5 Netflix's Nostalgic Live-Action Adaptations to Put a Smile on Your Face

In the era of reboots, there's one subgenre that people are most excited about. Live-action adaptations of beloved animated series and manga are especially popular with audiences because they evoke our childhood memories and remind us of the blissful time we had as kids.

Here are five live-action adaptations from Netflix that will have you reminiscing about your favorite childhood stories.

Cowboy Bebop (2021, 1 season, 6.7 on IMDb)

Considering it only lasted one season, this live-action Netflix adaptation isn't the best example of a show, but it's still capable of making you smile. Based on the Japanese anime of the same name, the series follows a group of space bounty hunters who travel the solar system in the titular spaceship in search of wanted criminals.

Fate: The Winx Saga (2021-2022, 2 seasons, 6.8 on IMDb)

If you grew up in the 2000s and early 2010s, there's a good chance you watched The Winx Club as a kid. However, this Netflix show is only loosely based on the original animated series. The horror-like adaptation follows the students of a fictional magic school as they face a life-threatening invasion of monsters, survive a coup, and uncover the truth about their families' pasts, all while trying to fix their personal lives. And even though this show is a disgrace to the original series, it will still make you smile and reminisce about your childhood.

Alice in Borderland (2020-present, 2 seasons, 7.7 on IMDb)

Based on Haro Aso's manga of the same name, this Japanese Netflix series is set in an alternate reality where people live in a game they must play to stay alive. The show revolves around two friends, Reohei and Yuzuha, who compete side by side in dangerous games to extend their life-sustaining 'visas'. With season 3 underway, the show will prove to be a nice experience for any manga lover.

One Piece (2023-present, 1 season, 8.4 on IMDb)

The absolute Netflix hit of 2023, this adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's manga cycle of the same name follows a group of so-called Straw Hat Pirates in search of the mysterious titular artifact that will make their captain the king of all pirates. The showrunners' fidelity to the source material and the masterful casting will make you nostalgic for the original story.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024, 1 season, N/R yet)

The upcoming live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon's iconic animated series has been the talk of the town for quite some time. From the all-Asian cast to the gorgeous CGI, this Netflix show offers a great experience for any fan of the original story that most of us watched as kids. The series is set to premiere on February 22nd.