All-Japanese cast set to start filming in Europe next month.
Live action (Page 9)
TV series is latest adaptation of classic Japanese science fiction novel.
Anime fans have been seething for over half a decade about the Hollywood adaptation of the martial arts classic, but maybe this will finally cool their rage.
If you have a love of panties, sense of justice, and are of mediocre intelligence, then panty-headed superhero Hentai Kamen wants you!
South Korea will receive a live-action drama adaptation of the hit idol video game and anime franchise, with a few significant changes.
If you’ve got a favorite series from the hit fantasy series, odds are he’s in the huge cast of this new stage version.
Looking forward to Death Note 2016? Then you’ll be excited to hear that an original cast member from the previous films is returning as a familiar character!
69-year-old set to play key role in Hollywood anime adaptation.
The premiere of the Kuroko’s Basketball stage play is still a few months away, but the producers are giving fans of sports anime and/or dreamy boys a sneak peek with the first in-costume cast photo.
Next month, Hetalia, the anime and manga franchise featuring anthropomorphized nations and a hefty amount of homoerotic subtext, is getting its very own live-action musical adaptation, and the play’s producers have just released the first photos of the cast in costume as their respective nations.
Every couple of years, rumors surfaces of some slim chance that a live-action Legend of Zelda film is about to get the green light from rights holder Nintendo. Then, as suddenly as the speculation began, it fizzles out, leaving fans feeling dejected about the lack of a big screen quest for Link and Zelda.
Really, though, The Legend of Zelda’s storyline and overall visual look vary so much from one video game installment to the next that a film adaptation would probably fail to please gamers whose favorite chapter wasn’t used as the specific source material. On the other hand, Metroid, Nintendo’s dark space adventure, has the foundation for an awesome, crowd-pleasing movie, as this fan-made live-action short film shows.
We recently took a look at the first photos of the upcoming Rurouni Kenshin stage musical cast in costume, and looking at the comments for that article, more than a few fans of the hit anime and manga franchise are wishing they see the show in person. But if a trip to the Takarazuka theater in Tokyo or Hyogo Prefecture doesn’t fit into your schedule, there’s still a way to get a taste of the all-female performing troupe’s live-action spectacle, as the theatre company has released a preview video of the cast showing off their fighting moves and crossing swords!
Adapting anime to live-action is an extremely difficult venture. It’s not impossible, though, and one of the few icons of Japanese animation to make the transition smoothly is Himura Kenshin, hero of samurai saga Rurouni Kenshin.
The swordsman with the scarred face and soul has three successful live-action films under his belt, and this winter Japan’s all-female Takarazuka stage troupe will be raising the curtain on its own Rurouni Kenshin musical. Opening night is still a ways off, but the first photos of the cast in costume have been revealed, and gender-flipped or not, it’s hard to imagine a closer likeness for Kenshin himself than Takarazuka’s.
The recent boom in live-action movie, TV, and stage adaptations of hit anime has to be a headache for producers. Most anime start out as manga, where the only limits on outlandish character and costume design is the imagination of the original artist, and we imagine it’s an exhaustive search to find real-life actors and actresses who look the part.
But Japan’s casting directors are proving themselves up to the challenge. Hot on the heels of the recently revealed Prison School TV drama come photos of the cast of the stage adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, and not only are there some uncanny resemblances, we now know why there won’t be a DVD or live streaming of the performance.
Battle Angel: Alita, known as GUNM in Japan, is one of anime and manga’s highlights of the ’90s. The original manga, created by Yukito Kishiro, ran for about five years from 1990 to 1995 with a newer series running from 2000 to 2014, in addition to two OVAs produced in the ’90s. The post-apocalyptic setting and cyborg main character have ensured the property’s popularity for decades, both domestically and abroad.
It’s been long known that James Cameron is a fan of the series and has been trying to produce a Hollywood film version for around 15 years — but things are finally starting to take shape. Today, news broke that a new director is in negotiations to take on the project.














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Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Man arrested in rural Japan on charges of leaving obscene DVDs in stores as gifts for “healthy men”
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Huge Evangelion Unit-01 head appearing in lights in Japan to celebrate anime’s 30th anniversary
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Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
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No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
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Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Man arrested in rural Japan on charges of leaving obscene DVDs in stores as gifts for “healthy men”
Crazy big Japanese street food at Tokyo Station causes a stir with foreigners online
Is this epic Japanese tofu burger better than a teriyaki burger?
And now, we eat a bear paw we bought in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture【Taste test】
The lovely booth ladies of Tokyo Auto Salon 2018【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases new My Neighbor Totoro Plate for 2026
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