Cartoons You'd Like Made into Films

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Kunmui

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If this has already been a thread somewhere else, I apologize, but if it hasn't, are there any cartoons either currently running or that have run in the past that you would like to see made into live-action films? There's a lot of that going around right now, but there's a ton of stuff out there Hollywood has yet to touch.

How would you handle the material? Would you build a franchise or shoot for a single movie? Who would you cast in the lead roles? Any directors you think would be skilled at translating your favorite shows into film?

Personally, I think it's PAST time for a live-action Jonny Quest movie. The story of a government inventor's son, his bodyguard, and their dangerous adventures around the globe screams to be adapted into a movie. First, I'd set it during the 60's like the original cartoon was. The backdrop of the Cold War made that show work for me. None of this bringing it into the 21st Century in an attempt to force some "relevance" onto the subject matter. Second, no Jessie. Nothing against the ladies, but JQ has always kinda been a boys'-only club, except for Jade, of course. And I would not roll out Doctor Zin until probably the 2nd or 3rd movie. I'd have John Barry or Michael Giacchino score the movie just like Goldfinger, Thunderball, and the other James Bond movies of that time period and put Tony Scott in the driver's seat as director. Make Brad Bird a creative consultant for the film, and it's a winner, IMO.

Jonny and Hadji would probably be unknowns, but my Dream Cast:

Doctor Quest - Liam Neeson
"Race" Bannon - Viggo Mortenson
Dr. Zin - Ken Watanabe

So, what do you guys think? What cartoons would you like to see made into movies? This isn't a list thread, though, so really give it some thought.
 
None. Because something ALWAYS gets lost in the translation, and you end up with something ranging from good but not great (George of the Jungle, Underdog, Scooby Doo), to slightly entertaining (Ben 10: Race Against Time, The Flinstones) to downright crap (Inspector Gadget, Thunderbirds, The Flinstones in Viva Rock Vegas).

FYI, they ARE making a Jonny Quest movie. I don't know if he's officially signed on yet, but Rock's going to play Race Bannon and the studio's eyeing Zac Efron as Jonny.
 
Put me down for none as well. First of all, turning a fun half hour into a 90 minute movie is almost always a bad idea; the visible strain to keep it interesting and keep the jokes coming rings louder than the plot. Second, Hollywood always takes a big dump on the animated continuity and makes a bunch of unnecessary changes to the shows' mythos in order to make it accessible for a live action universe. Double Dragon. Rocky & Bullwinkle. Thunderbirds. Underdog. Need I say more? I'd rather have no movie than some live action crap that only vaguely resembles the cartoon that it's allegedly celebrating.

It's funny that someone would create a thread for this, because just a few days ago, I had one of those amusing thoughts about what a live-action movie based on Johnny Test would be like. But would I go to see one if someone actually made it? Uh-uh.
 
... What has this world come to? D:

I agree though that live action versions of cartoons isn't very... erm... successful, and it's either unintentionally hilarious or just plain creepy. ): However, if it's the case of a cartoon show getting a feature film release, it may depend on the cartoon, its popularity, etc. but I can't say I'd have anything against it.
 
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if some bright executive at Viacom decides to propose and greenlight a live action SpongeBob movie, where the Sponge and his friends all end up out of the ocean, and as pets to some random kid who has social problems and they help him overcome his shortcomings to the applause of the overworld humans.

Of course, they'd be in jarringly ugly CGI from the deepest depths of the uncanny valley and feature cover songs by fairly mediocre bands.

If this ever comes to fruition, I'd think I'd hate myself forever for even suggesting it.
 
Actually, I was more interested in what YOU guys would do when it came to turning the cartoons (and anime) you liked into movies. Yeah, obviously Hollywood can't be depended on too much in this area. I wanted to know how all of YOU would handle the material.
 
In that case, I declare that Hulk Hogan play Alice in a live action Superjail! movie. *shot*

Hmm... it's hard to say, I'd feel hesitant about doing it because I know that not a lot of fans would be satisfied. POSSIBLY I'd consider a live action Billy and Mandy movie, only because there are enough human characters to pass it off as semi-realistic. The Grim Reaper's design I wouldn't try to change entirely, but at least add some realism to it, I suppose. I think I'd be more interested in using props and animatronics than CGI-ing everything, although I think I'd use it to enhance any props if needed.

