Would it be better if the rest of the story was told as a television series on Disney+ or, better yet, an anime adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel?
James Cameron's adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel (2019) has raised many concerns. These were concerns from anime fans around the world who feared that the live-action adaptation would completely butcher the narrative. This is due to the countless other live-action anime or manga adaptations that Western producers and directors have ruined. The painful adaptation of Ghost in the Shell (2017) starring Scarlett Johansson is a prime example. The problem was not in the acting or direction, but in the casting. Although Johansson is a talented actress, casting her would amount to whitewashing Motoko Kusanagi, as the fact that the heroine is Japanese is an essential element of the plot. Naturally, the same concerns were raised about Cameron's version of the Alita: Battle Angel story, but fans were pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
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There are several things to consider before deciding whether a TV series or anime adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel is more plausible. First, is there enough source material for a 10-12 episode series or anime, since the film is based on the novel by Yukito Kishiro (originally called Gunnm in Japanese)? Second, the series or anime is expected to pick up where James Cameron, Robert Rodriguez, and Jon Landau left off in the 2019 film. Would the trio be willing to reprise the character? And finally, do fans want to see more of Alita?
Are there any other anime adaptations of the graphic novel?
Yes, an anime adaptation of the graphic novel Gunnm was released in 1993. However, at that time, Japanese animators preferred to adapt popular manga into original video animations (OVAs). This reduced costs while improving production quality through a shorter lifespan. Compared to a long season of 12 to 24 episodes, the cost is significantly lower. So, Alita: Battle Angel received a 54-minute OVA called Rusty Angel. It was based on the first volume of the manga. He then received another hour-long OVA titled Tears Signs following the manga's second volume.
Unfortunately, sales did not increase massively in Japan, and the production companies decided to stop production of the OVAs altogether. On the other hand, OVAs were hugely successful in Western countries, notably the United States, where sales reached just under six figures. This is where the fanbase for the manga and the characters was initially formed. Based on the reception received over twenty years ago, an Alita: Battle Angel anime would be a huge success, as since the COVID-19 pandemic, anime fans and the popularity of the anime in general have continued to grow.
Would there be enough source material for an Alita: Battle Angel animated series?
The short answer is yes, there would be enough source material. The 2019 film only covers the first four volumes of the manga series, which amounts to around 12 chapters of content. In comparison, the original plot is six volumes long. The story continues in Battle Angel Alita: Last Order and Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, giving the manga nine volumes. This leaves five volumes that could fit perfectly into a 12-episode animated or television series, lasting around 20 minutes per episode.
Will the team that made the 2019 film return for the series/year?
Late last year, producer Jon Landau gave a positive update to ComicBook.com in an interview regarding the Alita: Battle Angel film. He confirmed that he spoke to Robert Rodriguez about the prospect of a second film. He confirmed that they were very proud of the first film and that they had more stories to tell with the main heroine's character. Landau said:
“Alita is a movie that even now having recently like re-watched it for what we had, we're really proud of that movie. And we think there are more stories to be told with her character and that That's why we want to come back.”
This is a very promising prospect for movie fans who have taken up the name Alita Army for their fanbase.
Do fans want to see more of Alita: Battle Angel?
This is a very obvious question. Fans are eagerly awaiting a new episode of Alita's story. But will fans settle for an Alita: Battle Angel TV series or an anime? If fans were offered a series, Disney+ would be the ideal streaming platform to pick up the series. In comparison, Netflix or Crunchyroll would be well advised to resume the anime Alita: Battle Angel. In either case, however, these platforms could lead to a smaller percentage of the fan base watching the film, compared to the interest a film would generate.
But then again, looking at the hype around series such as Loki (2021) and WandaVision (2021) which have moved away from standalone films to tell a longer story, it wouldn't be crazy to think that fans would enjoy a longer duration with beloved characters. Additionally, both options provide more room for the story to be told in its entirety, with more characters and plot points able to be incorporated into the running time.
Would Alita: Battle Angel work better as an anime or TV series?
Due to the nature of the source material, it would be natural to opt for an anime adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel. However, given the absolute success that the live-action adaptation had with anime and manga fans, it would make sense that an Alita: Battle Angel television series would be produced. This would work even better since the film stayed true to the original material and there is no reason for the group of directors to stray from the original material in a TV series. In fact, there are more reasons to stick with it. After the massive hype surrounding The Last of Us series' precision in recreating the game's heartbreaking narrative, it makes sense to follow this path.
Additionally, an already established world is built in the live-action adaptation that could be further fleshed out in a TV series – for example, by further exploring the town of Zalem. Another reason is that Rosa Salazar in the role of Alita and Keean Johnson in that of Hugo are two faces that are now inseparable from these characters. Fans would love to see these two talented actors reprise their roles for an Alita: Battle Angel television series. So, in conclusion, the movie would work better as a TV series.
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