Hollywood is always looking for new narratives to adapt and there are such a range of brilliant modern and classic animated shows to draw from, that it makes sense for them to inspire brand-new movies and series. The streaming age in particular has really operated on that sense of nostalgia.
These shows are some of the most recognizable names of all time, boasting memorable characters, gorgeous visual styles and a storyline that many major movies would be jealous of. The push to continue these adaptations isn't going to slow down any time soon, but of course, fans can still enjoy the original incarnations.
Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
Star Wars Rebels is quite an unusual case. While there is not a direct adaptation of the animated show taking place, all the characters and narratives from the series are being taken into the live-action world. In fact, that process has already started with the debut of Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian, alongside Bo Katan.
But, the animated show will be tapped into even more with upcoming projects like Ahsoka, with the arcs of the series continuing in this new form. Fans are certainly thrilled to see this beloved series get an even larger platform, considering the original was such a worthy successor to the Star Warsname.
Invincible (2021-Present)
Invincible was a beloved graphic novel series, which made its way to an animated format on Prime Video. However, that's not where this story will end, with a live-action movie also in development, separate from the animated show that fans are becoming familiar with (via Looper).
There are numerous new narratives to explore and characters that haven't made it from the page to the screen quite yet, but the animated series is surely going to provide the blueprint on how to create a slightly condensed version of this father and son-story. The release date has yet to be confirmed.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most successfully animated shows of all time, appealing to a range of ages because of the quality of the characters and writing. There has already been an attempt to bring this series into live-action, but the less said about that, the better.
However, Netflix has now turned its hand to the saga, with filming having already wrapped up (via What's On Netflix). While the release date is yet to be confirmed, what's clear is that a serialized adaptation of the story is going to be far more effective for Aang's adventure to unfold at the correct pace.
My Hero Academia (2016-Present)
My Hero Academia has excelled as both a manga and an anime series. The superhero adventure features Izuku Midoriya who doesn't have the necessary gift to become a vigilante, but regardless trains alongside a group of powered students to fulfill his dream.
It's a brilliant premise and Legendary had previously announced that they were looking to take the concept to the big screen (via Looper). It's a smart move since the genre is massive right now and there's a fanbase already built up; details have been thin on the ground in recent years on its current development.
X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)
X-Men: The Animated Series has often been credited with introducing numerous new fans to the Marvel Universe. The X-Men in particular and their sales in comics can be partially linked to the popularity of this show, which acted as such a beautiful adaptation of the source material.
Marvel Studios is returning to this show with X-Men 97'but it's also obvious that Marvel is moving forward with adapting this variation of the team to live-action through their own take on the Mutants. Indeed, Professor X's first introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe even included his iconic yellow hover chair. The future of the franchise lies in this nostalgic series.
ThunderCats (1985-1989)
ThunderCats is perhaps a little dated compared to some of the modern hits in the animation world, but the iconic classic made up a part of the tradition of Saturday morning cartoons and inspired a generation of storytellers. It's a narrative that can be reproduced for a modern audience.
That's exactly what's happening with Adam Wingard spearheading the movement to get this reboot off the ground. No updates have recently surfaced, considering it's going to take a long time to get the story, and pre-production process right, but fans of the original should be reassured that this is going to be a love letter to the show.
He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (1983-1985)
He-Man and by extension The Masters of the Universe has essentially been revived and partially rebooted on Netflix through Revelation. While the show itself created a lot of discourse among the fandom, it did bring a renewed interest within the property.
Netflix is going to continue working on the franchise with a live-action movie that's tentatively slated for 2024 (via Collider). The original show is yet another mainstay of the Saturday morning cartoon club and audiences are going to have a very specific memory of the characters and settings, which Netflix will have to pay homage to.
One Punch Man (2015-2019)
One Punch Man has created one of the most powerful characters in anime. Fans have been thrilled to see his superhero antics unfold on both the page and the screen, and it's actually pretty surprising that no one has taken advantage of the success in live-action sooner.
Saitama's move to the big screen was actually touched upon very recently, with Justin Lim helming the piece (via NME). The live-action film is looking to be a way to kick off a larger manga-inspired connected universe, and will begin filming by the end of the year with the piece developing at a rapid speed.
Ben 10 (2005-2008)
Ben 10 has been rebooted and revived in a number of incarnations because the core concept remains just as compelling today as it did when it first launched. The titular Ben's ability to transform into a range of different aliens is such a graphically fantastic idea to play with.
There's even been a low-scale live-action adaptation in the past, but the future of the series could be on the big screen. A feature-length iteration of the project is currently slated for 2025, with Ryan Engle attached to write. Further news is thin on the ground, because of how far away the production is scheduled.
Pokémon (1997-Present)
Pokémon has made its way to many avenues, from the original video games and manga, to the anime series and of course the live-action spinoff in the form of Detective Pikachu. But it's Ash's tale that fans have followed for the longest and are looking to see in live-action.
Joe Henderson has been confirmed to be working on a live-action iteration of the series for Netflix (via Variety). Detective Pikachu was a great demonstration of what can be achieved with modern technology, and it's hard to ignore just how big the saga could get in this format. As of now, it's still in development.
Source:gamerant.com