Writer Meikou Kawamura asks whether the live-action drama VIVANT could become an anime or a game in a Yahoo! News Expert column. The column notes that VIVANT has a novel version but says no TV anime or game adaptation has been announced so far.
The column is commentary, not a production announcement. It follows the finale of the drama's second season and the announcement of a VIVANT film for release in December. Kawamura, a subculture writer who has covered games, anime and manga for about 20 years, approaches the question from a content-business angle.
According to Kawamura, an anime series would probably bring in new fans. But the appeal of the live-action drama would not necessarily grow in animated form. Coordinating with the parties involved, and above all fitting into anime studio schedules, would also be difficult. Kawamura is also concerned that an adaptation could weaken the fan theorizing and live feel that defined the drama.
Kawamura sees one possible advantage in an anime: it could suit overseas markets. The column cites reports that the drama's streaming has not grown overseas. An anime would need a selling point different from the drama's, Kawamura writes, but it could also bring out a different kind of appeal.
A game might be better suited to recreating the drama's scenes. However, Kawamura points to long development times, costs higher than an anime's, and the question of whether the result would be fun to play.
Kawamura concludes that a serious push into the content business requires planning far ahead, and says they are curious about what comes after the film and hope for a surprise.