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DEMON SLAYER -KIMETSU NO YAIBA- The Stage Part 1 Review
I was originally skeptical at first but it didn’t take long for this production to win me over with its talent, production values and overwhelming charm.
― The more popular something is, the more mediums it is adapted into. Demon Slayer has taken the world by storm and is hands-down one of the most popular shonen series airing right now. Its original manga has sold tremendously well, merchandise is f...
The London Cast of Your Lie in April: The Musical
The beloved anime is coming to the stage in London, so we sat down with the cast to discuss the getting into these musically-gifted characters.
― At the beginning of June, I sat down with the four central cast members of the upcoming London production of Your Lie in April: The Musical, which starts a 12-week West End run from June 28 at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is the English-language version ...
Frank Wildhorn, Composer of Your Lie in April: The Musical
From Takarazuka to Death Note, Frank Wildhorn is carving a name for himself in manga-based theater productions.
― Frank Wildhorn's musical career spans nearly half a century. It ranges from Takarazuka all-female musicals in Japan to Broadway versions of Jekyll and Hyde and Bonnie and Clyde, and a symphony inspired by the River Danube. Then there's the small matter of a chart-topping Whitney Houston s...
Demon Slayer Stage Play Cast Descend on NYC
The cast of the Demon Slayer stage play gave a memorable performance during the Japan Day Parade.
― The Demon Slayer franchise continues to prove itself as an absolute powerhouse for fans worldwide. The hit manga by Koyoharu Gotouge has been adapted into multiple mediums, including anime, light novels, video games, and a stage play that has been running since 2020. Cast members of the stage play app...
In the Shadow of the Beast: The Kaiju Genre & Kaiju No. 8
Grant Jones dives into the wild world of giant monsters and how Kaiju No. 8 builds on their legacy.
― Kaiju No. 8 is a series that wears its influences on its sleeves. As the first word in its title suggests, it comes from a long line of works in the kaiju genre, using giant monsters and burning skylines as a backdrop to tell stories. While many likely know kaiju in a passing sense, it may help to h...
At 25:00 in Akasaka BL Drama Cast Discuss Kiss Scene, Personal Hobbies at Live Event
Kiita Komagine and Taisuke Niihara show how they perfected the right angle for their on-screen kiss.
― The cast members of the new BL drama At 25:00, in Akasaka showed off what they do at 25 o'clock (1:00 am) at night. And it's nothing like what happens in the drama. While somewhat underrepresented in the anime industry, boys' love (BL) has a strong presence in the manga and TV drama world. With at l...
Yu-Yu Hakusho Live-Action Series Review
Yu Yu Hakusho simply stands as an incredibly expensive and nostalgic commercial that will, at best, convince disappointed viewers to check out the original show.
― Yu Yu Hakusho is one of those classic action anime that I loved as a kid but have sadly never had the chance to revisit, so Netflix's new live-action adaptation of the series is the first time I've revisited the adventures of Yusuke Urames...
The ANN Aftershow - What Is the Real Monster in Godzilla Minus One?
Jacki, James, and Lynzee saw the newest Godzilla film from Japan, Godzilla Minus One! The latest entry in the kaiju franchise goes back to its historical roots, taking place at the tail end of WWII...with a unique message.
― What Is the Real Monster in Godzilla Minus One? Jacki, James, and Lynzee saw the newest Godzilla film from Japan, Godzilla Minus One! The latest entry in the kaiju franchise goe...
Why Does Japan Love Columbo? An Investigation
Sean Aitchison explains how Japan's love of the mystery genre and manzai comedy made for the perfect environment for Peter Falk's Columbo to take root.
― Columbo has seen a modern renaissance in the last few years, a renewed popularity resulting from the effective formula, Peter Falk's timeless performance and its endurance through a modern lens: the queer community finding attraction in his untradit...
Godzilla Minus One Live-Action Film Review
Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla flick grounds its story in the physical and mental aftermath of WWII, as one man wrestles with the giant monster in his mind.
― At its most basic level, Godzilla Minus One is a thought experiment: What if Godzilla appeared and attacked Japan at its weakest point—i.e., in the years right after the Second World War? It's 1947, and Japan is suffering from a severe economic de...
Godzilla 1954 and Godzilla MINUS ONE Sneak Peek
― We all know Godzilla. Toho's famous monster debuted in the black-and-white film Godzilla over half a century ago. The Japan Society in New York City held a free screening of a long-archived 35mm print of the original 1954 GODZILLA to commemorate the original King of Monsters along with a special sneak peek of Takashi Yamazaki's live-action Godzilla Minus One film ahead of its U.S. theater premier...
One Piece Live-Action Series Review
I am happy to report that our fears were misguided and that all signs seem to point to us living in a universe in which miracles can, at least occasionally, occur. Let it be known, mateys: Netflix's One Piece is good. It's really good.
