20 Anime That Hollywood Keeps Trying (and Failing) to Adapt

For decades, Hollywood has tried to recreate the success of popular Japanese anime with live-action movies. However, these adaptations often struggle to capture the distinctive look and storytelling of the original anime for Western viewers. Fans often worry about casting and changes to the story that affect the heart of the anime. While a few adaptations make it to the big screen, many get stuck in development or don’t connect with audiences. Here are some examples of well-known anime franchises that have proven difficult to adapt successfully.

‘Dragonball Evolution’ (2009)

20th Century Fox’s attempt to turn the popular manga and anime series into a live-action movie was a major failure. The film drastically changed the story, reimagining the main character, Goku, as an American teenager who goes to parties. Both fans and critics strongly disliked the movie, criticizing its weak special effects and how much it strayed from the original source material. The series creator even said the film felt like it was made by people unfamiliar with his work.

‘Ghost in the Shell’ (2017)

Paramount Pictures brought the classic cyberpunk anime to life with Scarlett Johansson as the main character. However, the choice of casting caused immediate debate about whitewashing and overshadowed the film’s release. While the visual effects impressively captured the futuristic look of the original, the script made the complex ideas about AI and consciousness easier to understand, but ultimately left the story feeling empty.

‘Death Note’ (2017)

As a fan of the original, I was really curious about the Netflix adaptation. They switched things up a lot, moving the story to Seattle and renaming the main character Light Turner. It seemed like the director wanted to make something fresh for Western horror audiences, rather than just copy the manga. Honestly, I was disappointed that the complex mind games between Light and L weren’t as strong in this version. Sadly, despite some talk about a sequel script, it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting a follow-up anytime soon.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)

Netflix created a live-action series based on the popular anime, aiming to recreate its jazzy feel. John Cho played the lead role of Spike Spiegel, and the original composer, Yoko Kanno, returned to create the music. However, the show received criticism for its uneven tone and alterations to characters’ histories, which made the story feel disjointed. Ultimately, Netflix canceled the series less than a month after it launched because it wasn’t well-received by viewers and was expensive to produce.

‘Knights of the Zodiac’ (2023)

This movie is Sony Pictures’ latest effort to introduce the ‘Saint Seiya’ series to a wider audience in theaters. It tells the story of a young orphan who finds out he has magical abilities and is tasked with safeguarding a goddess who has been reborn. Unfortunately, the film didn’t perform well at the box office, largely because it wasn’t well-advertised and received negative feedback from early viewers. Reviewers also pointed out that the special effects appeared old-fashioned and the storyline felt hurried when compared to the original anime series.

‘Speed Racer’ (2008)

The Wachowskis made this movie based on the popular Japanese anime ‘Mach GoGoGo,’ and it’s known for its striking visuals. They used bright colors and unusual editing to make it look like a cartoon, but many moviegoers at the time found it too much. While it didn’t do well in theaters initially, it’s since become a favorite among fans who admire its bold style and genuine heart.

‘Astro Boy’ (2009)

This animated film, created by Imagi Animation Studios, was based on the classic manga by Osamu Tezuka. It boasted a well-known voice cast, including Nicolas Cage and Freddie Highmore. However, the movie changed the robot boy’s original story to appeal to American audiences and included predictable action sequences, which critics found uninspired. The film was a box office failure and sadly led to the animation studio closing down soon after its release.

‘Kite’ (2014)

This film, based on a mature anime series, featured Samuel L. Jackson and India Eisley. While filmmakers removed the adult content, the story that replaced it wasn’t very engaging. Made on a limited budget, the movie’s action scenes didn’t have the same impact as the original anime. As a result, it was mostly released directly to video and didn’t attract much attention from general audiences.

‘Fist of the North Star’ (1995)

This movie was made directly for home video and tried to adapt the popular post-apocalyptic martial arts series, but it had a small budget. Gary Daniels played Kenshiro, and Malcolm McDowell appeared in a supporting role. Unfortunately, the film looked cheap, with low-budget costumes and sets, and the fight scenes didn’t have the same exciting energy as the original anime. Most fans see it as an interesting oddity rather than a faithful adaptation of the story.

