Anime That Should Definitely be Rebooted

Sometimes anime series were created before the original stories were complete. This meant important plotlines were left out, or the ending had to be rushed. Other older anime suffered from the limitations of the time they were made – things like inconsistent pacing or outdated animation. These series are often based on much larger and ongoing stories in manga or novels that deserve a more complete adaptation.

This list highlights stories that would benefit from a fresh adaptation, allowing them to fully realize the original vision with consistent storytelling and expanded world-building. For each series, we’ll look at what the previous adaptation covered, where it differed from the source material or ended, and what a new version could add based on what fans already know.

‘Berserk’ (1997–1998)

As a huge fan, it was frustrating that the original anime only covered the beginning of the story – up to the Eclipse. So much of Berserk, especially the Black Swordsman arc and everything that came after, never got adapted into a full TV series. While they’ve tried revisiting the story with movies and newer shows, it feels like they’ve started over multiple times instead of giving us one continuous adaptation. It’s awesome they’re trying, but it’s just not the same as a single, flowing story.

A complete restart of the series could either begin at the very start of the story or pick up somewhere in the early events and then continue chronologically. This would give the show time to properly introduce and develop the characters, locations, and conflicts that become important later on, leading to more satisfying storylines.

‘Tokyo Ghoul’ (2014–2018)

The first season of the show stayed true to the original manga. However, the second season began to diverge, presenting different choices for the characters and leading to new results. As the show continued, storylines were shortened, the order of events was changed, and details about new groups and power dynamics were often left out.

A new version of the story could follow the original plot from beginning to end, preserving the order of events. This would ensure characters act believably and allow both the detective’s and the ghoul’s storylines to unfold at a balanced pace, strengthening the overall mystery.

‘Soul Eater’ (2008–2009)

The anime finished with its own unique ending, but the manga kept going, adding more story and developing the characters and their weapons further. As a result, some important details and plot points from the original manga weren’t included in the anime adaptation.

The next version of the show could fully adapt the story’s plot, following it to the very end and keeping the same feel as it shifts from everyday school life to a bigger, more intense conflict. This would also allow the show to introduce key villains and explain the rules of the story’s world as the author originally planned.

‘Claymore’ (2007)

The TV series initially followed the story from the northern part of the world, but ended with events not found in the original source material. The manga, however, continued much further, revealing key details about the Organization, the history of those with special powers, and a wider conflict spanning several areas.

Restarting the story from the beginning would allow for a more complete narrative, including the political conflicts and complex relationships between characters that were detailed in the original book. This would cover all the material that wasn’t previously explored.

‘D.Gray-man’ (2006–2008)

The original series had more than a hundred episodes, but when it returned, it only covered a small part of the following story with fewer episodes overall. Several important storylines, including those about the Order, the Noah family, and the central mystery of Innocence, were never adapted for TV.

Telling the story chronologically, from start to finish, would allow viewers to follow the characters’ complete journeys and experience all the carefully planned twists and reveals as originally intended, without significant time jumps.

‘Katekyo Hitman Reborn!’ (2006–2010)

The anime series was very long, but it ended before the story could be fully told, leaving some key battles and character developments to be continued in the original manga. The manga then expanded on the story, changing existing relationships between characters and establishing new rules for how conflicts played out.

Restarting the series would allow for a stronger, funnier beginning, maintain the characters’ development, and finally include the storylines that were originally planned but never shown. This approach would let the series reach its intended conclusion with a consistent plot and a clear journey for the main characters.

‘Air Gear’ (2006)

This adaptation established the world and introduced the initial characters, but it ended before reaching the major competitions and final battles that are central to the story. While some bonus episodes explored smaller side stories, the main plot remained unresolved.

A fresh start would give the show time to properly develop the exciting stunts, the relationships between the characters, and the power struggles within the sport. It would also allow them to finally bring to life the later storylines involving competing teams and the major competitions that were originally planned.

‘Pandora Hearts’ (2009)

As a fan, it was interesting to see the anime start off pretty faithful to the manga, but then it really took off on its own path. The ending they created was completely different from what’s happening in the manga, and it felt like they were resolving character stories in ways the author hadn’t planned yet. Some characters I was really invested in ended up having very different journeys in the anime compared to the manga!

A fresh take on the story could carefully reveal clues and past events in the same order as the original manga, making the importance of the agreements, family connections, and the hidden history more impactful as they are discovered.

‘Deadman Wonderland’ (2011)

The show successfully adapted the initial storyline and prison sequences, but it was cancelled after only one season. This left several key conflicts unresolved and a larger overarching mystery unexplored. While a single extra video provided some character history, it didn’t tie back into the main story.

Starting the story over would allow for a more detailed exploration of future conflicts, revealing how the characters’ powers work and where they come from. Plus, it would give the characters the satisfying conclusion that the original manga offered.

