It’s a familiar feeling for book lovers: you finish an amazing novel and immediately wish for a movie version. But let’s be honest, literary adaptations can be a real hit-or-miss affair. Thankfully, manga fans often have better luck. When a great manga series captures your heart, the anticipation for an anime adaptation can be incredibly exciting!
Right now, the manga world is brimming with titles that have readers eagerly imagining them in animated glory. This list highlights ten such examples, featuring both fresh newcomers and beloved classics. What they all share is the potential for a truly massive impact if adapted into anime. Dive in to discover new manga to read, or get ready to impress your friends by predicting the next big anime hits. It’s a win-win!
10. Takopi’s Original Sin (Taizan 5)
If you appreciate stories that pack an emotional punch, keep an eye out for this one. Takopi’s Original Sin is, without exaggeration, one of the most heart-wrenching comics in recent memory. It follows a cheerful alien named Tapoki, from Planet Happy, on a mission to spread joy. However, his first encounter on Earth is with Shizuka, a deeply troubled girl facing bullying and neglect. Tapoki quickly learns that making her smile is a monumental task.
This manga has a raw intensity that makes it a tough read, yet it’s utterly captivating. Since the story unfolds over just a few volumes, it would be perfect for a single-season anime that would leave viewers reaching for tissues and feeling every bit of the despair.
9. Dandadan (Yukinobu Tatsu)
Imagine a girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts. Then, they discover both are real, and chaos ensues. If that premise doesn’t grab you, what will?
Dandadan hooks you from the start with its intriguing setup and the fascinating dynamic between its leads, Momo and Ken. They are complete opposites, yet their chemistry practically sparks off the page. An animated version would surely ignite screens.
This series is as wild as it sounds, featuring battles against spirits, extraterrestrials, and even everyday objects. Think The X-Files with a heavy dose of surrealism. Yet, at its heart, it’s a compelling coming-of-age story. An anime adaptation is bound to make waves.
8. Mashle: Magic and Muscles (Hajime Komoto)
Many enjoy stories set in magical schools. But what if the hero had no magic at all? Instead, imagine him using sheer physical strength to overcome magical challenges, causing quite a bit of comical destruction. That’s the core of Mashle.
Mash is a powerful young man aiming to become a Divine Visionary to support his adoptive father. The catch? This requires being a top student at the prestigious Easton Magic Academy, and he lacks any magical ability. Undeterred, he enrolls, determined to prove that brawn can triumph over magic.
The series is a riot, thanks to Mash’s deadpan humor and the inventive ways he tackles magical tasks—or rather, feats of strength. The manga’s delightful irreverence would translate brilliantly into an anime, likely capturing a broad audience with its unique blend of themes.
7. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (Hideyuki Furuhashi, Betten Court, Kohei Horikoshi)
If you’re an anime fan, you probably know My Hero Academia. Its immense popularity creates a perfect opportunity for spin-offs, and luckily, one already exists in manga form: Vigilantes.
This story follows Koichi, a young man who uses his quirk to help people outside the official hero system. After rescuing a girl, he’s recruited by the vigilante hero Knuckleduster, and his journey into the unofficial hero world begins.
What makes Vigilantes compelling is its grittier tone compared to the main series. It explores a darker side of the superhero world, with more severe threats and a somewhat nihilistic view. Fans have seen life inside U.A. High; this spin-off offers a fascinating look at the world beyond its walls, giving it huge potential as an anime.
6. High School Family: Kokosei Kazoku (Ryo Nakama)
High school is already a challenging time, full of awkward moments and self-discovery. Now, imagine going through it with your entire family enrolling alongside you. That’s the predicament poor Kotaro faces in this hilarious series.
Kotaro must attend high school with his mother, father, and younger sister, all of whom decide to join him. This naturally leads to a cascade of absurd and funny situations that will have you laughing out loud.
The comedy in this manga is top-notch, but seeing these gags animated would elevate them to a new level. Scenes like Kotaro’s father announcing he’s quitting his job to relive high school would be even funnier with motion, color, and dynamic direction. This manga perfectly illustrates how animation can breathe new life into a great premise.
5. 20th Century Boys (Naoki Urasawa)
Some stories are so sprawling and epic that adapting them feels like an impossible feat. 20th Century Boys often seems like one such manga. Despite being a celebrated classic and inspiring a few live-action films, it has never received an anime adaptation. It’s high time that changed.
