Hideaki Anno has been on a hot streak with all his "Shin" reboots of classic Japanese properties. Shin Godzilla is already out and Shin Ultraman and Shin Kamen Rider are just around the corner. Even his own Rebuild of Evangelion can be said to have a "Shin" air to it. Anno receives a lot of praise for his works because of the spectacular designs and accurate depictions of the human condition associated with them. He's also not afraid to tackle darker, more mature subject matter. If his name is attached to a project, people will be excited about it.
Since Anno is apparently so good at rebooting things, one can't help but postulate what other works could use his magic touch. There are plenty of classic anime that don't get the proper love or attention that they deserve from contemporary audiences. If Anno were to take the helm of a "Shin" version of any of these classic shows, he may just be able to bring out their hidden potential.
Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982)
If Anno wants to tackle a relatively lighthearted mecha anime, there's always Macross. The series follows Hikaru Ichijyo as he rides the titular battleship through space and protects it from the Zentradi. Not only does Macross have beautiful animation and music, as well as an engaging cast of characters, but Anno actually has a history with the series. Back when he was attending Osaka University for the Arts, he did some of his first official work as an animator on the original 1982 Macross anime. Returning to Macross as a fully-fledged director would be a chance to give back to the anime that helped begin his career.
Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
Revolutionary Girl Utena seems to share a lot in common with all sorts of series that Anno has worked on before. The series itself follows Tenjo Utena as she partakes in a series of duels against her school's student council to defend her title as the fiancé of the Rose Bride Anthy Himemiya. An action series revolving around a female lead sounds reminiscent of Cutie Honey. There's also a big mystery element to the overarching plot, not unlike something from Neon Genesis Evangelion or Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. The outlandish visual flair of the show is at least on par with that of Evangelion. If Anno were to make Shin Utena, he'd undoubtedly be working in his element. He would be able to recapture the spirit of the original series while still giving a reboot its own unique feeling.
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac (1986)
Saint Seiya by Masami Kurumada is in desparate need of a proper reboot. The series follows the exploits of Seiya and his friends as they burn their inner cosmos to fight powerful enemies in the name of peace on Earth, including the Greek gods. After vanquishing Poseidon and Hades, the natural next step seems to be Zeus, but the manga abruptly ends after Hades. Since then, there have been several attempts to revitalize the series. There are sequels, prequels, spinoffs and of course, reboots, but none of them seem to capture the grandeur and mysticism of the original.
Anno might have what it takes to make a worthwhile sequel. He'd manage to give the series both the emotional weight and the otherworldly vibe that makes the original story so epic. He might even come up with some cool visuals for all the attacks and settings. There was even an attempt to make the final arc into a film series back in 2004, so a complete Shin Saint Seiya film series would not be unreasonable.
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993)
Victory Gundam is seen as one of the most dismal installments of the Gundam franchise. It follows the unusually-young pilot Üso Ewin as he pilots the titular Gundam for the League Militaire in an effort to fight the oppressive Zanscare Empire. Besides child soldiers, the show also features war, pollution, nuclear devastation and horrible deaths. It's a bad time, but that's the intent, so it works. Nowadays, Yoshiyuki Tomino and Bandai disavow Victory Gundam, but that doesn't prevent speculation about what could have been.
Funnily enough, this might be Anno's best way back into Gundam since he worked on Char's Counter Attack. Apparently, Victory Gundam was written while Tomino was suffering from depression, something that Anno has also experienced. While Tomino captures the horrors of war with the original series, Anno could back it up with a better look into the minds of the characters who are put through it. For example, many fans hate Katejina for what she does in the show, but Anno's take on the character may at least make her choices more understandable. Anno could help to remake Victory Gundam into the wonderfully miserable experience it's meant to be.
Fist of the North Star (1984)
Fist of the North Star has the potential to be a beautiful anime in a morbid sense. The series is set in a not-too-distant future in a world ravaged by nuclear war. Biker gangs terrorize the survivors and the protagonist stops them by punching them until they explode. The series covers themes of survival, betrayal, love and inner strength. There are elements of comedy, tragedy and action interspersed throughout the narrative, which makes it seem perfect for someone like Anno to direct.
Hideaki Anno could create a deathly atmosphere for a Shin Fist of the North Star film series. If such movies can be expected to look as detailed as the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, the mix of dreariness and unforgiving desert heat would be captured nicely within the wastelands and ruined cities that make up the backgrounds. He'd also be free to display all the blood and gore Toei Animation couldn't show. There might even be a chance to properly explore the feelings of Kenshiro and all the other stonefaced characters in the series. With Anno in charge, Fist of the North Star has so many ways it could truly blossom.
