I’d be beating a dead horse if I argued that all Hollywood cares about these days is remakes. A remake of classic cinema. Remake of Disney animated songs. Horror movie remakes. Reproduction of foreign films. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
But, once in a blue moon, the new version actually works, and the one that does work He does The work usually does something new, bringing a fresh and innovative spin to the original title while staying true to its roots. Maybe that’s why cartoons fit so well into the live-action world, providing nostalgia through a different artistic lens.
A number of animated live-action adaptations have done relatively well over the years. There was a huge boom in the ’90s, with films like the beloved but cruel ’90s Movies coming out Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles1994 The cast is delightful and delicious Flintstonesthe wonderful and terrifying family adventure in 1995, Casper. They weren’t great films in their own right, but they were charming, well-crafted, and remain a cult favorite to this day.
Another big wave came in the 2000s: Josie and the pussyThe 2000 parody of Hanna-Barbera’s animated classic, Girl Power, reinvented the concept for the new millennium in 2001, while the 2002 film Scooby Doowhile not exactly a critical darling, delivered an enjoyable and corny adaptation in a good way that, while dated by today’s standards, still feels nostalgic for its A+ selection.
Read more: Live action movies that should be remade into animation
A few years later, in 2007, Michael Bay brought the game-turned-80s cartoon to the big screen with his action-packed film. transformerswhich was a huge success and spawned an entire film franchise, including spin-offs. The same year we saw it Alvin and the Chipmunks Effectively reimagined in live action. Although aimed at a younger audience, the family-friendly adventure was also a huge hit, and was followed by a series of harmless sequels. (Sorry, “squeak”).
However, not all modifications have been successful, and some are best left in limbo. Yogi Bearreleased in 2010, was no smarter than the average bear. In fact, it was completely senseless. Meanwhile, 2007 The underdog (Who asked for that…?), 2010 The last airbender (A farce…), and 2015 C and holograms (I can’t even talk about this!) They all failed to capture even a modicum of the magic of their source material, leaving fans not only disappointed, but insulted.
However, despite the many misses, flops and forgettable films, recent years have produced a series of well-received anime-inspired live-action films, starting with 2019’s surprise blockbusters. Dora and the Lost City of Gold To the heart in the same year Pokemon Detective Pikachu. (Technically, this game was inspired by a video game spinoff, but it’s probably a closer fan of Pokemon The animated series will make it into a live-action movie.)
With more modifications on the horizon, from Voltron To new Masters of the universe film, as well as the recently announced Jim Carrey-led film Jetsons movie, I couldn’t help but wonder what other animated shows would translate well to live action. So, these are my picks!
Great cartoons that deserve a live-action movie adaptation
From action-packed teen superhero shows to slice-of-life animated comedies, these nostalgic cartoons deserve great live-action adaptations.
Gallery credit: Erica Russell

Forgotten Disney animated movies that are worth another look
From groundbreaking CGI animated films to lesser-known hand-drawn gems, here are 11 Disney movies worth rediscovering.
Gallery credit: Erica Russell