Netflix, in its search for the next big franchise, has understandably dipped its toes into the anime realm. Not only has the streaming service helped to house exclusive anime such as Baki Hanma, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, and Sakamoto Days, but the platform has also been housing quite a few live-action anime adaptations. One Piece, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more have seen big success with their live-action series on Netflix, with a recent example potentially falling under the radar for many. Earlier this week, one of the biggest classic anime franchises recently released the first episode of its latest live-action adaptation
Great Teacher Onizuka first premiered as a manga in 1997 by creator Tooru Fujisawa, becoming such a hit that the franchise has garnered several anime adaptations, as well as live-action television shows and feature-length films. This year, a brand new live-action GTO aired in Japan as its first episode arrived on Monday, July 20th. Wasting little time, Netflix has decided to house the premiere episode, promising to house new episodes weekly as the Great Teacher takes the stage every Monday. Despite this being a brand new series, the latest live-action adaptation has brought back a major player to assist in teaching the latest rambunctious class. You can check out the new series by clicking here.
This latest series will see Takashi Sorimachi return to the live-action role of Eikichi Onizuka, which proves just how much he loves the franchise. For those who might not be familiar, Sorimachi first portrayed the star of GTO all the way back in 1998 with the early live-action take on the anime series. Twenty-eight years following his premiere role with the series, Sorimachi is making a comeback to play an older version of the teacher who is anything but traditional. While the original character was in his early twenties in the source material, this isn’t stopping Takashi from returning as an older delinquent turned educator for the recent series.
For those who have never experienced GTO, we have good news for you. The original 90s anime adaptation is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime, and Netflix, meaning you have plenty of outlets to see why the franchise has become anime royalty. The original story that helped propel the series in popularity focuses on main character Eikichi Onizuka as he goes from ex-gang member to beloved teacher, using his hatred for the establishment as a way to force himself forward. Despite having a major anime presence, Great Teacher Onizuka has not created a new anime adaptation in decades since the arrival of the series in the late ’90s.
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