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Live-action Hollywood anime films: How YOU would do it.

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Sporkaganza I'm glasses. Since: May, 2009
I'm glasses.
#1: May 14th 2011 at 4:57:38 PM

I've just been thinking lately that in the next decade I think we're going to start seeing more anime adaptations make it to the silver screen. It looks like Death Note will probably be the first, since Bebop and Evangelion got stuck in the Development Hell swamp. Cross your fingers that it doesn't suck, right?

And I got to thinking. How would you do it so it doesn't suck?

But I'll be perfectly honest: I really created this thread because an awesome idea for an opening/prologue to an Evangelion movie has been kicking around in my mind forever, inspired a bit by the Death and Rebirth opening.

December 31, 1999. We open on a shot of the pristine blue ocean. Then pan to a house on a cliff shore. The Katsuragis' New Year's Eve party. Mrs. Katsuragi is talking to some people but doesn't really seem to be interested. Someone asks and she makes an offhand reference to her husband being away on a business trip. Everyone is laughing and schmoozing and having a good time. The radio is playing this in the background:

About at the one minute mark? Well, Second Impact happens and sends everything to hell. The background music stops being in-universe radio and comes to the forefront of the soundtrack. Then we see the devastation of Second Impact all over the world, the music almost but not quite managing to drown out the horrid noise: the crashing, the whooshing, the screaming, et cetera. The credits roll over it as though they were the credits for any normal movie.

Eventually, Second Impact ends. The music goes back to being in-universe, on a transistor radio. We see a hand opening a hatch and climbing out, and from a pill-shaped escape pod out into the now-red ocean steps out a young Misato Katsuragi. She clutches the cross necklace in her hands.

White text on black: "15 years later"

Cut to Misato driving her car to pick up Shinji.

Yeah, I did a shitty job at explaining it. But hopefully you get the idea.

(This contradicts a particular canon detail: Second Impact actually happened on August 15, 2000. But come on. It's just too perfect, isn't it? Also, the Japanese don't really celebrate New Year's Eve that way, but that can be handwaved.)

Anyway, yeah, your thoughts on live-action Hollywood adaptations.

edited 14th May '11 5:05:03 PM by Sporkaganza

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.
Signed Always Right Since: Dec, 2009
Always Right
#2: May 14th 2011 at 5:34:38 PM

Well, first I'd choose animes that would be appropriate for a Hollywood adaptation...you'd think that would be the first thing they have in mind.

By that, I mean it's possible to do it live-action without gratuitous Race Lift and toning down of the anime's universe.

Therefore, stuff like Bleach and Dragon Ball would be the last thing I'd want to adapt since Hollywood is incapable of finding asian actors.

Perhaps One Piece? Pirates have been quite popular thanks to Pirates Of The Caribean, and all the characters are white...with funny hair colors. All the devil fruit powers can be done with sufficiently advanced computers. Chopper will be challenging though.

The problem is how to adapt such a large series.

edited 14th May '11 5:36:09 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#3: May 14th 2011 at 6:23:04 PM

If the Race Lift occurs because the setting's been changed to a country with different racial demographics than the original, then it's not a gratuitous Race Lift.

True, some manga/anime, like Rurouni Kenshin or Welcome To The NHK, only really work within a Japanese setting, but plenty of others could easily be relocated to a number of different countries without losing anything important. And then there are ones set in a Constructed World where stylized drawings make race somewhat hard to pinpoint, like Naruto, where the lead character has a Japanese name and Aryan coloring.

And, of course, there would probably be some cases where you'd just have to ignore physical resemblance to the original character and just cast the best actor you can get for the part.

edited 14th May '11 6:24:56 PM by RavenWilder

Nyktos (srahc 84) eltit Since: Jan, 2001
(srahc 84) eltit
#4: May 14th 2011 at 6:32:49 PM

My thought for a Darker Than Black movie would be to cast some white British actor as November 11 and bill him as the star and make it a "foreigner in Japan" type deal, thus allowing a lesser-known Asian dude to play Hei, who would start out in a more supporting role and take over in the second half, as he does in many of the episodes of the show.

No idea as for what the plot would be; you could adapt the story that introduces November in the show, or do a wholly original plot (maybe using the Meteor Shard as a MacGuffin to set up a sequel adapting the Amber arc). Gai and Kiki should be involved somehow too for some comic relief.

edited 14th May '11 6:35:39 PM by Nyktos

I guess it is.
SakurazakiSetsuna Together Forever... Since: Jun, 2010
Together Forever...
#5: May 14th 2011 at 6:39:31 PM
Thumped: Please see The Rules . This is a warning that this post is the sort of thing that will get you suspended.
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#6: May 14th 2011 at 6:45:31 PM

Step 1) License series

Step 2) Write new plot that doesn't take place in Japan and only just barely resembles the original series' plot. Fictional settings will be used though they will barely resemble the series setting. Settings in countries other than America are abandoned and switched with America.

