The animation-to-live-action pipeline often results in one of two outcomes: a major flop or a massive success. While many have teetered towards the former, studios are becoming more creative with adaptations, which take beloved films and transform them into productions that utilize real people and real sets. The recent praise for both Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon live actions prove that these adaptations can be good if executed with care.
This is a welcome change from recent years, in that they can succeed in their own right. The opportunities are endless for these animated gems that are critically acclaimed, severely overlooked, or simply flops. From Coraline to Treasure Planet, these beloved animated movies deserve the live-action treatment and the opportunity to reach audiences beyond the originals.
10
‘The Polar Express’ (2004)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
When an unnamed Hero Boy (Daryl Sabara) expresses disbelief in Santa Claus, he is whisked away onto a train with other children destined for The North Pole. The young boy makes friends with other passengers on the train, treated to unlimited hot chocolate and holiday spirit under the care of the Conductor (one of seven characters played by Tom Hanks). But it’s his characters of the Conductor and Santa Claus that are most influential; they provide Hero Boy with the age-old concept of the “meaning of Christmas.” The Polar Express is symbolic. The train is magical, as are the events that take place.
More than this, each character is nameless, yet they resemble their voice actors. It’s notoriously uncanny, created with motion capture computer animation, making The Polar Express as beautiful as it is creepy. This can be risky to translate into live-action as it takes away from a major reason why the movie is so memorable. Yet, it’s about time we are treated to a new Christmas movie for children. One that’s real and filled with metaphors about appreciating the holiday season, rather than consumerism. We’re not saying that Tom Hanks needs to portray seven characters again, but it would be a welcome return ensuring that revolutionary creativity is still present.
9
‘Thumbelina’ (1994)
Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman
As Hans Christian Andersen‘s timeless story goes, an old woman plants magic seeds in hopes of receiving a child; she is met by a young girl born from a flower no larger than a thumb. This 1994 retelling, Thumbelina, follows the titular character’s life, finding acceptance with her stature. It’s a difficult one; Thumbelina (Jodi Benson) hopes to find love with someone her size, but when she does, is taken from him and must find her way home in a world much larger than she will ever be. Objectively, a lot is going on in this movie. Almost too much. Is it a love story? One of self-discovery? Commentary on not trusting others? This is a kid’s movie, after all.
The 1990s saw an increase in competition from studios trying to compete with Disney’s booming animation. As a result, the genre became saturated with similar movies that, while inventive, sometimes did not pan out. But a major draw for fans of Thumbelina is that former Disney animator Don Bluth was attached to the project as writer, director, and producer. He utilized his background when creating Thumbelina, giving it a familiar feel similar to Disney movies. The 2010 live-action Alice in Wonderland perfectly rendered her falling into the rabbit hole and emerging in a world where everything is larger than her – Thumbelina would be just that, only the entire time.
Thumbelina
- Release Date
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March 30, 1994
- Runtime
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86 minutes
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Jodi Benson
Thumbelina (voice)
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Gino Conforti
Jacquimo (voice)
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Barbara Cook
Mother (voice)
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Will Ryan
Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
8
‘Anastasia’ (1997)
Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman
Anastasia is one of the few animated movies about a princess that does not come from Disney. It’s grittier; raw in its fictionalized portrayal of the real Romanov family and their untimely deaths. It presents a heroine’s journey towards self-discovery for Anastasia (Meg Ryan) as she confronts a past that may or may not be true, with the help of her love interest, Dimitri (John Cusack). Beyond this, Anastasia offers stunning visuals and a dreamlike soundtrack, furthering the intended mood. Rasputin’s (Christopher Lloyd) villain song, “In the Dark of the Night,” is often considered one of the best non-Disney animated movie songs.
There was a short-lived Anastasia musical, but this is the closest we’ve gotten to a live-action movie. Anastasia deserves the blockbuster treatment. Of course, the story of Anastasia and the Romanov family is highly contentious, as are the circumstances of their deaths. Production was careful with this when creating the movie and had to tone it down for younger audiences. Just imagine what can be done during the “Once Upon a December” sequence, as ghosts dance around the ballroom in one of the movie’s most hauntingly beautiful scenes.
