Which one do you hate the most?
Hollywood keeps trying and failing with anime and manga adaptations. They’ve explored every genre possible, but it'sAmerican audiences still don't care. It's difficult to trust the quality of these films when end result is so often a disappointment.
So what's the best way to know what's good, what's bad, and what's worst? With a list of course! These are the worst anime and manga adaptations Hollywood's ever insulted our intelligence with.
What are your least favorite anime adaptations ever? Let us know in the comments.
Speed Racer (2008)
Speed Racer is another financial disaster, but at least it's entertaining, and captures some of the spirit of the anime. It's bright, colorful, and plays out like a long acid trip. Then again, that's very Wachowskis. It's not the absolute worst, which you'll see in the following slides.
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
Casting controversy aside, this film is terrible no matter who was cast. It's offensive, dry, and all around ineffective as an adaptation. It would have been even worse if it weren't for WETA and their stunning CGI work. Along with gorgeous costumes and alluring imagery, it saves the film from being a complete catastrophe.
Blood: The Last Vampire (2009)
The story is altered so much that it's unrecognizable. To be fair, the main protagonist's characteristics remain intact and the movie has a few enjoyable moments. It isn't a great watch but underneath it all, there is potential there for something that could have been better.
Dragon Ball Evolution (2009)
Miscast, misdirected, and a complete mistake--critics have thrown the book at this one. Yet it's managed a 14% score on Rotten Tomatoes when it should be at zero. The film is such a cinematic eyesore that many of those involved have gone on record to say they regret participating. Can you blame them?
The Guyver (1991)
One of the first anime adaptations to be made in Hollywood on the low budget circuit, this 1991 cheese-fest is based on the manga Bio Booster Armor Guyver by Yoshiki Takaya. Starring Jack Armstrong and Mark Hamill, the story centers around Sean, who discovers a military warfare suit of alien origin. The suit bonds with Sean's body turning him into the corniest looking superhero alive.
Fist of the North Star (1995)
Starring Gary Daniels and bunch of other actors you don't know, it's no wonder people don't know this film exist. This is a good thing. With some of the worst dialogue, fight choreography, and acting ever, the fewer people know about this the better.
Crying Freeman (1995)
It's a story that works better as an anime than a live-action movie. There's plenty of Japanese cultural references that the adaptation leaves out. The film tries to work with the basic premise, but Crying Freeman ends up being a poorly acted snoozefest.
Kite (2014)
It's great that Hollywood decided to take a more obscure title and turn it into a movie. However, Kite isn't a good anime to begin with, so this was destined to fail. Lucky for fans, it went straight to DVD, so the production studio didn't seem to lose much. But fans sure wasted time watching this. The only thing it has going for its is an appearance by Samuel L. Jackson.
Death Note (2017)
Wilhem Defoe as Ryuk is surprisingly charming, and the soundtrack is killer, but that's where compliments stop. This film takes everything that makes the Death Note anime series great and tosses it in the trash. A suspenseful noir thriller is turned into a goofy, teen angst spoof that isn't taken seriously within the anime fandom.
Oldboy (2013)
This was never an anime. The plot was taken straight off the manga page and turned into live action--twice. The 2007 Korean version is a cult classic. It's a dynamic film that took risk. The Hollywood version from 2013 starring Josh Brolin is a scene for scene remake that flopped at the box office. And of course it did. Why watch a scene for scene remake when you have the original?
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