Live Action Akira

By Loath October 14, 2002 12:12 PM

JoBlo reports that Stephen Norrington, director of Blade, has signed on to direct a live-action version of the anime classic Akira. It remains to be seen if he can pull this off, but I, for one, will wait with anticipation.

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Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa   reply

Posted by Skullfire (hulacete@ubbi.com) on October 14, 2002 2:05 PM

Some scenes will require big scenarios and a lot of FX, but the good thing is that someone who directed comic adaptions could be the right person, or at least have experience in the genre.

Careful   reply

Posted by sodaboy (contactbm@excite.com) on October 16, 2002 3:31 PM

Why is it that animation is still viewed as inferior to live-action.  I have friends that still won't watch Akira because it's a "cartoon".
Animated films have been filled with the best imagery in cinema for more than a few years now.
My message to Norrington and Peters (ugh) is that if you aren't prepared to put ALOT of time and money into this project; don't do it.
Just re-release the original.

Been there, done that.   reply

Posted by Skullfire (hulacete@ubbi.com) on October 18, 2002 11:55 AM

Last year. Improved DVD version. Check IMDB!

Woah!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 20, 2002 10:10 AM

This will be crazy if it is really true. I would like this movie to turn out good. The only problem is that if you have seen this movie you would know this will take tons of time to make this movie come out reasonable. But, hey i will wait a year or two for this thing if i have to! I would LOVE to see this!

RE: Been there, done that.   reply

Posted by sodaboy (contactbm@excite.com) on October 22, 2002 4:01 PM

Yeah I know, but I meant release it theatrically

RE: Woah!   reply

Posted by Skullfire (hulacete@ubbi.com) on October 22, 2002 6:46 PM

After 3 movies about a zillion pages talking of elfs, trolls and rings, looks like any adaptation is possible.

Holy Christ!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on December 8, 2002 11:22 PM

A live-action Akira? Are you kidding? This is either going to be the most ambitious task in cinematic history, or the stupidest idea ever. Mr. Norrington and his associates may wanna do some fundraising or eat one less square meal a day or even sell their houses... because this will be the costliest project ever. I really hope they better know what they are doing... because if they manage to pull this off, they will become my new gods.

RE: Careful   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 7, 2003 9:33 PM

dude anime will always be branded as "just a cartoon" because every child has seen a "cartoon" and when they grow up they automaticly associate and animated show or movie with the goofy cartoons they saw as a child, and thus brand it as childish

RE: Holy Christ!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 21, 2003 6:50 PM

yeah, right.  Like they'll be able to pull it off!  Live action Akira?  I don't think so.

RE: Holy Christ!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 1, 2003 2:40 PM

MY BALLS!!!! IN YOUR MOUTH

RE: Holy Christ!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 14, 2003 4:17 AM

Having spent countless years of my life in the action of watching the film, spent the fortune on the English reading the 2000 page manga collection and reading up and bought both the first and second dub, I beleive I can speak.  Akira is a grand story, and deserves far more attention than it`s recieved. I was thrilled to hear of Akira`s live action American translation, seeing the size of an audience it would open the story to. But, in more than one way, I felt not right. The disrespect to animation is utter injustice. Animation is an art form, as is live action. Each is utilized as a medium to tell a story. Exponentially increasing the greatness of an already epic film is arwork o the finest degree, unexpirienced by us in the west. I feel that a good half of the movie was sheerly it`s art. Why live action, why? Otherwise, there is the other part to the movie, the plot. Akira`s plot incorperates political corruption, romance, nifty guns, teenaged frustration, and the fundimental physics of the universe.
Katsuhiro Otomo, the man who pulled the manga and movie off in a lifetime, I respect more than almost any other human alive. He is of those few with the ability to take on such a task. To properly translate anything long these lines is somewhat like grooming a banzai tree, the tiniest clipping can tak off a hundred years of growth. The increadibe care it would take requires respect as motivation, those who handle this film, I beg, handle with care. I drastically fear the more than probable risk of over-Hallmarking and over-clicheing so token with today`s American moviemaking, tending to today`s American movie audiences. We don`t need another Star Wars Episode One or Daredevil. A Lord of the Rings or Matrix type adaption is minimally required. Be cautious what is cut, what is captured, what is dumbed down, it could be great. Such a risk is being taken, I wish Akira what it desrves, the best. Weather an American adaptation of a Japanese animated film adaptation of a manga is taken to or not, I`ll still go see it, and add it to my merchandise shrine of geekdom if it`s good.

The Conspiracy Girl!

Positives/negatives if?do it well   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 29, 2003 1:45 AM

Live action Akira?  Hmm.  At first I thought what a great idea.  Recently I'm more mixed on the idea.  A bad idea:  the story has already been translated from comic to film.  There it will lose something.  That is normal for any translation, of anything from the original.  While I've not read the entire comic, I've heard the story continues on after the movie ends.
A good idea?  While the idea of animation as a child's medium is still well ingrained in US society and is changing, slowly, perhaps the translation into a live action film will help.  New fans the story of Akira will undoubtedly gain will be interested in its origins and probably view its animated version.  And seeing how well a film can be done animated might just start thinking there are others out there too.  Then again, maybe not.  Comics are probably more accepted by adult readers and these readers are still often not taken seriously as adults.  Sigh, whatever.  If it happens I just hope it is done well and does NOT spawn every other animated film a live action version.  People just don't know what they are missing.