― As I mentioned in my preview of One Piece's first episode, I've only recently been converted into the massive flock of fans that Eiichiro Oda's manga has grown over...
This Week in Anime - Why Is It So Hard to Make Anime Into Live-Action?
With live-action One Piece receiving favorable reviews from critics and fans alike, Nick and Steve look back and previous attempts to bridge the gap between anime and live-action in Hollywood...and why they didn't work.
― With live-action One Piece receiving favorable reviews from critics and fans alike, Nick and Steve look back and previous attempts to bridge the gap between anime and live-action i...
Live-Action One Piece Lives Up to the Amazing Manga
The sets feel lush and hand-crafted, the costumes and character designs are just as outlandish as what you'd find in the anime, and most importantly of all, the show doesn't feel ashamed to be the buck-wild fantasy adventure that One Piece is.
― I should start by saying that I am far from a One Piece expert. Heck, before the summer of this year, I'd never watched or read any of One Piece before; the ...
Playing Takao in the Stage Version of Makoto Shinkai's The Garden of Words
Stage actors Hiroki Berrecloth and Kurumu Okamiya discuss the inner workings of Takao and getting into character for a live performance.
― The stage version of Makoto Shinkai's film The Garden of Words is running in London until September 9, at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. Shinkai's film follows a schoolboy, Takao, who encounters a mysterious woman in a rainy Tokyo park. The play is based on th...
This Week in Anime - Hideaki Anno's Reimagined Shin Japan Heroes Universe
After an illustrious career in animation, Hideaki Anno takes on tokusatsu with the Shin Japan Heroes Universe. Join Chris and Steve this week as they explore some of the franchise's work.
― After an illustrious career in animation, Hideaki Anno takes on tokusatsu with the Shin Japan Heroes Universe. Join Chris and Steve this week as they explore some of the franchise's work. Shin Ultraman, Shin Godz...
Knights of the Zodiac (live-action movie)
Despite its flashy visuals and charming cast, this version of Knights of the Zodiac fails to win over skeptics.
― Toei and Sony's answer to the ceaseless cynical question of "Why" is "Why not?" After all, Knights of the Zodiac is only the latest installment in Saint Seiya's vast media universe of manga spin-offs, TV series, and films. It's more surprising that a live-action adaptation didn't come soo...
Katsuhiro Otomo's Domu Pilot: An Unnerving Movie Adaptation That Could Have Been
Domu remains a cursed affair: forgotten in the shadow of Otomo's more famous creation and repeatedly stumbling in attempts to bring it to a broader audience. It remains a story reserved for the select few who seek it out.
― Domu is a unique story within Katsuhiro Otomo's illustrious career as a mangaka and director, and not solely for its content. Despite being its predecessor, Domu is often compared...
Shin Kamen Rider
Despite its loving connection to the original, you don't need to know anything about the 50-year-running franchise to enjoy and understand this film. However, its reverence for the TV show is also the source of the film's main problem.
― Shin Kamen Rider is both a retelling of and an homage to the original 1971 Kamen Rider TV series. There are many recognizable characters and numerous shot-for-shot r...
Downfall
Downfall, adapted from the Inio Asano manga of the same name, is a film that uses one man's midlife crisis to explore the hypocritical nature of both man and the society we have built.
― Downfall, adapted from the Inio Asano manga of the same name, is a film that uses one man's midlife crisis to explore the hypocritical nature of both man and the society we have built. On one level, it is about the c...
The Double Writer's Guide to Kamen Rider
With Hideaki Anno's Shin Kamen Rider hitting Japanese theaters, now's a good time to sink into the series. Here's a guide on the best films and shows available in North America.
― With Hideaki Anno's Shin Kamen Rider hitting Japanese theaters, we decided it may not be a bad time to take a look at the slowly but surely growing collection of Kamen Rider series and films available in North America. In t...
The Many Adaptations of Death Note
Hollywood can't get enough of Death Note. With yet another adaptation reportedly in the works from Netflix, Kennedy looks at the series' many versions, both fan-made and official.
― Since the manga's completion in 2006, Death Note has been adapted 5 times, and has yet another adaptation said to be on the way. If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is. Most manga can realistically hope for only o...
Shin Ultraman
Shin Ultraman presents us with intrigue and heavy questions about humanity's place in the world, the many threats of the future, and the many frightening things that lurk in the shadows waiting to take advantage of our ignorance.
― You can summarize Shin Ultraman thusly: in many of the shots taking place in the SSSP ofice, SSSP member Taki's model of the USS Enterprise is proudly seen on his desk, su...
Hero of a Lost Era: Examining the Context of Kamen Rider Kuuga
Art is most often a response to the world it was made in. Sometimes that response might be a light remark, and other times, it's a loud scream. 2000's Kamen Rider Kuuga is one of those screams.
