akira and lupin the 3rd live-action movies? dodgy!

[sanosuke]

yes ive read that its true in a few places now and although they could be fantastic the thought still makes me feel a little dizzy (not with excitement or any pleasure). what do you think, hot or not?

[Vance]

Worth a shot. I'm especially curious about the Akira movie to see if it represents the story in the manga better than the original did.

[kakoi_sugoi_yama]

It makes me want to vomit. There is absoulutely no reason for this to happen. I don't want to see my favorite anime character completely ruined. weatdrop: weatdrop:

[Vicious]

Lupin shouldn't be hard to do. It's more of a suave and hornier version of Indiana Jones.

[Vance]

Who says they're going to ruin it? Maybe the real life portrayal of Lupin (or Kaneda) will be better than the anime portrayal.

[sanosuke]

i personally think that lupin the 3rd might be a good movie but akira? nooooo.

[johnkillingsworth]

It can't match the manga or the anime for Akira. Will they even cast Asian actors or will it be completely Americanized? Worse than a live-action Scooby-Doo movie :x

[matthewmalay]

I agree that Lupin has a better chance of being a good live action movie than Akira. It doesnt need a giant budget to be good just some good writing and acting

[Vance]

Originally posted by "johnkillingsworth"

It can't match the manga or the anime for Akira. Will they even cast Asian actors or will it be completely Americanized? Worse than a live-action Scooby-Doo movie :x

Who knows? Kubrik's "The Shining" blew away Stephen Kings original novel. I can name about two dozen other such examples (I'm a film major among other things ^_^.) Maybe the live action Akira will be a dazzling insight into the manga, concentrating all of its endearing commentary on broken societies and cutting away the useless chaff. (I've also written a few academic essays on Akira, which I hope to get posted on my friend's new site, Anime Essays, if he'll ever get the damn thing up.)

I personally do not care what race of actors they use or even if they change the city name. The values and themes of Akira are pertinent to all nationalities and creeds. Otomo had something important to say that transcends any of that, and changing the minor details won't change the message that Otomo wanted us all to hear.

I'll never understand why people are so ticked at localizations. Someone with insight sees beauty in another cultures art, brings it over, and attempts to reiterate it in a way that his own culture can better understand. Everywhere I go in anime circles I see all this illogical trendy hate for english voice acting and localization jobs on video games. I'm really getting sick of it.

By the way, I know you weren't insinuating any of this johnkillingsworth, just the word Americanized got me thinking. Sorry if it sounded like I was ragging on you, I'm not =)

[shadypower]

Can't completely agree with you on the Shining. The thing is that Kubrick made the main character a psycho from the start. In the book on the other hand, you have a guy who pretty normal in the beginning and gradually becomes crazy because of that hotel. I saw the movie a long time ago so I can't exactly remember everything ^_^

But as for Akira and Lupin, I'm curious how that will progress

[Zagatto]

I would love to see how they do a Lupin movie live action.
The biggest challenge in producing it would be coming up with a script that would suit live action.
I could be totally corny or serious or somewhere in between depending on what the producers decide to go with. Just look at all the sex and violence in the early issues of the manga series. That would certainly make it a big seller in the US but how would the foreign markets receive it?

I just hope they don't try to "remake" an already existing story like Cagliostro when there are so many other story options available with him.

[Prophet Hero]

I agree that Lupin would be the 'easiest' to translate as a live-action movie. The average TV episode has all the ingredients of a summer blockbuster.

Originally posted by "Vance"


I'll never understand why people are so ticked at localizations. Someone with insight sees beauty in another cultures art, brings it over, and attempts to reiterate it in a way that his own culture can better understand. Everywhere I go in anime circles I see all this illogical trendy hate for english voice acting and localization jobs on video games. I'm really getting sick of it.

Good point. Localisation of video games in particular is getting better. I thought the English translation of Zelda: WW was well done and I think David Hayter is great as Snake in MGS. It wasn't always this way. Anyone remember the SFII art on the US SNES release?

[sanosuke]

in response to johnkillingsworth, the lupin the 3rd movie is being made in japan so i expect an asian cast as for akira i have no idea. when it come down to it the cast is unimportant as long as the right men are brought in to write, direct and supervise the movies production.

btw shadypower, i dont think that in the movie of the shining the main character was supossed to be a psycho from the start, it was just jack nickelson being himself

[shadypower]

i dont think that in the movie of the shining the main character was supossed to be a psycho from the start, it was just jack nickelson being himself

Exactly! That's what I thought was a big mistake.

[Duragon]

Oh but it gets worse!

