[Media] Live action Poke'mon Movie

[Master of Memes]

So imagine a live action Poke'mon. How would it be done right u may ask? Well, for one thing, the Pokemon anime can be hilarious at times, and a great cast of characters. Imagine a film where Ash, Pikachu, and many of their traveling companions teaming up to fight a big threat. But what about the gym battles? Simple answer, give us flashbacks, and maybe have some anime easter eggs. But it would look creepy, wouldn't it? Not necessarily. Remember Marsupilami? Here is him now: http://artofvfx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MARSU_BUF_VFX_05-300x127.jpg
I imagine that it would be a Guardians of the Galaxy/Real Steel/Avengers type of movie. Share your thoughts and opinions on this thread

 

[VisualJae]

I would absolutely despise a live action Pokemon movie.

CGI, fine.

Live action. Huge no.

This applies to the vast majority of Japanese animated media. Considering targeted demographics and how the current writers already treat the anime, I have zero confidence in how anyone tied to the franchise can adapt a messy series (in terms of characters, overall plot, and pacing) into a feature-length live action film.

Avengers type movie? The entire atmosphere isn't remotely close. Unless you want to adapt the Pokemon Adventures (Special) manga series into a movie, that's as close as you'd possibly get with source material. And still it'd be a hell of a pain for live action adaptation.

I can't even count on one hand how many live action adaptations of existing manga, games and anime lived up to par. What do we have? Rurouni Kenshin? Probably the best live action adaptation of any manga/anime. Death Note? Also one of the better adaptations, but it's still not exactly a pleaser, especially for die-hard fans. What else, NANA? Its screenplay and script sucked compared to the source material so we're getting into trash territory. It looked great visually, though. Anything else?

And these are mostly adaptations based on worlds without cartoon creatures as focal points. What about the craptastic adaptations? Dragonball? First of the North Star? Attack on Titan? Gatchaman? Maybe throw in The Last Airbender as an honorable mention (for the sake of a cartoon having a die-hard fan base). The list goes on and on and on, growing each year. All sorts of popular franchises you'd think would have a solid production team, but no.

Pokemon does not have that production team. Again, going back to targeted demographics and how existing media are constructed. Creating a live action adaptation in my most humblest of opinions would be a cardinal sin. I can taste the bile rising through my esophagus.

 

[moon]

1) I really wouldn't want it to be of Japanese origin. Rather, it should be a Hollywood style adaptation in order to have any chance of decent quality. And even that's not a guarantee lol.

2) Don't let Ash and his Pikachu anywhere near the plot. Preferably, it should be set in a more manga-like universe. Actually, a live action adaptation of Pokémon Adventures, with evil gym leaders and E4 plotting to destroy the world, would fit much better than the 10 year old kid meeting two adults with a Meowth here and there over and over again.

 

[Kaiyu]

If such a thing ever existed I would never ever watch it. I can't even imagine what it would be like. I would much rather prefer the anime style. That's just me though.

 

[Hikamaru]

I don't want to see a live-action Pokemon film, because it's certain to be a box office failure like many other anime that did live action films (looking at you, Dragon Ball and Avatar: The Last Airbender). But if it were live action, base it on the manga and not the main anime.

 

[Skip Class]

As an extremely large anime live action fan, as much as they could do a Pokemon Live Action, the chances of it being likeable are very small.

Unlike what most people have seen and said, there is a lot of successful and loveable live actions out there - though a lot of people haven't seen them and just go for the regular Dragon Ball and Last Airbender.
However, there is a reason shows like that aren't great adapting into live actions is because they just won't work well.

The anime live actions that do become successful are a lot more realistic and therefore are a lot easier to make work - Romance, mystery, some horror, slice of like to name a few.
However when we go out of the "realistic" scenarios to things like Pokemon the harder it is to make such a thing work (and especially if it was a movie no less).

There have been lots of cases where there have been a lot of out-there, fantasy, adventure, action sort anime adaptations to live action which can work - such as GANTZ and Parasyte (however a lot of their fans from the original sources didn't like it, yet people who watched it without knowlege of the original source loved it.) Mirai Nikki was also an anime/manga which had some pretty unrealistic parts, yet they changed the plot around to make it work and the live action turned out brilliantly.

I am pointing out again, that these live actions were likeable to the audience because people had not seen the original source before. Pokemon on the other hand is an incredibly well known series and it will be rare for people to watch a live action of it without knowing it prior. Live action adaptations opinions are often carried by whether a person has seen the original source, and if they have their expectations. So even if an live action were to work out, the chances of people liking it is going to be brought down because of their expectations.

As for your second point. No way in hell Ash or the anime cast should be in it. I'd much prefer the cast to be original.
Original cuts away half people's expectations and me having to hear how "Actor A is a shitty Ash Ketchum because _____" or how "Misty doesn't have the right hair colour" or how "Brock's eyes are shut enough".

