Shujiro protecting Fatuba in a field of swords in the poster for Last Samurai Standing
By
Dhruv Sharma
Published 32 minutes ago
Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns.
Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies.
After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back.
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Netflix's new manga adaptation boasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%, proving that one anime live-action can actually work really well.
Over the years, Netflix has gradually grown its catalog of manga and anime adaptations. While some of these, like Death Note and Cowboy Bebop, were not received too well, others, like One Piece and Alice in Borderland, have succeeded both commercially and critically. The streaming service's latest manga adaptation seems to belong to the latter category.
While only time will tell whether it will eventually become as successful as Alice in Borderland and One Piece, it has received a positive reception from viewers and critics. A closer look at its story elements and creative choices also reveals how it could perfectly pave the way for a live-action adaptation of a popular anime.
Last Samurai Standing Critical Success Proves A Live-Action Vinland Saga Can Work
Last Samurai Standing protagonist is looking at the person in the show
One big reason why Last Samurai Standing is being received so well is that it relies heavily on featuring practical action sequences instead of being heavily fueled by CGI. Since the original manga also emphasizes grounded, technique-driven combat, the show benefits from its realistic portrayal of fight scenes.
Interestingly, Vinland Saga's combat is also largely realistic. Instead of featuring supernatural spectacles during battle scenes, which rarely translate well to the live-action medium, Vinland Saga features fights where characters use shield walls, knives, etc. One thing audiences despise more than anything in anime/manga adaptations is lazy, mordenized "East meets West" reinterpretations.
Last Samurai Standing avoids falling into the same trap by honoring the historical references and cultural background of its source material. It treats period detail with respect by making the right casting choices and capturing samurai culture with social nuance.
Vinland Saga unfolds in 11th century Northern Europe. Since Northern Europe has been a familiar geography for Hollywood for quite some time, recreating it in the live-action Vinland Saga should be relatively less risky. Reimagining Vinland Saga's world building in the live-action medium will still not be an easy feat, but Last Samurai Standing proves it is not impossible.
A Vinland Saga Adaptation Would Have 1 Unfair Advantage Over Other Live Action Anime
Vinland-Saga-Bug-Eyes
Most anime, including One Piece, adopt visual stylization choices, impossible physics, and exaggerated storytelling devices that do not translate too well in the live-action medium. Netflix's take on One Piece and Alice in Borderland managed to become decent adaptations, but the long line of other failing anime adaptations highlights how these translation jumps look ridiculous in live-action.
Owing to the human-scale conflicts, grounded politics, and realistic period setting, Vinland Saga, like Last Samurai Standing, does not have make that translation leap. It looks like it is already built for the camera. Hopefully, after Netflix's Last Samurai Standing, a Vinland Saga live-action adaptation will see the light of day.
Last Samurai Standing
TV-MA
Action & Adventure
Drama
6/10
10/10
Release Date
November 13, 2025
Network
Netflix
Cast
Junichi Okada, Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Yasushi Fuchikami, Jyo Kairi, Takayuki Yamada, Wataru Ichinose, Riho Yoshioka, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki, Hideaki Ito
Directors
Michihito Fujii
Writers
Shogo Imamura
Main Genre
Adventure
Genres
Action & Adventure, Drama
Executive Producer(s)
Shinichi Takahashi
Producers
Junichi Okada, Kôsuke Oshida
Seasons
1
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Vinland Saga
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