Argent
Well-known member
I am planning on pretending this doesn't exist. I am leery of live-action adaptations of animated works in general and of anime in particular. Frankly I tend to find it insulting that they even try to make such adaptations, as I feel this only reinforces the idea that animated works cannot be taken seriously. To go along with this, Hollywood just never seems to get the source material and they can't seem to help but make a mess of something that they are trying to adapt, especially in current year, as we now have woke bullshit to put up with along with the things they normally just can't seem to get right. The business with Faye and Jet are examples, and with the response to it, which is typical of what has been seen before, just underlines this - they don't care what the audience that made this show popular to begin with thinks, they are only trying to make a quick buck off of it because they know it was popular. Anyone interested in this show would be better off watching the anime and the "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" movie.
I understand being wary about Netflix being Woke but I think that it being an adaptation from Japan will help. Overall I think the stuff shown at least means it is worth a try.
As for anime being adapted to live action. I don't think it reinforces the idea that cartoons are just for kids. I believe that if anything a good adaptation can help introduce people to more serious cartoons. The problem is getting a good one which anime has been lacking.
But overall the American view about animation is changing. Just look at Prime Video and Invincible. That type of show would never of been made even ten years ago when show like Family Guy where the only adult animation shows around.
Just like comics it is going to be an uphill battle but one that is slowly being won.
Outlaw Star would be a better fit than Cowboy Bebop for a live action remake. They were released the same year, are from the same genre, and the kid character isn't mostly an extra (Ed) or an unlikeable writer's pet (Wesley). James Hawking was an integral character right from the start.
There are some problems with Outlaw Star. First is that it has more Japanese style humor then Bebop. Humor is one of those things that does not always translate well across cultural lines.
Next is that while serious Outlaw Star is more juvenile. While Bebop has humor and some out there bounty hun5s in general it is a much more serious show.
The last is theme. Outlaw Star is a science fiction show and has things like ship fights with giant arms. While Bebop is a science fiction western. So it has much more overlap with non science fiction fans and has a bigger potential audience.