Netflix’s One Piece is currently taking over the world, raising the question of what other anime shows could receive the live-action treatment. As far as anime live-action adaptations go, One Piece is easily one of the most successful. Much like the trend of bad video game adaptations, anime shows in live-action did not work for a long time.

As of One Piece season 2’s ending, though, it is clear that the live-action Netflix show has cracked the code. By being faithful to the original manga and anime where possible and being produced on an absurd scale, the show has amassed praise from both new and familiar audiences. Soon, One Piece season 3’s story will only continue the show’s success.

Looking beyond One Piece, however, the live-action adaptation has proven that dense, fantastical worlds from some of the best long-running anime shows can be successfully translated. With that in mind, here are eight anime series that deserve a live-action adaptation as good and faithful as Netflix’s One Piece.

Naruto

Naruto is undoubtedly one of the most popular anime series of all time, for a variety of reasons. Like One Piece, it features classic shōnen themes like friendship, fulfilling your dreams, and coming of age, to name only a few. It also has hundreds of episodes, meaning it features a vast world, a long-running story, and a variety of intense battle sequences.

As such, Naruto seems almost perfect for the Netflix live-action treatment. Everything that Netflix has proven it can do with One Piece would translate to Naruto, with the latter having a different flavor of ninjas and shinobi as opposed to pirates. Interestingly, a live-action Naruto movie has been announced, set to begin production in 2026.

However, as many would agree, Naruto suits the long-form storytelling of a TV series much better. Regardless of whether the live-action movie is good, Naruto would be perfect for a TV show adaptation in order to do it, and its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden, justice.

Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell has had several adaptations, including a Hollywood live-action movie in 2017. That said, this film did not receive the strongest of reviews from critics and fans of the original alike. As such, a Ghost in the Shell live-action TV show could be excellent, only one that doesn’t retread the same story.

After all, the story of Motoko was told perfectly in the original 1995 anime film, with the 2017 remake being a dull rehash of such. What makes Ghost in the Shell so perfect for a live-action adaptation on TV, then, is how vast and rich the world is. There is so much potential to tell a new, compelling story in that world with exciting visuals, original characters, and an expansion of the original lore.

Much like how Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was an anime set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, a Ghost in the Shell live-action show could really work. It would not have to match up to the beloved original in terms of thematic storytelling and characters, but have the freedom of such a visually inspiring world to delve into, to its heart’s content.

Jujutsu Kaisen

In many ways, Jujutsu Kaisen is the defining shōnen anime of the modern era, almost like Naruto‘s successor. It features a deep world of magic with a horror-based twist and excellently choreographed and animated fight scenes. While Netflix’s One Piece does a lot right, its fight scenes are one of its strongest aspects.

With the same being said for Jujutsu Kaisen, a live-action TV show of the anime could really work. If a true dedication to adapting the long, fantastical battles of the anime is shown, it could be something special. Yes, a large budget would be necessary, but One Piece has already proven that this can be feasible.

Of course, any live-action JJK would need to translate the characters, mature arcs, high stakes, and twists on the shōnen genre, too. However, any solid screenwriter who is a fan of JJK could do this. If so, where a live-action Jujutsu Kaisen could truly shine is in its depiction of the franchise’s layered, exceptionally cinematic magic system.

Demon Slayer

Although Demon Slayer might be the most difficult anime on this list to adapt into live-action, many once thought the same about One Piece. Demon Slayer‘s biggest strength is its supernatural fight scenes, similar to Jujutsu Kaisen. Therefore, if one could work, so could the other.

A One Piece-size budget could allow for a focus on what makes Demon Slayer unique, making it a great candidate for a live-action show, so long as the same faithfulness and love to the original is displayed.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is often counted among the best anime ever made. Unlike many others of this ilk, FMA:B is praised for its concise narrative, clocking in at only 64 episodes. This, combined with its unique “equivalent exchange” magic system, strong fight scenes, complex characters, and deep thematic messages, renders FMA:B an excellent anime.

Moreover, all of this means a great live-action version is possible. Adapting FMA:B would not lead to worries that the show will never be finished, as is the most common discussion around One Piece, and would be prevalent if the likes of Naruto were ever adapted. This would be the main benefit of adapting the beloved anime, as would the engaging story.

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is another anime that has transcended the genre and become one of the most popular franchises of all time. In countless ways, this anime has inspired several others in the shōnen genre, including many on this list. As such a major show, many have longed for a good Dragon Ball adaptation in live-action.

After the disastrous Dragon Ball: Evolution, this dream fell to the wayside. Still, fans of the original anime have always held out hope, especially after movies like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proved the high-stakes, fantastical martial arts world could come to life.

One Piece only furthered that, featuring a lot of themes and action sequences that are directly inspired by Dragon Ball. With such a vast world available, a TV show is the best choice for a Dragon Ball adaptation, and hopefully, it gets the Netflix One Piece treatment.

Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan is also considered one of the best in the genre, which has grown so large that it appeals to non-anime fans, too. Attack on Titan is somewhat more grounded than the likes of One Piece, Dragon Ball, and the many other anime mentioned on this list.

Yes, it features giant man-eating creatures and huge-scale battles, but they are mostly grounded in a medieval-inspired world. This would give a live-action adaptation a distinct advantage, in that less CGI would be needed to craft huge, otherworldly locations. A lot of the show could be grounded in a bigger sense of reality, aside from the titular titans themselves.

With only four seasons of the anime to adapt, too, a live-action Attack on Titan would have a similar storytelling benefit to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The show would not be overly long, with all character arcs and hard-hitting themes able to be explored to the fullest.

If a world as expansive as One Piece can be brought to life, one that is slightly more realistic, though with its own fantastical aspects, could certainly be worth the live-action treatment.

Release Date

August 31, 2023

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Joe Tracz

Directors

Tim Southam, Marc Jobst, Josef Kubota Wladyka

Writers

Tiffany Greshler, Diego Gutierrez, Allison Weintraub, Lindsay Gelfand

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