Alita: Battle Angel is here at last, marking the latest attempt to do manga right by Hollywood. Titles like Dragonball Evolution burned fans badly on all things live-action anime, but if social media has something to say, it is that audiences shouldn't lump Alita with those failed attempts.
It sounds like Alita is the real thing, and Twitter is filled with fans sharing their love for the sci-fi spectacle.
As you can see below, fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts about Alita after the film's opened preview screenings last night. The overwhelming majority of reactions are positive with both anime die-hards and newbies praising the project.
Alita may not have the name brand recognition like Naruto or even One Piece, but fans admit its expansive visual effects make it a formidable franchise. Created by manga artist Yukito Kishiro, Alita dates back to December 1990 and remains a classic amongst readers. The manga's old-school anime OVA became a favorite with fans, and director-producer James Cameron is one of many who felt drawn to the series. Now, Cameron has worked with director Robert Rodriguez to breathe new life into the franchise, and fans seem like they're resonating with Alita's deeply human story.
So far, these positive reactions bode well for the film's reception, but its box office haul is still being questioned. According to current estimates, Alita will have a tough debut this holiday weekend. Reports expect the film to earn no more than $25 million during its opening against films like Happy Death Day 2U and others. This gross falls way short of the film's rumored $200+ million budget, so here's to hoping word of mouth helps Alita go the distance at the box office.
Will you be checking this movie out? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB to talk all things comics and anime!
If you're unfamiliar with Battle Angel Alita (GUNNM in Japan), the series was originally created by Yukito Kishiro. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic future and follows Alita, a cyborg who is found in a garbage heap by a doctor and rebuilt. Completely devoid of her memory, all she has to cling to is a legendary cyborg martial art known as Panzer Kunst. With this knowledge, Alita decides to become a bounty hunter. Originally published in Shueisha's Weekly Business Jump in 1990, the manga was collected into nine volumes and licensed for an English language release by Viz Media.
Brutal, Bittersweet, and the Best