‘The Guyver’ (1991)

New Line Cinema made an American movie based on the popular Japanese manga series about a character with bio-armor, starring Mark Hamill as a CIA agent. The film was known for its over-the-top humor and practical creature effects, which were quite different from the more serious tone of the original anime. While the design of the Guyver suit was considered faithful to the source material, the acting and storyline received negative reviews. A follow-up film came out several years later, but the series didn’t become popular in Western countries.

‘Akira’ (1988)

For over twenty years, Warner Bros. has owned the rights to this influential cyberpunk movie but hasn’t been able to get it made. Several directors, including George Miller and Jordan Peele, have tried to bring it to life at different times. The project keeps facing delays because of money issues and disagreements about how the story should be told, particularly where it should be set. Many fans are concerned that changing the location from Tokyo to an American city would damage the story’s unique cultural background.

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995)

For over two decades, attempts to create a live-action version of this popular mecha series have been stalled. While Weta Workshop created promising concept art that thrilled fans, legal battles between the original Japanese studio, Gainax, and various American production companies repeatedly stopped development. A major challenge continues to be the enormous cost of realistically bringing the Angels and Evas to life on screen.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ (1979)

Legendary Pictures and Netflix are teaming up to create a live-action movie based on the popular giant robot series. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts was originally set to lead the project with a screenplay by Brian K. Vaughan, but there haven’t been many updates since it was first announced, hinting at some issues behind the scenes. One of the biggest hurdles for the filmmakers is the intricate history and timeline of the series, which is proving difficult to simplify for the movie.

‘Naruto’ (2002–2007)

I’ve been following the news about a live-action Ninja manga movie for years – Lionsgate has been trying to make it happen since 2015! It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster though, with different directors coming and going. Apparently, it’s really hard to turn such a long and detailed story about growing up into just one movie. They just brought on Destin Daniel Cretton to write and direct, which is exciting, but we haven’t heard when filming will actually start yet.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

After the Japanese live-action films received a mixed reception, Warner Bros. obtained the rights to create a new adaptation of the dark fantasy series. Andy Muschietti, known for his work on popular horror franchises, was chosen as the director. However, there haven’t been any major updates about casting or production in quite some time. Bringing the Titans to life and showcasing their aerial combat will require a substantial investment in visual effects.

‘Robotech’ (1985)

For years, Sony Pictures has been attempting to create a franchise based on the American version of the anime ‘Macross’ and other giant robot shows. Big names like Leonardo DiCaprio and director James Wan were once potentially involved, but the project has been held back by complex ownership disputes between the original Japanese creators and the American companies with the rights. Numerous script drafts have been written, but so far, none have been approved for production.

‘Your Name.’ (2016)

Soon after the release of the popular Japanese film, Paramount and Bad Robot announced plans to create an American remake. Several directors, including Marc Webb, were considered to adapt the story, setting it in a rural American location with Western characters. However, the original film is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and beliefs, making it challenging to adapt for a Western audience. Many fans believe the story’s essence is inseparable from its Japanese origins.

‘One-Punch Man’ (2015)

As a huge cinema fan, I’m hearing some interesting things about the upcoming live-action take on that superhero satire! Apparently, Sony is working on it with Justin Lin – the director known for ‘Fast & Furious’, which is a bit of a surprise. They initially brought in the writers from ‘Rick and Morty’ to write the script, which seemed like a good fit for the source material’s tone. The biggest hurdle, though, is the hero’s power – they defeat villains with just one hit! That’s a real challenge when it comes to creating suspense in a movie. Honestly, a lot of fans, myself included, are a little worried about how they’ll capture the dry, deadpan humor of the anime in live action. It’s a tricky adaptation!

‘Bleach’ (2004–2012)

Warner Bros. tried to create a live-action version of the series in the past, but couldn’t come up with a script that worked, so they stopped. While Japan made a live-action film in 2018, Hollywood hasn’t tried again. The series is long and has a complex spiritual background, making it a challenging project to adapt for Western audiences.

‘Voltron: Defender of the Universe’ (1984)

For almost twenty years, plans for a live-action movie based on the popular lion robot series have been in development, shifting between different studios. Now, Rawson Marshall Thurber is directing the film for Amazon MGM Studios. Earlier efforts stalled because of budget issues and difficulties writing a solid story. The movie hopes to appeal to fans of the original 1980s cartoon, but production hasn’t started yet.

Let us know in the comments which anime you’d love to see get a live-action remake done well!

2025-12-06 12:17