Calling all Pokemon Fans · 10:00pm May 19th, 2017
So, I got into a comments discussion with rikusorasephiroth a few days ago when something hit me. Chances are we won't get an official live-acton Pokemon movie (or series), mostly because Nintendo doesn't seem to realize there might be a market for that sort of thing. We could probably have some fans that live in the real world equivalents of the established regions try doing live-action movies and post them on video streaming sites but then we would run into the biggest issue regarding Nintendo, their insistence on clinging to copyrights and making accusations that someone is violating them. So, the regions based on areas of Japan would potentially have it the worst in that regard, I hear Japan has possibly the strictest copyright laws of any nation. Nintendo almost never listens to customers or consumers, so pitching the idea would be like trying to scale a sheer vertical cliff with next to no natural foot/handholds while being unable to use conventional climbing gear. Regardless, if just some of us can create some reasonably looking live-action Pokemon movies that focus on someone that is not under the usual purview of the series, something akin to making a video fanfiction, we might be able to show Nintendo there is a market for this sort of thing, provided they don't flutz it somehow.
The idea I hashed out with rikusorasephiroth is simple, each movie focuses on the adventure of someone from the established region and some of their experiences. The primary rules if you choose to take up this challenge are simple: 1) The protagonist cannot be any established protagonist character from the official anime, that means no Ash/Satoshi or any of his companions
2) In keeping with the spirit of the games, you will also have to have your protagonist have one of that region's starters (you don't have to necessarily start from the same point you do in the game though)
3) This is live-action, that means the story cannot be done in an animated format if you're able to make the Pokemon and various other elements of the established canon of the games look more like they could fit into a real world setting that helps further sell the illusion.
4) Try to have fun with it, and try and study up on copyright laws in your area, this will help let you know just how much you can get away with and give some potential leverage in fighting back when you're told you are violating copyrights.
Honestly, I don't know if copyright laws will allow a massive undertaking like this but at the very least we should see if it's possible and give it a go. The primary goal is to get a potential live action movie (or movie series) that exists in an official capacity. Assuming anyone can get in touch with Game Freak and get them to sign off on the project that would one more point for us towards an official live-action Pokemon. If we can indeed get Game Freak involved in the live-action adaptation of Pokemon then that means they'll be dedicated to making sure it's done right. That way we won't get a disaster like what happened with the bomb that the live-action Super Mario Bros. movie or the Legend of Zelda cartoon. Point is, if the people behind the franchise are personally involved in a live-action adaptation of Pokemon it will have a statistically less likelihood of sucking (and potentially putting a stain on the series/franchise as a whole).
I think I know one reason Nintendo doesn't want to do a live action Pokemon thing... it'sthe track record of video game adaptation movies and cartoon series adaptation movies. .. neither are all that great. Case in point :Super Mario Brothers The Movie.
4539169 Not gonna lie, that is highly likely. However, there's also an opportunity to it. If the live action films based on games are terrible then they could practically blow everyone away by literally setting a proper benchmark with showing everyone how it's done. But Nintendo isn't really known for taking risks like that, they would rather play it safe with what they know best. Little known fact, Nintendo was a company that made playing cards before they produced the first NES, but it seems that was really their last big gamble.
4539280 I actually knew that they use to print playing cards, but glad I am not alone. And while if Nintendo did try and it worked, I agree it would buck the tend, however a man much wiser and way more intelligent than I made a very great observation, 'insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each and every time', and while Nintendo might play a little too safe, as a company you can't call them insane.
4539354 true, maybe crazy, gimmicky or motivationally challenged, but definitely not insane. Although, there are times we wish they would at least do something insane once or twice.
4539383 all too true