Terminator Zero is the latest example of a major live-action series being adapted into an anime series. The show was created by Mattson Tomlin, produced by Skydance, and animated by Production IG – the well-known studio behind Ghost in the Shell. This initial run of eight episodes (hopefully with more to come) is an encouraging example of how an anime adaptation of a classic live-action genre franchise can be done with quality and taste, without sacrificing the strengths of either medium. It represents a rock-solid template for future anime adaptations.
Hollywood has often tried to adapt popular anime series to live-action with mostly poor results since then Dragonball Evolution year 2009. Large and small screen adaptations, i.a Ghost in the Shell, One Pieceand Cowboy Bebop have experienced varying levels of success, though none have managed to fully capture the spirit of their source material. However, audiences should prepare for the streaming space to be flooded by the reverse trend. Critically acclaimed projects such as Blade Runner Blackout 2022, Scott Pilgrim takes offand exciting upcoming titles such as The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is evidence. Terminator Zero, now watched by millions on Netflix, is the latest example.
What is Terminator: Zero about?
Terminator Zero feels like a welcome return to the franchise's roots. The Terminators is cooling, from T-800 from The Terminator to T-1000 in T2: Judgment Day. Zero clearly draws inspiration from James Cameron's legacy of terrifying robot antagonists. The show is also in many ways unlike any other entry in the terminator franchise to date. This first season alone introduces new elements such as canon-shifting events that could change established Terminator lore, a host of new technology and world design, and a fascinating, moral dialectic between the characters of Malcolm Lee and his AI creation Kokoro. They explore the idea that Skynet is justified in destroying humanity – not just for its own safety, but for the planet's.
Bringing an ambitious anime like this to life is a painstaking, time-consuming and expensive process. Images of conceptual fan art online are often the closest fans will get to seeing their favorite live-action series rendered in anime form. There is clearly a strong desire among fans for this type of project. But before creative heads at each streaming service rush to greenlight their own Terminator Zerothey should first consider whether an anime adaptation of a particular intellectual property will add something new and exciting to the franchise in question. They should also consider whether their concept for an adaptation is worthy of an animation studio with the pedigree of Production IG or MAPPA.
Converting the core of an iconic live-action property into a medium like anime provides creative opportunities to explore different parts of these fictional worlds with unprecedented detail. It's a chance to highlight parts of unexplored lore, while expanding the look and feel of an established universe.
The series that perhaps proved the creative potential of live-action to anime adaptations is Star Wars Visions. Both seasons of this show allowed many animation studios from around the world to form their own opinion on Star Wars universe. This kind of freedom frees animators from the constraints of lore, continuity, and the traditional look and feel of these franchises. It also encourages them to tell their own story within the franchise's universe. A worthy anime adaptation should include the attributes of its source material, but present them with a completely new look, rhythm or perspective.
Possibilities for live-action-to-anime adaptations
Here are just a handful of possible franchises ripe for the anime adaptation treatment.
Mad Max
George Miller has said that he originally thought of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga as a feature anime that would serve as a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road. This anime could take the franchise in any number of directions. The Mad Max the universe is huge, and most of the storytelling is already visual. Mad Max's inimitable atmosphere – the saturated orange tones of the desert, the cool blue of the sparkling night sky, the ruthless violence, the sparking engines and burning fumes of the war rigs – all lend themselves naturally to the anime aesthetic. The adaptation may even explore other parts of Miller's post-apocalyptic world beyond the Australian outback.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Gore Verbinski's swashbuckling pirate saga grew more and more absurd and insane in its tone, scale and sense of humor/drama. The franchise continued into pointless sequel territory with increasingly diminishing returns. These elements, along with the delightful tropical beauty and infectious spirit of adventure that the setting of Pirates of the Caribbean provides, make this world perfect for a major anime adaptation. After all, One Piece (a show about pirates) is still the best-selling manga of all time.
Leaf
Marvel's (presumably) upcoming Blade movie has been struggling through pre-production for years at this point. Kevin Feige and co could go”What-if…?” route and take a kind of dry run when adapting Leaf in anime form. Both the martial arts and vampire aspects have already proven to be workable genres for an epic anime story. A mixture of Samurai Champloo and Castlevania would have fans lining up.
The Karate Kid
Martial arts anime is a well-established tradition within the genre, and The Karate Kid would make a nice addition to the tradition. Some fans would argue the exceptional Cobra Kai already available on Netflix. Why is another spin-off needed? It's a fair point, though The Karate Kid was and always has been a fighting shōnen at heart. It would be incredible to see Daniel-san land that Crane kick in gorgeous 4k cell-shaded animation.
Indiana Jones
This anime may span young Indy's life in a multi-season prequel arc inspired by the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where River Phoenix played a young Indy. It could explore all the wonders of the world, across different continents, in search of different magical objects. Viewers could enjoy globe-trotting, time-jumping, archaeological fun with Sallah, Marian, Brody and the gang. Instead of using digital anti-aging techniques and making questionable decisions with the faces of aging or deceased artists, Disney would be smart to take the franchise in an animated direction.
It is in the way it is used
The list above could go on and on, getting wider and stranger. Consider a modern fantasy titan who Harry Potter. There is already a popular video game, and Fantastic wonders have no plans to return. The universe has infinite knowledge and history worth mining. game of thrones, with its vast world and deep history, also seems an obvious candidate. Also a popular drama which The bearwhich at first glance seems to be the furthest thing from anime, could be successfully adapted into anime. If Exquisite in Dungeon proves anything, it's that people love an ongoing soap opera that follows an eclectic group of work friends who cook delicious dishes under life-threatening pressure. Letting the mind flow with this concept can lead to a myriad of interesting ideas.
What matters in the end are the creative intentions behind each individual case of a live-action property being adapted into anime. Does the adaptation explore the themes of its franchise while remixing and re-contextualizing the core characteristics of the source material, such as Terminator Zero? Are the creators just trying to squeeze every last drop out of a beloved property in the age of IP over everything? Or do they have a burning creative vision for an anime adaptation, a story they long to tell that honors the legacy of its predecessors, while adding something new? The good news is that Terminator Zero is a compelling example of the latter, and it's available to stream right now on Netflix.
