The dangers of live action anime

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-17 04:58pm

This is a Bandai promo for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

Shield

your

eyes

now!!!

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-09-17 05:00pm

Ack! My eyes! I am slain.

*dies a horrible, vomit-inducing death*

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-09-17 05:02pm

er ok.....walks away totaly confused.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-09-17 05:04pm

That's not that bad.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-17 05:05pm

Dalton wrote:That's not that bad.

Are you kidding? Camel-toe Motoko? (hey, that kind of rhymes...)

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2003-09-17 05:12pm

I don't get it. What's so bad? They all looked fairly mundane pictures to me.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-09-17 05:16pm

Quiet you, that girl is fucking HOT.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2003-09-17 05:21pm

Montcalm wrote: er ok.....walks away totaly confused.

*follows* what exactly is so bad about this?

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-09-17 05:26pm

Beowulf wrote:
Montcalm wrote: er ok.....walks away totaly confused.
*follows* what exactly is so bad about this?

Sometime live action of comics,cartoons or anime,are not as good as they should be.

Mitth`raw`nuruodo · Post by **Mitth`raw`nuruodo** » 2003-09-17 05:29pm

it doesn't seem THAT bad... but can there really be such a thing as "live-action anime"?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-17 06:58pm

Bah, that's harmless.

Besides, she's pretty cute.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-09-17 07:16pm

At least the concept is not as strange as the idea for a live-action Eva movie.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-09-17 07:26pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Bah, that's harmless.

Besides, she's pretty cute.

Should i bring back the Evangelion pictures again.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-17 07:28pm

No, because those totally sucked.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-17 08:01pm

Of course she's attractive, but Motoko's outfit just looks dumb in live action.

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2003-09-17 09:13pm

Live action Evangelion is something that for years I hoped would never happen, and to hear that horrible news a few months back nearly killed me.

I'm hopeful that it won't happen. Its supposed to be getting $100,000,000.

ADV don't have that much
Gainax won't pay it.
WETA are getting paid.

Until some major studio announces their backing it, I'm not convinced it will actually happen.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-17 09:17pm

They're already in pre-production.

ADV can release their own films.

GAiNAX is coproducing it.

I don't like the idea, either, but it's happening, so deal with it.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-17 09:19pm

Who's funding it? ADV isn't a huge company, they probably wouldn't be able to foot the kind of bill for such a large project. Some big studio backing it?

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-09-17 09:19pm

WETA? I would think a massive effects job like that would go to ILM, but they might have their hands full...

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2003-09-17 09:22pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:They're already in pre-production.

ADV can release their own films.

GAiNAX is coproducing it.

I don't like the idea, either, but it's happening, so deal with it.

ADV however, don't have $100,000,000, which is what this is meant to get. Remember they've got to pay for dubbing (Blegh), and the general DVD release stuff. They've also just opened up a manga division. Not to mention the Anime Network.

They can't afford to do it alone. Gainax is notoriously tight fisted, they won't pay much.

They need funding, which hasn't been announced.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-17 09:25pm

Well, I doubt WETA would have gotten on board if they didn't think the project would be adequately funded.

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2003-09-17 09:36pm

Durran Korr wrote:Well, I doubt WETA would have gotten on board if they didn't think the project would be adequately funded.

So far all we've seen is concept art, some good, some bad (I hate the new EVA-00, and "New York-3". On the other hand I like the art of the cages for the Eva's.).

WETA just now don't have to do anything really, they can say their onboard, but they don't have to actually do anything yet, other than do some concept art, which ADV can afford.

There have been many "Live action anime" announcements that have never been followed through, while I do think this one might be, its still to early to be sure.

As an aside though, an Admin on a board I mod (Animenation) posted his thoughts on it, which summed up what I'd said there, and added some more:

There's been a great deal of debate over AD Vision's announcement of the live action Evangelion movie- ironic considering how little about the film has actually been said or revealed by any sources actually involved in the project. At this point, AD Vision has confirmed that ADV Films, Gainax Studios and Peter Jackson's WETA Workshop visual effects studio will collaborate on the production of a live action Evangelion movie. And the July issue of Newtype Magazine (Japanese version) has published 5 pre-production art/concept design photos. Everything beyond that right now is mere speculation. There is no information available about the cast or staff, story, production plans, distribution plans, or tentative release date.

Before I provide my own opinions on the available information, let me put my thoughts in context. There are quite a number of live action film adaptations of anime and manga. Some of them are very good; some of them are very bad; and I honestly haven't seen a large percentage of them. Just a handful of examples of live action adaptations of manga and anime include the Guyver movies, the Crying Freeman movies, the Fist of the North Star movie, the GTO TV series and movie, the You're Under Arrest TV series, the Ichi the Killer movie, the multitude of Lone Wolf & Cub adaptations, the Hana Yori Dango movie, the Video Girl Ai movie, the La Blue Girl movies, the Blackjack movies, the Kekko Kamen movies, the Weathergirl Report movie, the Wicked City movie, Flower of Flesh & Blood, Sharkskin Man & Peach Hip Girl, Blue Summer, the Gundam G-Savior movie, and Jackie Chan's City Hunter movie. Among just the titles adapted from manga that I've seen, Toho's "baby cart" films starring Tomisaburo Wakayama are exceptional. Takeshi Miike's Ichi the Killer is a revolting and challenging little gem. And Katsuhito Ishii's Sharkskin Man & Peach Hip Girl was wonderfully entertaining. But none of these films seemed particularly like "anime." If I limit critique to only live action adaptations of animation, the Canadian Crying Freeman movie was simply brilliant, but I'd be hard pressed to name a second example that really excelled. And still, the Crying Freeman movie was still a contemporary human drama with no sci-fi elements whatsoever.

