Watchlist #51 - Attack on Titan

With the release of the Live-action adaptation of probably the most renowned Anime series coming out in theaters today, it's only plausible that I give my thoughts on the original Anime. For those of you living under a rock, this Anime (like SAO or KLK) are renowned and have created an enormous fan base. At least in every Con I've attended (which is only 2), I've seen someone wear something related to this Anime. It's action-packed, thrilling, emotional, and probably a landmark in Anime. It also features a kick-@$$ opening that I think a lot of Anime fans can identify with that. This Anime (like SAO & KLK) has become a franchise, a household title that all fans are aware of. Whether you're a fan of it or not, the name cannot escape you. The Manga was written by Hajime Isayama, published by Kodansha, and then made into an Anime directed by Tetsuro Araki & licensed by Madman & Funimation entertainment ~ it isn't news that an Anime THIS big would get its own live-adaptation. However, the problem is that live-action adaptations of Videogames/Anime/Books aren't always well-received. Some work and some don't ~ it's a matter of source material & direction. We already got a live-adaptation for (not all, just some):

1) Mortal Kombat (Videogame)
2) Street Fighter (Videogame)
3) Dead or Alive (Videogame)
4) Dragon Ball Z (Anime)
5 Avatar the Last Airbender (Animated Cartoon)
6) Death Note (Anime)
7) The Hunger Games (Book)
8) The Lightning Thief (Book)
9) Harry Potter (Book)

Out of the 9 I just mentioned, I only heard good things about the 3 of them (Death Note, The Hunger Games, & The Harry Potter movies). Sometimes movie studios like to change things up, but why make an adaptation when you're not going to follow the original source material. Yes changes are necessary, but when major components are missing ~ it just doesn't work. When I watched Avatar in theaters, I was so incredibly excited.....at first. When I left the movie house, I was so pissed off that I wanted to punch the director, the actors, & the studio that allowed the director to turn one of my favorite cartoons into a complete atrocity in cinema. Movie directors try to conjure up the ideal way to picture the movie, but it isn't always crystal clear. The heart of the source material could be missing because production studios like to pull our heartstrings in all the wrong ways. I'm seeing the live adaptation tonight of an Anime I like ~ will it satisfy or disappoint, who knows. Hopefully, since it's made by the folks in Japan, it won't be a total letdown....I hope. IF you haven't guessed it yet, the Anime I was talking about is Attack on Titan. I decided not to talk about the source material...yet. Next week's Watch-list post will be the Live-action adaptation of AOT & compare/contrast the Anime & Movie.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Watch-list post. Watch-List posts will be on Wednesdays. Until then, stay classy as always. Don't forget to check out the other Watch-list posts (in order):

1) Tenchi Muyo

2) Cowboy Bebop

3) Trigun

4) Dragonball Z

5) School Rumble 

6) Is This A Zombie?

7) Fairy Tail

8) Omamori Himari

9) FLCL

10) Gurren Lagann 

11) Shin-Chan 

12) Tenchi Muyo GXP

13) Tenchi Muyo In Tokyo

14) Power Puff Girls Z

15) Kirby!

16) Samurai Champloo 

17) Hanaukyo Maid Team 

18) True Tears 

19) Zombie Powder (Manga)

20) Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai 

21) Teen Titans
22) Yu-Gi-Oh
23) Rosario+Vampire
24) Death Note
25) Pokemon
26) Digimon
27) Big-O
28) X-Men (Anime Version)
29) D-Frag
30) Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
31) Akame Ga Kill
32) Invaders of the Rokujyōma!?
33) OniAi
34) Ben-To
35) Testament of a Sister New Devil
36) Minamoto-kun Monogatari (Manga)
37) My Love Story (Ore Monogatari!)
38) Space Dandy
39) Wanna be the strongest in the world
40) When Marnie Was There (Film ~ Studio Ghibli)
41) The Garden of Words (Film ~ Makoto Shinkai)
42) Song of the Sea (Film ~ Tomm Moore)  
43) Nagasarete Airantou
44) DBZ: Resurrection 'F' (Film)
45) Bikini Warriors (First Impressions)
46) Yu Yu Hakusho
47) Monster Musume (First Impressions)
48) Code Lyoko
49) Ninja Scroll (Film)
50) Kill La Kill
51) Attack on Titan