SAO getting live action American TV adaptation

[deadish]

Never got the hype behind SAO ...

Either way, even if I was a fan, I probably won't see the RL adaptation.

I wonder if movie/TV executives realise that fandom for anime frequently does NOT cross over mediums. Light novels, manga, anime, and video games, yes. Success in one medium frequently helps the others. Live action though ...

People love the LN/manag/anime/(video games that just make it interactive) because it is stylized and free of live action restrictions.

 

[Vausch]

Can they get the writers of SAO Abridged to handle it? Y'know, the people that gave Kirito an actual character, made the series funny and enjoyable, and even managed to fix some of the holes?

Also how exactly are they gonna do that? I know CG has gone a long way but having only 1 woman play 80% of the female roles is gonna get tiring.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

But... why?
If they wanted to go with a similar setting, Log Horizon would be better. Especially since there is less fighting so less CGI will be involved. It's also better written and explains more stuff needed to get if you aren't a gamer. And best of all, it's about people in an MMO while they are actually playing together, doing MMO stuff and not a solo God who is somehow levels ahead of everyone else, beating bosses solo because he's hot as fuck and Asuna isn't gonna get wet for no reason. So it fits better for a live adaptation. IF they wanted to go with a darker setting, Re:Zero would be better for the same reasons. Less fighting and more story, better written character and plot.

There is absolutely no reason to go with SAO. It went from "I'm freaking hyped" to "It's dogshit in just 1 freaking episode. Ep1 was fantastic, especially the ending, but then it went to a harem SOL with a bit of death of completely unimportant character to keep you from sleeping. And the mechanics, oh my god. Yeah, great freaking job Kirito. You saived your waifus virtual daughter while having unlimited access to the admin console. Way to go. If only you had more time to save the thousands of people trapped in the death simulator. Oh well, you got your priorities straight. Nobody is perfect. Except you.

God, SAO would be so much better if Klein wasn't a joke character but the MC instead with his personality from episode 1 or 2 when he was first introduced. Also if Ausan never appeared and the chicks didn't get wet on first sight. Also if the AI daughter didn't happen.

 

[Mr. Popplewick]

SAO?! Live Action?! Putting aside what a piece of dog shit that anime was, it also seems like a terrible and difficult choice to make live action!

So my reaction to "SAO Live" is:

 

[cleric of the order]

this is going to fail for American television
the stupid writing, the massive plot holes, the fact that it was trash...
everything is going to be bad unless they cut it to shreds

 

[Mr. Popplewick]

this is going to fail for American television
the stupid writing, the massive plot holes, the fact that it was trash...
everything is going to be bad unless they cut it to shreds

Actually, cutting it to shreds, taking the premise and then ignoring the actual source material's many MANY mistakes might be a viable choice.

Except that it's live action, on television.

 

[Cap'nPipsqueak]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-02/sword-art-online-gets-live-action-american-tv-series/.104938

Spoiler: My initial reaction

So it seems SAO has somehow managed to get enough popularity to warrant a live action television adaptation in the US. I'd say I'm not surprised, but I sort of am. While SAO was big in 2012, being that year's big anime of the year that consumed the community, it wasn't until AoT the next year that things reached critical mass within the community (a community that I'm still shocked is large enough for that to even happen). SAO isn't a particularly interesting story when one get's right down to it, everything that makes it work not only has been done better, but this year alone has 2 series that have done just that at both extremes (Konosuba and Re:Zero, both of which deserve an adaptation more based both on quality and potential for a good series).

The only good thing about this is that there's basically no way the show will be a faithful adaptation of the series, meaning that unlike the anime there's an actual chance of it being good.

I don't want to sound like a dick, but you Americans tend to break everything you touch that's not from your country, so...

 

[Zontar]

I don't want to sound like a dick, but you Americans tend to break everything you touch that's not from your country, so...

I completely agree with this statement.

On an unrelated note: I'm not American.

 

[MCerberus]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-02/sword-art-online-gets-live-action-american-tv-series/.104938

Spoiler: My initial reaction

So it seems SAO has somehow managed to get enough popularity to warrant a live action television adaptation in the US. I'd say I'm not surprised, but I sort of am. While SAO was big in 2012, being that year's big anime of the year that consumed the community, it wasn't until AoT the next year that things reached critical mass within the community (a community that I'm still shocked is large enough for that to even happen). SAO isn't a particularly interesting story when one get's right down to it, everything that makes it work not only has been done better, but this year alone has 2 series that have done just that at both extremes (Konosuba and Re:Zero, both of which deserve an adaptation more based both on quality and potential for a good series).

The only good thing about this is that there's basically no way the show will be a faithful adaptation of the series, meaning that unlike the anime there's an actual chance of it being good.

I don't want to sound like a dick, but you Americans tend to break everything you touch that's not from your country, so...

Our Robot Wars was better.

Although if they really wanted an anime inspired adaptation that would really go well with current sentiments, could we have giant robots at least? I mean who wouldn't want a Big O or Megas movie?