― The following article contains major spoilers for Kamen Rider Kuuga © Shout! Factory/Toei Productions/Shotaro Ishinomori Art is most often a response to the world it was made in. Sometimes that response migh...
My Neighbor Totoro Stage Play
An absolutely wonderful reinterpretation of a classic, miraculously managing to be both scrupulously faithful and gleefully inventive.
― Well, they did it. The Royal Shakespeare Company's new stage version of My Neighbor Totoro is running at London's Barbican Centre and it's… let's put it like this. There's a grumpy anime director called Hayao Miyazaki, and he's famed for monstering people who give p...
Live-Action Knights of the Zodiac Director Tomek Baginski, Action Choreographer Andy Cheng, & Producer Yoshi Ikezawa
A team whose credits include The Witcher, Shang-Chi, and the CG-animated Saint Seiya series shared their five year journey to bring Knights of the Zodiac to reality.
― Director Tomek Baginski and Toei Animation producer Yoshi Ikezawa dove into the details of their partnership and how they worked together to bring Knights of the Zodiac to life. Fight choreographer Andy Cheng spoke about his involvemen...
Live-Action Knights of the Zodiac Writers Josh Campbell & Matt Stuecken
"[Seiya] is such a great character from the get-go...He grows up feeling so lonely and in that loneliness, he builds walls around himself because he's afraid of letting someone else in for fear of getting hurt again."
― Screenwriters Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken, best known for their work on 10 Cloverfield Lane, are
the minds behind the movie's script. Having worked on multiple projects in the pas...
Live-Action Knights of the Zodiac's Madison Iseman and Diego Tinoco
In the first of our three-part interview, Diego Tinoco (Nero) shares his thoughts on the anime to live-action trend: "I’m sure our film and One Piece are gonna be the gate openers in this whole new storm of anime live-action adaptations."
― Actors Madison Iseman (Sienna) and Diego Tinoco (Nero) gave hints of what fans could expect for their characters and spoke fondly of their time together filming K...
SDCC 2022 Panel Report – Live-Action Knights of the Zodiac Film
"At this point, we could talk to you about the Sanctuary arc, the Poseidon arc, or the Hades arc. We can talk to you about dozens of different characters in the story. We love all of it."
― Comic-Con attendees were treated to the newest information on the live-action adaption of Masami Kurumada's Saint Seiya. Knights of the Zodiac is set to release in 2023, and the movie's social media accounts revea...
Netflix's Resident Evil
Netflix's Resident Evil tries to bring together all previous iterations even when that means explaining how Albert Wesker, a man who literally got punched into a volcano in the year 2009, now finds himself alive and well in the year 2022.
― Netflix's Resident Evil is a strange beast, indeed, so far as adaptations of the legendary video game franchise are concerned. Starting all the way back in 2004, ...
Precure's Henshin Hero Heritage
Japanese pop culture melds across its various mediums on a regular basis, but there's one magical girl anime franchise that takes its rip-roaring live-action influences to a level that has translated to multiple decades of unprecedented success.
― Japanese pop culture melds across its various mediums on a regular basis, but there's one magical girl anime franchise that takes its rip-roaring live-acti...
Shin Ultraman
Shin Ultraman is a perfectly watchable film—though far from a great one. It's clear that the exceptional amount of creative freedom was given to the creators which brings the film to its highest highs and lowest lows.
― Before we get into this review, I think I need to make one thing absolutely clear: I'm in no way a hardcore Ultraman fan (nor am I a hater). While I know the basics through cultural o...
I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die Live-Action Star Shori Sato
This isn't Shori Sato's first role in a live-action adaptation of a pop culture work, but his role as the eponymous Aono-kun is something a little different– he's a ghost. We asked Sato about some of the challenges of playing a dead boy, his relationship with the source material, as well as his take on ghosts, ahead of the release of the TV show.
―
I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die isn't ...
What Was Cowboy Bebop Really About?
So Netflix put out their live action Cowboy Bebop a couple weeks ago and, as expected, it was a colossal dumpster fire. Ember Reviews breaks down how the live-action series' major failure is misunderstanding the point of the original.
― So Netflix put out their live action Cowboy Bebop a couple weeks ago and, as expected, it was a colossal dumpster fire. However, of the many, many things that I could...
Cowboy Bebop Live-Action
It barely peeks beyond the soft, sanded-down edges of the MCU and its ilk. When it's not straight-up incompetent, it's dull, safe, and sterile—words that should be anathema to “the work, which becomes a new genre itself.”
― I've been around long enough to remember mockups of Keanu Reeves sporting poofy green hair pasted on top of his head. Since Cowboy Bebop's explosion in popularity in the early aug...
