Anime Live Action EVA

[Guest Imsirion]

Didn't see a thread about it, so heres some info I found on another site...


ADV Films has issued a press release confirming yesterday's reports form the Cannes Film Festival. No new details have been included in the press release unfortunately. One thing that should be pointed out is that the involvement of Weta does not mean that Peter Jackson is directly involved.

Full copy of Press release:


In an announcement sure to make waves in the entertainment industry, ADV Films President and CEO John Ledford today publicly confirmed industry rumors that the firm has acquired the rights to produce, and has already begun development of, a live-action feature-film based on the Japanese animated television series ?Neon Genesis Evangelion,? a multi-million dollar worldwide franchise and perhaps the most influential anime title in the history of the art form. The project is a collaboration between ADV Films, Gainax and Weta Workshop, Ltd.

The Participants
ADV Films is the leading producer-distributor of Japanese animation in North America. The Japanese anime and game studio Gainax Network Systems was one of the original production studios responsible for ?Neon Genesis Evangelion,? and Weta Workshop, Ltd. is the New Zealand-based special effects studio that created the effects for Peter Jackson?s ?Lord of the Rings? trilogy.

?The three main players here represent something of a ?dream-team? for a project like this one,? said Ledford. ?Between the quality and significance of the Gainax title, Weta?s industry-leading skill in the creation of special visual effects, and our expertise in the marketing and promotion of anime and anime-related content, this project is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.?

The Story
?Neon Genesis Evangelion? is the story of a reluctant young hero, called upon to pilot an immense robotic weapon in battle against alien invaders. Including both a 26-episode television series and at least two animated motion pictures, ?Neon Genesis Evangelion? has long been both a fan favorite and an extraordinary critical and commercial success, with the worldwide franchise producing many millions of dollars in revenue.

Timetable
The ?Neon Genesis Evangelion? live-action motion picture is in the earliest stages of development. Ledford confirmed, however, that the timetable is an aggressive one, and that more information on the project is forthcoming.

About Weta Workshop, Ltd
Founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger, Peter Jackson and Jamie Selkirk, Weta is a physical and digital effects company providing creatures, special make-up effects, prosthetics, miniatures, armor, weaponry and digital effects for the film and television industry. Over the past sixteen years the company has provided effects for Jackson?s ?Meet the Feebles?, ?Braindead? (aka ?Dead Alive?), ?Heavenly Creatures,? ?The Frighteners,? and ?The Lord of the Rings? movie trilogy, as well as for advertisements and television shows including the popular ?Hercules? and ?Xena? series. At the height of production on ?The Lord of the Rings,? Weta Workshop employed 150 physical effects technicians and 350 digital effects technicians at Weta Digital. Weta?s work on ?The Lord of the Rings? has garnered worldwide praise including two Academy Awards in 2002 (for Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup), and one in 2003 (for Best Visual Effects). The British Academy has also honored Weta?s work by awarding two BAFTAs in 2002 (for Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup) and two more in 2003 (for Best Visual Effects and Best Costume).

About Gainax
Gainax was founded in 1984. It began as a corps of amateur filmmakers, centered around current company president Hiroyuki Yamaga and anime director Hideaki Anno. Their first work, ?Wings of Honneamise,? continues to garner praise worldwide. Gainax?s highly original style of filmmaking spans the generations, appealing to fans both young and old. 1995?s ?Neon Genesis Evangelion? whipped up an anime fever of extraordinary proportions, receiving attention not only from anime fans, but also from many other corners of society. Hideaki Anno, who directed ?Neon Genesis Evangelion,? commands respect from even the likes of ?Spirited Away? director Hayao Miyazaki.

About ADV Films:
In 1992, ADV Films began to forge the international market for Japanese animation (?anime?) by combining unique titles, outstanding production values and efficient large-scale distribution. Today, ADV Films is the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation to the North American market, with the firm?s holdings including such premier titles as ?NOIR,? ?Sailor Moon,? ?Samurai X,? ?Hello Kitty?s Paradise,? ?RahXephon,? ?Spriggan,? ?Robotech,? ?Full Metal Panic? and ?Neon Genesis Evangelion.? In addition, ADV Films? product line has expanded to include other forms of genre programming, including live-action science fiction programs ?Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda,? ?Mutant X? and The Jim Henson Company?s ?Farscape,? and classic science fiction such as the updated ?Gamera? trilogy. ADV Films? parent company, A.D. Vision, Inc., also publishes Newtype USA, the premier anime and manga monthly in the English-speaking world, and operates The Anime Network?, broadcasting anime and anime-related programming via digital cable, 24 hours a day. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA, with additional offices in the EU and Japan, and distribution on four continents, ADV is fast becoming an international entertainment powerhouse.