Secondly, as much as Adventure/ Special or Origins cast would be better, I'd have to hear about how the live action cast would ruin how people portrayed the original - even if the acting was good -.-. Literally this bugs me every time I watch a live action anime.

Woo sorry this turned out to be a 1AM morning rant at the start of 2016 xD

 

[Master of Memes]

Ash is like, the anime star. Making the movie based on the games is pretty risky. It would be more appropriate to adapt the anime into a Hollywood film. And so what if 'Misty's hair is different'. Not everyone cares about that. We need more recognizable characters. I like Ash person Ally. There is so much that can be done between Him and Misty, the gang vs. Team Rocket. As 4 the whole 'Avengers' part, I mean solo movies 4 different trainer, and they are conclue with a movie featuring Ash. Each so movie also stars a fan favorite as the main Poke'mon. people watch the anime more, while some don't even read the manga. I don't even know half of the Adventures cast (not that I care). So what if Red accomplished more? He is lacking in personality, and is too emotionless. Ash has had waay more adventures than Red, and with the whole 'Aura' thing, this would be a decent plot device (if Mewtwo is involved)

 

[Rambler]

This discussion reminds me of this old parody trailer of a live action pokemon movie years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDX1m0Y2Vkg

With that out of the way, I think a live action film sounds like one of those ideas that sounded better on paper then it does in practice for reasons that others have already explained.

 

[Master of Memes]

A live-action movie of Pokemon would be nothing like that. The movie couldn't be based on the games (after the live action Mario movie.) I imagine that it would be Ash and a group of elitists vs. Team rocket with some flashbacks of Ash's older adventures.

 

[Sirenita55]

Considering the possibility of this hypothetical situation, which particular actors would you like to see portray your favourite characters? Looks wise, I think Ashley Benson or Rose McIver might be a good fit for Viola. Maybe AnnaSophia Robb for Serena? :S

 

[floating_lettuce]

Whether or not they make a movie, fans are gonna hate on it anyway for "not sticking to the plot or characters being different " or whatever.

 

[Master of Memes]

Ash? No, he needs to go away. The only way a Pokemon live action movie would EVER work is if they really, really curved towards a darker plot. As much as I'd like a live action Pokenoir, it doesn't seem likely.
How dark exactly?
Oh well.

 

[Concussion]

I heard that Robin Williams was Nintendo's only choice for a live action Okido/Oak. With him gone, the likelihood of a live-action movie seems much lower.

 

[naruto00]

there is a lot of information about the pokemon in this forum, that is what makes me want to always visit this forum

 

[Nothing Is Real]

It would have to be impeccably filmed, and even then it carries a high chance of completely flopping, both commercially and critically. Presumably it would be an action movie with dramatic and comedic elements.

I dunno. It seems likely that a live action Pokémon film would end up going the same way as Super Mario Bros. (1993).

 

[illumine]

It does stand a chance of being inadvertently hilarious, but otherwise it's just a bunch of people trying to act like animated characters and getting thrown into their 'relations' and such for some reason. The roles - try to approximate an animated 'character' - hardly seem likely to attract many actors, as it's very strictly limiting and may affect their future perception negatively. More importantly than this, though, you'd probably also want to prevent the series' PR getting channeled into a happily low-interest film, which is presumably very conversant with any and all of the mores of such things, and you doubt that they'd want that or be benefitted by it, ultimately. It could work, perhaps, if it wasn't based on many of the exaggerated mechanisms and gestures associated with the series, although this could then diverge from what was expected from a Pokémon thing, and hence would have to diverge systematically from other genre expectations as well. In any case, isn't Pokémon XY basically the real sequel to 'High School Musical' by now, anyway?

 

[spicatwinstar]

I actually thought the Pokemon Superbowl commercial was pretty neat. But, kI'm a sucker for cute. So, it might not count? xD If they do make one, I'm sure I'd watch it -- so long as it's not Ash... Sorry.

I love the Pokemon Adventures, and hopefully if there would be a live action it would be about that.

 

[pelot]

I think a live action is not good for Pokemon. Mostly because the anime mostly known, and Ash Ketchum and it's plot don't make a good move.

Pokemon Special would make a greatCG animation, and maybe a good movie, having a GREAT luck with the director. I have no faith on Hollywood movies, because they always dumb down the Japanese and game productions. American movies and series have genericaly good image and photography, but not always good plot.

Other option, that i think would be great, it's a TV series, like Game of Thrones that take it's own vision, like the Pokemon manga, but with it's own interpretation and world building. With a more mature take, mostly a fantasy version of our world . It has potential to be successful and break the stigma that Pokemon is just Ash Ketchum and something childish. And of course, would be based on the games plot but with artistic freedom.