Hiroshi Fujioka Looks Back at 50 Years of Being Kamen Rider
"My encounter with Kamen Rider is the biggest thing that ever happened to me—it really changed my life. But more than that, I think it even changed history."
― Earlier this month, I got the chance to sit down with Hiroshi Fujioka at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2021. In a skyscraper overlooking central Tokyo we talked at length about the role that made him a household name in Japan fifty yea...
Interview: Cowboy Bebop Costume Designer Jane Holland
"Immediately after getting hired, I consulted the youth in my world who watch anime! And they issued a warning, 'Māmā Holland, don't f*** it up'. I took them seriously."
― A large part of what makes the Cowboy Bebop anime such an enduring classic is its distinctive aesthetic style, of which costume design is no doubt a significant component. If Netflix's upcoming live-action adaptation of the anime w...
Gridman - The Hyper Agent
This set should have been a landmark release, but while the visual and audio presentation are top-notch, we unfortunately now must address the elephant in the room: The subtitles.
― Previously codified as a cult-classic curiosity, the last few years have been kind to the notoriety of Gridman The Hyper Agent. The international accessibility of its Ultra-Series forbears has increased, and the show itse...
Gridman, Dynazenon and the Hasegawa Nexus
Scriptwriter Keiichi Hasegawa is critical to the Gridman Universe project. Adam Wescott explains the anime series' tokusatsu origins and its irreplaceable scribe.
― What separates SSSS.Gridman and its spiritual successor SSSS.Dynazenon from the rest of Trigger's output? Plenty of folks have tried their hand at nailing down the genius of Gridman and Dynazenon by now, but nobody's yet addressed to my s...
This Week in Anime - Naruto, Live on Stage? Believe It!
Now, for the first time, fans can get a glimpse of the singing, dancing, and air-flipping versions of their favorite characters. Jean-Karlo and Monique check out the first offering of three such shows available for streaming this month: Naruto!
― The world of anime stage plays have often been inaccessible to a wider international audience. Now, for the first time, fans can get a glimpse of the singi...
Review: Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist
French director Pascal-Alex Vincent found himself with a difficult question. What more is there to say that hasn't already been said about a director whose work stands as some of the most beloved animated media ever produced?
― Satoshi Kon was a one-of-a-kind creative force within the anime industry, a visionary director with a style that was distinctly his own. Despite directing just four feature fi...
Anime and Olympic History Meet in The Witches of the Orient Documentary
Before Haikyu!!, there was Attack No. 1. Chikako Urano's classic volleyball manga. The true story that inspired the manga is even more momentous and groundbreaking.
― Before Haikyu!, there was Attack No. 1. Chikako Urano's classic volleyball manga, which originally ran from 1968 to 1970, was the first ever shojo manga with a sports theme to become a TV anime. The series is still influential to this d...
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning
On the thematic side of things, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning tells the story of two broken people, each driven only by their own singular, all-consuming goals.
― Like many American anime fans in the 90s, my first introduction into Rurouni Kenshin wasn't the TV anime, but rather the OVA—localized at the time as Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal. In stark contrast to the light-hearted yet action-filled TV ...
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final Live-Action Film
Interestingly, it is the side characters from past films that really get a chance to shine in this film—namely Misao, Seta, and Aoishi. Even “Sword Hunter” Cho returns for a sizable supporting role in this film.
― The story of Rurouni Kenshin can basically be split into three arcs. The first arc—with Kenshin meeting Kaoru, Sano, and the rest of his new friends—is about Kenshin discovering that, despi...
Ride or Die Live-Action Film
Rei Nagasawa and Nanae Shinoda have known each other since high school. When she gets a call from Nanae asking for help, Rei walks away from her life and a happy relationship to commit murder for a woman she hasn't seen in ten years.
― Content Warning: Domestic abuse, graphic violence, graphic sex Every live-action adaptation is, to some extent, an example of Theseus' ship: How much of the original c...
Alice in Borderland Live-Action TV Series
Netflix's new series drops gamer Arisu and group of unsuspecting characters into a gruesome death game where every turn could be their last.
― The shonen manga Alice in Borderland released 18 volumes between 2010 and 2016, not counting assorted spin-offs. It also spawned a three-episode OVA series in 2014, which is, unfortunately, not legally available in English. This 2020 Netflix Original series ad...
The List - 5 Anime We Most Want to See in Live-Action
Imagine if Hollywood gave us the keys to all that hot, hot live-action adaptation money...
― Live-action anime adaptations long had an iffy reputation. There's that Dragonball movie that nobody
talks about for good reason, but that doesn't mean Hollywood isn't trying. Popular shows like Cowboy
Bebop, My Hero Academia, Naruto, and even One Piece have live-action films and TV series in the
works. So I...
Kaguya-sama: Love is War (live-action film)
"This film shapes up as one of the more entertaining live-action manga adaptations in recent memory because of how successfully it captures the larger-than-life qualities of a gag manga."