 

[PapaGreg096]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-02/sword-art-online-gets-live-action-american-tv-series/.104938

Spoiler: My initial reaction

So it seems SAO has somehow managed to get enough popularity to warrant a live action television adaptation in the US. I'd say I'm not surprised, but I sort of am. While SAO was big in 2012, being that year's big anime of the year that consumed the community, it wasn't until AoT the next year that things reached critical mass within the community (a community that I'm still shocked is large enough for that to even happen). SAO isn't a particularly interesting story when one get's right down to it, everything that makes it work not only has been done better, but this year alone has 2 series that have done just that at both extremes (Konosuba and Re:Zero, both of which deserve an adaptation more based both on quality and potential for a good series).

The only good thing about this is that there's basically no way the show will be a faithful adaptation of the series, meaning that unlike the anime there's an actual chance of it being good.

I don't want to sound like a dick, but you Americans tend to break everything you touch that's not from your country, so...

Well Sao is already broken so maybe we can fix it

 

[Truth Cake]

I am very firmly in the camp of SAO being an 'alright' series, its not amazing but its nowhere near as bad as people try to make out. Frankly the backlash to it is a gigantic overreaction in every way. There are plenty of series with way worse problems than SAO that don't get the same level of criticism.

There's also not many anime that are as popular as SAO (or at least as perceived as popular, personally I've only met 1 person who actually liked SAO out of the many, many people I know/talk to that watch anime... so I guess 'notorious' would be a better descriptor for it?) so naturally it's going to get a bigger reaction on both sides... and this is the internet, we LOVE to overreact to things, it's always "12/10 BEST THING EVAR" or "-0/10 THIS IS SO BAD I WISH I HAD CANCER INSTEAD".

If it was just a 'meh' anime that didn't become well-known that aired it's one or two seasons then existed no further then no one would give a shit, but it became popular (apparently) for god knows what reason so it just baffles the mind for a lot of people why anyone could ever enjoy it and how it became as popular(?) as it did.

Personally I thought it was bad in case you couldn't already tell. Sure it's not the worst anime ever nor even the worst anime I've seen (that being Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan... the memories still haunt me to this day), but definitely the worst anime that became popular or at least well-known.

And uh... not many other anime (ESPECIALLY supposedly popular ones) feature one of their main characters getting sexually assaulted repeatedly and by more than 1 character and portray it in a way that's apparently supposed make it fanservice. Those scenes were just offensive to all 5 senses, and probably even a couple more senses. That was enough for it to go from just 'meh' to 'fuck that shit' for me at least.

 

[Truth Cake]

I don't want to sound like a dick, but you Americans tend to break everything you touch that's not from your country, so...

Hey now, that's not fair... we also break a lot of things we touch from our own country too, don't short sell us!

 

[Auron225]

Ok, setting aside SAO's overall quality as an anime, I sincerely have to ask WHY for two reasons.

1) SAO is about being trapped in an MMO. Everything that happens, happens inside a VIDEO GAME. If that story is to be told on any kind of medium, animation is the way to go (and obviously it's already been done). Why would real actors and CGI make it any better in the slightest? Answer: they won't.

2) When have real-life adaptations of anime been any good ever? They get about as much success (if not even less than) video-game adaptations. What's going to happen when you have an adaptation of an anime... that is about a videogame!?. This idea is so bad it hurts.

I also kinda hate this notion of "Wow that particular anime-thing was so damn popular, we should promote it from its lowly Japanese animation state to American TV show - because the latter is quite clearly superior. 'MURICA!" If people want to watch a TV show that tells the story of SAO - why not just WATCH SAO??

 

[SecondPrize]

I'm torn between my lack of faith in Hollywood and the badass tv shows that some have come out with in recent years. Honestly, I don't see this working. SAO has some interesting themes about the 'real' world vs things online but this show would just be "Death game, death game, death game," right?

 

[thewatergamer]

Hooray! I can't wait to see all the Jaw-droppingly creepy as well as WTF Why are they so stupid? Moments in live action!

 

[RedDeadFred]

From my limited viewing of the anime (I couldn't make it through 2 episodes), I don't see how they could make it much worse. Not at all interested in it, but I don't see how people think it's taking something good and making it shitty.

 

[GrumbleGrump]

Heard the anime is dogshit, so I can't really expect the adaptation (this second one, that is) to be any good.

 

[Javarock]

So it's been acquired by Skydance media, the producers of mostly film's, like World War Z, Jack Reacher and the new Star Trek movies. That said I'm not sure their foray into television with a series like SAO is going to go over successfully. Honestly I don't see them devoting the time and resources to proper advertising and production to make it have enough quality to be an interesting adaption. It could surprise us, but the source material itself isn't.. That great. But who knows, with the way trends are currently going(Ie, dystopia and virtual reality, such as the upcoming movie 'Ready Player One' and the generally good reception of the book) it might catch fire and spark new shows. That is of course, if they devote the proper attention and resources to make it good.

Honestly, I think they'd be better off just taking the concept, and running with it, then making an adaption from the source material. Since SAO already alienates some of their target audience, due to its history and... Some rather sorted scenes in the later seasons.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

One thing that no one ever seems to mention is that Sword Art Online is basically just a .hack rip-off, right down to the being stuck in an MMO part. Although from what little I've seen of SAO, they didn't even hold on to the stakes where if you die in the game, you die for real.