Upcoming Movies Based on Cartoons
Filed under: Animation, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Hold the 'Fone, Summer Movies
With Michael Bay's Transformers pulling in Daddy Warbucks dollars at the box office, it's inevitable that we'll soon be seeing a flood of films based on cartoons making their way to theaters. The question is: Will we be treated to quality adaptations of cartoons that actually do lend themselves to the big-screen treatment ... or will we have to endure a two-and-a-half-hour "epic" entitled My Little Pony: At World's End?
As it happens, studios are already answering this question, with a bevy of 'toon-based films set to hit cineplexes this year and in the not-so-distant future. First, after years of speculation and anticipation, The Simpsons Movie lands in theaters July 27. Then in August Jason Lee lends his voice to a live-action Underdog movie (he's the superheroic dog), and in December he pops up again (in human form this time) as David Seville in the live-action/animation hybrid Alvin and the Chipmunks. And next summer, the Wachowski bros. will try to spin cinematic gold out of Speedracer, starring Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci (sorry, no Jason Lee this time).
Also on the horizon is a live-action CGI Thundercats flick, in which Lion-O and an army of humanoid cats (yes, you read that correctly) battle the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra on a planet known as Third Earth. And last but not least is a real gem for the true cartoon aficionado: a live-action movie based on the Japanese anime 'toon Voltron, about five rebels who battle evil using robotic lions that unite to form one giant ass-kicking robot warrior (Voltron) when the individual lions inevitably get thrashed.
That's about it as far as upcoming cartoon-based film. Which other cartoons would you love to see made into movies? Personally, I'd love to see a crossover mash-up of two different 'toons, Alien vs. Predator-style. I mean, who wouldn't line up to see SVGB: Smurfs vs. Gummy Bears?










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-09-2007 @ 6:42PM
alexis.moore said...
Jem and the Holograms! They're totally outrageous.
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7-09-2007 @ 7:18PM
Uatu theWatcher said...
Apparently they wanted to make a Smurf Movie but Kirsten Dunst wasn't available to play Gargamel.
http://www.makeminemarvel.com/
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7-09-2007 @ 8:48PM
The Scorekeeper said...
Uh, Tommy...the Thudercats is going to be animated not live action. WB announced that a few days after they announced the project.
Voltron will be live action though. Latino Review have already read the script.
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7-09-2007 @ 8:38PM
thecinema said...
Isn't Thundercats going to be CG?
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7-09-2007 @ 8:42PM
Aaron said...
How about none? Although I enjoyed the Transformers movie, that doesn't mean I want to see every cartoon on the big screen.
Underdog?!?! Somebody is sniffing something illegal if this got a green light at any studio. Not to mention Thudercats and Voltron. And do we really need a live action Alvin and the Chipmunks? I think not.
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7-09-2007 @ 9:51PM
Secret Asian Man said...
I'm all for Chip n' Dale VS. The Chipmunks.
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7-10-2007 @ 10:25AM
J8675309 said...
you forgot Gatchaman
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7-10-2007 @ 8:04AM
Michael said...
What about G.I. Joe?
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7-10-2007 @ 1:50AM
Dogfighter said...
Where the heck is my live action evangelion movie.
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7-10-2007 @ 2:23AM
Kurifurisan said...
What about Dino Riders vs. The Cowboys of Moo Mesa? I'd totally wait in line for that.
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7-10-2007 @ 5:33AM
Sir.sinho said...
Yeah Dino-Riders that was one badass cartoon right there.
All i am saying this was Jurrassic Park + Terminator.
I cant believe some idiot studio exec (most of them have the creative sense of 7 year old anyways) in Hollywood hasn`t thought of this before, it`s Dinosaurs mounted with laserweapons!! that is what we call a double hitter.
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7-11-2007 @ 6:51AM
lainix said...
Wouldn't "SmurfsVSSnorks:the little big war" be better ?
I'm gonna go way back on you, I'd love to see a Live action Battle of the Planets A.K.A G-force, or Robotech. Although I'm sure no kids today would have a clue as to what they are.
and yes I am that old, and yes I still Love cartoons...
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7-10-2007 @ 9:13AM
Jessica said...
I read not to long ago on cinematical that Thundercats was going to be CGI. Well if its true that they decided to make a live action GREAT! Glad they came to there senses CGI would just cheapen it. All the die hard fans that are just jumping for joy. I will gladly pay $10 to see it but if its CGI no effin way!
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7-10-2007 @ 10:18AM
Cameron said...
I think Underdog is intended for family audiences and from what I have seen from the trailer and blooper reels its fills that purpose. It looks like a cute, family movie to take the kiddies to. It is not trying to be a summer blockbuster like Transformers.
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7-10-2007 @ 10:44AM
solomon said...
You didn't mention M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming adaptation of the Nickelodeon cartoon Avatar:The Last Airbender.
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7-10-2007 @ 11:52AM
MOMO67 said...
ALTHOUGH I AGREE THAT NOT EVERY CARTOON SHOULD BE MADE INTO A MOVIE, THE TRANSFORMERS MOVIE WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT!!! I WATCHED THAT CARTOON WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I EVEN DRAGGED MY FIANCEE(WHO NEVER REALLY WATCHED IT) TO SEE IT AND HE TOO WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!!!!
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7-10-2007 @ 11:58AM
mayorjimmy said...
Now that we've seen that giant robots live action can be done well, it's time to open the floodgates to live action anime.
Macross
Evangelion
Cowboy Bebop (not robots but needs to be done)
Ghost in the Shell
The list goes on.
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7-11-2007 @ 11:18PM
Raven said...
@ # 14:
I really hope that was a joke. Seriously, that one makes me nervous just thinking about how Shyamalan's gonna bring that one to the big screen (I smell a twist coming on...)
@ # 16:
I completely agree. There are plenty of shows and stories that would be amazing as movie adaptations - Paradise Kiss, Ruroni Kensin - The list goes on and on.
Anyways, I love me some Spike Speigel, so bring on Cowboy Bebop.
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7-11-2007 @ 10:47PM
William Murderface (Murderface Murderface) said...
Evangelion and Star Blazers are two that I'm looking forward to. FLCL could be a really good live action film if it were done right.
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7-13-2007 @ 8:32PM
Kimberley said...
I would love to see Tintin, since I never saw the shows. I only read the books
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