― I've never seen the Kaguya-sama: Love is War anime, although I have read the first volume of the manga, so I went into this film mostly blind about where the story would go past the goofy premise. I was surprised ...
Death Note: Light up the NEW world BD+DVD
This live-action sequel to the end of Death Note introduces six deadly notebooks to the world and a race against time to stop the new villains they've created. James Beckett has the details in our full review.
― Death Note: Light Up the New World begins with a pitch perfect setup. A beleaguered Russian doctor named Alexey discovers one of the new Death Notes on his way to tend to a terminally ill pat...
Answerman - How Much Control Do Manga Artists Have Over Hollywood Adaptations?
The former Dragonball manga editor revealed how much it costs to be a Hollywood heavyweight, but what about the comic's creator? Justin revisits Dragonball: Evolution to find the answer.
― Skerlly asked:
With Kazuhiko Torishima stating how much money he'd have to pay to supervise the movie Dragonball: Evolution, and the infamy that's attributed to how Hollywood film adaptations of anime/manga fail t...
REVIEW: Pokémon Detective Pikachu
The most electrifying cinematic event of the year is almost upon us! Callum May has the full scoop on this refreshingly entertaining video game adaptation.
― It only took me a few minutes to start missing the world of Detective Pikachu. Being the same age as lead actor Justice Smith, Pokémon has been a constant throughout both of our childhoods. I can't tell you how much I used to wish that I'd sudde...
Alita: Battle Angel
James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez spent 200 million dollars and roughly 20 years trying to bring Yukito Kishiro's beloved cyberpunk manga to life. Now that it's finally here, is it any good? Let's find out!
― It's been a long, long, long and rocky road to release for Alita: Battle Angel. First announced in 2003 by a post-Titanic, pre-Avatar James Cameron who'd spent his Oscar afterglow making nerdy ...
Assassination Classroom - The Movies BD/DVD
Despite cutting out some key plot and character details, this tale of a class of misfits and their octopus teacher makes the transition to live-action surprisingly well. Rebecca Silverman gets into it.
― As far as manga easily adapted to live-action film goes, Assassination Classroom is easily towards the bottom of the list. Not only does it star a giant yellow octopus monster, but it also relies on ...
Illang, Jin-Roh and the Kerberos Saga: A Brief History of the Dogged Pursuit of Justice
Korean director Jee-woon Kim has a fresh adaptation of Mamoru Oshii's dark thriller Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade out on Netflix! Oshii expert Brian Ruh is here to untangle the surprisingly expansive Kerberos universe for you.
― From his first film twenty years ago, South Korean director Jee-woon Kim has taken on a variety of themes and genres, from comedy (The Foul King), horror (A Tale of Two Sisters a...
Bleach (live-action)
This real-life take on the classic shonen hit is available on Netflix, but does it do justice to the first arc of the original manga? Theron Martin finds out.
― Live-action adaptations of supernatural stories must be approached with trepidation, given the number of cringe-worthy efforts in the past. That caution certainly applies to this movie, which debuted in Japan in August 2018 and is now availab...
Crunchyroll Expo 2018: Alita: Battle Angel Panel Report
All the details from this weekend's Alita: Battle Angel panel at Crunchyroll Expo 2018, with comments from director Robert Rodriguez, producer Jon Landau and Alita herself, Rosa Salazar.
― One of the marquee events at Crunchyroll Expo 2018 was the Alita: Battle Angel Manga to Movie panel, featuring the creative team behind the upcoming feature film adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's cyberpunk sci-fi mang...
Premiere Report: BLEACH (Live-Action 2018)
Get all the supernatural details and a full review of the new live-action BLEACH movie from director Shinsuke Sato (GANTZ), straight from the film's English-language premiere earlier this week.
― BLEACH is the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the world-renowned Tite Kubo manga and anime series about the adventures of supernaturally gifted, orange-haired teenager Ichigo Kurosaki (Sota Fuku...
Everything You Need to Know About the Revolutionary Girl Utena Musical
To celebrate the shojo classic's 20th anniversary, Utena got its very own musical this past March, supervised by Kunihiko Ikuhara! Superfans Giovanna and Yasha break down the best of this stage show's spectacle and how you can still see it for yourself.
― When we initially went to see Revolutionary Girl Utena: Bud of the White Rose, the new musical that played in Japan for ten days, it was sort of an...
Shelf Life - Tokyo Ghoul: The Movie
Paul finds out if this live-action version of Kaneki Ken's story can live up to the gore and gristle of its source manga. Plus, all this week's new anime releases!
― A few months ago, a friend of mine mentioned that there was a badminton-themed anime in the works. I assumed he was joking, but it's totally happening, it's called Hanebad, and it's coming out next month. I assume there will also be a s...
