The Energon Pub

Hey Seibtrono's, just curious, which do you prefer when it comes to adapting something from a comic book, video game, book, etc. Live action or animated?

Me personally, in terms of most comics, I usually prefer animated adaptations, be they TV series or direct to video movies. Simple reason really, animation has next to no limitations, so they don't have to compromise. For example, the Green Goblin in most Spider-Man animated adaptations looks just like(or close enough) to what he does the comic as opposed to the armor he wore in the first Raimi movie or just some weird hair and some armor in Amazing 2. And hey Wolvierine can wear the yellow(or orange, brown) spandex all he wants and not look silly in animation.

What about adapting something animated into live action? I usually prefer the original animated version again, because of fewer limitations.

And finally, what about adapting something live action into animation? It's here I usually prefer the original live action property. Example, I love the charm of live action Kaiju, but I find that charm is usually lost(ok, at least diminished) when it's animated.

And that's my brief thought on this broad subject. Yours?

This is a hard issue to think about because I look at each property separately instead of a blanket choice.

For X men and Spiderman I loved the 90s toons and the way they adapted the material. Now when I heard about the live action versions I couldn't wait to see how they handled it. While both franchises ended up nose diving they each have moments that show their potential, whether it be Spidey web slinging through Manhattan or the x men showing off (actually mainly just Hugh Jackman here, his casting was genius). Actually I lie, anything Marvel I prefer live action, guardians of the galaxy may of made a great cartoon, but as a liveaction movie it was simply fantastic. It and Winter Soldier have set the bar.

DC stuff I swing the other way, cartoon. Bruce Timm(hope I got his name right, it's boiling here and my brain is frazzled) is god here. I wish DC sometimes would just give up on the live action front and put more money into their animated movies, have them all take place in the tapestry of the justice league cartoon universe.

Transformers...I like that they are still experimenting with live action, but I prefer cartoons over them I've said it before and I'll say it again, I want DC animated movie style IDW storyarcs on DVD. Surely someone at Hasbro or IDW must of had this idea!

I think it depends on the nature of the stories and characters in the certain comic being adapted. Like it was said before, the X-men and Spider-Man cartoons of the 90s were top notch. However, if the movies were made back then, they probably would have sucked. The technology just wasn't there to make it visually acceptable, IMO. Others may feel different. As for story, technology isn't the most crucial asset to deliver a good story. We've had some amazing looking films based on comics that had atrocious stories.

The next comic adaptation I'm looking for and hoping it gets made right is Preacher. I LOVED the comic books, The Saint of Killers being my favorite character, but it can't be put into an animated series. This needs to be a TV show which is given a LOT of room to work, so it might have to be on a channel that allows a lot of blood and swearing and adult themes. It would also have to have some creative minds behind the adaptation itself. I know Seth Rogen is 1 of the producers, but hopefully they get some good screen writers, maybe even the comic book writers themselves, to make the story fit on either the small or big screen. I do think it's a great story to be put on TV.

Rodimus Prime wrote:The next comic adaptation I'm looking for and hoping it gets made right is Preacher. I LOVED the comic books, The Saint of Killers being my favorite character, but it can't be put into an animated series. This needs to be a TV show which is given a LOT of room to work, so it might have to be on a channel that allows a lot of blood and swearing and adult themes. It would also have to have some creative minds behind the adaptation itself. I know Seth Rogen is 1 of the producers, but hopefully they get some good screen writers, maybe even the comic book writers themselves, to make the story fit on either the small or big screen. I do think it's a great story to be put on TV.

I'm not familiar with Preacher, may not have heard about it until now, but you do bring up a good point. I equate the term comic book almost exclusively with super heroes. I know, that's not always the case, but it's the first thing that springs to mind. One show I really enjoy based on a comic book and would not work at all animated is Walking Dead(though I've not read the comics). I guess it's because zombies aren't that fantastical in their look or execution(walking corpses), and seeing what could happen makes it terrifying.

Duke of Luns wrote:I'm not familiar with Preacher.

Google is your best friend, but basically it's about a Texas preacher who gets the essence of a supernatural entity inside him and he has the ability to make people do whatever he wants. He has a best friend who is an Irish vampire, and a total a$$hole. Sometimes in a good way. He's definitely entertaining. Then there's my favorite character, The Saint of Killers, who is an Old West gunslinger who ended up in hell after killing the people who murdered his wife and son. He is angry at God for letting it happen, and after torturing him for a long time, the Devil frees him to get his revenge. He also gives him a couple of six-shooters, called "God-killers" which the Saint promptly uses to kill the Devil on his way out of Hell. The creators have stated they based him on Clint Eastwood's character from the film Unforgiven. The preacher, named Jesse Custer (note the initials) also takes off in search of God whom he believes abandoned humanity, or is at least negligent of us, and he intends to make things right. That's basically the story, following those 2 main characters and a few other minor ones, with the conclusion of who reaches God 1st. The Preacher to make him own his responsibilities, or the Saint to avenge his family's death? Very good story. I do have to warn you, if you have strong Christian beliefs, it may be offensive. I would love this series to become a TV show, but it's brutal and harsh, and I doubt it could be put on basic cable, and definitely not on a network. Maybe on HBO or Showtime or something.

If it is the Guardians of the Galaxy, then I prefer the live action.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Duke of Luns wrote:I'm not familiar with Preacher.

Google is your best friend, but basically it's about a Texas preacher who gets the essence of a supernatural entity inside him and he has the ability to make people do whatever he wants. He has a best friend who is an Irish vampire, and a total a$$hole. Sometimes in a good way. He's definitely entertaining. Then there's my favorite character, The Saint of Killers, who is an Old West gunslinger who ended up in hell after killing the people who murdered his wife and son. He is angry at God for letting it happen, and after torturing him for a long time, the Devil frees him to get his revenge. He also gives him a couple of six-shooters, called "God-killers" which the Saint promptly uses to kill the Devil on his way out of Hell. The creators have stated they based him on Clint Eastwood's character from the film Unforgiven. The preacher, named Jesse Custer (note the initials) also takes off in search of God whom he believes abandoned humanity, or is at least negligent of us, and he intends to make things right. That's basically the story, following those 2 main characters and a few other minor ones, with the conclusion of who reaches God 1st. The Preacher to make him own his responsibilities, or the Saint to avenge his family's death? Very good story. I do have to warn you, if you have strong Christian beliefs, it may be offensive. I would love this series to become a TV show, but it's brutal and harsh, and I doubt it could be put on basic cable, and definitely not on a network. Maybe on HBO or Showtime or something.

****, now you've got me wanting to read it. I'll have to wait until next year until I can afford it. Bloody mortgage.