[eleanor]

::mouth gapes open:: ::soda spills out:: ::sputters::
WHA-WHAT?! ::goes insane::
NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO!


ARGH! I am AGAINST this idea! The thought of even the TINIEST POSSIBILITY that this will ruin the animated series is permanently attatched to my brain. I DO NOT want people to see a crappy version of Evangelion and then start dissing the series.

On a positive note, it might be good.

EDIT: er...now that I think about it....Are you saying they're going to make a Eva movie with real people and stuff?

[Kwai]

Whoa... I sense another Hollywood screw up coming up... *starts sharpening blade* Got I can't believe this... and I thought Final Fantasy was bad *starts loading gun* Okay, so who is it thats making this again? *Stuffs weapons in duffle bag* I think I can convince them otherwise :devil:

DAMN DAMN DAMN!!!!!!

[WW2]

In my opinion this is just a major dissapointment waiting to happen.

Why does Hollywood have to screw around with a perfectly good anime, by making it into a live action movie? Maybe they're just trying to cash in on the Japanese Animation craze.

I'm not sure, but I believe nothing good can come from this proposal.

But thats just my opinion:D

[eleanor]

At least most people WITH BRAINS...will not support this.

At least, I'm not going to support it. Okay, first of all, whenever I try to think of a real-life Eva of an Eva they make on computer, I think of a shiny-looking metallic, bright robot running around. Ugh. And the plugsuits. HOW are they going to make those look right?! And I don't think real actors can replace the characters in Evangelion. It's just...ARGH. It's makes me so mad!

[Kwai]

And how do they intend to make Angels? I don't think any actress can do Rei well enough. And how do they intend to make robots bleed? Thats gonna be hard too. *Shudders at the very thought of a Hollywood Eva 01 vs. Hollywood Zeruel*

[WW2]

The only way I can see them making an EVA movie is by filling it full of computer generated EVAs and Angles. When I think about that, I again ask myself WHY?!
Why won't Hollywood just leave the EVA franchise alone?

Hopefully the movie will have production problems, causing it to be canceled. HA HA HA:laugh: Then EVA will be safe from those ruthless bandits!

[DeathBug]

I appreciate the spirit, but this is a potential disaster. No way can a three-hour movie cram in all the philosiphy of 26 episodes and two movies.

[eleanor]

Why won't they leave anime alone completely?
I don't think the present technology and 'movie magic' or whatever it's called is enough to make a live-action Eva movie look good. And if it's all going to be computer-generated, I'm going to hate it even more.

But who knows? Even though it seems impossible, it MIGHT be a little good.

[Kwai]

Lol wat are the chances that it 'might' be good? I doubt, I really do doubt tha its gonna be anything worth seeing cuz its just gonna give the series a bad name.

[eleanor]

I thought Lord of the Rings was going to be a bad movie. I've always dreaded the idea that anime would become just another fad, and I think some people are trying to make it into just that...

[Arkadyz]

[size=1][color=crimson][i]Lets see what came to mind when I read the first post in this thread... :all:

While I want to see this be succesful I cant help but feel that its gonna crash and burn...How in the heck will they fit in the complexity and greatness of the original series into a movie? :huh:

Im betting anno has not a thing to do with this project...Well if they can actually pull this off and make it even close to the greatness of the series..wow... :faint:[/i][/color][/size]

[shadowfire]

First DBZ, then Akira,and Ninja Scroll now EVA. What the hell are these people smoking. The people who thought of this idea needs to be draged into the woods and mauled be a bear. Stupid Bastards.

[DeathBug]

Well, I guess we should vote with our wallets if we are dissatisfied.

The last property I was really excited about being a movie was Spider-Man, and that turned out pretty good. However, the differences are so vast, I hardly think i can compare them.