Interview: Becoming Byakuya with Miyavi
The world-famous guitarist discusses his transformation into Bleach's Byakuya Kuchiki ahead of his solo concert this Sunday in New York City.
― World-famous guitarist Miyavi scarcely needs an introduction – after lighting hearts on fire all over the world as the guitarist for visual kei smash Due le Quartz in the late 90s, Miyavi launched a spectacular solo career that took him to new heights of inte...
Amazon Riders
As the first Kamen Rider series to be made widely available in English, Amazon Riders has some major expectations to fulfill, but does it succeed? Chris Farris has the answers.
― The first modern Kamen Rider series made officially available in the West, Kamen Rider Amazons is a series that already sits apart from the main franchise in how experimental it is. Conceived as a darker, more adult-oriented...
This Week in Anime - Is the Live-Action Fullmetal Alchemist Film Any Good?
Warner Bros. live-action FMA movie has finally arrived on Netflix to surprisingly little fanfare. We discover why this particular project didn't get the U.S. theatrical attention of its peers.
― Warner Bros. live-action FMA film has finally arrived on Netflix to surprisingly little fanfare. This week in anime, Nick and Jacob discover why this particular project didn't get the U.S. theatrical attentio...
REVIEW: Fullmetal Alchemist (live-action movie)
This beloved 2000s megahit is the newest to get a live-action update to the big screen, now available on Netflix after its theatrical run in Japan. Theron Martin finds out if this movie can live up to fans' expectations.
― Fullmetal Alchemist was one of the most popular and successful anime/manga franchises of the 2000s, so the only surprise surrounding this live-action adaptation might be that it di...
When Gundam Came to Hollywood
The fascinating untold behind-the-scenes story of how close we all came to seeing a lavish live-action American-made Hollywood Gundam movie back in the early 1980s.
― Gundam is a franchise with few secrets. Decades of worldwide popularity and tenacious fans have left few stones unturned, but there's some mystery left: In 1983, Hollywood filmmakers were working on a live-action Gundam adaption. It wa...
Answerman - Why Are So Many Live Action Anime Adaptations Terrible?
It's no secret people aren't happy with the quality of live-action anime adaptations. But why do they usually turn out so crummy? Justin considers the angles.
― Mitchell asked:
I've heard the Fullmetal Alchemist movie is bad, it has become clear to me that both America and Japan are having a tough time making a good live action film based off anime/manga. I know that superhero movies based on comics...
Gintama (Live-Action)
This shonen manga hit's first foray into live-action is both fun and rewarding for fans of the silver-haired samurai. Amy McNulty has our report from the movie's US theatrical run.
― Although this is the third time this story arc has been adapted (and the second time it's been adapted as a feature film), this version is different enough to warrant a watch from even the most Benizakura-weary Gintama f...
REVIEW: ERASED Live Action TV Series
This J-drama adaptation of the popular thriller manga hews much closer to the source material at the cost of some visual immersion. Rebecca Silverman weighs its highs and lows.
― This live-action TV series is the third adaptation of Kei Sanbe's original manga, originally titled “Bokudake ga Inai Machi,” or “A Town Without Me.” It's also the only one written by the original mangaka, which means that i...
Answerman - How Does Merchandise For Live Action Anime Remakes Work?
Fox has the merchandise rights for Alita: Battle Angel, but James Cameron's company has the film rights. How does all of this work, anyway? Justin gets into it.
― Jason asked:
Fox had Alita: Battle Angel available at Licensing Expo in Vegas. Which parts of James Cameron's agreement with manga artist Yukito Kishiro is between him &
Kishiro, compared to james cameron's a:ba merch agreement with fox? D...
Interview: Live-Action Fullmetal Alchemist Director Fumihiko Sori
"The original manga is a very deep story, and I wanted the movie to be as profound." Our interview with the director of the live-action Fullmetal Alchemist is live now!
― Earlier this year, the hotly anticipated live-action Fullmetal Alchemist movie made its overseas premiere at AnimeNYC. To commemorate this event, the director himself, Fumihiko Sori, attended the convention on Sunday. I was lucky en...
Answerman - Why Do American Actors Show Up In Japanese Commercials?
Why do Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and even Sean Connery appear in Japanese commercials sometimes? Justin Sevakis has the answers.
― Ava asked:
I stumbled upon a YouTube channel one night that plays Japanese commercials. Not just the "wacky" or "crazy" ones but it seems to be everything. I noticed a lot of familiar celebrity faces in the many many commercials for cars, women's fashion, and cel...
Answerman - Why Don't Anime Musicals Get US Releases?
Japan has an ocean of stage musicals based on anime, from Naruto to Sailor Moon - why don't they ever get released in the States? Justin considers the angles.
