg, is revived by Ido, a cyber-doctor. Alita must find her way in this new world and learn to survive.
Despite its flaws, Alita Battle Angel is an interesting adaptation of the manga. The movie can be fast-paced and emotional, but it suffers from some of the same problems as its source material. Despite this, Alita Battle Angel is a worthwhile watch.
This film has some beautiful scenery and fun action bits. While Alita’s large eyes may seem off-putting to some viewers, others will adore how it makes the actress appear more like her anime/manga counterpart. Others in this film have a similar wacky aesthetic that can carry mixed reception. Overall, Alita Battle Angel is a glorious live-action adaptation with a few slip-ups.
Blade of the Immortal (2017)
This film is an action-centric adaptation of Hiroaki Samura’s manga by the same name. While some key elements were retained, such as the use of fast-paced action and a focus on the protagonist’s journey, other key elements were trimmed away. For example, the character development was reduced to a bare minimum, and instead focus was placed on the fight scenes. This may not be a bad thing per se, as it allows for more excitement in each and every scene, but it does reduce the overall impact of the film.
Some backstories were pushed aside to make way for something else, which may spark hardcore Blade of the Immortal fans’ disinterest in this adaptation. On the other hand, if you’re unfamiliar with Samura’s manga, you’ll walk away from this live-action film pleased. The film takes place in Japan during the mid-Tokugawa Shogunate period and follows a skilled samurai named Manji.
In the present, Manji befriends a girl who wants to avenge her parents’ deaths. Therefore, our narrative focuses on Manji’s quest to slay the swordsman responsible for taking this girl’s parents’ lives.
Blade of the Immortal is a samurai film that has many jaw-dropping fights that are spaced out phenomenally and some emotional segments that will strike fans at their core. Despite some characters feeling simplistic compared to their manga iterations, Blade of the Immortal features sufficient violence to keep you on your toes. ..
Kingdom (2019)
Many Kingdom manga fans despise the anime for its poor handling of Yasuhisa Hara’s original 2006 work. The anime’s animation and utilization of CGI held it back from being a work adored by Hara’s fandom. While Kingdom 2019 directed by Shinsuke Sato doesn’t capture the manga’s grittiness, it feels more like a love letter to Hara’s work than the anime. ..
Xin and Piao are two slave children who live in China. They vow to become sufficient generals when they’re adults, but one day a warlord arrives at their farm and takes Piao back to his palace. After some time passes, Piao returns to the farm with fatal wounds, angering Xin. With vengeance in his heart, Xin embarks on a quest that’ll lead him into trouble with several horrid individuals.
Kingdom (2019) is an epic film that will excite fans with its thrilling fights. Some scenes feel slightly comical, but they fit the manga’s atmosphere perfectly. There are numerous themes scattered across Kingdom (2019) that center around friendship, loyalty, and tragedy. The acting is decent but can be grating because many actors yell a lot. ..
Sui Ishida’s manga, Tokyo Ghoul, gained more attention from mainstream anime audiences after the release of the anime adaptation. While the series would take a dip in quality after the first season, many people hold fond memories of watching it.
Tokyo Ghoul is a 2017 Japanese horror film directed by Kentarô Hagiwara. It is based on the manga of the same name by Yûsuke Watanabe and follows the events of season one. Kaneki receives his ghoulish powers from a terrifying woman named Rize, and afterward, he joins a faction full of ghouls. We follow their activities as they try to survive in the city.
Tokyo Ghoul’s (2017) fight scenes will leave viewers satisfied as the cinematics used for Kaneki’s transformation looks decent.
If you’ve never watched or read Tokyo Ghoul, you may enjoy Hagiwara’s adaptation if you like horror stories with a dark and suspenseful atmosphere. ..
The live-action adaptation of School-Live! is a much better anime series that has yet to be released. The show offers a great Madoka Magica-like spin on the more sub-genre, while the live action adaptation feels more complete.
This film was directed by Issei Shibata and follows the series’s four protagonists Yuki, Kurumi, Yuuri, and Miki. It focuses on their teamwork and effort to survive in a post-apocalypse setting. In addition to flesh-eating zombies, the girls must deal with Yuki’s strange delusive behavior. This film cuts and changes some things around from the anime and feels closer to the manga regarding atmosphere and tension.
Some characters in the anime have a larger impact in the film than others. Megu-nee, Kurumi, Yuki, and Yuuri’s teacher are some of these characters. The ending will leave fans in tears like the anime did, but doesn’t offer an annoying cliffhanger, hinting toward a sequel. This is a decent self-contained work with enough jumpscares and spooky imagery to hold you over.
If you’re looking for a fun and thrilling zombie flick, give “Zombieland” a watch. ..
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter 1 (2017)
Stands are powerful, magical objects that allow users to perform various feats. In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the Stand of Destruction is used by Jotaro Kujo to kill his father. However, the Stand also has a dark side. The user can use it to control other people and even turn them into animals. This makes adapting the series difficult because it introduces new elements that need to be explained and developed in a way that is both entertaining and informative for fans.
This year, we saw a new take on the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure story with Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter 1, directed by Takashi Miike. Unfortunately, Miike had to cut corners and exclude some core material from Araki’s manga to retell certain events from Diamond Is Unbreakable. This is a new take on the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure story that many thought wouldn’t look great in real life. That was until they saw 2017’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter 1, directed by Takashi Miike. Unfortunately, Miike had to cut corners and exclude some core material from Araki’s manga to retell certain events from Diamond Is Unbreakable.
Many non-Jojo fans may find themselves confused by what’s taking place on the screen and may need to read up on Araki’s manga to understand this film’s events. While the film has pacing and story issues, it makes up for it with some engaging fight sequences. The stands don’t look as impeccable as their anime counterparts. Some Stand designs look ridiculous, but in motion, they feel on par with the anime’s visuals.
This live-action adaptation of the manga and anime series “Death Note” is a rewarding experience if you have some context about the story.
This year has seen some great live-action anime films released, and we’ve selected our favourites for you. These films are all well-made and entertaining, and we hope you enjoy watching them as much as we did while compiling this list! ..
Our picks for the best summer reads are just the beginning! Let us know in the comments below what books you’re looking forward to reading this season. ..
