10 famous American manga and anime adaptations

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

For the release of the film "Alita: Battle Angel", Lifehacker recalls how cartoons and comics from Japan were filmed in Hollywood.

On February 14, a new project by director Robert Rodriguez and producer James Cameron will start at the box office. "Alita: Battle Angel" is a remake of the popular anime based on the manga. While some viewers praise the successful special effects and visuals, others criticize the adaptation for losing the atmosphere of the original. From a tough bloody story, they made an almost children's film with a completely linear plot.

And this is not the first time this happens: American directors often shoot films based on anime and almost always greatly change the plot and atmosphere.

Films based on manga and anime

1. Edge of the future

• USA, 2014.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

In the not too distant future, humanity has to fight an aggressive race of aliens. People are constantly being defeated, but one day an inexperienced Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) gets the blood of one of the aliens. From that moment on, he constantly returns to the day he died in battle. As a result, he, with the support of experienced soldier Rita Vrataska (Emily Blunt), needs to somehow survive this battle. At the same time, William can use his new knowledge to help humanity defeat enemies.

This movie is based on a light novel (book with lots of illustrations) called All you need is kill. The authors left the main plot unchanged - the idea of a time loop and the use of past experience in a new battle - but decided to experiment with a lot of details. For example, in the original, Rita Vrataski also constantly returned to the moment she lived, and the aliens each time changed the course of the same battle, since they themselves moved after the heroes. In addition, the final became different: the Americans made it traditionally optimistic. But, despite the discrepancies with the original, the film was successful.

2. Transformers

• USA, 2007.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 143 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

For centuries, two races of robots - the Autobots and the Decepticons - have been at war. But it must end on Earth. The key of supreme power falls into the hands of a simple youth. And now only his friend Bumblebee, who is transforming into a Chevrolet Camaro, and his fellow Autobots can save him from the invaders.

Once in Japan, the Microman series of toys began to be produced. And in the early eighties, Hasbro made them all known transformers - robots that can turn into cars, airplanes and other mechanisms. To promote Hasbro products, first in the United States, and then in Japan, she began to produce various animated series about transformers. There were more than a dozen projects in total.

And in 2007, producer Steven Spielberg and director Michael Bay released a feature film about these robots. The design of the main characters has been greatly changed: most of the Autobots are transformed into American cars manufactured by General Motors. But the idea remains the same: huge robots turn into different equipment and fight with each other.

3. Crying killer

• USA, Canada, France, Japan, 1995.
• Action, crime, thriller.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

A killer named Yo has almost fantastic strength and agility. But every time after completing the task, he mourns his victims. After all, Yo did not want to become a killer, he was forced by the mafia. Once he is assigned to eliminate the witness of the crime - the artist Emu. But Yo falls in love with his goal.

This film is based on the manga of the same name from the late eighties. Also in the early nineties, a six-part anime was released. The adaptation was very well received. Although the film deviates from the original due to timing, it closely conveys the main plot. And the charming actor Mark Dacascos added his charm to the main character.

4. Ghost in the Shell

• USA, 2017.
• Cyberpunk, action movie.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

The main character wakes up in the laboratory, where she is informed that as a result of the tragedy, only her brain survived. She is given a synthetic body and is now a Major, the world's first combat cyborg in police service. She heads the counter terrorism department and is looking for a dangerous hacker. But then it turns out that with the heroine's past, everything is somewhat more complicated than it seemed at first.

The American adaptation of the famous manga and anime was received very controversially. They scolded the vague plot and the missed depth of the original. Not even a bright cast led by Scarlett Johansson helped. Of the merits, only good special effects were appreciated, especially the elaboration of the main character's costume.

5. Oldboy

• USA, 2013.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

Joe, the advertiser, got drunk on his daughter's birthday after a failed deal. He woke up already in a strange locked room, where he was kept for the next 20 years. Suddenly freed, Joe tries to find out who kidnapped him, and soon realizes that the villain continues to intrigue him.

