Just as the phrase “video game adaptation” strikes fear into the hearts of gamers around the world, the words “live-action anime adaptation” make the world’s tormentors cower in fear. While the former has survived quality improvement with the likes of Detective Pikachu and HBO’s The Last of Us, anime adaptations with human beings cosplaying as beloved characters are usually an insult to the respective fans.
Recently, the Netflix live-action adaptation of the beloved sci-fi anime from the 90s Cowboy bebop caused both fans and the show’s creator, Shinichiro Watanabe, to express their displeasure with the direction of the canceled show. In an interview with ForbesWatanabe said it was “very difficult” for him to get through the casino scene of the live show (his first scene, by the way). Watanabe actually ended it after the people at Netflix sent him a video of the opening scene.
“Apparently it wasn’t Cowboy bebop and at that moment I realized that if I wasn’t involved, it wouldn’t be Cowboy bebopWatanabe said Forbes. I felt that maybe I should have done this. Although the value of the original anime is now somehow far higher.
Read more: Fans in Japan don’t want these anime to be made into live-action movies
Suffice to say, live-action anime adaptations are a vexing endeavor for creators and fans alike. Regardless of what the past has taught us, production studios and streamers are forging ahead with their live-action anime adaptations. As a service to my fellow anime connoisseurs, here’s a list of every confirmed anime getting the live-action treatment.