Japan Probe reports on a live action version of Akira is to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.
While I liked the art style of Akira, the content seemed a bit too gloomy for me.
Image of bike from ITMedia.
Original Akira trailer below.
Posted on 2008/02/21 21:50
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
Game Designer
Registered on 2007/10/28 16:52
hmm~ how much does it cost anyway?
Always want one of Anime bike!
Game Designer
Registered on 2007/10/28 16:52
The only thing that i really want is the Movie Producer will state:" Base on Japan Famous Comic " or something like that big enough on the movie....
for what? for the Pride of ACG industry
Anime Store Owner, artist, Web master
Registered on 2007/07/29 00:29
I agree. With Dragon Ball and Speed Racer coming out this year, we hope that the future anime-to-big-Hollywood-movies give honor to where they came from.
Henry in Makati, Philippines
anime/cosplay events organizer
Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17
another great anime classic getting raepd by Hollywood and taking the lead is a first-time producer pretty boy >.>
thanks a lot Hollywood >.>
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
I still wonder what is going on about the supposed "Dragonball Live Action Movie" and who would actually play in it.
Afro-ed Student
Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57
Hollywood called. They said, "You're welcome." D:
Henry in Makati, Philippines
anime/cosplay events organizer
Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17
btw two words..."New Manhattan" >.>
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Hey, don't forget "Robotech the CrspMovie" and "Speed Racer".
Who else besides me has watched the live-action "Fist of The North Star"? Or even "Guyver"? Craptacular.
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
@R-1
I've seen both of them...and i LOL'd hard at the HnK live action. not to be racist, but kenshiro is supposed to be asian! matter of fact, so is goku...
Stager
Registered on 2007/12/12 17:16
You do realize that there has not been a single anime adaptation in the US yet right?
And don't say Transformers, lol, because the original story and characters of transformers was created by US writers.
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
@nhat
actually, R-1 just listed a few for you. although they were made in the 90s, they were still done by Hollywood. And the new dragon ball movie is due in August later this year. we can make a sound judgement after that comes out.
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
I would watch this just because it said Akira in the title. I wonder how this bike handles as a stretched out single sided swingarm. I wonder what the rake is, 62degrees? What powerplant does it have? Is the body carbonfiber? Does it have motor coils? TETSUOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Was shocked as a kid when I caught a glimpse of Akira and Hokuto no Ken at the time they were aired on French TV.
So I don't really think I'd gain interest in that now.
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
you don't like those shoes? what? why not?
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
i meant to say "shows", stupid typo
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
They don't fit me. (pun intended)
Well, when you were a kid and did discover about violence in such a brutal way (and never was interested in it before, naturally)... You can imagine the trauma.
It does not impact on me anymore and a perfect illustration of this is that I am catching up on Berserk right now.
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
lol, i remember watching akira, hokuto no ken, and saint seiya when i was like 4 or 5, it was what got me hooked on anime (that and gundam and macross). i don't think akira is all that violent if you're comparing it to hokuto no ken, its more psychological and philosophical than most animes though. check out the new hokuto no ken ovas if you have a chance, beautiful animation there.
ps. if you're watching berserk, i recommend that you watch the berserk abridged series on youtube. just search for it, they're hilarious.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
qingy, guess the thing about Akira were their appearance, they almost look like zombies... But again, when you live in a post apocalyptic world...
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
you probably mean the little esp kids that were always on drugs right? lol
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Not only them, but yeah...
And I try not to rethink of the worse moments of the movie.
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
@qinqy
Berserk the Abridged Series is just as you said! It's damn funny - much like Yu Gi Oh the Abridged Series!
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Excellent stuff those outtakes are!
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Btw, there are a fifth and sixth part in those outtakes. Watched 'em all.
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
"live action version of Akira is to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio"
this is now guaranteed to be utter crap. but i'm kind of surprised they didn't do this sooner.
as for the dragonball z movie, the cast is already picked, and stephen chow is supposed to be guest directing. hope that it won't be THAT bad.
still waiting for them to make that eva live action...i loved the concept sketches.
Afro-ed Student
Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57
Stephen Chow is guest directing? Sounds like it's gonna turn into a comedy now. D:
(Stephen Chow is known for directing comedy movies, in case you didn't know)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Hope that Stephen Chow is good otaku enough for it not to end in complete mess then...