Akira Soundtrack   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on May 21, 2003 1:03 AM

As hardcore as any fan claims to be, they often neglect one major and totally ingnore aspect of the film. The soundtrack. Katsuhiro Otomo had the score for his movie specially written by Genhoi Yamashiro Gumi (sure hope I spelled that right) even before production started, and demanded quality in this area equal to that of the animation. I own the soundtrack (bloody expensive, shipped it in from Japan), and personally rate it of some of the most beautiful music produced by man. It`s less a movie soundtrack than it`s own symphony, mediums ranging from Tibetan chant to Japanese taiko to electric guitar. Think of it, would the movie be the same accomplishment without title tracks like Kaneda`s theme and Requiem? I think not.
My expirience with American action movie soundtracks is the rock is far too thick, it would smother scenes made unique beautiful by use of delicate chimes or children`s voices.


All in all, I just feel that there is a lot of extreamly expensive crap produced these days, none of them worthy or destined to be dubbed `classics`, and I pray Akira isn`t debauched in the same manner.

Live Action Akira   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on June 11, 2003 4:56 AM

I've watched Akira 6 times and I just about get it. I and head over heels about anime and it needs to be reconised. but Akira is complicated so the general public will say it's crap because they don't get it. But I Sure hope it works.I am also looking forward to the live action DBZ , Neon Genesis Evangelion.

RE: Akira Soundtrack   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on August 15, 2003 7:33 PM

Geinoh Yamashirogumi is the group that performed the music, Shoji Yamashiro wrote the music.  I, too have the soundtrack, and I think it's one of the best cd's I've ever gotten.  But even though there's like a 99% chance of this movie being totaly wrong, including the music, that 1% is what we have to really think about, in my opinion.  But how the music won't be messed up, I don't know.  They could get the Geinoh Yamashirogumi back to do new music (unlikely), or use the same music (lame), or have a totaly different score but equally good and with the same power that the original score held.

you people   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 4, 2003 1:18 PM

You people are thinking way to into this $hit.If it's good,then great!something new to add to the collection.If it sucks,great!what do you or I really give a shit.it's not our money and it wont take away from whats already out there.peace im outta here!

Hmm....   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on November 2, 2003 7:36 PM

While I have been an extreme fan of Akira ever since I've known about it, I must say I'm nervous about this live-action film.  It's not the graphics so much that I'm worried about, it's the cast.  Every character in Akira is unique and special in their own way. It would be a disgrace to the characters to have actors that don't fit the part.  Will the cast even have Japanese actors in it?  I mean think about this.  We all know what happens when films get "Americanized".  I can only imagine having white guys on bikes in Tokyo and Kaneda being played by Josh Harrnet.

hmmmm   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 7, 2004 4:23 AM

It will be great i know it so if you likie it go see it if you stil thik manga is just  cartoon than you it is yours to think so


Silvermain2090@hotmail.com

RE: Careful   reply

Posted by Saint_6 (phoebeberg@aol.com) on March 19, 2004 2:34 AM

What the hell how is anime Kiddish i mean do you watch it i mean damn when i was a kid i couldnt watch akira people think just becauz its draw that makes it a cartoon but when a Painter does a painting is that kiddish no it depands on what it is focist on that makes it kiddish i fill that people that say that about anime dont watch it and most likely have only seen pokemon so that should really think before the sound stupid

RE: Careful   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 28, 2004 12:26 PM

As a whole, Americans still see animation as "child's play," but with the recent upsurge of anime consumption in the U.S., I'm sure this trend will change.

Although it might take another generation or two.

FUCK!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 28, 2004 7:17 PM

Okay! I love Akira! It is my favorite movie and I like it the way it is. I don't know if would love it or hate it if they made it live action movie. They would probably fuck it up with horribly made computer animation.If this is the same dude who did blade then all I have to say to him is: go fuck yourself! He made an entire fight, in blade II, completely CG fucking I! He could've used fucky harnests! If he fucks this up I will KILL HIM! I seriously doubt that he will succeed! I can only pray that he does the right thing and uses the most exspensive and the most realistic cgi on this movie when he uses cgi. He better only use CGI for the following:
Tetsuo mutation
Awakening of Akira
And the laser cannon
That better be it! I swear that if he fucks it up he will pay! Akira deserves to be done well and is worth the time and he better do it well. And if he is not gonna do it well, don't do it! Who agrees?

RE: Hmm....   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 28, 2004 7:23 PM

I agree with the whole fucking americanize shit! I meancome on! This film has to take place in NEO TOKYO! Come on! They need a japanese cast! They cannot have an american cast in japan! What the fuck? I first watched Akira when I had nothing else to watch like 5 years ago. After that I got hook and became an Akira Fanatic! They better not screw this up.

RE: Positives/negatives if?do it well   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 28, 2004 7:26 PM

Well the comic does not continue where the movie ends. The movie is a very very very very shortened version of the comic. In the comic Tetsuo and Kaneda start off 15 and they at most reach 17 by the end of the comic. I don't know if this fuck is basing his movie on the anime or the comic.

What the fuck?!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on August 4, 2004 10:35 AM

....O.o;....live..action Akira?!WTF?!That movie is my favourite Anime movie.What the hell were they smoking?!Even if they get the best graphics,look alike characters(witch I highly doubt-.-;),and ect it still isn't goin be the same.The manga was killer.One of the best out there.So why dont they stop raping anime classic.Hold off,u  perverts.*humph*

RE: What the fuck?!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on August 4, 2004 3:20 PM

A-fucking-men! I AGREE!

Apples and oranges!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on November 11, 2004 8:04 PM

A live action AMERICAN version of Akira! Oh Gods below! I'm very skeptical about the integrity of this undertaking for two reasons. 1: Hollywood generally has little or no regard for the artistic aspect of film, butts in seats is their end goal. Akira is a very visual and artistic piece. Second, it pains me to think that a bunch of over paid Hollywood premodonnas are going to don the roles of the characters like Kaneda and Tetsuo, who I have grown to love. Please no American actors, keep it Japanese!