Manga is the Japanese version of comic books and most anime originally start off as manga. For example, popular series like Naruto and Sailor Moon both started out as manga series before their big anime adaptations. However, there are still some classic manga series that haven't received their time on screens as anime.
There's some amazing manga out there that are extremely popular but simply haven't gotten a chance at an anime adaptation. These manga series are the perfect example that not every manga needs to have an anime adaption to become popular.
10 Vagabond Is The Most Popular Manga With No Anime Adaption
Released in 1998, this prize-winning manga series has sold millions of copies despite not having an anime. Vagabond's lack of anime adaptation is surprising considering its massive popularity worldwide. Vagabond tells the story of Shinmen Takezo in 15th century Japan who is shunned from his village due to his violent and wild ways. At the age of 17, Takezo runs away from home and joins the Toyotomi army. After the war, Taezo becomes a wanted criminal who must change his name and ways to escape death.
9 20th Century Boys Is An Award-Winning Mystery Manga That Features A Mysterious Cult
Published in 1999, 20th Century Boys was a popular manga series that has some awards under its belt and a live-action trilogy series. Despite its critical success and wide popularity, no anime adaptation has been made to date.
This manga series features Kenji Edo, who one day decides to investigate a cult after one of his friends committed suicide. Thanks to his deceased friend leaving clues about the cult, Kenji has discovered that this mysterious cult is now targeting him and his friends.
8 I Am A Hero Focuses On A Realistic Zombie Apocalypse
Another award-winning manga series that has sold over a million copies, I Am A Hero was published in 2009. Although this manga was completed in 2017, it was never picked for an anime adaptation. Notably, the manga did get a live-action film in 2016.
This series stars Hideo Suzuki a struggling manga artist that one day witnesses a man get struck by a vehicle but walks away as if nothing had happened. Turns out the zombie apocalypse has started and now Hideo has to find a way to survive.
7 REAL Follows The Story Of Three High School Boys Who Love Basketball
Selling over 9 million copies in Japan, REAL is a currently ongoing manga series that started serialization in 1999. REAL tells the story of three high school boys, each with their own problems: Nomiya Tomomi, a high school dropout; Togawa Kiyoharu, a wheelchair basketball player; and Takahashi Hisanobu, a basketball player who finds himself paraplegic after an accident. What these three boys have in common is their desire to play basketball.
6 Psyren Is An Isekai Manga About A Boy Who Must Compete If He Wants To Return Home
Released in 2007, Psyren is an isekai manga that finished serialization in 2010. This series follows the story of Ageha Yoshina, a high school student who will help anyone for some money. One day, however, Ageha receives a mysterious phone call asking if he wants to go to Psyren.
He accepts the offer, and once he's arrived in the titular Psyren, Ageha must use his new psychic abilities to compete if he ever wants to go home again. This sci-fi action-packed manga would make a great anime for isekai fans to enjoy.
5 The Last Game Is A Shojo Manga Featuring A Long Term Rivalry
Running from 2011 to 2016, Last Game is shojo manga series that has yet to get an anime adaption but has gotten some drama CDs made. This romance manga features Naoto Yanagi and Mikoto Kujou, who have been competing against each other academically and in sports since they were in elementary school. However, once they reach college they must face each other in their last game in which Yanagi might finally win.
4 Pluto Is A Manga Inspired By An Astro Boy Character
The 2003 manga Pluto was inspired by the character Pluto from the hit series Astro Boy. Despite Astro Boy being such a popular anime series in Japan, it's quite surprising that Pluto has yet to be animated as well.
This series follows the story of robot detective Gesicht and his investigation into the mysterious robot and human deaths around the world. These deaths are marked by victims having horns protruding from their heads.
3 The Yotsuba&! Manga Stars A Young Girl Discovering The Joys Of The World
Published in 2003, Yotsuba&! is an award-winning slice-of-life manga telling the story of a little girl and her father. This manga series follows the daily life of Yotsuba Koiwai, a five-year-old girl discovering the joys of the world with her adopted father Koiwai. Despite its success as a manga, there's currently no anime adaption since the author stated he doesn't believe the manga would translate well as an anime.
2 Goodnight PunPun Features A Young Boy Discovering Sad Realities Of Life
One of the most recommend manga to read in Japan is the depressing slice of life manga called Goodnight PunPun, which was published in 2007. This manga series is the polar opposite of Yotsuba&!, which is about a five-year-old discovering the joys in the world.
Goodnight PunPun focuses on PunPun Onodera, an 11-year-old boy who discovers the tragedies of life. He becomes depressed after getting rejected by a girl and witnessing his father abusing his mother. Because of its dark themes, an anime is most likely not in the works.
1 Übel Blatt Follows The Story Of A Half-Human Boy Seeking Revenge
Übel Blatt is a fantasy manga that ran from 2004 to 2019 with overwhelming popularity among manga fans for its amazing storyline. This series follows the story of Koinzell, a half-human child who's on a mission to get revenge on those who betrayed him. Notably, his opponents are now considered the seven heroes of the land. Surprisingly, this series is quite popular in France, earning it the 11th spot on the top 15 manga list in France. However, despite its global popularity, no anime plans are in the works.