(Credit to ANN)


ADV Films has issued a press release confirming yesterday's reports form the Cannes Film Festival. No new details have been included in the press release unfortunately. One thing that should be pointed out is that the involvement of Weta does not mean that Peter Jackson is directly involved.

Full copy of Press release:


In an announcement sure to make waves in the entertainment industry, ADV Films President and CEO John Ledford today publicly confirmed industry rumors that the firm has acquired the rights to produce, and has already begun development of, a live-action feature-film based on the Japanese animated television series ?Neon Genesis Evangelion,? a multi-million dollar worldwide franchise and perhaps the most influential anime title in the history of the art form. The project is a collaboration between ADV Films, Gainax and Weta Workshop, Ltd.

The Participants
ADV Films is the leading producer-distributor of Japanese animation in North America. The Japanese anime and game studio Gainax Network Systems was one of the original production studios responsible for ?Neon Genesis Evangelion,? and Weta Workshop, Ltd. is the New Zealand-based special effects studio that created the effects for Peter Jackson?s ?Lord of the Rings? trilogy.

?The three main players here represent something of a ?dream-team? for a project like this one,? said Ledford. ?Between the quality and significance of the Gainax title, Weta?s industry-leading skill in the creation of special visual effects, and our expertise in the marketing and promotion of anime and anime-related content, this project is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.?

The Story
?Neon Genesis Evangelion? is the story of a reluctant young hero, called upon to pilot an immense robotic weapon in battle against alien invaders. Including both a 26-episode television series and at least two animated motion pictures, ?Neon Genesis Evangelion? has long been both a fan favorite and an extraordinary critical and commercial success, with the worldwide franchise producing many millions of dollars in revenue.

Timetable
The ?Neon Genesis Evangelion? live-action motion picture is in the earliest stages of development. Ledford confirmed, however, that the timetable is an aggressive one, and that more information on the project is forthcoming.

About Weta Workshop, Ltd
Founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger, Peter Jackson and Jamie Selkirk, Weta is a physical and digital effects company providing creatures, special make-up effects, prosthetics, miniatures, armor, weaponry and digital effects for the film and television industry. Over the past sixteen years the company has provided effects for Jackson?s ?Meet the Feebles?, ?Braindead? (aka ?Dead Alive?), ?Heavenly Creatures,? ?The Frighteners,? and ?The Lord of the Rings? movie trilogy, as well as for advertisements and television shows including the popular ?Hercules? and ?Xena? series. At the height of production on ?The Lord of the Rings,? Weta Workshop employed 150 physical effects technicians and 350 digital effects technicians at Weta Digital. Weta?s work on ?The Lord of the Rings? has garnered worldwide praise including two Academy Awards in 2002 (for Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup), and one in 2003 (for Best Visual Effects). The British Academy has also honored Weta?s work by awarding two BAFTAs in 2002 (for Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup) and two more in 2003 (for Best Visual Effects and Best Costume).

About Gainax
Gainax was founded in 1984. It began as a corps of amateur filmmakers, centered around current company president Hiroyuki Yamaga and anime director Hideaki Anno. Their first work, ?Wings of Honneamise,? continues to garner praise worldwide. Gainax?s highly original style of filmmaking spans the generations, appealing to fans both young and old. 1995?s ?Neon Genesis Evangelion? whipped up an anime fever of extraordinary proportions, receiving attention not only from anime fans, but also from many other corners of society. Hideaki Anno, who directed ?Neon Genesis Evangelion,? commands respect from even the likes of ?Spirited Away? director Hayao Miyazaki.

About ADV Films:
In 1992, ADV Films began to forge the international market for Japanese animation (?anime?) by combining unique titles, outstanding production values and efficient large-scale distribution. Today, ADV Films is the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation to the North American market, with the firm?s holdings including such premier titles as ?NOIR,? ?Sailor Moon,? ?Samurai X,? ?Hello Kitty?s Paradise,? ?RahXephon,? ?Spriggan,? ?Robotech,? ?Full Metal Panic? and ?Neon Genesis Evangelion.? In addition, ADV Films? product line has expanded to include other forms of genre programming, including live-action science fiction programs ?Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda,? ?Mutant X? and The Jim Henson Company?s ?Farscape,? and classic science fiction such as the updated ?Gamera? trilogy. ADV Films? parent company, A.D. Vision, Inc., also publishes Newtype USA, the premier anime and manga monthly in the English-speaking world, and operates The Anime Network?, broadcasting anime and anime-related programming via digital cable, 24 hours a day. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA, with additional offices in the EU and Japan, and distribution on four continents, ADV is fast becoming an international entertainment powerhouse.



Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV)
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This article is a follow-up of Evangelion Live Action (2003-05-20 17:21:53)

*Sigh* weatdrop: