In the world of anime, we’ve often seen outstanding manga masterpieces turn into disappointing adaptations. Despite having excellent source material, many anime fall short due to changes in the storyline, cut scenes, poor animation quality, or shortened runtimes. As a result, they fail to fully capture the spirit of the manga or sometimes even damage it.
Here are 10 anime series that fans and critics agree desperately need a remake to truly live up to their original manga and potential:
1. Soul Eater
Soul Eater is a prime example of an anime that strayed far from its manga, especially with its ending. The anime created an original conclusion that contradicts the manga’s story. Key arcs like Arachnophobia were simplified, and the final boss Asura was significantly toned down. Plus, the anime ended while the manga was still ongoing, missing out on a wealth of fresh and exciting content.
2. D.Gray-man
D.Gray-man’s anime never had a truly satisfying ending due to the author’s health issues causing irregular manga releases. The anime also rearranged events, affecting the story’s pacing. With so much original material still waiting to be adapted, a remake could help D.Gray-man compete with newer anime series.
3. Deadman Wonderland
Deadman Wonderland’s anime rushed through the story, skipping many important arcs and characters. Crucial plot points like Ganta’s connection to Shiro, the origins of the Deadmen, and the rise of the Undertakers were either omitted or hurried. Only 20 of the 58 manga chapters were adapted, leaving the story incomplete and confusing.
4. Pandora Hearts
The producers of Pandora Hearts added elements not found in the manga and skipped major arcs, like the conflict between Glen Baskerville and Jack Vessalius or the origins of Abyss. This left anime-only viewers confused, and the rushed ending was unsatisfying.
5. Claymore
Claymore’s anime took a wrong turn in its final episodes, opting for an original, rushed, and unclear ending instead of fully adapting the grand Northern Campaign arc. Many key characters were neglected and underdeveloped, leaving Clare’s journey incomplete and full of plot holes.
6. Tokyo Ghoul
The producers’ focus on action in Tokyo Ghoul led to a lack of necessary character development. Season two, Tokyo Ghoul √A, deviated heavily from the manga, skipping or partially adapting important characters and arcs, and changing Kaneki’s character development. Tokyo Ghoul:re compressed 179 manga chapters into just 24 episodes, resulting in rushed character introductions, muted identity crises, and reduced complexity for characters like Eto.
7. Elfen Lied
Elfen Lied’s anime covers only half of the manga’s 12 volumes, leaving much original content unadapted. The anime failed to do justice to characters like Kurama, Nozomi, and Mariko, who have much deeper emotional arcs in the manga. It also never reveals the true mastermind behind the brutal experiments.
8. Berserk
No Berserk anime adaptation has truly satisfied fans of the manga. The 1997 series covers only the Golden Age arc and ends on a cliffhanger. The 2012-2013 film trilogy also attempts this arc but falls short in story and animation, feeling rushed and sloppy. The 2016-2017 series skips the Lost Children arc, shows the Black Swordsman arc only in flashbacks, and rushes through the Conviction arc, cutting important scenes. Directors tried to cram too much into too few episodes.
9. Bokurano
While the Bokurano manga is excellent, its anime adaptation toned down the original’s deep psychological impact. With complex themes of sacrifice, war, and lost innocence, this story would greatly benefit from a remake with more than 24 episodes. Better animation would also be a huge plus.
10. Ergo Proxy
Ergo Proxy’s abstract execution and complex plot, which is already hard to grasp on first watch, was squeezed into just 23 episodes. This anime truly needs a multi-season series to fully explore its concepts. The animation style is inconsistent, with some episodes feeling disjointed and rushed due to budget and time constraints.
Source: Comicbook