Unfortunately, as an adaptation of pre-existing work, there's simply very little to compare the live action Evangelion movie to. The only thing that comes close is the Gundam G-Savior movie- the only live action/giant robot movie I know of that's directly based on an anime series. (The Japanese Gunhed movie doesn't count, because if I'm not mistaken, the movie preceded Kia Asamiya's manga adaptation.) The G-Savior movie was, to be kind, bad. However, there's no reason to expect the Evangelion movie to follow in the footsteps of the Gundam movie. WETA Workshop has already proven its competence in special effects production with the first two Lord of the Rings films. As long as there's money to fund WETA's work, the quality of the special effects in the Evangelion movie should be beyond reproach. Gainax has not co-produced a visual effects heavy live action work since the mid 1980s when the studio was still relatively poor and unknown. And early co-production on Ultraman movies may not be an accurate reflection of Gainax's input and influence on the Evangelion movie. AD Vision has never produced any live action film. The company's two original productions so far are the animated works Sin: The Motion picture, and the upcoming Lady Death animated movie (for which a trailer is available on the AD Vision site). Perhaps the less said about these two works the better.

Considering that there have been no announcements of the staff of the Evangelion movie or in what capacity AD Vision and Gainax will be involved, it's impossible to make speculations. So rather than make haphazard guesses or predictions without foundation, I'll make only a few observations.

The original Evangelion animation was a highly personal philosophical analysis of Japanese youth culture clothed in the guise of a giant robot adventure story. It was a story that unfolded and evolved primarily over the course of 26 TV episodes, or roughly 12 hours of animation. A large part of the personal aspect of the production came compliments of the unique directorial style of creator/director Hideaki Anno, who created a unique visual style for the Evangelion animation as a result of his personal creative vision and external limitations imposed on him by a small production budget and a strained, rapid production schedule. All of these factors need to be considered in respect to a live action Evangelion.

With a production spread over three continents and the profile of this particular project, it should be safe to assume that the live action Evangelion movie is aimed at massive, mainstream worldwide release and not just straight to home video release for American and Japanese anime fans. If that's the case, the Evangelion movie will have to be written as to be accessible by viewers that haven't seen the 8+ year old 12 hours of original animation. That means that the movie will most likely have to be either an origin story or a loose adaptation of the first 2 animated TV episodes unless the film is part of a multimedia project, like The Matrix Reloaded's Enter the Matrix video game and The AniMatrix. So far there's been no mention of any such plans in association with the Evangelion movie. Director Hideaki Anno has publicly confirmed that Evangelion is an analysis of the social alienation unique to Japanese youths resulting from the distinct nature of contemporary Japanese society. If the characterizations are to be kept intact, they may need to be revised or somewhat re-written to seem natural and accessible and believable to mainstream American movie watchers. A major theme in the original Evangelion animation is the desire for recognition and companionship and communal unity. This lies in direct opposition to the natural American desire for independence and singularity and individuality. Beside the fact that the goals and motivations of the characters may be difficult for mainstream American viewers to sympathize with, the live action Evangelion movie will require real actors to convey the desperation and loneliness and frustration of the characters in a way viewers can sympathize with. The animation makes it easy for viewers to empathize with the characters because they're accessible. Because they're not real, it's easy for viewers to interpret them and vicariously live through them. That sort of total immersion and belief may be much more difficult to create with real actors because viewers will instinctively critique and criticize their finest nuances. And speaking of fine nuances, it remains to be seen if the live action film will attempt to replicate Hideaki Anno's distinctive, deliberate directorial style heavily influenced by classical Japanese cinema. Mainstream American filmgoers are not used to long camera cuts, extended atmospheric establishment shots and quick, non-linear edits. In order to be appealing and accessible to mainstream viewers, the Evangelion movie will almost certainly have to employ a more conventional directorial style than the original animation used.

At this point, there's no telling how much, if any of these factors will be applicable to the forthcoming live action Evangelion movie. At least until more official information is revealed, there's no concrete benefit to speculating about the film. To the best of my knowledge, there's never been an unqualified good live action film of this nature, but there's always a first for everything.

http://animenation.net/news/askjohn.php?id=700

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-17 09:36pm

Sharp, how do you know that ADV doesn't have or have access to $100 million?

And I want real evidence, not "feelings".

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2003-09-17 09:44pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Sharp, how do you know that ADV doesn't have or have access to $100 million?

And I want real evidence, not "feelings".

I obviously can't post "real evidence", as I don't have access to ADV's financial records. Lets look at what we know though.

1) They are an anime company. Anime is still a niche thing, sales are going up, but are still small compared to other DVD's.

2) ADV license huge amounts of stuff, so much that titles they licensed over 2 years ago have still to be released (Slayers movies and the 2nd OAV for instance). Licenses are not cheap. They've aqquired so much they can't release it all in a decent time. Thats a huge amount they've spent, considering that licenses for such titles as Full Metal Panic got for sums over $100,000.

3) They refused to license End of Evangelion and Death & Rebirth, as they were "too expensive".

4) They've just opened a manga division. Again, not cheap.

5) They're running the Anime Network, which still has a limited viewer base.

With these expenditures, do you really think their going to risk $100,000,000 on a movie, that has a high chance of failure (even if they could afford it)? They'll have learned from other companies mistakes with things like G-Saviour, and won't risk that much on it.

As I said, its very likely to happen, but I do think some people are being a bit premature.

Kenny_10_Bellys · Post by **Kenny_10_Bellys** » 2003-09-19 06:03am

I think we may have wandered off topic here, allow me to set you all back on track.

THAT GIRL IS HOT! Camel Toe Motoko should have here own show as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather watch real women in skimp outfits any day of the week than cartoon ones.