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
actually i lied, he is producing the movie. you can check the full cast at imdb or at wiki. i don't really like the choice of the cast though. you have chow yun fat playing master roshi...which had me going wtf.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
So it is about the very humble beginnings of the series? No Saien involved, except for Goku, naturally... (especially Prince "It's over nine thousand!!" Vegeta) like certain sources *suddenly turns his head and looks at one site with contempt* pretend to know?
Hmm, I wonder how they will do with Goku who is known as being especially small during his childhood.
student
Registered on 2007/08/22 17:38
Looks like a ferarri on 2 wheels o_o
Student
Registered on 2007/10/31 21:28
scary but so freaking COOL!
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20
Akira looks to me like an ancestor of Darker Than Black.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
You sure about this? Sounds a bit too obscure and simplistic to me.
Akira is for me much darker than Darker than Black could ever be (even if the latter has a little dark atmosphere already).
Anyone can shed me some light on this idea as I am merely lurking in the shadows? ^^
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Ah, but remember Sir Danny. Amidst the sands of gloom, there is always a small grain of hope. Except maybe in Eva... Or School Days. Elfen Leid... Or Texhnolyze... Or Alien 9... Or Grave of The Fireflies...
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Or Zambot 3... Or Ideon... Or Victory Gundam... Wait... Ideon had the rebirth of the galaxy, that's kinda good. And Victory had a "good" ending.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Well. Thank you for the spoilers, even if those shows are on the old side.
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Student
Registered on 2007/11/07 06:56
I love Kanedas bike shown in the pic but I HATE Leo DiCaprio I'm sure he's going to rape it completely and that makes me angry, DO NOT WANT!
dannychoo.com no aidokusha
Registered on 2007/12/25 23:02
love the art style and animation as well. though find that the character design is abit old, not exciting enough
ICT Technician
Registered on 2008/01/28 07:18
Well it is from the late 80's would explain the old style of animation :D , overall i think its a great Anime thats about to be butchered by Hollywood.
Meimi132 in Back end of nowhere, aka Norfolk, England
Student and Mcdonalds Grease monkey.
Registered on 2007/12/04 04:17
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOANYONE BUT DE-CRAPRIO!!!
--
Registered on 2007/12/06 12:47
Akira is the best anime ever. Sure it's dark, but that's the point, the vision of a future we are heading if we don't stop mutilating the world and messing with genetics etc.
Observer
Registered on 2007/02/10 15:13
Anyone know what the music track is on the trailer posted above?
student
Registered on 2007/09/02 20:42
I'm surprised about the number of people who commented here that don't grasp the utter awesomeness of the original anime and/or manga. I've seen Akira 30+ (no kidding) times, and everytime I watch it, I keep discovering new things in the animation. Can't wait to see it in Full HD! But anyway, the story is epic, the directing is fabulous and the soundtrack is so... foreign.. so Japanese! Akira is truly the reason I kept my interest in anime during the Anime Dark Ages.
Leonardo DiCrapio's version is gonna sucq bigtime.
I can imagine the motivational poster as we speak:
RAPE
Even Akira isn't safe.
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Sorry man, but talking about how awesome Akira is is like saying that Michaelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel is a masterpiece. It's redundant, since everyone more or less agrees that Akira is a hallmark in anime history.
Now when somebody starts to talk about how bad Akira was , that's different story.
Sean in San Francisco / Tokyo / London / Dublin
Video Editor / Sound Designer / DJ
Registered on 2007/01/23 17:06
Hmm, I would agree with Keats from NL :
AKIRA is still THE BEST anime ever, seriously I'm waiting for anything to touch it till this day. I have also seen Akira 30+ times, and been BLOWN AWAY by the manga. I can't even think of another manga that can come close. Otomo is a genius. For anyone out there who likes real arty & thinking man's manga, check out his rare collection book "MEMORIES" . It's unbelievable.
TO "R-1" , if you are waiting for someone to "..talk about how bad Akira was..." I wouldnt hold my breath if I were you. Also people will have totally forgotten about "Revoltech" in a couple years, dont think you can say the same for any of Otomo's work.
Student
Registered on 2007/11/07 06:56
Quick question: Does the manga have a slightly different storyline or is it the same as in the anime?
qingy in center of the galaxy
SMS
Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09
the manga is a lot more detailed, with a lot more background story and character development than the anime movie. i have to say that every manga collector should have it in their collection.
