The anime boom is well and truly underway and, according to one Sony boss, plans are afoot to bring live-action adaptations of some of Japan's finest exports into theaters.
Speaking at the Tokyo International Film Festival (H/T Variety), head of Sony Pictures International Production Shebnem Askin opened up on plans to adapt more anime and manga properties.
"Since I came here, I’m taking so many great meetings with a lot of companies that are producing incredible stories with anime. We are starting to look at different anime movies where we can hopefully adapt as live-action movies around the world," Askin said. "This is one of our missions by attending [Tokyo International Film Festival]."
So far, Sony Pictures International Production has produced one live-action adaptation, Kingdom in 2019, but clearly has plans for far more.
Other live-action adaptations in the works across the industry include the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed Naruto and a Netflix adaptation of superhero series My Hero Academia. Additional projects, including Your Name and One-Punch Man, have been in development limbo/hell (depending on your perspective) for several years.
The long-gestating Akira appears to be dead, though, after Warner Bros. gave up the rights to the iconic anime and manga – some two decades after originally trying to get the movie made.
Whatever comes next, anime has inarguably never been more popular. Amid the live-action gold rush, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has broken all kinds of records on the way to becoming the highest-grossing anime movie of all time. Not to be overshadowed, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc also hit the #1 spot at the US box office upon its release.
For more, check out our picks for the best anime you should be watching right now, as well as all the new anime coming your way in 2026.
