AKIRA Live Action

Arguably one of the most popular anime films of all time, "Akira", is getting the live-action treatment, a fact we've known for quite some time. My shivering qualms and discontent could not be more obvious with all these anime/manga to live-action mis-adaptations. But more so, with this specific title, especially with the new turn of events. When I first heard of the new update (thanks Gendo!), I was shocked and disgusted. I wasn't expecting any good to come out of this from the get-go, but somehow they have been able to make things even worse.

The live-action adaption has been in development by Warner Bros., and it is only recently that Leonardo DiCaprio's company Appian Way, along with Mad Chance, have joined in its production. The folks at Japanator took the words right out of my mouth: "and so begins the slow and painful death" of the masterpiece known as "Akira." A grotesquely painful death. Excuse me while I throw up uncontrollably...

"Akira" represents a huge colossal milestone in anime and the majority of anime fans today can trace the root of their passion to "Akira." The mature and cutting edge technology paved the way and was definitely a breakthrough. "Akira" originated in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. The story was set in a neon-lit futuristic post-nuclear war "New Tokyo" in 2019 where a teen biker gang member is subjected to a government experiment which unleashes his latent powers.

"The new story moves the action to "New Manhattan," a city rebuilt by Japanese money."

Ha! Don't make me laugh! The studio is aiming for a Summer 2009 release, the day when a classic title is officially ruined to bits.