Anime is no longer niche. In recent years, titles like “Demon Slayer” and “Jujutsu Kaisen” have dominated the box office, proving that the medium now commands a truly global, cross-generational audience. Building on that momentum, studios are pushing live-action adaptations as the next big frontier for major anime IP. In 2026, a new wave of adaptations will test how far this transition. Below, some of the most noteworthy live-action anime projects to watch this year
One Piece: Season 2
After surpassing expectations and earning both critical and fan acclaim for its surprisingly faithful first season, the live-action adation of One Piece returns with even bigger ambitions. Season 2 follows Luffy and the Straw Hat crew as they venture deeper into the legendary Grand Line after defeating Arlong, encountering new adversaries while expanding the scale of the world. With more elaborate sets and increasingly complex Devil Fruit powers to bring to life, the conversation shifts from whether live-action anime can work to whether it can sustain the momentum after its first season’s success. This is no longer about proving skeptics wrong – it’s about building a world that lasts.
Sakamoto Days
Blending deadpan humor with tightly choreographed action, Sakamoto Days has already built a strong following through its manga and anime adaption. The story centres on a once-legendary assassin, Taro Sakamoto, portrayed by Ren Meguro in the live-action adaptation, who leaves the underworld behind to run a small-town grocery store and raise a family. Its charm lies in that duality – warm domestic moments interrupted by sudden bursts of violence. Bringing its fast-paced fights and offbeat tone into live action introduces this sharp, playful story to an even wider audience.
Blue Lock
Forget teamwork – Blue Lock is all about ego. The series gathers 300 elite young strikers from across Japan into a brutal, prison-like training program designed to create the ultimate forward. Fumiya Takahashi stars as Yoichi Isagi, a high school player determined to become the world’s number one striker after a crushing loss. Forced to compete against the country’s best young talents, Isagi must fight to survive and prove himself. Packed with intense rivalries and psychological pressure, the live-action adaptation brings that competitive energy to audiences while grounding it in the realism of football.
Look Back
Closing the lineup on a quieter note, Look Back takes a completely different approach. Adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s emotionally restrained one-shot manga, the story moves away from spectacle and toward intimacy. Following a well-received animated film in 2024, the live-action version centres on Fujino and Kyomoto, two young girls connected by their shared passion for drawing. What begins as rivalry gradually deepens into friendship and, ultimately, loss. Without grand battles or fantasy elements found in regular live-action anime, the film relies on quiet tension and artistic ambition, expanding its emotional reach beyond the traditional anime audience.
Also see: The 10 most anticipated films of 2026
