Many popular animated series only work because of freedom animation offers. The infinite possibilities lead to creative choices that make the show entertaining for kids, adults, or sometimes both. Inherently, the form does not translate well to live-action.
Films like The Last Airbender prove this, but then there are cases like Flinstones or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles where cartoons make the jump successfully. Knowing that the adaptation can be successful and make for fun or interesting cinema, here are 10 animated shows that would make for good live-action films.
Galaxy High
The colorful 80s cartoon follows two Earth high schoolers after they are abducted and enrolled at Galaxy High. The original series was led by Gremlins writer and future Harry Potter director and producer Chris Colombus. The beauty of adapting Galaxy High is that past the premise and central characters the filmmakers could use the source material to tell as wild a story as they want. High school sports movie, romantic comedy, coming of age, or some combination of all three could easily work and would be way more interesting when most of the cast is made into aliens.
Codename: Kids Next Door
The show that made kids want to build a catapult out of scrap wood and fire it at their mailman would make for a wacky family-friendly adventure movie. The show follows a group of kid spies that use their own makeshift gadgets to take on vile adults that have world-threatening schemes.
This show would work as a film solely because it would be aimed at children, allowing it to deliver on the absurdity that made the show so good. Almost like a modern Spy Kids, the film would follow these cool kid geniuses as they use their wit and shockingly good fighting skills to stop those pesky adults.
Wacky Races
At first glance, the absurd show about eccentric cartoon characters racing gadget-lined cars across the country seems unadaptable to live-action, but previous films are evidence of the contrary. The 70s grindhouse film Death Race 2000 uses a similar premise and cartoonish characters and cars and has reached cult classic status because somehow it actually works.
Then there’s Speed Racer, the live-action adaptation of another over-the-top racing animated series. The movie was panned on initial release but has since gained a cult following as well, being lauded as an ambition attempt at an effects-driven kid-friendly action film. Use either as the example and suddenly a gorilla throwing a banana at a car built to look like a giant shark doesn’t seem as unfilmable.
The Powerpuff Girls
The trio of superhero little girls had their own feature film, with a theatrical release, but it was animated to match the style of the show. With modern special effects, a live-action adaptation is entirely within the realm of possibilities. The trick to adapting such a cartoonish, well, the cartoon is to keep the vibrant look and characters.
The colors of the show and the big designs of its villains would have to stay intact for the movie to work. Even though the children were in adult bodies when doing their heroics, Shazam proved that the idea of child superheroes is a fun one that can work. Having three adorable children saving the day with their superpowers, while dealing with the trials and tribulations of being ten-years-old would make for a movie that could inspire kids and entertain adults.
Gargoyles
The Disney cartoon about Gargoyles that come to life at night was ambitious, poetic, and dark compared to many of the other animated series that came from Disney. The series showed how the titular Gargoyles had a major hand in winning medieval battles during the crusades, then the show thrusts them into a modern-day cityscape.
The show has enough interesting human characters that it could make the jump to live-action without just following CGI creatures. The result would likely be TMNT meets Underworld, offering dark gothic action without being too extreme for kids to enjoy.
Gravity Falls
The ultra-popular Disney cartoon recently finished its entire run. It follows a pair of twins who go to spend the summer with their eccentric uncle, in a town where unexplainable occurrences are the norm. The show has a premise and stories ripe for a film adaptation.
The fun, wonder, and terror of the show would make for a fantastic light-horror adventure film with the tone of Stranger Things or The Monster Squad. Plus, seeing some of the wild encounters the kids go through in live-action would be an awesome sight to behold.
M.A.S.K
The 80s action cartoon might not be as popular as G.I. Joe or Transformers (the two shows it tried to combine) but it would make for a similarly high-octane blockbuster film. The show follows Matt Trakker as he leads Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, a team of special agents that pilot over-the-top vehicles into combat.
Because that somehow isn’t enough, the team also gains special powers from their helmets, or, masks. The hybridization of supercars with super soldiers could make for a movie as fun as the later Fast and Furious films, the currently running franchise featuring supercars driven by super people.
Batman Beyond
This is not the first time someone has begged for a movie based on this animated series and it likely won’t be the last. The action-packed show about an elderly Bruce Wayne training the next Batman is the rare combination of a perfect execution of a brilliant idea.
The idea and even the style and tone of the show would easily translate to film. The legacy of Batman allows the filmmakers to use whatever previous story beats they want, while the new recruit aspect allows them to use fresh ideas as well. Plus, with how many actors that have portrayed the caped crusader at this point, it wouldn’t be out of the question to bring in one of the old batmen to have another run as Bruce Wayne.
Samurai Jack
The stylish action series about a softspoken samurai traveling through time for revenge is cinematic and mature enough to be translated to live-action without having to sacrifice much of its tone. While it would lose the unrealistic design and movements of the characters, the creative direction could make the replacements just as memorable, keeping the world of Samurai Jack alive. Having Jack traverse the punk future, slaying beasts and baddies would be achievable on film and more than enough to satisfy fans of the show.
Voltron
Voltron has already had a successful reboot over the last few years with its Netflix reimagining, but still never made the switch to live-action. The show follows a team of space rangers that pilot giant mech lions to protect the galaxy from alien monstrosities. Their true power lies in uniting their lions into Voltron, a super mech with a sword.
The movie could be done well with modern effects, landing somewhere between Guardians of the Galaxy and Pacific Rim. Giant robot lions taking on other robots and kaiju that can only be defeated after they unite and use a sword has blockbuster blast written all over it.
