Summary

• Netflix's live-action My Hero Academia signals a new era of anime adaptations, which will cover ongoing series.
• Adapting ongoing anime hits like My Hero Academia and One Piece is a smart strategy for Netflix, leveraging the existing fan base and excitement.
• By adapting ongoing series, Netflix can address and improve upon any issues or unanswered questions from the original source material.

Netflix's live-action Yu Yu Hakusho and Avatar: The Last Airbender will need to prove this is truly the case. But if Netflix can keep churning out high-quality adaptations, anime fans are likely to see a lot more of them in the future.

My Hero Academia is an exciting choice for the platform, though its character designs and superpowers pose challenges for a live-action movie or show. Even so, the fact that Netflix is looking to adapt series like My Hero Academia and One Piece suggests a shifting of its live-action strategy. That may benefit the platform and the source material it's pulling from.

The My Hero Academia Manga Hasn’t Finished Yet (Just Like One Piece)

In the past, studios and streamers have often adapted anime series that are already complete. Netflix's failed Death Note remake and the live-action Cowboy Bebop series are examples of this, highlighting a trend for the streamer. It makes sense that a finished anime would be more appealing as a live-action remake. If it's been off the air for a while, viewers will be excited to return to the world. Additionally, the companies behind these remakes don't need to worry about them catching up and running out of material, creating the same problem book adaptations like Game of Thrones often run into.

However, the fact that Netflix is adapting My Hero Academia and One Piece suggests a change to this approach. Both manga and anime series are ongoing, so the live-action shows will likely be running at the same time. This may seem like a problem, especially for those worried about the adaptations catching up or ing the source material. Given Netflix's release timelines, that likely won't be an issue — and the streamer stands to benefit from tackling ongoing hits.

Why Adapting Ongoing Anime Hits To Live-Action Is A Good Strategy

Although adapting ongoing anime hits to live-action comes with risks, it's not a terrible strategy for Netflix to embrace. Completed series are often highly regarded or criticized for their endings — two things that might sway fans from checking out a live-action iteration. Bringing classics to live-action will attract audiences, but it also comes with high expectations. Meanwhile, forgotten series won't get any traction.

By contrast, series like My Hero Academia and One Piece can build on the hype surrounding the ongoing anime and manga to create excitement for the live-action remake. Netflix's remakes can also address questions or problems fans have with the original stories, giving them an advantage in some ways. While Netflix has its work cut out bringing My Hero Academia to live-action, doing so may pay off. It could even herald adaptations for other ongoing anime series like Demon Slayer, Black Clover, and Jujutsu Kaisen.