In today’s world, it’s not uncommon for manga authors to record hits and make live-action adaptations. As a fan of the original work, it’s great to see your favorite work getting attention, but it can make you feel uneasy about the quality of the live-action adaptation. For fans of the original work, the ideal is to have a successful live-action adaptation and to have more fans.
Therefore, we have compiled a list of the 20 most successful live-action adaptations of manga that have been highly rated by fans.
Nodame Cantabile
GINTAMA
“Solanin
“Death Note
The 20th Century Boys
Kaiji
Rurouni Kenshin
Chihayafuru
The “Ping Pong
Umi Machi Diary
The Kingdom
YAKKEN-USHIJIMAKUN
The “Gokusen
“Thermae Romae”.
“Umizaru
Boys Over Flowers
ROOKIES
The Story of Me
“HK: Kinky Mask
Detroit Metal City.
If you’re looking for a complete live-action film, take a look at this one.
No.1: Nodame Cantabile
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
The drama series “Nodame Cantabile” became popular and was made into a movie.
The double starring role of Hiroshi Tamaki and Ueno Juri is a perfect fit. It’s a perfect example of a character that you can’t forget once you’ve seen it.
The orchestra is the theme of “Nodame Cantabile”, but in the manga it is not possible to produce sound. The greatest merit of the live-action version is that you can enjoy the music in the powerful performance scenes.
It has a level of perfection that satisfies the fans of the original work, while also gaining a lot of new fans who don’t know the original work.
No.2: Gintama
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
It is a popular work that was serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump” and has been made into an anime and film animation many times.
The appearance of the characters of the shonen manga is difficult to recreate and is very popular among fans, so when the live-action adaptation was announced, there must have been many fans who thought of the word “failure”. It’s not uncommon for shonen manga to be adapted into a live-action series and fail.
Shun Oguri, Masaki Sugata and Kanna Hashimoto played the three characters of Manjiya. The actors put their bodies to the test in both the serious parts and the gag scenes. They succeeded in recreating the “Gintama” world in live-action, and it was such a hit that a second film was produced.
No.3: Solanin
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
A live-action adaptation of Inio Asano’s hit novel “Solanin”, starring Aoi Miyazaki and Kengo Kora.
Inio Asano specializes in portraying life-sized characters that seem to exist somewhere in the real world.
Because the setting is the real world, the live-action version was successfully adapted without destroying the image of the fans. The actors give enthusiastic performances to portray the delicate psychology of the characters beautifully.
In the live scenes, Miyazaki Aoi sings with a powerful voice. You can feel as if you are there, and the live scenes are very compelling.
No.4: Death Note
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
Death Note has also been successfully adapted into a live-action film many times.
This live-action version of advanced psychological warfare and brainstorming was made with Fujiwara Tatsuya and Matsuyama Kenichi as the main actors.
One of the reasons for the success of the film is not only the acting skills of the two actors, but also the high level of recreation of the original story that makes use of the detailed settings.
One of the characteristics of “Death Note” is that there was a drama series produced, as well as spin-offs and legitimate sequels that did not exist in the original manga.
Even with the original elements, the setting did not collapse, and all of the Death Note related live-action works can be called a success.
No.5: 20th Century Boys
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
20th Century Boys” is a science fiction blockbuster by Naoki Urasawa.
At first, it was said that it was difficult to make a live-action film because it was in the genre of science fiction and had many large scale and flamboyant performances.
However, once the film was released, it was such a hit that it was even released for a third film.
One of the features is the high level of character reproduction. Gorgeous cast members such as Toshiaki Karasawa, Etsushi Toyokawa, and Teruyuki Kagawa have appeared in the film, and all of them look like they came out of a comic book with a high degree of perfection.
As a fan of the original work, I’m happy to say that the resemblance to the characters is also a point of evaluation.
From the first to the third film, the production team’s enthusiasm for the film has never waned, and it’s a success.
No.6: Kaige
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
Starring Tatsuya Fujiwara.
One of the main selling points of “Kaiji” is the psychological warfare and tension through games that cost money.
Even reading the manga will make your hands sweat, but the fact that it was made into a live-action movie and you can hear the character’s breathing makes it even more gripping.
If you were to have him play a person in a corner, there is no one better than Tatsuya Fujiwara. That’s how well he creates the worldview of “Kaiji”.
The antagonist characters such as Teruyuki Kagawa are played by actors with great acting ability.
While incorporating original elements of the live-action version, it has gained popularity and has been produced up to the third film.
No.7: Rurouni Kenshin
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
A live-action adaptation of “Rurouni Kenshin” that was serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump”, starring Sato Takeshi.
Because it is a battle manga, there were many voices of concern when the live-action adaptation was announced due to the distinctive appearance of the characters and the appearance of special moves. If a live-action adaptation of a battle manga fails, it could turn into a cosplay game.
The work that has been released is of such a high level of perfection that it overcomes those concerns. Not to mention the appearance of the characters, the actors have put their bodies to work in the flashy action scenes as well.
Three films have been released to date, with two to be released in the summer of 2020 to complete the series.
It’s unusual to have five live-action films made in one film, and it’s definitely a success story. It’s definitely a success story.
No.8：Chihayafuru
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
Chihayafuru, which is based on the competitive karuta game, is another example of a successful live-action adaptation.
Chihayafuru” depicts a character who spends her youth playing competitive karuta while incorporating romantic elements. Could it be a live-action adaptation of a typical shoujo manga that focuses on romance? There were fears that the film would be a disaster, but there is no need to worry.
Although there are romantic elements, it is a coming-of-age movie that focuses on competitive karuta.
Despite the fact that competitive karuta is not a subject that is very familiar to most people, it was made into a third film and gained popularity.
There are very few live-action adaptations of shoujo manga that have been made up to a third film, so it is definitely an example of a successful production.
Ping pong
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
A live-action adaptation of “Ping Pong” starring Kubozuka Yosuke.
Ping Pong is a rare example of a live-action version of a manga that has been re-evaluated.
The characters played by the actors are perfect, and the original content is well incorporated while respecting the elements of the original work. It is also possible to enjoy the fight scenes with slow motion and other production techniques, which is unique to the live-action version.
One of the points that can be appreciated is that there are no parts that feel like they are tacked on or a sequel, and the story is complete in one work.
Not only fans of the original work, but also people who are not familiar with the original work can enjoy it as a movie.
No.10：Sea town diary
出典 : Amazon.co.jp
Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, and Suzu Hirose join forces to create a live-action version of Umimachi Diary, which depicts the lives of four sisters. Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu, who also directed And Then There’s My Father. In addition to four actresses of impeccable acting ability, this is a director who continues to produce films that are highly acclaimed.
Of course, the film itself boasts a level of perfection that easily surpasses such high expectations.
The film depicts four life-sized sisters who seem to be living somewhere, and it seems like it could be from the real world. And you will definitely melt into the world of the film.
Once you see it, you’ll want to visit Kamakura, where it was filmed, to find out what happened to the four sisters.
