Top 10 Animated Characters RUINED By Live Action

#10: He-Man

“Masters of the Universe” (1987)

Sporting bulging muscles, blonde hair, and a classic sword from a stone, there’s no denying that Dolph Lundgren looks the part of the universe’s namesake defender. It’s a real shame, then, that this 1982 film completely misses the mark on He-Man’s heroic charm. He isn’t just a bulky beefcake. He-Man is a symbol of nobility, pride, and an unironic need to do good. But, the live-action adaptation abandons all of that and replaces it with corny jokes that elicit more eyerolls than awe. With a better script, or a more serious tone, Lundgren could’ve been the He-Man the universe needed. Instead, we’re left with a whole lot of pointless flexing.

#9: Mr. Magoo

“Mister Magoo” (1997)

Quincy Magoo is a lot of things. Filthy rich, stubborn to a fault, and hilariously unpredictable, just to name a few. What he isn’t, though, is slapstick. Fundamentally, 1997’s “Mr. Magoo” misses out on the specific brand of humor that made the character a household name. Rather than unintentional situational comedy, the movie is a series of tired gags and obvious punchlines. Magoo himself suffers the most. Stripped of all his comedic charm, he comes off as negligent at best, or uncaring at worst. Fans of the series should look elsewhere for a belly laugh – this guy is only Magoo in name alone.

#8: The Smurfs

“The Smurfs” (2011)

Despite what their skin color would have you believe, the Smurfs will have you feeling anything but blue. Not that you’d be able to tell based off the 2011 misfire of an adaptation. Gone is the cross-generational appeal of the original. No, the live-action “Smurfs” is obviously and painfully aimed at children. Tossing aside decades of careful characterization, the cast is reduced to one-note caricatures meant to cater to the lowest common denominator. Although some of these jokes are so bad, it’s hard to say if even children would find them amusing. So, who was this made for, exactly? We’re genuinely wondering.

#7: Spike Spiegel

“Cowboy Bebop” (2021)

Look, it’s clear John Cho really loves Spike Spiegel. And how could he not? The character is suave, stylish, and filled with deep layers of trauma and growth. Unfortunately, passion does not always equate to quality, especially when you’re dealing with live-action anime adaptations. Cho’s take on the character is symptomatic of the issues the whole show faces; it’s too beholden to the original, but too different to satisfy, either. The result is a main character that’s stuck between two clashing visions and accomplishes neither. Is he supposed to be witty? The smart one? Headstrong? The only thing we can agree on is Spike is better in animation.

#6: Albert

“Fat Albert” (2004)

Early on in 2004’s “Fat Albert,” some magic shenanigans bring the title character out of the TV and into live-action for the first time. Based on how it went, he probably should’ve just stayed 2D. Despite Kenan Thompson’s effortless comedic timing in the role, the same gags that work in a children’s program don’t translate to a big-budget Hollywood tentpole. Like, say, following a character named Fat Albert. His shtick works in stories that wrap up in twenty minutes, but when he’s carrying a full-length feature, the overblown weight jokes become grating. Suffice it to say, this film didn’t prove any “Fat Albert” haters wrong.

#5: The Chipmunks

“Alvin and the Chipmunks” (2007)

Credit where it’s due; this movie renders the Chipmunks in surprisingly good CGI for the 2000s. Sadly, the same effort was not put into the script. It makes it clear Simon’s smart, Theodore’s naïve, and Alvin’s the troublemaker. That’s it. The trio are regressed to their barest character traits and left as walking, talking cliches. Alvin’s the biggest victim by far. Without any positive qualities to balance him out, his mischievous antics feel less charming, and more headache-inducing. They may be good for a toe-tapping musical number here and there, but otherwise, Alvin, Theodore, and Simon are majorly lost in translation.

#4: Jem

“Jem and the Holograms” (2015)

Some characters only work in animation. Like, for example, a teenage girl who turns into a superstar with the help of supercomputer earrings. If you can’t tell already, “Jem and the Holograms” is the kind of screwball concept that only something in the 80s could get away with. So, it’s truly baffling that the 2015 live-action film decided to retool the series into a cringey young adult drama. Seeing Jem so firmly focused on boy trouble isn’t just boring, it’s totally at odds with the rocking charm of the original character. At least the music isn’t half bad – that’s literally the only thing this new Jem got right.

#3: The Turtles

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2014)


How do you mess up the Turtles this badly? Their personalities basically write themselves at this point! It probably has something to do with the special effects, which are impressive, but don’t quite escape the uncanny valley. Or maybe it’s the potty humor, which stinks up any attempt at plot or characterization. Either way, this is not the Leonardo, Raphael, Dontallo, or Michaelangelo we know and love. Oh, and don’t even get us started on Shredder. The iconic big-bad looks like he’s held together with duct tape and children’s glue. All these guys can crawl back into the sewer they came out of.

#2: Son Goku

“Dragonball Evolution” (2009)

It’s ironic that one of anime’s most high-profile characters is completely unrecognizable in his own Hollywood film. What, you missed the episode where Goku goes to high school? That’s because it never happened. “Dragonball Evolution” doesn’t even try to hide its attempts at Americanizing the story. But rather than broadening the series’ appeal, it instead turns Goku’s legendary tale into yet another lame high school romance. Fans wanted power-up roars, high-speed martial arts, and earth-shaking beam struggles. Not a version where Piccolo randomly has a femme fatale sidekick. “Dragon Ball’s” small-screen efforts ensure Goku’s legacy persists to this day, but it’s in spite of this film, not because of it.

#1: The “Avatar” Cast

“The Last Airbender” (2010)

Woah, boy. Where to even begin with this one? We could talk about how the leading man was a martial artist first and an actor second. Or, how part of the cast was allegedly only hired due to plain and simple nepotism. Then, there’s the obvious and harmful whitewashing. Really, we could go on, but the long and short of it is “The Last Airbender” is an utter disgrace to the “Avatar” name. The movie fails to adapt any one of the show’s expansive cast well, which is maddening since they had a near perfect blueprint to work off of. How such a slam-dunk went oh-so wrong is still beyond us.

What’s an animated show you think would actually be a great live-action movie? Let us know in the comments below!