A better comparison would be to DareDevil. That movie sucked, and DD fans were torqued off because it tarnished their fave character in the public eye. I fear this may be a bit like that.

Well, on the plus side, a movie means more merchandise and interested in the property. And, there's always the slim chance that it might be good....

Even if the movie sucks, we'll always know the truth.

[TheShinje]

[size=1] I'n going to beat Hollywood with a lead pipe.

I am utterly appaled that the idea of making an Anime series into an ANIME MOVIE isn't a feasable option. Seriously, cheesy CG EVA's? Dastardly animated Angels? I'm sure they can do wonders with CG nowdays, having experienced first had what CG tech can do, but this is a pathetic insult to the world of anime, and the drawings which people wacthed and what actually made the series to begin with I...I...*exoplodes*

EDIT: if they even SUGGEST Rising Sun be made live action... *censored* :devil:[/size]

[James]

[color=#808080]Oh for god's sake! Will you people crawl out of your personal space bubbles for just a second? lol

For one thing, we have no idea how this will turn out. I could argue that you'll never cram all of Lord of the Rings into a three hour movie but they did it -- successfully by the accounts of hardcore fans.

If you shoot down the possibility that this MIGHT be done properly, then what's the point?

I think that a live action EVA [i]could[/i] be an absolutely beautiful cinematic movie! Why not at least give 'em a shot?

I mean, the Mario Bros. movie was pretty stupid...but I didn't run around screaming about it like a whiny elitist. If the movie sucks, so be it. It doesn't somehow ruin Evangelion - it doesn't change Evanglion at all. If you love EVA, you'll still love EVA.

C'mon people...you try to say that anime opens your mind, but you're all behaving pretty close-minded to me.[/color]

[Kwai]

Umm... I have some doubts on how the heck Hollywood intends to make the angels, Evas, and the battles on CG... on top of that, the I don't think any actor can fill in the spots of Rei, Shinji, Asuka, Misato, etc.... And Evangelion is much deeper than Mario Bros. =P And I did not say that Anime make u open minded =P

[juna]

Welp, unfortunatly I think this has to do alot with us Emericans (yes - E; the E standing for economy). We are into making money and for the most part "cartoons" (did that just come out of my mouth?) are thought to be made strictly for children. So Hollywood starts looking at this anime title, knowing how well it has done and they start thinking to themselves..."Hrmmmm, How can we squeeze [b]more[/b] money from this series?". I can just imagine what the EVA's are going to look like *cringe*. ~The role of [i]PenPen[/i] will be played by Stephen Baldwin (wink)~ ::Remember Spiderman?:: Who was smoking when they developed what the [i]Green Goblin[/i] would look like in the flick - it's just laughable.

[Guest Imsirion]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by James [/i]
[B]I could argue that you'll never cram all of Lord of the Rings into a three hour movie but they did it -- successfully by the accounts of hardcore fans.

[/B][/QUOTE]

Well, I wouldn't say that. I have many problems with the first two volumes and I'm VERY worried that they will screw up the third, but thats another story. (a very long one)

Anyways, I don't think a live-action eva is a bad idea, you never know. People keep saying," How will they do this?", and "How will they do that!?" but come on people, this isn't the stoneage. Technology is working for us remember, think about The Lord of the Rings movies, The Matrix/Reloaded, and many more. I'll see the live- action eva, DBZ, and all.

Oh, I heard that a live-action Lupin III is supposed to be made soon, though I cant confirm it.

Just keep an open mind, you should be happy to see your faves in technical, cgi glory. And if they screw up....... never speak of it again.... *coughMarioBros.StreetFighterMortalCombatcough*

[Ryuujin]

Some live action series are rather good. I saw "Your Under Arrest, Live Action." It was good. And c'mon you guys you think they are just handing this over to Americans, and have them do all the work? Most of the same crew will work on it, so the designs should stay the same as in the series.
Bad CG? CG is CG, not much to change. As, for casting.... well, who knows. Casting is going to be the most difficult. That and shorting one of the most mind boggling anime series that most people don't understand until they watch it 6 times(btw, it only took me 3,:P), into a 3 hour movie.
There is my say in this topic, and please keep your minds open, don't talk until you've seen it.