Step 3) Get white people to play everyone. Save for one black guy who plays a pivotal character.

Step 4) Make ads

Step 5) Wait for fan backlash

Step 6) Giggle like an asshole like I drag the whole company into the ground and piss off fans at the same time

edited 14th May '11 6:46:03 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
SirPsychoSexy The Sensui Fan from Texas Panhandle Since: Jan, 2010
The Sensui Fan
#7: May 14th 2011 at 7:17:16 PM

I actually was thinking of this for Yu Yu Hakusho.

1.) Do a series of 4-5 films, adapted more from the manga than the anime.

2.) Have Yoshihiro Togashi on hand as an advisor.

3.) All humans will be Asian. All demons and Spirit World denizens will be white or black, depending on their canon appearance.

4.) Make some parts Darker and Edgier enough to earn an R-rating. (Approved by Togashi, of course.)

5.) Utilize very little-known actors and actresses, and, in the rare event you do have a star in a role, don't bill them as top.

6.) OPTIONAL: Film in Japanese.

Heaven doesn't want me, and Hell's afraid I'll take over.
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#8: May 14th 2011 at 7:24:42 PM

[up][up] I don't get this attitude. When America made an adaptation of The Office they changed the setting and all the characters' names, but everyone seems to love it.

Oh, how about a live-action version of FLCL, without any of the robots, aliens, or cartoon physics? Haruko would still run over Naota and move into his house, but instead of being an intergalactic police officer she's a woman trying to bust her boyfriend (Atomsk) out of jail (possibly for her own selfish reasons) after he did some eco-terrorism against the Medical Mechanica corporation, and she manipulates Naota into helping her. That's something I'd really like to see, since the character dynamics and developments wouldn't really have to change that much, but it would still provide a very unique viewing experience compared to the original.

Sporkaganza I'm glasses. Since: May, 2009
I'm glasses.
#9: May 14th 2011 at 8:04:26 PM

{Deleted rudeness. Don't tell people to "get out" of a thread. —Madrugada}

Also I agree with you guys on the subject of the Race Lift: that shouldn't be an option. Hopefully casting people learned something from the catastrophic failure of the Avatar movie...

edited 14th May '11 11:03:02 PM by Madrugada

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.
Signed Always Right Since: Dec, 2009
Always Right
#10: May 14th 2011 at 9:28:55 PM

Oh, how about a live-action version of FLCL, without any of the robots, aliens, or cartoon physics?

Wait...you mean remove everything that made the series enjoyable?....granted I'm not too big a fan of FLCL, but the crazy robots and aliens were the few bits that kept me watching it.

And then there are ones set in a Constructed World where stylized drawings make race somewhat hard to pinpoint

People said that about Dragon Ball Evolution. Where Goku's race is undefined...

Except I already explained why that argument doesn't work, and why Goku is supposed to look asian.

It went something along the lines of...white/black/indian people do exist and make appearances in the series. And when characters of those races make an appearance, it's made REALLY OBVIOUS that they're white/black/indian. So normal looking characters can be assumed to be the default race, the most normal looking one. Now what race would look most "normal" to a country consisting mostly of a single race?

If any anime gets adapted. It can't be one that has any asian characters since they don't exist in Hollywood beyond a very small and aging handful.

hmmm...how about adapt the X Men anime? Oh no wait, theres already a live action X-Men movie...and it was much better than the X Men anime.

edited 14th May '11 9:45:01 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."
Sporkaganza I'm glasses. Since: May, 2009
I'm glasses.
#11: May 14th 2011 at 9:46:20 PM

Dragon Ball Evolution wasn't bad because Goku was Caucasian. It was bad because of Bad Writing.

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.
Signed Always Right Since: Dec, 2009
Always Right
#12: May 14th 2011 at 9:49:32 PM

It was a combination of bads really...all the actors looking nothing like their roles, lack off Oolong and Puar. Poor fight scenes. Goku in highschool. It was Dragon Ball In Name Only.