‘Akame ga Kill!’ (2014)

Initially, the adaptation closely followed the original story, but it later changed the characters’ destinies and the ending to fit the number of episodes. The manga, however, continued on a different course and eventually broadened the story’s universe with additional sequels.

Staying true to the original story’s plan and how the team worked together, while still reaching the same ending, would also highlight the political consequences and the overall strategies of all parties involved.

‘The Promised Neverland’ (2019–2021)

The first season faithfully adapted the initial storyline, but the second season rushed through and left out significant plotlines and characters. As a result, important settings and relationships weren’t developed on screen.

Restarting the game could bring back the lost storylines and the central mystery connecting each place. This would preserve all the clues players have already found and allow the characters to develop naturally as they face new obstacles.

‘Gantz’ (2004)

The TV series initially followed the manga closely, but eventually diverged and created its own ending while the manga was still ongoing. Because of this, many of the larger storylines and the full extent of the conflict were never adapted for television.

Beginning the story again would let the series follow the original mission sequence and naturally build tension as things progress. Plus, it would create a stronger impact when key plot twists later connect back to what happened at the beginning.

‘Rave Master’ (2001–2002)

As a critic, I was really enjoying this adaptation – it did a fantastic job with the initial storyline. However, it wrapped things up before getting into the truly epic, later parts of the source material. We missed out on a huge chunk of the world, the full backstory of those mysterious stones, and a whole bunch of interesting rival factions. It felt like we were left wanting more, and not in a good cliffhanger way, but because so much story was still on the table.

A new version could speed up the journey and fights, and successfully finish the main goal. This would tie together the initial clues with the story’s ultimate conclusion, as originally planned.

‘Soul Hunter’ (1999)

The first version of the story rushed through a complex plot, leaving out important details about the characters and political landscape. A subsequent TV adaptation also sped things up and changed the order of events, making it hard to fully understand the motivations of different groups.

Starting over with a fresh adaptation would allow the series to properly introduce its characters, the complex political maneuvering, and the overarching storyline, just like the original manga. This approach would ensure viewers understand everyone’s reasons for acting and can easily follow the strategic planning throughout the entire series.

‘Btooom!’ (2012)

The anime quickly established the world and initial conflicts, but ended before showing the bigger power struggles and how the island itself functioned. Fortunately, the manga continued the story and even offered different ways the story could end.

The game could be updated to chart paths across the island and illustrate how player relationships evolve with new rules. Plus, the two existing endings could be combined into one conclusive finale presented in the game itself.

‘Medaka Box’ (2012)

The first two seasons established the school environment, student government, and initial villains, but concluded before exploring the full scope of the power system and introducing more characters. Important story conflicts and details about the characters were only ever shown in the original manga.

A reboot would allow the show to introduce key story elements sooner and build tension throughout the competition series, similar to the original. It would also give the creators a chance to include popular characters and rivalries that were previously cut.

‘No. 6’ (2011)

As a big fan of the source material, I have to say the anime adapted the story within a single season, and to make it fit, they really streamlined things from the novels. While I enjoyed the focused plot, it meant we didn’t get as much of the rich world-building beyond the main city, and a lot of interesting side stories and political details unfortunately had to be cut.

A fresh start could stick closer to the original story and delve into the wider world and hidden areas that make the setting feel so vast. Doing so would give the climax more of the impact the original intended.

‘Highschool of the Dead’ (2010)

Okay, so the show did a pretty good job covering how everything first started and getting the initial group together. But then it just…stopped after one season. Turns out the manga it was based on also went on break, and sadly, the original author passed away, meaning the story never got finished. So, a lot of the planned plotlines just never made it to the screen, which is a real shame.

A fresh start would allow the story to be told at a steady pace, with understandable reasons for the characters’ actions, while recognizing the story’s boundaries. It could also add new storylines featuring the characters and places fans already know from the books.

‘Negima! Magister Negi Magi’ (2005)

The initial TV adaptation changed the story’s mood and created a unique ending not found in the original source material. Another series presented a completely different version with entirely new scenes instead of simply continuing the existing story. Subsequent animated releases covered some of the main story arcs, but didn’t adapt the entire second half of the manga.

A full story would follow the character’s journey from school into the larger magical world, all the way through the surprising discoveries and final conflicts. This approach would also connect seamlessly with the sequel series, ‘UQ Holder,’ by presenting the complete, original timeline of events.

‘Twin Star Exorcists’ (2016–2017)

The show began by closely following the story and initial adventures from the manga. However, it quickly moved into new territory, introducing characters and storylines not present in the original printed version. From that point on, the show and the manga diverged, heading in separate directions.

As a huge fan of the source material, I’m really hoping a reboot would fix the story’s pacing. They could rearrange things to follow the original story order, which would allow for more time to explore the characters’ training, family histories, and the bigger picture of the conflict. Honestly, it would let those core relationships grow naturally *with* the main plot, the way it was always meant to be.

Let us know in the comments which anime you think should be rebooted, and which story arcs you’d love to see animated completely!

2025-09-20 03:47