Tuesday 10 March 2009

Anime adaptations part two: The big boys

The big boys

Japanese anime classic Akira has a live-action remake. There will be two movies and both will be based on the 6 Manga graphic novels rather than the 1988 anime movie we all know and love. The first of which is due to be realised summer 2009, although there is no date and no trailer as of yet which is a bit worrying. It is being made by Warner Brothers and directed by Leonardo DiCaprio who also plays Keneda, a 34-year-old white man to play a Japanese teen? It is odd that a Japanese story will be played with American actors and I’m not sure without “americanising” it and there for ruining the atmosphere they can pull it of, but then it was always much more popular in the west than in Japan. Casting aside the cyberpunk story should translate well into live action; loads of action scenes, motorbike chases, government coups and sci-fi powers, all set in a post-apocalyptic city I can’t wait!

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Ghost in a shell made in 1995 is one of the biggest anime movies of all time, it asks a lot of questions about future technology (it heavily inspired The Matrix) and I love it. It has 2 sequels, a series, several books and 3 computer games, all based on the Manga by Masamune Shirow in 1989. Dreamworks have the rights and Steven Spielberg is directing it, and an ex Marvel boss is producing. They have a script but no information on casting or a release date yet, and all the news I could find was nearly a year old. Even though it looks to be American made I’m sure the high-class production team and the 3D effects will be spectacular. I hope they don’t tone down the story line, and it’s a shame they cant use other content rather than remake the 1995 movie but I have faith in Spielberg (he is a fan of the movie himself) and I trust him with my 2nd favourite Anime Movie.

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