Despite the anime boom, adapting manga remains a business decision. Experimental, dark, and deeply philosophical works like Oyasumi Punpun or Homunculus don’t offer the same commercial appeal.
1. Oyasumi Punpun
Oyasumi Punpun follows the life of Punpun Punyama, a boy depicted as a simple cartoon bird in an otherwise hyper-realistic world. Don’t be fooled by the whimsical art style, this is one of the most brutal and darkest manga ever written.
The story spans Punpun’s childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, chronicling his struggles with love, trauma, and the crushing weight of growing up in a flawed world. There are no heroes or villains, no thrilling action or bright moments. It doesn’t appeal to mainstream audiences or sponsors, but it’s a story that needs to be told.
2. I Am a Hero
I Am a Hero isn’t your typical zombie apocalypse story. The protagonist, Hideo Suzuki, is a struggling manga artist plagued by insecurity and hallucinations. When a rabies-like outbreak sweeps Japan, turning people into terrifying monsters, Hideo fights to survive armed with a legal shotgun and a fragile will.
This manga’s core fits adult animation perfectly. It’s raw, honest horror following Hideo’s battle against external terror and internal psychological struggles. Unfortunately, under usual production logic, such unfiltered horror is difficult to bring to screen without heavy censorship.
3. Homunculus
Homunculus is a psychological horror masterpiece. The protagonist Nakoshi, a homeless man, agrees to a bizarre medical experiment drilling a small hole in his skull to “unlock” parts of his brain. As a result, he begins to see distorted images revealing others’ inner traumas and psychological scars.
The story quickly descends into a terrifying spiral of madness. Homunculus uses visual elements to explore inner states of mind, a power lost if toned down for general audiences. Netflix’s live-action adaptation proved this by condensing and sanitizing the toughest themes, turning a profound psychological work into a confusing film.
4. Fire Punch
Fire Punch by Tatsuki Fujimoto (creator of Chainsaw Man) is set in a frozen, post-apocalyptic world where death is constant and humanity is drowning in despair. It stands out for using a bleak world and shocking content to explore deep philosophical questions about willpower, morality, and the meaning of life.
However, its extreme violence and challenging themes make any studio hesitate. The Doma arc, Togata’s film segment, and the story’s philosophical spiral require slow pacing and careful buildup. With high costs and low commercial appeal, Fire Punch is unlikely to get a worthy adaptation.
5. Dead Tube
Dead Tube centers on a fictional streaming platform where users upload videos to gain views and fame. The catch is the platform rewards the most horrifying, disgusting, and depraved content. The story follows Tomohiro Machiya, drawn into this world by Mai Mashiro, who wants to film increasingly brutal “projects.”
Dead Tube is an unflinching critique of internet fame obsession and audience desensitization to violence. Its premise is timely yet highly controversial, touching on issues like voyeurism and social media violence, making it a risky project for any sponsor.
6. MPD Psycho
MPD Psycho drags you into a complex maze of serial killings, psychology, and the darkest corners of the human soul. This brutal story follows Yosuke Kobayashi, a detective with dissociative identity disorder (DID), as he confronts a horrifying serial killer.
A faithful adaptation could push media boundaries like Perfect Blue or Paranoia Agent, diving deep into the dark recesses of the human mind. However, its graphic violence and heavy psychological themes make MPD Psycho nearly impossible to bring to the big screen.
7. Spirit Circle
Spirit Circle tells a story about reincarnation and the weight of past lives. The protagonist Fuuta Okeya’s life is turned upside down when his new transfer student classmate Kouko claims he is her eternal enemy.
This complex tale spans Fuuta’s past lives, forcing him to face his own sins and tragedies. Spirit Circle is unlikely to become an anime because it falls outside the “safe” boundaries set by the industry. But that’s exactly why it deserves to be adapted.