Anime and manga are the final frontier of intellectual property. Both mediums have some of the largest and most loyal fan bases around, making the quest to adapt their favorite stories into live-action an irresistible pursuit. But while there’s been a recent boom in live-action adaptations of anime and manga, the endeavor hasn’t produced many winners.
Streamers like Netflix have had the most success, with shows like One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender separating the wheat from the chaff. But a truly good remake is hard to find. Even Hollywood’s more successful adaptations feel like they have something missing, a magic left behind in the process of adapting an animated story for live-action. That hasn’t stopped major studios from trying, but with Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao joining the effort, this subgenre could actually be moving in the right direction.
