Tim Burton Goes Manga

I've read exactly two full fledged Japanese mangas in my life that aren't based on Capcom video games. One is Akira, which everybody knows. The other is Mai, The Psychic Girl, which I picked up in a trade because it was so similar to Akira in theme. It follows Mai, a 14 year old girl with psychic powers who is being pursued by an evil organization who plan to use her to help them rule the world.

Back in the late 80's, right around the time that the first English translation of Mai was released into comic stores, Tim Burton had been attached to helm a big screen adaptation of the film, to be produced by Sony Pictures. That plan fell through, and the project sat around for awhile. Now Sony has given the rights back to Burton, who is apparently fast tracking this thing big time.

If all this is true, because frankly this is all a rumor right now, then Mai could be a huge hit. What's more, it could take a steaming dump all over the Hughes Brothers' Akira adaptation, since both are so very much alike. It could be a race to see which one comes out first.

You can read more of Latino Review's pretty aggravating coverage of the story here.