The popularity of anime has been growing tremendously for mainstream audiences. What began as a niche appeal for Western audiences influenced many childhoods and inspired creators in media to craft worlds of their own.
One of the anime themes that became popular was the mecha anime, a sci-fi subcategory that centers on giant robots called “mechs”. And mecha anime had its touch in Hollywood films like Pacific Rim and Transformers. With the vast number of mecha anime and manga, there are tons of potential for future franchises. Here are six anime that need a live-action adaptation (and four that don’t).
Need A Live-Action Film: The Big O
Aired in 2003, The Big O is a post-apocalyptic anime series created by Chiaki J. Konaka of Serial Experiments Lain and Hellsing. It chronicles the exploits of Roger Smith, Paradigm City’s top Negotiator. Along with his cyborg assistant R. Dorothy Wayneright and his butler Norman Burg, he operates the Big O for special operations.
While not a hit in Japan, this anime series had a following in the U.S. on its airing in Toonami. With its film noir inspiration and nods to Batman: The Animated Series, this has movie potential.
Don’t Need: Chodenji Machine Voltes V
The 70’s has been a thriving period for super-robot anime series to dominate the airwaves. One of them is Chodenji Machine Voltes V, a second part of Tadao Nagahama's Robot Romance Trilogy. It centers on a five-person squadron (consisting of Kenichi, Ippei, Daijiro, Hiyoshi and Megumi) who are recruited to operate the Voltes V.
This anime series joins the league of other dominating mecha series, taking themes of rebellion and social stratification. Though, making a Voltes V movie would be redundant when Voltron: Legendary Defender is available for contemporary audiences.
Need A Live-Action Film: Darling in the Franxx
Darling in the Franxx is a science-fiction romance, released last 2018, from Kentaro Yabuki. This post-apocalyptic sci-fi is set on a dystopian future where the next generation of children are artificially created and trained to defend the last remains of humanity. The main leads are the child prodigy Hiro and the hybrid female Zero Two.
The premise of this anime sci-fi reminds of other dystopian stories like Blade Runner and Netflix’s I Am Mother and gives it the mecha treatment with some emotional heft. It has the movie treatment potential.
Don’t Need: Gurren Lagann
Here is one fun anime. Gurren Lagann is about two teenagers, the fourteen-year-old digger Simon and the self-confident yoth Kamina, who operate the mecha known as Lagann to fight off evil forces under Lordgenome's helm. They are guided by the finicky Yoko Littner and the cool Nia Teppelin in their skirmishes.
Despite being set in a dystopian future, this anime series is more amusing. It has the intricate world-building and fun tone of One Piece, only with fighting robots. Despite that, it would not translate well on a Hollywood movie.
Need A Live-Action Film: Eureka Seven
Eureka Seven is an adventure sci-fi about a 14-year-old boy named Renton Thurston who joins the outlaw group GekkoState in their cause to restore the world’s future. He is joined by the enigmatic Coralian mecha pilot Eureka to pilot the mechanical robot, the Nirvash type ZERO.
This anime series boasts its mechanical robot action with style. But most importantly, it is a poignant coming-of-age tale about Renton accepting responsibilities and firming his relationship with Eureka, especially as they develop. Its balance of action and emotions could make for good material.
Need A Live-Action Film: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Gundam is a solid mecha franchise that paved the way for other mecha series to dominate the anime series. To this day, this Bandai Namco franchise has spawned eighteen TV reincarnations. But the series that has big screen potential is Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. This sixth Gundam series follows the formula of giant robots from an Earth colony enduring to win the war.
This series features a quintet of robot pilots – Quatre, Trowa, Heero, Duo and Wufei, all with their ethnic, distinctive personalities – as they operate the Gundam mecha.
Don’t Need: Macross Frontier
Macross Frontier is the fifth installment of the sci-fi mecha Macross series. This anime series is about a space colony in search of another habitable planet around the Milky Way universe. Its focus is on three young adults as they deal with their colony’s crises against an enemy alien species.
While this series has the hallmarks of a fine dystopian sci-fi, it would not translate well to a movie adaptation since this involves a mix of J-pop elements, idol entertainment and intricate robot action. Only anime fans can see potential.
Need A Live-Action Film: Full Metal Panic
Full Metal Panic! comes from a series of light novels by writer Shoji Gatoh and illustrator Shiki Douji. This mecha serie centers on Sousuke Sagara, a member of the military organization Mithril, who is tasked with protecting a feisty but hot-tempered Japanese schoolgirl named Kaname Chidori. The end result is an unlikely team-up with mecha action.
The main gimmick of this anime is the unlikely blend of military action and coming-of-age shenanigans. And the chemistry of the disciplinarian Sousuke and the loud Kaname can translate to Pacific Rim cinematic levels.
Don’t Need: Mazinger Z
Back to the 70’s, there is Mazinger Z, a super robot manga series from anime veteran Go Nagai. The first series that ran from 1972 to 1974 centers on the teenager Koji Kabuto who is recruited to pilot the super-robot Mazinger Z as a way to avenge the robot’s inventor, his grandfather Juzo Kabuto, from the Mycene Empire and its ruler, the mad scientist Doctor Hell.
Mazinger Z was released at a time when the conventions of the super-robot subgenre are still fresh. Nowadays, the manga franchise falls short cinematically.
Need A Live-Action Film: Neon Genesis Evangelion
And speaking of influential super-robot subgenres, there comes Neon Genesis Evangelion from the studio Gainax and creator Hideaki Anno. The premise does not stray away from the typical formula of the mecha anime: a boy (Shinji Ikari) was recruited to a rebel force and was assigned as a co-pilot, along with helpful subordinates (Asuka Langley Soryu and Rei Ayanami) for a super robot.
Evangelion had a strong following in Japan that reflected the conditions on its time. And it influenced other contemporary mecha series. Thus, a live-action movie would be most deserving to the legacy.