Anastasia
- Release Date
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November 20, 1997
- Runtime
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94 minutes
7
‘Happy Feet’ (2006)
Directed by George Miller
Audiences fell in love with Mumble (Elijah Wood) when Happy Feet was released in 2006. The young penguin faces a major problem: in a colony of others like him, he can’t sing. As a result, he is discouraged from ever finding a mate as this is what attracts them to one another. Facing ridicule and isolation, Mumble discovers that he possesses the ability to tap dance instead. This leads to Mumble embarking on a journey that takes him to the other side of the world, facing entrapment and a glimpse at the horrors of how his kind are treated outside of Antarctica. It’s his discoveries stemming from his unique talents that help him protect his people and, more importantly, himself.
Whether through CGI or animatronics, a live-action Happy Feet could provide fan service for audiences looking to stomp their feet in a world like ours. Additionally, there is always conversation surrounding climate change and animal rights. Although this shouldn’t be the focal point of a live-action, it could offer a message for children through a world that resembles their own. The original Happy Feet achieved critical acclaim, receiving numerous accolades during the award season that year, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. This notoriety is enough to push for an adaptation. We got The Lion King, The Jungle Book, and Charlotte’s Web. What’s one more talking animal live-action movie?
Happy Feet
- Release Date
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November 16, 2006
- Runtime
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108 minutes
6
‘Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas’ (2003)
Directed by Tim Johnson and Patrick Gilmore
The music. The visuals. The adventure. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is an oft-forgotten animated children’s movie following the titular sailor, Sinbad (Brad Pitt). When the Goddess of Chaos, Eris (Michelle Pfeiffer), accuses the loudmouthed pirate of removing the Book of Peace from her otherworldly lair, Sinbad is tasked with returning the object or meeting her wrath. Sinbad travels through treacherous waters defeating monsters and must save his childhood friend, Prince Proteus (Joseph Fiennes). In the process, Sinbad must confront his past and rectify his actions with the support of his crew and a woman he comes to love, Ambassador Marina (Catherine Zeta-Jones).
A deserved live-action could potentially redeem the ill-fated production after nearly bankrupting DreamWorks due to its poor box office performance. Objectively, Sinbad: The Legend of the Seven Seas had everything going for it, including a stacked cast of voice characters. The movie presented more mature material through its jokes, minor violence, and even the depiction of Eris. This might be one of those cases where a live-action adaptation has the chance to adjust its rating and cater to older audiences who grew up with the animated original. Something similar to Pirates of the Caribbean, but with a mythological twist.
5
‘The Road to El Dorado’ (2000)
Directed by Eric Bergeron and Don Paul
When con men Tulio (Kevin Kline) and Miguel (Kenneth Branagh) get their hands on a map to El Dorado, the two venture into the unknown to find the presumed fictional city. The Road to El Dorado is set in 1519 as explorers from Spain begin their conquests of the New World. When the two friends do locate the city and are welcomed as “gods” into their land allowing them to seek out fortune with the aid of local inhabitants. This movie features romance, adventure, and a redemption arc for Tulio and Miguel which teaches young viewers about friendship, greed, and cultural differences (among other things). It’s adventure-packed and presents timely themes that are explained well to children.
Like many DreamWorks animations, The Road to El Dorado is fueled by elements that Disney just couldn’t provide at the time of its release in 2000. It incorporates dark humor and even sexual undertones as it relates to Tulio’s budding romance with a local native, Chel (Rosie Perez). A live-action can rectify the movie’s PG rating and delve deeper into these points without sacrificing the overall charm. Think Indiana Jones but for younger audiences. One thing must remain: each clever musical number is set to tunes created by legends Elton John and Tim Rice.