Student
Registered on 2007/11/07 06:56
Thought about getting them, I liked how they're as thick as telephone books, now I just need the money to buy 'em all...
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
To Sean: ???? What does Revoltech have to do with Akira being awesome?
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Aaaaaaaaaaand life goes on.
*Plays with Revoltechs*
Contraband Distrabution Specialist
Registered on 2007/09/29 04:30
First off, I want that bike, I want it bad! Second, I love the movie Akira, I hope that they don't ruin the story bringing it to live action. This could go both ways, I pray to the Gods above and below that they will succeed and make a great movie.
But something tells me this movie will blow.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Yeah, better have low expectations and a very good surprise in the end rather than great hopes and a huge disappointment.
DREAMCASTER,Nihongo no Gakusei
Registered on 2007/01/19 01:45
In the Usa always know like ruining the beautiful things.
It will be orribile as the video of kenny west.
God! help us,I don't want a movie of EVA...
Hikikomori
Registered on 2007/08/22 05:30
Another movie I'll completely ignore.
This, and the Dragonball that'll look like Ninja kids or Ninja surfers movie.
Some things are better left in Anime and manga version only.
But Hollywood never gets it, despite the horrible movies they release from time to time.
Computer Science 大学生
Registered on 2007/09/20 00:44
Hells yea for Linkin Park track in that video.
Also, the film is produced by DiCaprio. Different thing to him acting in it.
3D artist
Registered on 2006/12/25 10:08
Gah - this is gonna be a letdown methinks.
Just the fact that its gonna be set in 'new manhattan' is a sign of things to Why set a film in New York YET AGAIN? Surely filmgoers want something different and unfamiliar?
The effects should be good though, if theres some money going into it.
Id love to see a big mutated tetsuo in photoreal CG
Stigmata Martyr
Registered on 2007/04/22 12:13
Hollywood raeping this franchise??? Leonardo D. is PRODUCING this fellas, dont panic yet...
If he'd be a good boy he'd shut up, fork over the cash and let some really good director (jackson, cameron, bay even?) shoot this film. I'm more worried about who's doing the screenplay and cinematography than who's paying for the bill.
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
OMFG!!! BA LA BA BA BA! ID HIT IT!!!!!!!!!
Part-time otaku
Registered on 2007/04/04 14:26
Fcuk, they are gonna mess up another great instant classic anime (and manga). I am not too happy about this, but who knows, maybe they will actually make it worth watching and wont screw everything up
Software Quality Engineer
Registered on 2008/02/22 08:14
Joseph Gordon Levitt as Tetsuo! Ewwww.
Interactive Media Producer
Registered on 2008/02/16 13:51
The amount of CG to make this possible will probably make Di'Caprio's brain expand in similar Tetsuo self-destructive flair. What's sad is that he's only going to "learn" his character, NOT the story or the original source.
They would be better off doing the whole thing like FF:AC and getting quality VAs instead of using "Mr. Titanic" as a lead. -_-
Middle Grades/ESOL Major (Student)
Registered on 2008/01/18 06:19
...Leonardo DiCaprio?!?
I do not understand where he comes in. My sketch radar is going off with this director choice.
All eyes are on you with this on, Leo...
Registered on 2007/12/17 19:42
They should let Katsuhiro Otomo come on board and supervise.
When was that trailer made? Seems pretty modern to me, maybe this is the "teaser" for the live action? The music track played sounds an awful lot like Linkin Park.
And you know, honestly I think I can see Leonardo diCaprio as Kaneda lol. I haven't seen many Leo movies, but from what I've seen, he is a pretty good actor, and not always the pretty boy. I think if given the chance he could do the role pretty well.
I was thinking just now too, if Heath Ledger hadn't passed away unfortunately, he might have been a perfect dark, brooding Tetsuo.
Digital animation
Registered on 2008/02/15 17:56
I remember several years back some company tried to create an accurate replica of Kanedas' bike, but they were not able to make a mechanism to have it steer very well. This one looks a bit more cartoonish than that one though, probably just for show. I cant wait to see a live action akira I think that it is known well enough around the world, that the producers will be under alot of pressure to do a good job.
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