Summary
BET, Netflix’s next English-language live-action manga adaptation afterOne Piece, has a major challenge ahead of it when it comes to replicating the best thing aboutKakegurui.Hollywood live-action anime adaptationshave improved recently, namely withOne Piece. TheNetflix live-action adaptationof Eiichiro Oda’s manga avoided several issues that could be found in virtually every other Hollywood remake of beloved anime and raised the bar for similar projects. PerTHR,Warrior Nunshowrunner Simon Barryis behindBET, which will star Miku Martineau as Yumeko.
BETwill not be the first live-action adaptation ofKakegurui. The hit manga and anime series was turned into a two-season live-action Japanese series, which retold the story of the source material with some changes. There have also been two JapaneseKakeguruilive-action movies, one of which retells the story of the anime, with the sequel telling an original story. AlthoughKakegurui’s premise is relatively straightforward, there is one thing about the manga that will be very difficult for the live-action show to replicate.
Netflix’s BET Must Bring Kakegurui’s Visual Style To Live-Action
Kakegurui makes ordinary games feel like battles.
Kakeguruiand its spinoffs have a very distinct visual stylethat cannot be easily replicated in live-action. Both the manga and the anime series turn what is supposed to be a simple game of cards – or any other type of gambling – into a dynamic, high-stakes mind battle between two or more characters. AlthoughKakeguruiis technically more grounded than anime likeOne Pieceor Death Note, it turns something ordinary into extraordinary thanks to its visual style. From the lighting to what is going on inside the characters’ heads,Kakegurui’s game sequences are very intense.
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Although not much is known aboutNetflix’sBETshow, most live-action anime adaptations so far have tried to approach their source material from a more realistic approach. If such an approach is used forKakegurui,it will be interesting to see howBETwill portray its gambling sequences.Hollywood has done countless movies and shows about banking games and gambling in general, yet none of them can be compared toKakegurui’s visual style. InKakegurui, playing games is the equivalent of fighting someone in an action anime. This includes the score, the inner monologues, and even how time passes.
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How Netflix’s Live-Action Kakegurui Can Make Its Game Scenes Exciting
Replicating the anime’s style may be impossible.
While theKakeguruimanga is arguably even more exaggerated than the anime, the latter does a good job of explaining the rules of every game and makes sure viewers are keeping up with the outcome of every round.The use of inner monologues and visual guides inKakeguruiis very clever, and it’s one of the reasons why the anime was so successful. It might be impossible for Netflix’sBETto replicate the visual style ofKakegurui, which does not mean the live-action show cannot make its game scenes exciting.
WhetherBETwill follow the structure of the anime likeOne Piecedid is difficult to say, butKakegurui’s premise can make for a great live-action series regardless.
Between the use of slow motion and the score, there are many waysNetflix’sKakeguruilive-action adaptationcan make its betting sequences as engaging as the ones from the anime. Inner monologues can work in live-action as well, although they have to be carefully used. Even a more “regular” sequence featuring two characters playing a banking game can be compelling and exciting if the stakes are high enough. WhetherBETwill follow the structure of the anime likeOne Piecedid is difficult to say, butKakegurui’s premise can make for a great live-action series regardless.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
