D.Gray-man, the beloved classic manga by Katsura Hoshino, debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2004 and got its first anime adaptation in 2006. Nearly two decades later, the series still maintains a loyal fanbase thanks to its rich world-building, unique power system, stunning artwork, and gripping storyline. However, frequent interruptions have prevented it from receiving the recognition it deserves, and the anime adaptation has struggled to keep pace.
Set in the late 19th century, the story follows Allen Walker, a young exorcist with a special eye that lets him see the souls of Akuma, artificial monsters created by harvesting human souls. The Millennium Earl, the creator of the Akuma, seeks to destroy exorcists and recreate a catastrophic event from the past. With his unique powers, Allen joins the Black Order to fight against the Earl.
As Allen’s journey unfolds, horrifying truths about the Earl, the legendary Noah family, and even his own identity come to light. The story masterfully blends action, horror, suspense, and humor, elements that would translate perfectly into a modern anime.
D.Gray-man Releases New Chapters Exclusively in Japan
In April 2018, D.Gray-man moved to the quarterly Jump SQ. Rise magazine, significantly slowing the release of new content. Even though Volume 28 came out in October 2022, international readers had to wait a long time. Most recently, after a three-year wait, Volume 29 was released on July 4, 2025, but the English release date remains unannounced. Official platforms like Viz and the Shonen Jump app have only translated up to chapter 245, while Manga Plus readers can’t access the series at all.
Although the manga’s irregular schedule has frustrated fans worldwide, it undeniably has enough material to justify a full anime reboot. There are many reasons why a remake would be a smart move for TMS Entertainment or any other studio.
What Happened to the Original D.Gray-man Anime?
The original anime aired in 2006 with 103 episodes before pausing in 2008 due to a lack of source material. TMS Entertainment later released a sequel, D.Gray-man: Hallow, in 2016 with 13 episodes, but no announcements have been made about a continuation. Hallow adapted over 200 chapters, and given the manga’s current release pace, producing a follow-up could take many more years. While author Hoshino deserves the time she needs, a reboot could carefully rework the story and allow it to continue without interruption.
The original anime’s pacing reflects its 2000s era, resulting in tonal inconsistencies that diminish the story’s dark atmosphere. Although Hallow featured improved visuals, it skipped many important plot points and strayed from the source material. Voice cast changes also confused fans.
A D.Gray-man Anime Reboot Could Fix Major Issues from the Original
The manga’s inconsistent schedule has significantly hindered its fanbase growth, especially in today’s market. With outdated animation and drawn-out episodes, the original anime struggles to attract new viewers who have access to high-quality series like Jujutsu Kaisen or Dandadan. However, all these problems could be solved if D.Gray-man were rebooted as a seasonal anime, giving studios the chance to faithfully adapt the manga with enough time between seasons.
Most importantly, the manga’s tone is much darker than what the anime has shown, growing even more intense as the story progresses. Hoshino’s art style, inspired by Gothic architecture, religious symbols, and classical European culture, was never fully captured due to production limitations.
With a story of this caliber, backed by modern animation and effective marketing, D.Gray-man could definitely reach a much wider audience.