Horror Manga That Might Be Difficult To Adapt Into An Anime

As a seasoned manga enthusiast and aficionado of all things anime, I must say that these three masterpieces, Doubt, I Am A Hero, and Berserk, each hold a unique charm that transcends the screen.

Transforming a manga into an anime isn’t a walk in the park, especially when it comes to horror mangas, as they present unique difficulties. Horror mangas typically feature intricate artworks, bizarre visuals, and use page turns to create jump scares, elements that can be challenging to replicate on screen. Despite this, numerous attempts have been made to bring these chilling manga series to life as anime, with varying success rates.

Despite their popularity, many horror mangas struggle to find an anime adaptation due to the challenging nature of adapting them to TV while maintaining the essence of the original work. Some difficult-to-adapt stories have been given anime adaptations, occasionally even multiple ones, but these often receive mixed or negative feedback.

6 Uzumaki

Iconic Junji Ito Body Horror Manga That Got a Surprisingly Well-Received Anime Adaptation

Release Date: 1998
Creator: Junji Ito
No. of Volumes: 3

As a dedicated gamer, it’s no wonder that some of the most cherished manga artists like Junji Ito have inspired countless adaptations across various screens. Yet, after experiencing the ‘Junji Ito Collection’, I can’t help but feel that his masterpieces are truly meant to be savored on paper, given their intricate explorations into body horror.

To date, the 2024 adaptation of Uzumaki stands out as the only work by Junji Ito that has generally received favorable criticisms. This is somewhat unexpected given the manga’s complex artwork and its emphasis on creating a chilling atmosphere over character growth. As expected, a sizable budget was crucial for bringing this anime to life.

5 Hideout

Highly Detailed Art Style Would Be Difficult to Translate Into Animation

Release Date: 2010
Creator: Masasumi Kakizaki
No. of Volumes: 1

The manga titled “Hideout” is a psychological horror story chronicling a man’s descent into insanity as he attempts to commit murder against his wife. The artwork in this series, much like that of Berserk, is intricate and detailed. What makes this manga truly unsettling is its use of page turns to reveal its most gruesome scenes, which would undeniably lose impact in a screen adaptation.

Furthermore, creating an authentic sense of confinement and the mental deterioration of the main character demands careful tempo management, as there’s a risk of oversimplifying or hurrying through the storyline when adapting it into an anime format.

4 Jagaaaaaan

Graphic Body Horror and Extreme Violence Would Be Hard to Get Past Japanese Censors

Release Date: February 6, 2017
Creator: Muneyuki Kaneshiro (writer) and Kensuke Nishida (artist)
No. of Volumes: 14

Many horror mangas often fail to receive anime adaptations due to their explicit content. Despite its difficult-to-remember title, Jagaaaaaan is a supernatural horror manga brimming with disturbing body horror, excessive gore, and mature themes. Adapting such intense scenes for animation might pose a unique challenge for studios, as they strive to comply with the strict regulations of Japanese TV networks.

It’s clear that the detailed artwork in this manga would make animating it difficult and expensive. Given the dedicated fanbase behind Jagaaaaaan, it’s not surprising that animation studios might be hesitant to invest such resources, as taking on the risk of turning it into an anime could potentially backfire.

3 Doubt

Unique Pacing and Mystery Plot Would be Hard to Convey in an Anime Without it Feeling Convoluted

Release Date: 2007
Creator: Yoshiki Tonogai
No. of Volumes: 4

A live-action version of “Doubt” might perform exceptionally well, considering the success of other survival game series such as “Squid Game” and “Alice in Borderland”. However, its intriguing storyline is more effectively experienced by reading it as a manga rather than watching it on a computer or TV screen.

For one, Doubt relies on intense, slow-burn psychological horror and mystery rather than gory action. There are clues to the story’s big mystery scattered throughout the manga, meaning some re-reads are required to piece the whole puzzle together. An anime adaptation would need to approach these elements carefully if it wants to maintain the same level of tension.

2 I Am A Hero

Realistic Artwork and Lack of Dialogue Means It is Best Enjoyed as a Graphic Novel

Release Date: April 2009
Creator: Kengo Hanazawa
No. of Volumes: 22

Although the story “I Am A Hero” was adapted into a live-action film in 2016, it’s highly unlikely that an anime version will ever be produced. The reason behind this is primarily due to the manga’s unique and realistic art style, which doesn’t typically align with the more stylized nature of animated productions. Moreover, the gritty zombie apocalypse setting seems more suited for live-action rather than traditional anime, as it offers a more authentic feel compared to animation.

The comic book series adopts a narrative approach that’s less hurried and more focused on psychological and philosophical themes, with minimal dialogue or action sequences compared to most zombie-themed media. Essentially, this unique storytelling style might not fully translate into an animated adaptation, potentially diminishing the captivating appeal of the manga.

1 Berserk

Intricately Detailed Artwork, Mature Themes, and Complex Storytelling Pose a Monumental Challenge for Anime Adaptations

Release Date: August 1989
Creator: Kentaro Miura
No. of Volumes: 41 (ongoing)

The animated versions of “Berserk” have been produced on several occasions, yet none have achieved the same degree of praise that the original manga has received. To many devoted manga enthusiasts, “Berserk” is considered an unadaptable work, and they aren’t far off the mark.

Kentaro Miura’s intricate art style poses a significant challenge when it comes to animating Berserk, as the series’ elaborate story arcs, mature content, deep lore, and complex narratives make for a faithful adaptation that is exceptionally difficult to achieve. Past adaptations have faced criticism for feeling hurried, watering down controversial elements, and in the case of the 2016-2017 versions, excessive use of CGI, which has not been well-received by fans.

2024-10-11 06:33