Considering the possibility of this hypothetical situation, which particular actors would you like to see portray your favourite characters? Looks wise, I think Ashley Benson or Rose McIver might be a good fit for Viola. Maybe AnnaSophia Robb for Serena? :S

The boy and girls will be the main characters of the series. Each season will follow a genararion. They will need to be aged. Otherwise, will be ridiculous to have 10 or 16 years world guys saving the world. They will be young adults, with no specified age.

For the main female characters, I would go with:
Leaf: Leighton Meester or Victoria Justice - I see Leaf as being pretty, daring but polite and nice girl

Lyra: Ellen Page or Lily Collins - I don't visualize her being particularly beautiful, but really charismatic and funny, to the point of being clumsy and hilarious (though I think Lily Collins is pretty, she can look like an avarage girl with customization)

May: Emily Browning or Levan Rabin - Both remember me May, specially Levan Rabin on Pierce Jackson... I don't know why... maybe because I think May is a casual and relaxed girl, still beautiful but not on a womanizer way.

Dawn: Camilla Belle or Emilia Clarke - Both are beautiful, and until now, Dawn to me is the prettier of the main characters, but she don't care or neither realize it. Also, she's really friendly and lighthearted.

Hilda: Kaya Scorelario or Kristen Stewart - Yeah, i believe Hilda is a headstrong girl, not girly, rebellious and vigorous. I know Kristen is not likeable, specially on Twilight, but I relate the actress with Hilda... Both have the same vibe.

Rosa: Saoirse Rowam or Dakota Fanning

Serena: Melanie Laurent - She's french, good actress, pretty, smart and low profile. Another choise is Lea seydroux. I can't see Serena as a pretty blond american girl. Taking account she's french, I think she's naturally pretty, but not a Barbie, and really smart and ambitious.

 

[Light and Darkness Dragon]

For a pokemon movie I would want to see it through the eyes of Giovani. I wouldn't want hollywood to do it, but rather Adi Shankar.
I do not want this Pokémon Apokélypse: Live Action Trailer HD
.
But if Shankar did it it would most likely be like that.
Pokemon Special Manga/Pokemon Origins with Giovani as the protagonist with Ash (secretly Red), with Mewtwo in the movie.

 

[Master of Memes]

I think a live action is not good for Pokemon. Mostly because the anime mostly known, and Ash Ketchum and it's plot don't make a good move.
[BIsn't the well known anime a good thing? And who's to say that the movie can't have a unique plot?[/B]
Pokemon Special would make a greatCG animation, and maybe a good movie, having a GREAT luck with the director. I have no faith on Hollywood movies, because they always dumb down the Japanese and game productions. American movies and series have genericaly good image and photography, but not always good plot.

Other option, that i think would be great, it's a TV series, like Game of Thrones that take it's own vision, like the Pokemon manga, but with it's own interpretation and world building. With a more mature take, mostly a fantasy version of our world . It has potential to be successful and break the stigma that Pokemon is just Ash Ketchum and something childish. And of course, would be based on the games plot but with artistic freedom.



The boy and girls will be the main characters of the series. Each season will follow a genararion. They will need to be aged. Otherwise, will be ridiculous to have 10 or 16 years world guys saving the world. They will be young adults, with no specified age.

For the main female characters, I would go with:
Leaf: Leighton Meester or Victoria Justice - I see Leaf as being pretty, daring but polite and nice girl

Lyra: Ellen Page or Lily Collins - I don't visualize her being particularly beautiful, but really charismatic and funny, to the point of being clumsy and hilarious (though I think Lily Collins is pretty, she can look like an avarage girl with customization)

May: Emily Browning or Levan Rabin - Both remember me May, specially Levan Rabin on Pierce Jackson... I don't know why... maybe because I think May is a casual and relaxed girl, still beautiful but not on a womanizer way.

Dawn: Camilla Belle or Emilia Clarke - Both are beautiful, and until now, Dawn to me is the prettier of the main characters, but she don't care or neither realize it. Also, she's really friendly and lighthearted.

Hilda: Kaya Scorelario or Kristen Stewart - Yeah, i believe Hilda is a headstrong girl, not girly, rebellious and vigorous. I know Kristen is not likeable, specially on Twilight, but I relate the actress with Hilda... Both have the same vibe.

Rosa: Saoirse Rowam or Dakota Fanning

Serena: Melanie Laurent - She's french, good actress, pretty, smart and low profile. Another choise is Lea seydroux. I can't see Serena as a pretty blond american girl. Taking account she's french, I think she's naturally pretty, but not a Barbie, and really smart and ambitious.

I have always seen these characters as default trainers. Everyone can be Red *As in the player*