― Bunny asked:
Sailor Moon's new musical cast were guests at a state anime convention, but I don't see it getting much further than that. We only have fansubs as a source, but I'd like to support it legally. I was wondering what would it take ...
This Week in Anime - Can Anime Fans Enjoy Netflix's Death Note Movie?
While most critics have panned this new film adaptation of the hit manga, is there anything worth seeing in Adam Wingard's Death Note for prior fans? Nick and Steve explore the movie's simpler pleasures.
― On August 25th, Netflix's live-action Death Note film debuted to wildly contentious reviews. This week in anime, we discuss whether fans of the original material can get anything out of the experie...
Review: Death Note (2017)
After years of anticipation, this American adaptation of the hit manga thriller is finally available on Netflix! Jacob Chapman breaks down whether this movie is noteworthy or should just be erased.
― After at least four live-action Japanese movies, two TV series (one anime, one live-action), and mountains of spinoff media, Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's gruesome thriller manga is no stranger to the...
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Live-Action Film
Takashi Miike's dark and gritty take on the world of JoJo's might not be everyone's cup of tea, but is it worth watching on its own merits as an action film? Kim Morrissy finds out.
― Live-action adaptations of manga tend to have a poor reputation, often criticized for their cheesy acting and amateur-looking special effects. Not all live-action adaptations fall into these pitfalls, however, and some ...
Did Netflix Make A Decent Death Note Film?
Our full, spoiler-free report from the premiere of Netflix's hotly anticipated live-action Death Note film, complete with photos and what you should expect from the movie.
― San Diego Comic-Con: The epicenter of western pop culture entertainment. As fans lined up for hours to get a peek at the latest Thor and Justice League movies, a few blocks away from Hall H, a smaller, but enthusiastic crowd vied...
Interview: Tokyo Ghoul (live-action) Director Kentarō Hagiwara
The director behind this challenging action/horror manga adaptation discusses the process behind bringing the shock and wonder of Tokyo Ghoul to life on the big screen.
― Just before its wide Japanese release, the live action Tokyo Ghoul film premiered at Anime Expo on July 3rd, 2017. Hundreds of people waited hours in line for a chance to see the film, whose screening filled the JW Marriot's Diamond...
Tokyo Ghoul (Live-Action Film)
Tokyo Ghoul makes the jump from manga to anime to a live-action film. Does the original story's spirit survive the translation? Gabriella Ekens finds out.
― Tokyo Ghoul has been one of the biggest manga hits of the past few years. As these big hits often do, the franchise recently received a live action film adaptation. These types of movies have been a mixed bag in the past, so I didn't harbor many ...
Black Butler: The Movie BD+DVD
Can this much darker live-action re-imagining capture the campy magic of the original series? Rose Bridges finds out if this Black Butler movie's got enough bite to be worth a taste.
― You can tell just from that synopsis that we're not in standard Black Butler territory anymore. This live-action film departs from the source material in its very first scene, plunging us into modern-day Japan rather t...
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
We've endured the hype for months, and the film is finally here, so we asked author Brian Ruh to tell us: is the live-action Ghost in the Shell any good? The answer is complicated.
― “Hack your own brain!” I remember sitting in a movie theater in 1995, legs bouncing from the adrenaline of excitement, ready to take in a screening of Johnny Mnemonic. I had been waiting for this film for a long time, an...
Rurouni Kenshin Part III: The Legend Ends BD+DVD
The final Kenshin film finds success in its terrific action, even if the trilogy is starting to look a little long in the tooth.
― Film trilogies are a tricky thing. It's relatively easy to make a single film with a coherent story - when a single work both introduces and concludes all of a story's narrative variables, you can create a sense of tight congruity throughout. But when a story is split acr...
Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno BD+DVD
Kyoto Inferno is a rambling but ultimately satisfying middle chapter in Kenshin’s live-action trilogy saga. Nick Creamer dives in.
― The first live-action Rurouni Kenshin accomplished a seemingly impossible feat, by translating a beloved but long-running shounen manga into a crisply paced and dramatically satisfying action movie, offering a satisfying experience for both existing Kenshin fans and new...
Review: Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins BD+DVD
The first Rurouni Kenshin film compresses a sprawling original narrative into a riveting and surprisingly faithful adaptation. Nick Creamer explores what this film does right.
― I'll confess, I'm not personally a Rurouni Kenshin diehard. Though Kenshin's heyday coincided with my own introduction into anime fandom, I never watched the full original series or read the manga it was based on. That said, ...
Review: Shin Godzilla
Evangelion creator Anno Hideaki grapples with Japan's most famous radioactive monster in Shin Godzilla, a deeply political entry in the storied franchise. Mike Toole confronts the beast.
― Every time a western film studio steps into the ring to produce a Godzilla movie, it's inevitably followed by Toho spinning the franchise back up again, to show those silly foreigners how proper kaiju movies get ma...
