The global anime craze isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and Sony Pictures wants in on the action in a big way. During the Tokyo International Film Festival, Shebnem Askinhead of Sony Pictures International Production, revealed that the studio is actively expanding its slate of live-action adaptations based on popular anime and manga.
“Since I got here, I’ve had a lot of meetings with a lot of companies that are producing incredible stories with anime. We’re starting to look at different anime films that we can hopefully adapt as live-action films around the world,” Askin said. “This is one of our missions by participating [Tokyo International Film Festival].”
Sony has already got involved in this area Kingdom in 2019, but according to Askin, that was just the beginning. The company sees a huge opportunity to bridge the gap between Japanese animation and international audiences with big-budget live-action films released around the world.
In the entertainment industry, anime-inspired live-action projects are spreading rapidly. Destin Daniel Crettonbest known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis developing a Naruto film, while Netflix is moving forward with an adaptation of My academic world of heroes.
Other fan favorites like Your name AND The Punch Man remain in development purgatory, while Akiraa project that has dogged Warner Bros. for over two decades appears to have finally been shelved.
Despite the challenges, anime’s mainstream power has never been stronger. Demon Hunter: Infinity Castle shattered box office records to become the highest-grossing anime film ever made, and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc took first place at the US box office upon its debut.
Sony clearly sees momentum and wants to be a key player in shaping the next phase of global anime acquisition. With more and more studios diving headfirst into live-action adaptations, the next few years could be a wild ride for anime fans everywhere.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
