Netflix’s version of Cowboy Bebop strays even further from its roots with equally jarring character transformations that turn classic leads Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), Vicious (Alex Hassell), Julia (Elena Satine), and Gren (Mason Alexander Park) into broad action stereotypes instead of nuanced outsiders. ![]() In the futuristic space opera Cowboy Bebop, a rag-tag team of bounty hunters travel the galaxy trying to make ends meet while they search for their next big score. The film also only adapts a fraction of the story, leaving a disjointed product in its wake. Superficial character traits like Light's sweet tooth remain, while more important backstory is tossed to the wayside. The film’s portrayal of antihero Light’s (Nat Wolff) intelligence, paranoia, and moral compass is counterintuitive, as is his relationship with Mia (Margaret Qualley), which becomes his driving force in the Netflix film. Director Adam Wingard’s Death Note, a story about a high school student who finds a paranormal notebook that gives him the power to kill anyone simply by writing their name down, changes the motivations of its core characters. There’s surprising dissonance on this front and a temptation to put one’s own spin on a compelling premise can often overpower any faithfulness to the source material. One of the biggest missteps with previous live-action anime adaptations-on Netflix or otherwise-is that the new creative teams take too much creative license. Oda's singular vision for One Piece is the key element in its ongoing success, and his involvement in Netflix's One Piece is a major factor in why it triumphs where past adaptations have failed. One Piece's manga has sold more than 516 million copies across 61 countries it’s the bestselling manga series of all time. Created by Eiichiro Oda, the One Piece manga made its debut in July 1997 the series has gone on to produce over 1,090 manga chapters, 1,075 anime episodes, and 15 feature films. Alongside his passionate Straw Hat Pirate crew, Luffy sails the Grand Line seas and takes on supernaturally-powered outlaws with his sights set on the cryptic One Piece treasure. Luffy, a courageous young adventurer with aspirations to become the next Pirate King. One Piece tells the extraordinary story of Monkey D. Netflix’s One Piece confidently sets sail with a bright horizon before it, while Death Note and Cowboy Bebop capsized before they could even get out their anchors, teaching some valuable lessons in how to do a live-action anime adaptation right. ![]() Netflix is working hard to be the leading name in this field, and while its previous Western live-action anime productions-a film based on Death Note and a series-length reimagining of Cowboy Bebop-have failed, its latest is promising proof that a good Netflix reboot can be done. For every Speed Racer and Alita: Battle Angel, there’s Dragon Ball: Evolution and Ghost in the Shell. ![]() But American studios have produced live-action anime adaptations since the ’90s with little improvement, particularly with feature films. There have been gradual waves taking anime in the same direction. It’s only recently that the tide has started to turn on the game adaptation front, with prestige programming like HBO’s The Last of Us or even Peacock’s Twisted Metal, which banks on an excellent cast, top-notch demolition derby stunt work, and a deep admiration for its source material that’s helped it become Peacock’s “most-binged” comedy premiere-whatever that means. But anime, much like video games, has mostly been doomed with poorly made live-action adaptations. As film and TV studios continue to hunt for the next big intellectual property, their search has put a heightened focus on live-action anime and manga adaptations.
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