Answerman - Why Hasn't Ultraman Been Given The Hollywood Treatment?
Why hasn't Ultraman had a Speed Racer or Voltron-style rebirth in the US? Justin considers the possibilities.
― Jean-Karlo asks:
Tokusatsu fan that I am, I've kept up-to-date with the original Ultraman series, particularly after my mother mentioned it as a series she and other children enjoyed back in the day. In the past few years, we've seen big budget Hollywood adaptions of Japanese works--but in...
Orange (live-action film)
The critically acclaimed shojo manga Orange is getting an anime adaptation this summer, but Theron Martin has a review of the live-action movie right now! How does this romantic tale translate to the big screen?
― The first two volumes of Ichigo Takano's manga have already been released in the States, and its anime adaptation is one of the most anticipated shows of the Summer 2016 season. Before the ...
Review: Attack on Titan Part II: End of the World
The conclusion to the controversial live-action Attack on Titan films has arrived; Hope Chapman loved the first installment, but does the second film live up to the promise of the first? That's a tough question.
― Attack on Titan Part II begins with an unusually long, TV-style recap montage of the first film. On the one hand, it's been about a month since that first movie came out, so maybe the audie...
Review: Garm Wars: The Last Druid
Mamoru Oshii's latest live-action fantasy extravaganza has its roots deep in his previous films; Brian Ruh tries to make sense of it all, but more importantly, is the film any good?
― It's become something of a rule of thumb among some anime fans to avoid Mamoru Oshii's live-action films. On the surface, this impulse is perfectly understandable. Oshii has been widely acclaimed for being one of the fo...
Answerman - Why Did Funimation's Attack On Titan Subtitles Fail?
Justin dissects the recent Attack on Titan subtitle mishap with an in-depth look at the incredibly tricky world of digitally-delivered cinema.
― Bill asks: Funimation just had a very public failure of its subtitles for the live action Attack on Titan theatrical release, when the line "I've been waiting for this day!" got stuck on the screen while the movie continued playing. Funimation blamed a tech...
Answerman - What Are Those Japanese Shows Where Celebrities React To Videos?
If you've ever turned on a TV in Japan, odds are you've watched celebrities - actors, athletes, you name it - reacting to clips of food or animals. What's up with that?
― Chris asks: Every now and then, some tidbit of news will come to us in the form of a Japanese TV show where guests or panelists in a studio or person-on-the-street-style participants are seen reacting to some video clip. The partic...
Interview: The Cast and Crew of live-action Attack on Titan
The director, producer and the two lead actors from the live-action Attack on Titan film take questions from the movie press. PLUS: a one-on-one interview with director Shinji Higuchi!
― This press conference was held before the world premiere of the first live-action Attack on Titan film in Hollywood, California. In attendance were the film's director, Evangelion storyboard artist and scriptwriter S...
Review: Attack on Titan: Part I (Live-Action Movie)
Attack on Titan makes the leap to live-action, and in doing so also makes the leap from shonen action to straight-up nightmare-inducing gruesome psychological horror. Hope Chapman survived to tell you all about it.
― There's a colossal problem in the way for any live-action version of a larger-than-life comic book. What works as a drawing doesn't always work in the flesh, and few premises make a bett...
Kite (live action) Blu-Ray/DVD
They made a live-action version of Kite, and Samuel L. Jackson's in it! The odds that it's any good must be pretty low, though, right?
― The live-action version of Kite is a 2014 South African production which is directly based on Yasuomi Umetsu's original 1998 OVA. It has a bit of a storied history, as its original director, David R. Ellis (Snakes on a Plane, Cellular, two Final Destination sequels)...
Review: Parasyte (Live-Action Film)
With the animated version of the classic manga taking off, does the first half of its live-action counterpart, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, do the story justice?
― A couple of decades since the conclusion of the original manga and after years in development hell, Parasyte finally hits the silver screen as a live-action feature. In charge of transitioning the story from its initial paper-2D incarnati...
Shelf Life - Me, Myself, and Yourself
This week, evil alien life forms, psychokinetic kids, mutant rats, and something strange in the water.
- From the New World pt 1
- Myself;Yourself
- Space Battleship Yamato (live-ation) ― Shelf Worthy None This Week Rental Shelf Myself;Yourself DVD (subtitled-only) Space Battleship Yamato BD+DVD (live-action) From the New World Collection 1 BD Perishable Nothing this week Every time I go to an anime...
- From the New World pt 1
- Myself;Yourself
- Space Battleship Yamato (live-ation) ― Shelf Worthy None This Week Rental Shelf Myself;Yourself DVD (subtitled-only) Space Battleship Yamato BD+DVD (live-action) From the New World Collection 1 BD Perishable Nothing this week Every time I go to an anime...
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