Key Takeaways:
– Hollywood has struggled to recreate the magic of anime in live-action adaptations.
– Actor and anime superfan Michael B. Jordan believes only a true fan can bring an anime to life successfully.
– Jordan took inspiration from anime for the fight scenes in his directorial debut, Creed III.
– Despite the challenges, Creed III, with its influences from anime, was a commercial success.
– Jordan recommends five notable anime series for newcomers to the genre.
The Boundless World of Anime
Anime captures the essence of an expansive universe that surpasses the limitations of live-action platforms. This has caught the attention of Hollywood producers aiming to bring this magic to a broader audience by adapting anime into live-action movies.
The Woes of Anime to Live-Action Adaptations
However, these live-action adaptations have often failed to enchant audiences and replicate anime’s extraordinary atmosphere. Michael B. Jordan, renowned actor, director, and passionate anime admirer, has a theory why.
A True Fan at the Helm
Jordan believes that only hardcore anime enthusiasts can genuinely translate the spirit of anime into live-action without distorting its essence. With depth and complexity, anime presents more flexible storytelling that’s often challenging to parallel in the live-action framework.
Anime Inspiration
Debuting as a director with Creed III, Michael B. Jordan confessed his direction was massively influenced by anime. He attempted to incorporate subtle anime elements without traversing the unsuccessful path of adaptations like Dragon Ball: Evolution, 2009.
Jordan explained the difficulties of adapting anime into live-action, citing the technological discrepancies and the importance of understanding the core themes of anime. He emphasized that securing intellectual rights and casting actors isn’t enough, it needs a real fan to create a successful adaptation.
The Successful Role of Anime in Creed III
Despite the immense pressure and potential pitfalls, Jordan’s experiment with adopting an anime-tinged approach for Creed III came off effectively. The film cost approximately $40 million to produce and grossed a global collection of $173.6 million as reported by Box Office Mojo.
Jordan’s Anime Recommendations
Being an anime aficionado, Michael B. Jordan shared his recommendations to introduce a newbie to anime during a conversation with Ali Plumb of BBC Radio 1. Jordan suggested watching Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and Hunter X Hunter.
Despite being an ardent fan of Dragon Ball Z, Jordan was disheartened by its live-action adaptation. His other suggestions, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and Hunter X Hunter, are critically acclaimed anime series that offer excellent starting points for beginners.
The Consensus on Anime Adaptations
In summary, there’s a consensus from the passionate anime fan and praised actor that Hollywood’s attempts at live-action anime adaptations have not yet hit the mark. Jordan insists that only a true, understanding fan can do justice to the genre. By fusing anime’s distinctive style, themes, and visuals into a live-action movie, perhaps Hollywood can finally crack the elusive code to create a successful anime adaptation.