The original manga "Oldboy" was released in the mid-nineties, but it was received quite critically. But the 2003 South Korean film adaptation by director Park Chang Wook quickly gained popularity and gained worldwide recognition. At the same time, the plot of the film was very different from the original, even the motivation of the main villain was changed. The 2013 American version refers to the previous picture rather than the manga. Although here, the finale has undergone changes.

But although the new remake was filmed more dynamically, and excellent actors appeared in the main roles, most consider the picture of Park Chan Wook to be much more interesting.

6. Speed Racer

• USA, Australia, Germany, 2008.
• Action, family, sports.
• Duration: 135 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 0.

Young race car driver Speedy really wants to win in the competition on the track, where his older brother once died. He learns that corporations are using dirty tricks to win races. But Speedy does not want to cooperate with them and achieves victory himself.

The Wachowski sisters decided to film a live adaptation of a manga and anime series that aired back in the sixties. Moreover, the original animated series was quite famous in the United States, for rental in the voice acting they even changed all the names to English. But, despite the talent of the directors, the film came out mediocre. This is a simple family story of racing that loses a lot to the original. In Wachowski's filmography, Speed Racer is considered one of the weakest works.

7. Death note

• USA, 2017.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 4, 5.

Student Light finds a magical death note that kills anyone whose name is written on it. He decides to use the find for good and exterminates street criminals. Soon, an FBI agent under the pseudonym L.

The American adaptation of the famous manga was released on the streaming service Netflix. And there and then from everywhere sounded proposals "to record the film itself in the death note." Indeed, the full-length version turned out to be strange: it lost all the complex schemes that the protagonist was thinking, and even the ambiguity of his actions disappeared. As a result, critics and audiences literally trashed the film. At the same time, there are still rumors about its continuation.

Despite widespread criticism, this isn't even the worst Western adaptation of an anime or manga. There are, for example, films such as Dragonball: Evolution (IMDb rating - 2, 6), Fist of the North Star (IMDb rating - 3, 9) or G-Savior (IMDb rating - 4, 0). But these are such unsuccessful projects that there is no point in talking about them.

Anime-inspired films

In addition to film adaptations of specific works, there are famous films that either refer to entire genres, or are not official remakes. But the influence of manga and anime is very clear.

8. Matrix

• USA, Australia, 1999.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 136 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

Office worker Thomas Anderson turns into an experienced hacker Neo at night. And he soon discovers that the entire human world is a computer simulation created by machines. And it is Neo who is the chosen one who can pull humanity out of slavery.

The Wachowski sisters did not hide that they were inspired by various anime, but they deny specific references. But it is easy to see that the famous "flowing" green symbols on the screen are very reminiscent of "Ghost in the Shell", and the very idea of simulating the world clearly refers to "Megazone 23". But the authors do not confirm a direct link.

9. Black Swan

• USA, 2010.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Nina Sayers becomes the new prima ballerina. She is very talented, but she lacks self-confidence and relaxedness. Before the staging of Swan Lake, a competitor appears in the troupe, who can take all the parties away from the heroine.

Director Darren Aronofsky's relationship with the anime Perfect Blue is very unusual. Even in his famous film Requiem for a Dream, references to the theme of multiple personality were noticeable, and the scene in the shower was re-shot literally frame by frame. In "Black Swan" the plot already refers to "Perfect Sadness", only in the original there was a pop singer who decided to become an actress.

10. Pacific Rim

• USA, 2013.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 131 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

From the depths of the sea, giant monsters - kaiju - began to attack humanity. To counter them, people came up with huge robots that are controlled by two pilots at once. But the monsters are getting bigger, and only one pair of pilots can defeat them.

After the release of this film, many started talking about the similarity of the plot and surroundings with the famous anime "Evangelion", except perhaps without philosophy and biblical references. But, strictly speaking, "Pacific Rim" is just a tribute to the entire genre of "fur", where huge robots fight monsters, which is confirmed by director Guillermo del Toro himself. And it is more like the buster cars from the anime Gunbuster.