live action manga
Catch The New Teaser For Live-Action Manga Feature, S: THE LAST POLICEMAN – RECOVERY OF OUR FUTURE
It was last year that Tokyo Boy helmer Hirano Shunichi put in time as director for the live-action TBS series, S: The Last Policeman. The series, based on the 2009 centered largely on two respective members of Japan’s National Police Safetyrescue and its enforcement squad within, Special Assault Team who put their differing personas aside to work together on numerous counterterrorism missions.
Sono Sion’s TOKYO TRIBE Hits The U.S. This Fall!
via Dread Central
Mankind To Battle Mutant Cockaroaches On Mars In Miike Takashi’s Live-Action TERRA FORMARS Movie
Japanese film auteur Miike Takashi (Crows, Yatterman, Ichi The Killer) is still on par to release his latest self-described return to form with the upcoming action horror, Yakuza Apocalypse. Obviously based on the most recent teaser, such a film will delve into the usual gonzo array of gory imagery and wackiness to accomdate the creative vision planned here, but that’s Miike for you, and to suggest there’s a limit to his style would be the equivalent of expecting gravity to work in outer space, which reminds me…
Terra Formars (テラフォーマーズ) is a 2011 Japanese sci-fi manga written by Yū Sasuga and illustrated by Kenichi Tachibana. The story follows that in an attempt to colonize Mars, 21st century humanity first sought to terra form the planet by sending modified algae to change the planets atmosphere. Cockroaches were cleverly used as the method to transport the algae across the planet. Five hundred years later, the first humans descended upon Mars to see if the terra forming experiment was successful. What greeted them were giant, mutated cockroaches who possessed immense strength. The landing party was completely wiped out but not before sending a warning back to Earth. Decades later, (and with a mysterious illness sweeping Earth that may have connections to the terra forming experiment) another expedition is launched but this time, the passengers have had their DNA grafted with other bugs and animals which has bestowed them with increased strength and durability. Now, this new expedition must get to the bottom of the mysterious illness and the true catalyst behind this astounding evolution.
Such is the current description (via Blastr) of Miike‘s new project now in the form of the live-action manga installment, Terra Formars, based on Shueisha’s 2011 publication by sci-fi manga authors Tachibana Kenichi & Sasuga Yū. The franchise has already built itself a following both in-print and on the small screen through original video animes as as one of the more highly rated properties as of late. Readers in North America can find the manga available via Viz Media as more info about the film should come.
In the meantime… going from battling Yakuza vampires to hunting down giant humanoid cockaroaches on Mars huh Miike? …hmmk cool.
H/T: ANN
ASTRO BOY Is Gearing Up For A Live-Action Return To The Big Screen
Late animator and author Tezuka Osamu’s Astro Boy has seen many a take on the title character spanning several movies, shows and books sixty years since its creation Kodansha publication. A 2009 CGI animated film came from Summit Entertainment and didn’t exactly bode well for American audiences, although now the effort is being revamped for a live-action franchise.
Based on the classic story, the film centers on a robotic boy, built in the image of his creators deceased son, who is abandoned and taken under by a new scientist who enhances him with special abilities to use to fight crime. THR brings the word that Australian production house, Animal Logic, known largey for its VFX work on projects like X-Men: Days Of Future Past, 300, The Matrix, The LEGO Moive and the upcoming Avengers: Age Of Ultron, is teaming up with Tezuka Productions to create a four-film franchise suited for today’s comic book movie audience.
The production is in search of a screenwriter with no director attached just yet. In the meantime, it’s been a while Hollywood became the ire of many a fan of Japanese content and we’ve seen some improvements thusfar in films like Edge Of Tomorrow. Yes, the forthcoming Ghost In The Shell movie has its own issues, but hopefully this will be an upward trend that sees the ascension and improvement of how we observe Japanese novels and animes.
How do you feel about a live-action Astro Boy? Comment below or on our Facebook page!
H/T: ComingSoon.net
AKIRA Creator Announces His Own Push For Live-Action Treatment
Contrary to how some may feel, Hollywood adaptations of Japanese properties have long been the ire of many hardcore fans heavily active in manga and anime lore. Such has largely been the case for filmmaker, author and writer Otomo Katsuhiro whose 1982 cyberpunk action manga epic from Kodansha, Akira, has received its recent accolades more so in the world of independent film than anything, on top of its thirty-year popularity.
Accordingly, you would think that twelve years would be more than enough for Warner Bros. to see the development and production of its own take on the popular manga/anime, now with uncredited Edge Of Tomorrow scribe Dante Harper providing a script for Non-Stop helmer Jaume Collet-Serra to direct. Well, that last update was over the summer, and it’s likely that fans are just passing the time to see what comes without too much anticipation at that.
However, if you’re waiting for the possibility of Japan getting a foothold on transitioning Otomo‘s work to live-action, then you may be in luck. By way of reports forwarded from French media through ANN, Otomo announced his own efforts for a live-action work-up during a ceremony in France where he was promoted to Officer nine years after after being knighted in the French Order of Arts and Letters back in 2005.
Proceeded by its feature-length anime in 1988, Akira centers on a post-apocalyptic future in the city of Neo-Tokyo where two childhood friends, Kaneda and Tetsuo, find themselves in the throes of government corruption and secrecy in a series of events that could endanger Tetsuo’s life, and in turn, millions more. Akira is long considered a staple of Japanese science fiction, cyberpunk and action entertainment culture, in addition to adding to much of Otomo‘s acclaim as one of the most prolific innovators in the world of film and entertainment.
So yeah, it’s easy to see why fans might prefer Otomo at the helm instead, and just as understandable. Twelve years, Warner? Give us something!
Edward Zwick Will Direct Live Action Manga, SOUL REVIVER
And just when you thought Hollywood was through with reworking live-action Japanese properties for the big screen, here comes another!