Translating a story into a live-action rendition that initially captivated audiences with a different entertainment format isn’t always an easy or guaranteed success. Too often we hear about TV projects being abruptly canceled because they didn’t achieve the hoped-for result right away (and the reason behind such decisions is frequently tied to the sizable budgets required for production); yet at other times some live-action TV series based on anime or video games have managed to reach the goal, capturing interest from both longtime and new fans and chalking up hit after hit, proving that the new era of live-action has truly begun.
The fidelity to the original work is generally what audiences most value, but it isn’t always possible: the crucial factor becomes a balancing act between the already-known storyline and the narrative under construction. Over the years, the risk of disappointing the fan community has fostered a strong distrust toward live-action adaptations, but some TV series have shown they can break that televisual curse, respecting the soul of the source material while not shying away from a bold creative touch, thereby giving the story an added value. Here are three live-action TV titles that initially found success by embracing a different format.
The Curse of Live-Action Is Over: The 3 TV Series That Changed the Rules
The Last of Us
Today it is perhaps one of the most talked-about TV series on HBO Max, but The Last of Us owes its initial, intense popularity to the video game saga of the same name created by Naughty Dog. The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world marked by a virus that turns the infected into a deadly species. The protagonist is Joel, whose mission is to care for Ellie, who could be the key to solving all the problems, being immune to the virus. A strong point of the series is its fidelity to Neil Druckmann’s source material, preserving iconic scenes from the videogame on screen; at the same time, the show has been able to deepen the backstories of secondary characters, enriching the narrative for a television format. Debuting on TV in 2023, The Last of Us currently comprises two seasons with a third in production.
One Piece
One of the most ambitious projects in recent years is One Piece, adapted from the manga of the same name, which itself gave life to one of the world’s longest-running and most beloved anime series. The live-action was released by Netflix starting in 2023 under the direction of Matt Owens and Steven Maeda, with the support of the manga’s creator Eiichiro Oda, involved as a creative consultant. The young and ambitious Luffy is portrayed by Inaki Godoy, whose aim is to locate the Treasure and become the Pirate King. In this instance, what made the difference was precisely the creator’s backing, a role fans regarded as a mark of guarantee.
Fallout
Like The Last of Us, Fallout is also drawn from a video game franchise and already has two seasons to its name, with a third on the way. The narrative is set in a post-nuclear world where the luckier survivors have sheltered in bunkers, never learning the truth about the surface. The less fortunate have had to cope with whatever remained above ground. The protagonist of the Prime Video series is Lucy, who, in her bid to save her father, ventures to the surface and soon discovers that much of what she believed is a lie. Consequently, the time spent above ground changes Lucy on a deep level, driving her to uncover concealed truths, some of which center on her own father.
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