20th Century Boys is a vast sci-fi mystery set in 20th-century Japan. It centers on Kenji, a man who notices the rise of a mysterious cult leader known only as “Friend.” He and his childhood friends realize that this villain’s plans to destroy the world are somehow linked to their own past.
The manga masterfully blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, featuring relatable characters caught in a bombastic narrative filled with giant robots and world-ending prophecies. It’s an exhilarating ride, and a well-handled anime adaptation could become an instant classic.
4. Sakamoto Days (Yuto Suzuki)
The tale of a retired hitman seeking a peaceful family life is a familiar one in action movies. However, Sakamoto Days takes this trope and makes it feel completely fresh and exciting.
Sakamoto was once the greatest hitman ever. After falling in love, he hung up his weapons to become a humble convenience store clerk. But his past inevitably catches up, as former associates try to eliminate him. Now, he must protect his new life without breaking his vow to never kill again.
What makes this manga so engaging is the duality of Sakamoto. He has a warm, friendly appearance, yet watching him unleash lethal skills at lightning speed is astonishing. The story expertly shifts between heartwarming comedy and thrilling action, and seeing this blend animated would be incredibly entertaining.
3. Goodnight Punpun (Inio Asano)
Inio Asano is a highly respected manga artist, known for powerful works like Solanin and Downfall. Despite his acclaim, his manga rarely get anime adaptations, which is a shame. If any of his works deserve the anime treatment, his most seminal piece, Goodnight Punpun, is the place to start.
Goodnight Punpun is a unique and poignant story about a young boy navigating life’s complexities. Punpun, depicted as an awkward, bird-like doodle, doesn’t resemble his peers. After experiencing his first love, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, heartbreak, and growth.
This manga is wonderfully strange yet deeply relatable, drawing readers in with its well-crafted characters and universal themes. As an anime, its exploration of puberty and young love could resonate with many. Beyond its profound aspects, its inherent wackiness, if captured with the right visual style, could also make it a hilarious and memorable oddball comedy.
2. Vagabond (Takehiko Inoue)
Similar to 20th Century Boys, it’s astounding that Vagabond hasn’t been adapted into an anime yet. It has received numerous awards, including the Kodansha Manga Award, and achieved massive commercial success, selling over 80 million copies. One might wonder if the sheer scale and depth of the story intimidate studios.
Vagabond is an epic historical drama based on the life of the legendary Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto. The story follows his transformation from a wild, antisocial youth into a master warrior and a more introspective individual. You witness his journey of self-improvement, becoming not just a better fighter but a better person.
The series is packed with grit, danger, and a profound exploration of morality. Musashi’s character development is incredibly compelling, and an animated version would undoubtedly captivate audiences. This potential anime could easily join the ranks of sword-fighting classics like Rurouni Kenshin and Demon Slayer. It’s time to make it happen.
1. Kaiju No. 8 (Naoya Matsumoto)
Kaiju No. 8 is relatively new to the manga scene, but fans are already clamoring for an anime adaptation, with rumors swirling online. And it’s easy to see why!
This shonen series takes place in a world frequently attacked by giant monsters known as Kaiju. An elite group, the Japanese Defense Force, combats these threats. You might expect our hero to be part of this force, but that’s not the case.
Kafka, the protagonist, is a middle-aged man working on the clean-up crew that deals with the aftermath of Kaiju attacks. His life takes a dramatic turn when he gains the ability to transform into a Kaiju himself.
The shift from a typical young protagonist to a relatable, older man trying to find his place gives this story a fresh feel. Anime viewers are used to teenage heroes, but an older character striving for a second chance offers something new and unique. Combined with addictive action sequences and a great sense of humor, every chapter is a delight. Imagining this brought to life with animation is enough to get any fan excited.
The world of manga is rich with stories just waiting for their moment to shine on screen. These ten titles represent a fraction of the incredible potential out there, each promising a unique and thrilling anime experience. From dark, emotional journeys to action-packed adventures and laugh-out-loud comedies, the possibilities are endless.
Which of these manga are you most excited to see adapted into an anime? Or is there another series you think deserves a spot on this list? Leave your comment below and let’s talk about the future of anime!
