# Animated remakes of live-action feature films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [December 28, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254 "2024-12-28T04:42:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/1 "2024-12-28T04:42:59Z")
There’s been a huge fad lately in remaking animated movies as live-action films. Disney started doing this in 1994 with its live-action remake of _The Jungle Book_, and has been churning them out at a rate of one every year since 2014. (In 2019 it released no fewer than five!) Now Universal Pictures has jumped on the bandwagon, with a live-action remake of _How to Train Your Dragon_ due out in a few months. Has the process ever gone the other way, though—remaking an entire live-action feature film as a cartoon? To be clear, I am _not_ talking about _spinoff_ or _sequel_ movies or TV shows, where someone takes a live-action movie and then produces an animated show that retains the characters or settings with a new plot. I’m also not talking about any animated film that has the same characters and plot of a previous live-action films solely on account of both films having been based on the same source material, such as a novel or play. And I’m definitely not talking about individual scenes from a movie that have been redone in animation, for the purposes of parody or homage, within a wider TV show or movie. Perhaps the only candidate I’m aware of that might fit is [Simon Jansen’s rendering of the 1977 _Star Wars_ as an ASCII animation](https://www.asciimation.co.nz/). I’m not sure how complete it is, but the parts I’ve seen do seem to faithfully reproduce the original film. Of course, Simon’s animation was released only informally on the Internet, and not in cinemas. Have there been any Hollywood remakes of this type? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/2 "2024-12-28T05:11:27Z")
I’m guessing you’re not asking for examples where Disney did an animated version of a public domain story, like _Alice in Wonderland_, that some other studio had previously done a live action version of? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/3 "2024-12-28T05:14:34Z")
No need to guess; I state this outright in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/4 "2024-12-28T05:19:14Z")
Jon Favreau’s **Elf** was essentially remade as an animated TV special called _Buddy’s Musical Christmas_. I recall before **Prince Of Egypt** came out it was often described as a remake of _The Ten Commandments_, but I don’t think you can really say that was what it was. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/5 "2024-12-28T05:33:56Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > There’s been a huge fad lately in remaking animated movies as live-action films. > Disney started doing this in 1994 with its live-action remake of _The Jungle Book_ […] Looking at the plot, that particular film looks more like a separate adaptation of the original stories rather than a remake of the (musical) animated movie. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/6 "2024-12-28T06:06:11Z")
There was an [animated version](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363468/?ref_=sr_t_119) of Ben Hur. Before you say that the various Ben-Hur films are all based on the same novel, note that the animation stars Charlton Heston, reprising his role from the 1958 version. I think that qualifies as a remake, rather than an adaptation of the same source. =========================== [Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_and_Jerry:_Willy_Wonka_and_the_Chocolate_Factory) Adaptation/ remake of the 1971 live action film, incorporating various elements from the film that weren’t in the original book. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/7 "2024-12-28T10:25:59Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_and_Jerry:_Willy_Wonka_and_the_Chocolate_Factory) > > Adaptation/ remake of the 1971 live action film, incorporating various elements from the film that weren’t in the original book. There’s also [Tom and Jerry & the Wizard of Oz](https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_and_Jerry_%26_the_Wizard_of_Oz), based on the 1939 film rather than the 1900 novel. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/8 "2024-12-28T11:56:42Z")
Definitely not an animated remake of the film. Both of them were “Wouldn’t these stories be better if needless characters were added for the purpose of cheap merchandising?” ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/9 "2024-12-28T12:31:53Z")
I beg to differ. They used the script of the film, rather than make a new version of the book. At least WW&TCF did. They also copied the appearance of Charlie, the Oompa-Loompas and the everlasting gobstoppers. They used things that happened in the film, that weren’t in the original book. How is it not a remake when they used the same script? I agree that adding T&J was needless. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/10 "2024-12-28T12:35:40Z")
Both animated movies added scenes featuring characters not in the original movie, and told the story from their point of view. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/11 "2024-12-28T12:40:51Z")
We’ll just have to agree to disagree on that point. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/12 "2024-12-28T12:45:01Z")
Well, it definitely incorporated various elements that were not in the original movie. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/13 "2024-12-28T12:45:42Z")
There was an anime version of **A Wizard of Earthsea** which came after the (awful) TV version, but that is disqualified as it it is two versions based on the same source (a book) Some googling found this discussion, but many examples do not fit the OPs requirements (Animated Robin Hood came after live action, but again, based on the same IP) > **[Here's a switch: animated remakes of live-action films](https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/heres-a-switch-animated-remakes-of-live-action-films.971283/)** > > With all the animated movies being given live-action remakes, I got thinking, just for a lark, why not give live-action films animated remakes? > > In fairness, they actually have done that a few times, with "Treasure Island" from 1950 being remade... Brian ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/14 "2024-12-28T12:55:40Z")
Did any of _The Famous Adventures Of Mr. Magoo_ adapt from a particular movie instead of straight from the book? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/15 "2024-12-28T13:27:59Z")
I’m not sure this really counts, but the 2018 remake of _The Grinch_ is definitely a remake, not purely a fresh adaptation of the source story, because it contains versions of the same music that is in the previous movies, but is not in the source story. It is arguable, however, whether the 2018 remake is remaking the 2000 live-action remake of the 1966 animated film, or if it is a direct remake of that, ignoring the 2000 live action film. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/16 "2024-12-28T13:29:30Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/17 "2024-12-28T17:12:04Z")
There was an animated version of the musical **The King and I**. It uses the same songs, and is arguably really an animated version of the stage musical, rather than the movie based on the stage musical. But I figure this is close enough. I haven’t seen it, so I don’t know if it uses some feature of the 1956 film that would stamp it as an adaptation of the movie. > **[The King and I (1999 film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_and_I_(1999_film))** > > The King and I is a 1999 American animated musical film directed by Richard Rich. As of February 2024, it is the only animated feature film produced by Morgan Creek Entertainment. Loosely based on Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's 1951 stage musical of the same name, it portrays a fictionalized account of English school teacher Anna Leonowens' historical encounter with king Mongkut of Siam and the royal court. The voice cast stars Miranda Richardson and Martin Vidnovic as Leonowens an ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/18 "2024-12-28T17:58:43Z")
Given the multiple lost episodes of the William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton _ **Doctor Who** _ eras, animated recreations of the episodes based on stills and scripts have been made. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/19 "2024-12-28T21:02:50Z")
_Star Wars Uncut_ is a partial example. A complete recreation of _A New Hope_ in 15-second segments. Many of those were animated, computer graphics, stop motion, cardboard cutout, etc. Not sure of the proportion vs. live action, but it seems like it’s somewhere around 50%. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254/20 "2024-12-28T23:19:30Z")
In 1971 there was an animated short film of [A Christmas Carol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol_(TV_special)). I’m not sure it would count as a literal remake, but Alistair Sim and Michael Hordem reprised their roles as Scrooge and Marley from the 1951 film. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-remakes-of-live-action-feature-films/1012254.md?page=2)