Seems like Hollywood has been on a remake-old-stuff state for quite some time.
Horror movies, specially the really old ones and the Japanese, were one of the most remade category a few years back. In the meantime, some sci-fi have also been done. Most of this movies have been crap and more oriented into making money. At least the sci-fi genre is more understandable since today’s special effects can really expand what you can do in terms of storytelling.
It seems the new trend will be anime. I personally think this is great. It will bring anime to the spotlight and hopefully develop this business outside of Japan. I just hope they don’t screw them up. I’m not even expecting them to be faithful but, at least take make good movies.
So, as for the movies. Everyone knows of Dragon Ball. I’ll now list some others:
20th Century Boys
This is one of the best manga’s I’ve ever read. And it’s one of those that really happens in our “reality” so to speak. I always though this would be an ideal story to bring to the big screen. This one is being made by the Japanese but, I wouldn’t doubt the possibility of an american re-make if the movie is popular enough. For example, I think a Death Note re-make won’t be far.. It looks really faithful to the original manga, I just hope the scenes featured in the trailer are not final, because it seems a little unfinished on the cinematographic department. Still, I have high expectations for this one.
Akira

“Warner Bros. are ploughing ahead with their adaptation of the Akira graphic novels, with two live-action feature films now in production. According to Variety, each movie will be based on three of the books in legendary artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s six-volume series that revolves around bikers and psychics in post-apocalyptic, dystopian Tokyo. As IGN reported last year, Irish helmer Ruairi Robinson is set to make his feature debut with the first film, which WB execs have pencilled in for a summer 2009 release. Gary Whitta is writing the script. Paul Bettany regretted watching himself in The Da Vinci Code. Interestingly, Leonardo Di Caprio’s production company Appian Way is also onboard – although as far as we know the star won’t be involved as an actor. The 1988 animated version of the story, directed by Otomo, became a cult classic thanks to its cutting edge animation and complex, adult plot, and a slew of writers, producers and directors have been trying to make a live-action version ever since. Let’s hope DiCaprio and Co. succeed this time around.”
Taken from IGN
Cowboy Bebop

“Bebop is a show that could work beautifully in live action if done correctly and rumors of a live action version have circulated for years. When Watanabe was here in Toronto for the Worldwide Short Film Festival earlier this summer I put the question of a future live action version to him directly, to which he just smiled and commented that “That would be up to Hollywood.” And apparently Hollywood says yes. With further questioning Watanabe also spilled that he is currently preparing new animated and live action projects though he would not comment at all on what the new projects were, which at least opens up the possibility that he may have a hand in the Hollywood Bebop.”
Taken from Twitch
Having Watanabe participating in this movie would really improve my confidence on the movie.
Ghost In The Shell
“After 19 years since its debut in 1989, DreamWorks has finally secured the rights to adapt the Japanese manga and anime series Ghost in the Shell into a 3D live-action feature film. Both Universal and Sony were also chasing the rights, but Steven Spielberg himself took a personal interest in it and made sure it ended up in the hands of his company - DreamWorks. Spielberg says that Ghost in the Shell is one of his favorite stories and is “a genre that has arrived and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks.”
Taken from FIRSTSHOWING
Does the live-action-3d mean this will be like Bewolf?
Robotech
“After a lengthy negotiation, Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up feature rights to “Robotech,” a 1980s Japanese cartoon series with giant robots known as mechas. Maguire is eying the lead role, and will serve as a producer. Maguire is producing through his Maguire Entertainment banner. Drew Crevello also is producing through his Supercool Hollywood BigTime Prods. Craig Zahler (”The Brigands of Rattleborge”) has been tapped to write the screenplay. “We are very excited to bring ‘Robotech’ to the big screen,” Maguire said. “There is a rich mythology that will be a great foundation for a sophisticated, smart and entertaining film.” A sprawling sci-fi epic, “Robotech” takes place at a time when Earth has developed giant robots from the technology on an alien spacecraft that crashed on a South Pacific isle. Mankind is forced to use the technology to fend off three successive waves of alien invasions. The first invasion concerns a battle with a race of giant warriors who seek to retrieve their flagship’s energy source known as “protoculture,” and the planet’s survival ends up in the hands of two young pilots.”
Taken from Twitch
Evangelion
“Development of a live-action movie version of Neon Genesis Evangelion was announced in May 2003 by the Houston-based anime distributor ADV Films, who holds worldwide rights to the series outside of Asia and Australia, and Universal Studios would be the American distributor. The film will be made by ADV, Gainax, and Weta Workshop Ltd.. Its release is currently projected to occur at any time ranging from as early as 2009 to as late as 2015. In December 2005, Fortune Magazine reported in an article about ADV Films that it had raised “about half of the $100 million to $120 million” needed to produce the film. It’s not completely clear if this money was raised by ADV alone or if part of that amount was contributed by Gainax.At Anime Expo 2008, ADV founders Matt Greenfield and John Ledford, in response to a question over the progress of the live action movie, revealed they had hired the producer for Appleseed Ex Machina and pitched the idea to other producers such as Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Spielberg. They went on to say that interest in the project had been boosted by the success of the 2007 film Transformers.”
Taken from Wikipedia