4
‘Coraline’ (2009)
Directed by Henry Selick
There are quite a few children’s movies that have traumatized children. Director Henry Selick‘s Coraline is most definitely one of them. Coraline (Dakota Fanning) and her family move to a sleepy town in a home where nothing grows, and the mood is eerie. She is surrounded by strange neighbors, a boy who will not leave her alone and acrobatic performers. It’s uncomfortable and a bit sad, which Coraline wishes to escape from. But when she finds a secret door hidden in the house, she is sent through a portal into a world much like her own – only entirely different. It’s a coming-of-age story in which Coraline must find her way home and tell her family that she wants to leave. A battle of colors and buttons and whimsy.
Again, a live-action movie might remove part of Coraline‘s twisted charm without its signature stop-motion effects. But this provides an opportunity for the adaptation to stand on its own. It wouldn’t be a remake, but rather an homage to the original utilizing a different medium. We could only imagine what the portal to the other world might look like if done right. Although it’s not considered a Halloween movie, this dark fantasy film would make for a perfect seasonal scare. Coraline was re-released in theaters in 2024 to box office success and this popularity suggests that if a live-action were to happen, audiences would gladly show up.
Coraline
- Release Date
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February 5, 2009
- Runtime
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100 minutes
3
‘Hercules’ (1997)
Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements
Fans continue to beg for a live-action Hercules. The 1997 movie was a welcome change from Disney’s Renaissance era of Disney princesses, offering a retelling of Greek mythology through the lens of the titular Hercules (Tate Donovan). It features a beautiful love story between Hercules and Megara (Susan Egan), run-ins with various gods, and iconic music that continues to top the lists of Disney’s best original songs. Disney continues to tease a live-action Hercules, suggesting we’ll be getting one by 2027. The Russo Brothers are attached as directors with speculation on who might be cast as Hercules and his headstrong love interest, Meg.
There will always be a fascination with movies based on Ancient Greek mythology – but these are geared towards older audiences, focusing on mature topics like war and sex. Hercules is one of the few PG movies about the topic – aside from the Percy Jackson franchise – and there is the desire for more. Paul Mescal is a popular contender for the role among fans after showing off his musical abilities in a Saturday Night Live sketch parodying Gladiator as a Wicked-inspired musical. But with little information about casting and production, there is still a lot of speculation. Make it happen, Disney!
Hercules
- Release Date
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June 13, 1997
- Runtime
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93 Minutes
2
‘Atlantis: The Lost Empire’ (2001)
Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox) is not your average Disney protagonist. He’s flawed; an awkward guy interested less in glory than he is in proving the existence of Atlantis. He’s a fascinating character joined by a rag-tag team of explorers seeking out the lost civilization. Whether it’s avenging a loved one, seeking powerful technology, or the pursuit of discovery, everyone aboard The Ulysses is motivated enough to risk their lives in this Disney movie from the turn of the century.
The movie shares many similarities with Avatar – particularly the elements that made the latter so successful – a strong argument for why Atlantis: The Lost Empire should make its return to theaters as a live action. Unfortunately, Atlantis: The Lost Empire did not perform well at the box office and is often forgotten in Disney’s vast catalog. But it’s one of Disney’s more experimental movies that only gets better with time. There is definitely enough support to justify green-lighting the project. As this is a very character-driven film, its success would rest on a strong cast. There are many contenders in Hollywood right now, but it requires a specific leading man to accurately play Milo.
1
‘Treasure Planet’ (2002)
Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements
It’s a sci-fi adventure movie in every sense of the word; one we had never seen before as children. Treasure Planet might be considered a failure; it’s also possible that the movie was ahead of its time. It blends themes of the past (18th-century sailboats and dress) with visions of the future (intergalactic travel) as orphan Jim Hawkins (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) traverses galaxies and universes in search of treasure. Another speculative Disney remake, there has been little information on a live-action film despite calls for one to be made. One of Disney’s greatest and most beloved animated cult classics can draw audiences back in with sentimentality and nostalgia.
Treasure Planet is proof that, just because a movie might fail at the box office, does not mean that it’s a bad movie. The premise of the movie, as well as the complexities each character possesses, deserve greater admiration and redemption through live action. The 2003 film was not an original, though. It’s based on the 1883 novel, Treasure Island (which spawned two other Disney adaptations in 1950 and 1996). Fans will welcome an adaptation when offered.