Justin Chatwin does not belong in a story like Dragon Ball. He looks more like...an obligatory human male protagonist in a Transformers film.

edited 14th May '11 9:51:09 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."
NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#13: May 14th 2011 at 9:50:13 PM

[up][up][up] Goku looks more Generic Not Black Man than either pure Western or Asian. Really, huge spiky hair + Big strong build + Looking convincent with blond hair and blue eyes doesn't exactly scream Standard Japanese to me.

edited 14th May '11 9:50:26 PM by NapoleonDeCheese

Signed Always Right Since: Dec, 2009
Always Right
#14: May 14th 2011 at 9:53:29 PM

We know Goku isn't white(I know he isn't even human, but I'm talking about apperance here) because white characters DO exist in the anime/manga. And the way they're drawn is distinctive enough to tell us they're white.

Of course, characters like Bulma is harder to determine. White I guess. But the woman who played Bulma was definately too old.

edited 14th May '11 9:56:25 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."
NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#15: May 14th 2011 at 10:00:42 PM

[up] So, wait, what you are saying is all depictions of white people should fall under a rigid categorization? Not all white people is equally white. Saying all 'white' people in DB should look just like, I dunno, General Blue is just...

Signed Always Right Since: Dec, 2009
Always Right
#16: May 14th 2011 at 10:07:20 PM

It depends on the anime really. For Dragon Ball, yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. All white people are that.

But for something like Fullmetal Alchemist, well...the fantasy counterpart culture of Germany has Roy Mustang who looks CHINESE despite being a german. So in that case, it's a lot of different looking white people. No blacks or asians though.

When actual chinese characters make an appearance though, they are drawn to look obviously chinese.

edited 14th May '11 10:09:19 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."
Sporkaganza I'm glasses. Since: May, 2009
I'm glasses.
#17: May 14th 2011 at 10:11:39 PM

I hate it when people say that Mustang looks Chinese Xingese. He just looks like a dark-haired European to me. I don't know why this bothers so many people. Also there are plenty of Asian people. From the Asian country.

edited 14th May '11 10:12:03 PM by Sporkaganza

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.
SakurazakiSetsuna Together Forever... Since: Jun, 2010
Together Forever...
#18: May 14th 2011 at 10:12:53 PM

[up]

His eyes are narrow compared to most of the rest of the cast.

I think its more an artifact of his personality than an implied Xingese origin.

Signed Always Right Since: Dec, 2009
Always Right
#19: May 14th 2011 at 10:15:12 PM

Made especially noticeable when he's standing next to Riza Hawkeye...

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#20: May 15th 2011 at 1:53:23 AM

It went something along the lines of...white/black/indian people do exist and make appearances in the series. And when characters of those races make an appearance, it's made REALLY OBVIOUS that they're white/black/indian. So normal looking characters can be assumed to be the default race, the most normal looking one. Now what race would look most "normal" to a country consisting mostly of a single race?

Except that's assuming the original author's intent matters.

AirofMystery Since: Jan, 2001
#21: May 15th 2011 at 2:09:43 AM

I've been vaguely writing a script for a Naruto movie that would adopt basically the whole first part by sort of squishing and combining, for the most part, the Chunin Exam and Sasuke Retrieval arcs. It owes more than a teensy bit to how the Star Trek reboot did it.

Also, I'd definitely make everyone Japanese, or at least East Asian. I don't care if Naruto's blond. Sakura's pink-haired. Realistic hair colours for East Asians are just plain out the window. They're named after Japanese words, they eat rice and noodles all the time, they write with Japanese writing and they're ninja.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#22: May 15th 2011 at 2:21:10 AM

Also, I'd definitely make everyone Japanese, or at least East Asian. I don't care if Naruto's blond. Sakura's pink-haired. Realistic hair colours for East Asians are just plain out the window. They're named after Japanese words, they eat rice and noodles all the time, they write with Japanese writing and they're ninja.

Couldn't an actress playing Sakura dye her hair pink?

Also, doesn't the Hidden Cloud village have a bunch of ninja with Japanese names who happen to be black?

AirofMystery Since: Jan, 2001
#23: May 15th 2011 at 3:00:52 AM

[up]Couldn't the actress playing Sakura dye her hair pink and also be East Asian?

You have a point about the Hidden Cloud village, but them being black doesn't mean Naruto or any other character is automatically white.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#24: May 15th 2011 at 5:42:05 AM

True, there's no reason the characters couldn't be played be East Asians. But I don't see any particular reason why that should be preferred. While there's some clan-based discrimination, race as we understand it doesn't play a role in the story, so I see no reason why casting directors should make an issue of it (beyond what's necessary for characters who are related to each other to look related); they should just get the best actors for each role that they can.

NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#25: May 15th 2011 at 6:48:12 AM

yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. All white people are that.

Holy disgusting stereotyping, Batman.tongue

edited 15th May '11 6:48:29 AM by NapoleonDeCheese


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