7 Animated Classics That Need To Be Live Action Movies

Original ideas are dead. In their place, cinemas are now flooded with prequels and sequels, reboots and remakes, re-imaginings and re-whatever the hell else they're going to come up with next. No movie is too sacred. Even Disney, one of the most successful studios of all time, has begun to raid their own back catalogue, remaking childhood favourites into live action blockbusters. While this current trend certainly has its detractors, it's worth bearing in mind that the vast majority of these animated classics were themselves based on traditional tales. The success of the recent Cinderella adaptation proves that there's still life left in those older stories, which is exactly why Disney have a huge number of live action films on their schedule now, including Mulan, The Jungle Book and even Beauty & The Beast. Let's just hope the sexy French feather duster makes an appearance for the grown-ups. If Disney continues down this path, why should they be the only ones raking in the money? There are plenty of other animations out there which could be remade in live action, reigniting interest in older properties or giving underrated classics another chance. Join us then as we take a look at 7 animated classics that need to be live action films. 7) The Iron Giant (1999) Brad Bird found huge success working at Pixar, but before The Incredibles and Ratatouille made the big bucks, the director first released The Iron Giant. Loosely based on Ted Hughes's classic novel, The Iron Giant quickly became a cult favourite among big kids like myself due to its intelligent characterization and a poignant story that ripped the hearts out of anyone watching. Turns out that most audiences are soulless though, as the touching story of a boy's love for his robot friend failed to pull in big numbers at the box office. The Iron Giant is an underrated gem that deserves revisiting and if given the attention it deserves, Bird's feature debut could be reworked into a modern day E.T. for a new generation of movie lovers. Vin Diesel found huge success voicing the CGI character Groot in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, so his return to the project as the titular character could help boost its chances... that is if a producer actually reads this and decides to give The Iron Giant another go. Today's special effects have proven that even characters rendered fully in CGI can be relatable now, hopefully preventing future generations from having to endure another Jar Jar Binks. 6) Paprika (2006) The story of a doctor who uses a machine to enter the dreams of her patients is even more of a head trip to watch than you'd expect. Imagine watching an animated version of Inception on acid and you would perhaps have a vague idea of what Paprika is really like. Animation has always been the best medium for creating new worlds, freeing directors to show audiences literally anything their hearts desire. Fortunately, technology has finally reached a point where a live action version of a film like Paprika is now possible, providing a starker contrast between the gritty realism of the world outside of the machine and the surreal dreams explored within. Japanese director Satoshi Kon unfortunately died soon after the release of his fourth feature, so his valuable input would be missing if anyone decided to make a live-action version of Paprika, but this is one movie that should have been seen by a far larger audience. 5) The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996) Disney is often darker than it's given credit for. Dumbo after a tipple of alcohol. Bambi's mother and her little accident. Mufasa's spot of bother with his brother. Moments like these are scattered throughout Disney's classic filmography, but if pushed to choose the darkest film ever made by the Magic Kingdom, it's likely that most would choose The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Quasimodo's struggle to be accepted may include a few dance numbers and talking gargoyles, but themes of infanticide, lust and genocide aren't exactly light bedtime viewing for whippersnappers under the age of ten. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a bold attempt to combine serious issues with the levity usually associated with the studio, but the film's balance between light and dark was inconsistent at times, detracting from the overall message of the story. A live action version of Disney's take on the classic tale could retain the gothic aesthetic and award-winning music, while also providing the perfect opportunity for those irritating gargoyles to be smashed once and for all. Those unhappy with the ending where Esmerelda chose the handsome soldier over the disfigured hero of the story could also be satisfied, sending out a message that those born different can still find love too. Good job on that one by the way Disney. 4) Laputa: Castle In The Sky (1986) The Oscar winning movie Spirited Away brought Studio Ghibli to international prominence in 2001, but the company often referred to as the Disney of Japan crafted some of the most beautiful animations ever produced long before the rest of the world took notice. Co-founder Hayao Miyazaki was responsible for many of the studio's most successful features, but some of his earlier work is often overlooked in favour of his more modern classics. Laputa: Castle in the Sky was technically the first film produced by the studio and provided a blueprint for most of the work that followed. A capable heroine? Check. Ecological concerns? Sure. A unique, fantastical world? A thousand times yes. Sheeta and Pazu's quest to find the floating city of Laputa is epic storytelling at its best and had it received worldwide exposure upon its release, the film would surely have become a classic in countries outside of its native Japan. Fantasy epics have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years, making this the perfect time to adapt one of Miyazaki's lesser known features. A live action version of Laputa: Castle in the Sky would appeal equally to children who enjoy the action and adults who appreciate the underlying themes that Miyazaki would later expand upon in subsequent films. Also, that one armed robot would just kick all kinds of ass in a live action remake. 3) Monster House (2006) Monster House follows a trio of young teenagers who investigate a house that comes alive and devours people, doing basically what it says on the tin really. With a tone comparable to The Goonies, its likeable characters and sharp sense of humour guaranteed Monster House cult status as one of those rare animations that long suffering parents can enjoy as a respite from the endless reruns of the Tinkerbell sequels. However, despite being nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Monster House never became the renowned classic that it deserved to be, despite involvement from executive producers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis. With Spielberg's and Zemeckis's extensive experience in live action, a new take on Monster House could become a modern day Goonies, except slightly creepier and with less truffle shuffles. Children genuinely enjoy horror if it's aimed appropriately at their level, so Monster House could be an even bigger hit than before if placed in the right hands. 2) Perfect Blue (1997) Celebrated director Roger Corman once described Perfect Blue as a cross between Disney and Alfred Hitchcock, but this bizarre comparison only just begins to scratch the surface. Before Satoshi Kon melted minds with the trippy Paprika, his debut feature Perfect Blue proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that animation is not just for children. The story follows a Japanese pop artist called Mima who is stalked by a disturbed fan after leaving the world of music for television. As people begin to die, Mima slowly loses her grip on reality until she is no longer able to distinguish between the fantasy of show business and reality itself. As if the complexity of themes such as identity and psychosis weren't adult enough, shocking scenes of sex and violence ensure that Perfect Blue would be guaranteed a R rating if ever adapted into live action. Critics at the time of the film's release questioned why Kon chose to work within animation to tell this story, so a live action adaptation would be a natural fit for Perfect Blue. Just don't let the grandparents buy the kids a copy of this film by accident. 1) The Incredibles (2004) After the latest Fantastic Four reboot bombed in its opening weekend, critics cruelly dubbed The Incredibles as the best Fantastic Four movie never made, but to be honest, they weren't far from the truth. Anyone who doubts that a family imbued with special powers couldn't be a success on the big screen only needs to look at Pixar's exhilarating superhero romp to be proved wrong. An animated sequel to The Incredibles is on the way, so it's unlikely that a live action version will be on the cards for a long while. However, when the time finally comes for Pixar to comb through its back catalogue for inspiration, The Incredibles has the best shot of making it. The superhero bubble isn't set to burst any time soon and family squabbling is a universal dynamic almost everyone can relate to. With lots of money behind the set pieces, a live action Incredibles movie would blow people's minds and real actors could add an extra dimension to the family drama that forms the backbone of the story... Ah, who am I kidding? This is all just a front to promote my dream of one day seeing Samuel L. Jackson play Frozone in live action. I don't care if they have to use CGI to make him look younger. Frozone is the most awesome superhero ever and if he doesn't star in his own spinoff one day, there will be hell to pay.