Before we put forth the list of top Mackenyu movies and TV shows, here is a small introduction to the Japanese actor Mackenyu Maeda. It is hard to believe that the actor who played the character of Roronoa Zoro in Netflix One Piece is actually a Japanese actor.
Mackenyu is the son of a famous Japanese actor Sonny Chiba. He got recognition after acting in the Chihayafuru trilogy. Mackenyu mostly acts in famous Manga adaptations. The way Mackenyu played the character of Zoro in One Piece with Perfection shows his great acting skills.
Here are the Mackenyu best movies and Tv shows:
1: Chihayafuru Part 1 (2016):
Chihayafuru Part 1″ is a live-action Japanese film adaptation of the popular manga and anime series “Chihayafuru” written and illustrated by Yuki Suetsugu. It is the first part of a two-part movie adaptation.
The story of “Chihayafuru” revolves around the competitive world of competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game. The protagonist, Chihaya Ayase, becomes fascinated with karuta after meeting a talented karuta player named Arata Wataya during her childhood. She developed a deep passion for the game and formed a competitive karuta club with her childhood friend Taichi Mashima in high school.
The live-action adaptation follows the adventures of Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata as they pursue their karuta dreams and compete in various tournaments. Mackenyu played the role of Arata Wataya in this live-action adaptation of the popular manga and anime series “Chihayafuru.” It is one of the popular Mackenyu movies.
2: Chihayafuru Part 2 (2016):
Chihayafuru Part 2″ is the second season of the anime series “Chihayafuru,” which is based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Yuki Suetsugu. The second season of the anime originally aired in Japan in 2013, not 2016. It continues the story of Chihaya Ayase and her friends as they pursue their passion for competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game.
In “Chihayafuru Part 2,” Chihaya and her teammates are striving to reach the national karuta championship, where they can compete against the best players in Japan. The series continues to explore the characters’ personal growth, their relationships, and their dedication to the game of karuta.
Mackenyu reprised his role as Arata Wataya in the second part of the “Chihayafuru” live-action film series.
3: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable (2017):
“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable” is the fourth part of the long-running manga and anime series “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.” It was adapted into an anime series that aired in 2016-2017.
The story is set in the fictional town of Morioh in Japan and follows the adventures of Josuke Higashikata, the illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar from the third part of the series, “Stardust Crusaders.” Josuke possesses a Stand, a manifestation of his fighting spirit with unique abilities. He is joined by various allies as he battles other Stand users and uncovers the mysteries and dangers of his hometown.
The main antagonist of this part is Yoshikage Kira, a serial killer with a Stand called Killer Queen, who becomes a significant threat to the town. The story combines elements of supernatural battles with mystery and comedy, which are characteristic of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series.
Mackenyu portrayed Okuyasu Nijimura in this live-action adaptation of the manga and anime series “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.“
4: Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018):
Pacific Rim: Uprising” is a science fiction film that was released in 2018. It is the sequel to the 2013 film “Pacific Rim” and is directed by Steven S. DeKnight, who took over from Guillermo del Toro, the director of the first film.
The movie is set in a future where Earth is under attack from giant sea monsters known as Kaiju. To combat these creatures, humanity has built massive humanoid robots called Jaegers. The story follows a new generation of Jaeger pilots as they must come together to face a new threat from the Kaiju.
The film stars John Boyega as Jake Pentecost, the son of Stacker Pentecost, one of the heroes from the first film. Jake becomes involved in the Jaeger program and teams up with other young pilots to fight the Kaiju. The movie also features Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spaeny, and Charlie Day, who reprises his role from the first film. Mackenyu played the role of Ryoichi in the sequel to the sci-fi action film “Pacific Rim.”
5: Over Drive (2018):
Over Drive” is a Japanese sports drama film released in 2018. It’s directed by Eiichirō Hasumi and based on a manga series of the same name written by Shō Kitagawa. The film primarily focuses on the world of competitive cycling.
The story revolves around the protagonist, Shoutarou Higakure, who aspires to become a professional cyclist despite facing various challenges and obstacles. He joins a cycling team and works towards achieving his dreams while dealing with personal and professional struggles. It is one of the popular Mackenyu movies.
6: Tokyo Ghoul S (2019):
It is one of the best Mackenyu movies. The story of “Tokyo Ghoul” is set in a fictional Tokyo where flesh-eating ghouls exist alongside humans. Ghouls are supernatural creatures who resemble humans but must feed on human flesh to survive. The series primarily follows Kaneki Ken, a college student who becomes a half-ghoul after a chance encounter with one of these creatures. He must navigate his new life as a half-ghoul, trying to conceal his true identity from both humans and ghouls.
7: Fullmetal Alchemist (2017):
“Fullmetal Alchemist” is a popular Japanese manga (comic) series created by Hiromu Arakawa. It was later adapted into two different anime series, with the second one, “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” being a more faithful adaptation to the manga.
The story of this popular Mackenyu series is set in a fictional world where alchemy is a prominent science, and it follows the adventures of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric. The brothers are talented alchemists who, in their early youth, attempted a forbidden alchemical ritual to resurrect their deceased mother. However, the ritual goes terribly wrong, resulting in Edward losing an arm and a leg and Alphonse losing his entire body. To save his brother’s soul, Edward binds it to a suit of armour.
The central plot of “Fullmetal Alchemist” revolves around the Elric brothers’ quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary alchemical artifact that is said to amplify the power of alchemists and potentially restore their bodies. Along the way, they encounter various characters and uncover dark secrets about the Philosopher’s Stone, the government, and the world of alchemy.
8: Knight of the Zodiac (2023):
It is one of the popular Mackenyu movies. The series is part of the shonen genre and has a strong emphasis on mythology, martial arts, and battles.
The story revolves around a group of young warriors known as the “Knights of the Zodiac” or “Saints.” These knights are chosen to protect the goddess Athena and defend the Earth from various mythological threats and villains. Each Saint wears a mystical armor known as a “Cloth,” which grants them superhuman abilities and represents one of the constellations of the Zodiac.
The main protagonist of the series is Seiya, who becomes the Pegasus Saint and embarks on a quest to save Athena and protect the world from evil forces, including other powerful Saints who have turned against their goddess. The series explores themes of friendship, loyalty, honor, and the battle between good and evil.
9: One Piece (2023):
One Piece has become one of the most popular series on Netflix. It has not only become one of the popular Netflix series, it has also become one of the most popular Mackenyu series. It is a fantasy comedy drama based on the Japanese Manga series of the same name. Mackenyu played the character of Zoro. Mackenyu as Zoro stole the audience’s heart and everyone is talking about him. Apart from Mackenyu, Emily Rudd and Inaki Godoy played pivotal roles in One Piece. The season 1 of this Netflix series has eight episodes.
Checkout More: 21 Best Science Fiction Series on Netflix (Update 2023)
10: Kiss that Kills (2018):
Mackenyu played the role of Kazunori Harumi in this series. It is a Japanese television drama series that aired in 2018. It is also known as “Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight” in some regions. The drama is based on the manga of the same name by Rin Mikimoto. The story revolves around the life of Hinana Hanazawa, a high school student who is known for her strong sense of justice. She is secretly a fan of the famous actor Kaede Ayase.
One day, she happens to encounter Kaede in a park after a chance meeting. To her surprise, Kaede kisses her, setting off a chain of events that changes her life. The drama explores themes of romance, celebrity culture, and the complexities of relationships. It is also one of the popular Mackenyu series.
These are top Mackenyu movies and tv shows, how many you have watched?