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The most recent example, Cowboy Bebop, didn’t make a good impact, but some other examples before it did. There are currently several movies that were produced by Netflix, and there are many more that are scheduled to be released in the following years. Below is the list of those that fans can currently watch on the streaming service that gave us “Netflix and Chill” before binging on a whole season of a series was cool.
Updated on November 5th, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: Despite a few bumps in the road, Netflix is still investing in some big live-action anime projects. In anticipation of some big releases like One Piece and Pokemon, the streaming service has added a few more shows to its library. Many of the original animated series on which these shows are based are also currently available on Netflix, including the original Death Note and Kakegurui, for those fans who are interested in a deeper dive into their favorite anime. The library of live-action anime on Netflix continues to grow and the trend is continuing.
9 Death Note (2017)
Death Note is probably one of the best animes ever created and the Japanese live-action movie adaptations were also impressive. It would be safe to assume that the Netflix adaptation would be good too, right? Well, it wasn’t. Netflix’s adaptation, directed by Adam Wingard in 2017, didn’t receive good reviews and was criticized for numerous reasons.
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For those who watched the anime, probably the most visible difference would be a change in the personalities of the main characters. For example, Light isn’t so cold and secure as in the anime, while L has occasional bursts of emotion, something which is not present in the anime. Regardless of the bad reception, the sequel is currently in development, and the makers stated the fan’s criticism would be taken into account.
8 Cowboy Bebop (2021)
As in anime, Cowboy Bebop follows a crew of a spaceship, Bebop, led by Spike Spiegel who are chasing down criminals across the solar system. Recently, Netflix announced it canceled its Cowboy Bebop show after just one season, which was less than a week after its release. The primary reason for that was the cold reception by its audience and fans, but truthfully speaking, Cowboy Bebop is just an average show, far below the quality of the original anime.
While the show’s writing is of low quality, which resulted in superficial dialogue and unimaginative plots, the casting of the show is good. To be more exact, the live-action counterpart actors are look-alikes of their anime characters, both in personality and physical appearance.
7 Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar (2022)
Probably the least popular of all of the Fullmetal Alchemist live-action anime on Netflix, it’s still a link in a chain that stretches into four movies for those interested in watching the whole saga. Both viewers and critics saw too much melodrama and not enough investment in special effects that couldn’t do justice to the anime or the manga that came before it.
The movie has some good points, such as character designs and settings that stayed faithful to the originals, and even enhanced their look for live-action. It’s not enough to compensate for the low production values, but anime fans who like the Fullmetal franchise specifically or the shounen genre will appreciate it.
6 Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)
Every person who likes to watch anime probably has heard about Fullmetal Alchemist, however, the situation with a live-action adaptation is not the same. It was published in 2017 and received mixed reviews. The movie story is based on the first four volumes of the manga, which starts in the country Amesteris. The audience is introduced to two brothers and the main characters Edward Elric and Alphonse, who are practicing alchemy.
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The movie is not of high quality, suffering from many flaws, which is a shame considering the quality of the original anime. The not-so-good reception of the movie did not prevent Netflix from making a sequel, which is currently in development.
5 Kakegurui (2019)
The original series was released in 2017, and viewers were impressed by the fresh idea of a school that’s a casino along with all the potential for brutality and carnage that entails. It also helps that the mysterious protagonist, Yumeko, is a savage and creative sadist who prefers to settle debts with torture, pain, slavery, and body parts. The stakes are always high when Yumeko is playing, and she’ll make her opponent a bet they can’t refuse.
The popularity of the 2017 anime series was enough to fuel this live-action movie, a sequel, and a spin-off based on a popular minor character. Reviews are mixed for this Netflix live action anime, with some enjoying the drama and slow burn and others criticizing the pacing and character portrayals.
4 Bleach (2018)
Based on the well-known anime, Bleach was published in 2018 and earned almost five million dollars in earnings while simultaneously receiving positive reviews and holds a rating of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. This makes it one of the more successful examples of live-action anime on Netflix.
The plot of Bleach is from the manga and starts with Ichigo Kurosaki, a fifteen-year-old high school student who is living in Karakura Town with her father and two younger twin sisters. She is special because she can see ghosts, which attracts the attention of a mysterious woman with a katana, black kimono, and a Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki. The plot thickens from there but involves the main character’s battle against monstrous beings called the Hollow.
3 Rurouni Kenshin Part One: Origins (2012)
The one Netflix live action anime adaptation that consistently gets good reviews from viewers and critics alike, the Rurouni Kenshin franchise was successfully making these kinds of shows before it was cool. It helped that the show already had a solid fanbase and a classic story of good, evil, fantasy, romance, and period drama that had a wide appeal. The setting in medieval Japan meant there wasn’t a lot of fussing with special effects, either.
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The success of this movie kicked off the whole concept of live-action anime. Nine years later, it would be remade into two movies, and the whole library is currently available as part of the live-action anime on Netflix.
2 Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part II - The Beginning (2021)
Bringing the Rurouni Kenshin film series to a close in terms of releases, The Beginning is a prequel that depicts Himuna Kenshin’s time as the Hitokiri Battosai. It is set in the Bakumatsu period in Japan and the transition to the Meiji period and covers real historical situations, such as the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the Ikeyada incident.
It was produced alongside the fourth installment Rurouni Kenshin: The Final. Since the latter movie was much more critically successful, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning was largely overshadowed by it. Despite it, the prequel is still a good movie that was just published at the wrong time, or more precisely at the same time as the already-mentioned movie.
1 Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I The Final (2021)
The already-mentioned movie was a critical and commercial success. It follows Shanghai mafia leader Yukishiro Enishai as he seeks revenge against Himura Kenshin for the death of his sister, Yukishiro Tomoe. The villain stages various terrorist attacks, eventually leading to a confrontation between the two characters and their allies.
It was one of the highest-grossing movies of 2021, and the critical reception was mostly positive due to the good acting and thrilling fight scenes that are present. Rurouni Kenshin: The Finalis an example of how a live-action anime adaptation is done right.
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