-Ryuujin

[Arkadyz]

[font=times new roman][color=crimson]Im sorry I just cannot see this being even a tenth of what the eva series is...Its just too deep and complex of a series to water down and spit-up as a 2 hour movie...

Sorry but I dont see how someone could condense all the metaphors complex relations and raw emotion of the series into a movie...

Im not saying it wont be entertaining to watch them try...But I dont give em much of a chance at succeding...

And hey street fighter and mortal komabt wherent THAT bad...:therock: ...well they werent :p

**Add-on***

Great well now I read that hollywood is also going to be adapting lone wolf and cub to the screen now...Where will it end...How about instead of hollywood adapting all these movies into live action they release some of the anime feature films...Anime works best as anime as far as im concerned...Would i ever want to see cowboy bebop adapted as a live action movie? NOOO but the way things seem to be going hollywood will grab this one next...sighz...Someone needs to tell hollywood to stop trying to muck with perfection...:nervous: [/color][/font]

[shadowfire]

I'm not saying I won't see the live-action version of anime series/movies , I'm not saying it won't be good. How technology is today and in the coming years for CGI in films I think they could pull a lot off. To me it's like taking a classic movie and re-making it and it turns out to suck(i.e. Planet of Apes, Star Wars ?), it doesn't do it justice. Thats the way this is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm not saying I won't see it, I won't say I won't like it, I'm not saying it's going to suck, to be honest I actually want them to make the DBZ movie, but why scrwew up a good thing.

[James]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Metatron [/i]
[B]Umm... I have some doubts on how the heck Hollywood intends to make the angels, Evas, and the battles on CG... on top of that, the I don't think any actor can fill in the spots of Rei, Shinji, Asuka, Misato, etc.... And Evangelion is much deeper than Mario Bros. =P And I did not say that Anime make u open minded =P [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=#808080]So you're saying that Hollywood can't make the angels, EVAs and battles with CGI? That sounds pretty ludicrous to me.

What about movies like The Matrix and such? I'm not trying to make a comparision, I'm just trying to point out that the special effects technologies are advanced enough to render the EVA battles. The EVA battles aren't exactly all that complex - they could be done quite well with CGI I'd say. Probably a lot better than you think.

Secondly, I think you're really starting to put EVA up onto an invisible pedestal here. You're saying that no actor can fill the spots of those characters? How do you know? If they are able to be voiced in the first place, then we know that at least [i]someone[/i] is capable of doing it.

And yes, of [i]course[/i] Evangelion is deeper than Mario Bros. You're totally missing my point.

I'm saying that whenever a game/anime is turned into a movie, the hardcore fans will always whine and complain about it. And more often than not, these conversions [i]aren't[/i] very true to their originals. But does that mean that we should automatically dismiss any attempt to produce a live action (or CGI) adaption? Especially when such an adaption might catch the interest of more people -- people who may have never seen the series.

And as for your last comment...I never said that you said that anime makes people more open minded. lol

I was speaking in general terms. I was pointing out that really hardcore anime fans sometimes sneak their way into some kind of elitist group where they [i]think[/i] they're open minded. But often, that's false (as this thread demonstrates).

I mean, I'm not trying to say that a Hollywood remake is going to be amazing or that it will even work on a basic level.

What I [i]am[/i] saying is that rather than shout it down and immediately get defensive over your precious Evangelion, you should at least be open minded enough to let someone make an attempt.

Seriously, EVA is good...but it's not so amazingly perfect that nobody can ever adapt it.

And as for Lord of the Rings; I don't even particularly like the movies or the novel all that much. I was just pointing out that a [i]lot[/i] of hardcore fans really loved the movies and felt that they did the novel justice. I'm not trying to say that [i]all[/i] fans agree with that. But a majority seem to.

[/color]

[Kwai]

Hmm... I think we should not argue about this until it comes out. I will bash it when it comes out if its bad, and will praise it if its good(slim chance there) Anyway, only time will tell. I'll refrain from whining over it until then.

[James]

[color=#808080]I just think that we should at least give people a chance.

Evangelion is not some work of God or something; there's nothing to suggest that a team of creative people can't do something fantastic with it. I sincerely hope that a [i]truly good[/i] film is produced.

I agree that there is a slim chance, but there [i]is[/i] a chance. ^_^[/color]