10 live-action anime adaptations to watch

Anime has captured hearts all over the world with their compelling stories, endearing characters, and imaginative worlds. The vast majority of these works are already animated adaptations of manga (Japanese comics), and in turn end up receiving live action adaptations, i.e. with real people.

While there are excellent works out there, some of which receive both Eastern and Western adaptations, there are also adaptations that depart completely from the source material and are inferior in quality. Therefore, we separate for you 10 live action anime adaptations that are worth watching.

GTO – Grandmaster Onizuka

Great Teacher Onizuka, or simply GTO, is a live action adaptation that follows the story of Eikichi Onizuka, a former gang leader who becomes a teacher to win a woman’s heart. However, he ends up developing a unique approach to teaching, transforming the lives of his students and facing hilarious challenges along the way. The adaptation captures the humor and life lessons of the anime in a unique way. Although GTO is not a well-known anime like many others on this list, it is a fantastic work, extremely popular and very popular in Japan, to the point that there are 2 Live Action adaptations, one from 1999 and another from 2012. , both much appreciated.

death Note

Death Note is one of the most popular anime ever thanks to its complex plot full of twists and turns. The story follows Light Yagami, a student who discovers a notebook capable of killing anyone who wrote his name. Such fame ended up spawning a 2017 Netflix Live Action adaptation in series format, which was heavily criticized by fans for drastically changing many of the main points of Death Note. On the other hand, years earlier, adaptations had been released in Japan that were highly praised by fans for adapting the original story of the manga and anime well.

Two live-action films retelling the original story were released in 2006, as well as a third film in 2016, completing the trilogy. In 2008, it was titled L – Change the World, which serves as a spin-off of the work and in 2015, an 11-episode Dorama was released which was also highly appreciated by the fans. In general, Death Note is one of the anime with the most live action and mostly good quality adaptations.

full metal alchemist

The story of two alchemist brothers searching for the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies comes to life in the live action adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist. The action, magic, and family ties are carefully crafted, capturing the essence of the anime while offering a fresh look at the journey of the Elric brothers. The work presents 3 live action films produced by Netflix, which adapt the original story of the manga and anime Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. While reactions have been mixed, it’s an adaptation worth checking out.

Tomb of Fireflies

Get your tissues ready, because “Tomb of the Fireflies” is an emotional and moving adaptation. Based on the anime film of the same name, the live action tells the story of two brothers who struggle to survive during the last days of World War II in Japan. The adaptation retains the sensitivity and grittiness of the original narrative, delivering an impactful experience. This is considered by many to be the best film from the renowned Studio Ghibli, to the point that two adaptations came out of it, one in 2008, which was highly praised, and another years earlier, in 2005, which is considered an even better adaptation than it was. it would come out later.

bleach

Bleach came to life in its live action adaptation, bringing to light the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who accidentally gains the powers of a Shinigami, a reaper of souls. Supernatural action and epic battles are faithfully recreated, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the world of Shinigami and Hollows. Bleach is simply one of the most popular anime of the last decade and there was a lot of fear in adapting a work like this, considering how little success live action anime adaptations of the genre get. But Bleach was an exception and managed to convey the story of Ichigo and his friends very well, as well as having fantastic action scenes.

Ghost in the shell

Ghost in the Shell is an adaptation that mixes action, philosophy and science fiction. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg who leads a cybercrime-fighting unit. The live action adaptation, starring Scarlett Johansson, ignited debates about the nature of consciousness in an increasingly digital world and was one of the first live action adaptations of a Hollywood anime that reached the mainstream media and still featured a famous cast. actors. The original anime is a masterpiece of the sci-fi genre, and while the film doesn’t reach the same quality, it’s still worth a look.

Bakuman

Although not so well known, Bakuman is an original manga from the creators of Death Note and has been very successful, counting 3 anime seasons and even a live action adaptation in 2015. The story tells the lives of boys Mashiro and Takagi, who dream of become successful manga authors. Being a work dealing with everyday life, the adaptation is entirely due to the acting strength of the actors, who do not disappoint and tell a great story.

Alice in the Borderland

Alice in Borderland is an exciting and twisted anime adaptation that takes ordinary people into a deadly survival game set in an alternate reality. The live action adaptation maintains the tension and suspense as the characters face challenges that test their wits and mettle. This is one of the few cases in which the live action adaptation is much more successful than the original media one, thanks to Netflix, which made the Alice in Borderland series, making it explode with success and becoming for some time the most watched series in the world . Brazil.

parasite

Parasyte has come to life in its live action adaptation, bringing to light the story of Shinichi Izumi, a young man whose right hand is possessed by an alien creature. Together they face other alien parasites that threaten humanity. The adaptation maintains the atmosphere of suspense and reflections on coexistence with different beings that made the original manga so well received. The live action movies were released in 2014 and 2015, the same time that the work also got its first anime adaptation, despite the manga being from the 90s.

Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X)

Rurouni Kenshin, or Samurai X as the work was originally known in Brazil, follows the journey of Kenshin Himura, a wandering swordsman determined to leave his violent past behind him. The live action adaptation captures the action and emotion of the anime, bringing to life the sword fights and inner conflicts of the samurai and is considered by many to be the best live action adaptation of an anime, with 5 highly rated films by critics and fans. .

Other adaptations

In addition to all these live action works that also have their anime version, it is also important to mention that there are several live action adaptations directly from manga that are simply sensational, such as Old Boy, Nana, Alita: Combate Angel, 20th Century Boys and many others .

Bottom line, live action anime adaptations have given fans the opportunity to experience their favorite stories in new and exciting ways. From mysteries and action to emotional dramas, these adaptations span a variety of genres and narratives. Whether you’re a longtime fan or someone just exploring the world of anime for the first time, these movies definitely deserve a spot on your watch list.

The 10 live action anime adaptations you can watch first appeared on Olhar Digital.

Source: Olhar Digital

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.