I'd probably focus on the earlier episodes sort of feel, because I'd rather involve the morbid humor instead of trying to do slapstick, because you know a realistic Grim Reaper + slapstick = whut. Also, the earlier episodes had a more creepy feel, especially with the endings, which I wouldn't mind incorporating into it honestly. Although, I think what I'd manage to create would end up being PG or PG-13, but still a lot creepier than the original, maybe some mild language (Only because I can't stand the word 'crud'... I mean, it's just a lot more disgusting-sounding than 'crap'. XD) and I'm sure I wouldn't mind adding in some blood, but I wouldn't turn it into a gorefest. The B+M audience was always the older kids, so that would definately do good on my part.

I think there would be lots of issues though, but overall, there are some changes that I would make just to make it work for the live action, but I intend to keep the spirit of it and try not to make it seem so serious. Also, there needs to be a good child actor who can play as Billy, seeing as he has to have both plausible comic relief and a big nose.

EVERYONE IS GONNA HATE ME FOR THIS I KNOW IT.
 
There was an internet rumor back in 2007 that Peter Jackson was working on a live-action Powerpuff Girls. As outrageous as that sounds, i was enthusiastic about it back when i first heard the rumor, and i would still be enthusiastic about it if i found out today that the rumor was actually true.
 
A Billy and Mandy live-action movie would be awesome if instead of casting kids, they cast adults and just have everybody pretend they're kids. I nominate Adam Sandler for Billy.
 
I'm not big on Live Action movies of cartoons. Animation and Live Action are two completely different worlds and I don't feel like they've ever been brought together or ever will be brought together successfully. All the ones I can think of have been awful.

Scooby-Doo was awful and it really ticked me off because I love Scrappy. Underdog isn't supposed to be a regular dog with superpowers like they created him as. He's a lot more than that and live action would never be able to show that. Rocky & Bullwinkle was ok because they kept Rocky and Bullwinkle animated. If they had pulled an Underdog, there's no way it could have worked.

Point being, I would never touch animation if I was a movie producer. Live Action and cartoons don't mix and in my opinion they never will.
 
Hey now, not all cartoon-to-live-action films have been complete crap. The first Casper movie had it'd merits. Sure, the idea of mixing cartoon-slapstick with dead-serious drama about death is weird as hell, but for me, it still worked. And Disney films do that all the time aswell, but without people complaning about how the drama makes the comedy less comedic and the comedy makes the drama less dramatic. And since no official Casper media had touched upon the subject before (and none have done since) it was also nice to finaly get an answer to Matt Groenings compelling question "if there is a Casper the Friendly Ghost, does that mean that there is also a Casper the Dead Little Boy?". And apparently, yes, there is.
 
His nose is a considerable candidate, indeed.


FMA would definately work in live action, but not Inyuasha. You really can't take a character like him seriously in real life.
 
Well, to be fair, The Simpsons actually had a joke in one of the earlier seasons where Lisa suggested that Casper was Richie Rich's ghost since they both essentially shared the same body shape.
 
... Robert Rodriguez? Really? *looks him up* ... Oh nevermind, I only remember his name from horror and action films, I didn't know he did Spy Kids. XD So I guess it's not so odd of a choice then.

However, I can't say I'm supporting the idea. I see lots of CGI being used if anything.
 
...That's a terrible idea. No offense. But isn't everyone always saying that live-action renditions of cartoons usually stink BECAUSE they tend to change the concept of the original cartoon? Having adults play Billy and Mandy would be the epitome of changing the original concept of Billy and Mandy.

There aren't too many cartoons that I can think of off the top of my head that I think would translate well into live action, but I think a Johnny Quest movie could be really good in live action with the right direction. And having the Rock and Zac Efron, neither of which are top notch actors IMO, isn't exactly going in the right direction. On top of that, Efron isn't exactly the right age to be playing Johnny. Having Liam Neeson, Viggo Mortensen and Ken Watanabe in the respective roles mentioned would seem to fit pretty well though, though I'm not sure who could play Johnny or Hajji, though they'd both have to be younger than Efron.
 
Well, live action films based on cartoons basically go either way for me.

I mean for starters, it all depends on the execution and quite frankly, from what I've seen, most of those particular movies aren't downright good. But I can name exceptions.

Second of all, it's always hard to make these kind of films as you have the dilemma of not only making them acceptable to the general public, but pleasing the fans as well.

It can be hard to do both because in the end, not everyone would be satisfied.
 
By that line of thought then the Billy and Mandy cartoon should've flopped because neither character was actually voiced by a ten-year old. It wouldn't change the concept at all. The characters would still be kids, and perceived by everybody around them as kids, just played by adults. The same way Peter Pan is still a boy, despite being played by a girl in several live-action adaptations. It beats trying to find a child actor to mimic Billy's antics, which if not impossible, would just be plain scary in my opinion.
 
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