Over the past twenty years, manga and anime have become incredibly popular. Each year brings a wave of new series, and while not every one becomes a huge hit, they all manage to find dedicated fans.
Often, when a manga is turned into an anime, it becomes much more popular and well-known. But sometimes, even great manga series don’t get adapted into anime, and stay only in comic form.
6. Oyasumi Punpun
- Author: Inio Asano
Okay, so ‘Oyasumi Punpun’ by Inio Asano is seriously considered by a lot of people to be the best slice-of-life manga ever. It’s not an easy read, though – it dives deep into really heavy stuff like depression, feeling betrayed, and being totally alone, which can be a turn-off. But trust me, if you stick with it, it’s a genuine masterpiece. It’s been over for ages now, and it’s wild that no animation studio has picked it up yet! I think they’re probably worried about how to bring Asano’s incredibly detailed art style to life in anime form – and honestly, they’re right to be cautious!
Oyasumi Punpun tells the story of a boy’s life, from childhood to adulthood, as he deals with various personal struggles. These challenges evolve as he grows up. What makes the manga stand out is how relatable its themes are – readers often find themselves connecting with Punpun’s experiences.
5. Vagabond
- Author: Takehiko Inoue
Takahiko Inoue is a celebrated manga artist, best known for works like Vagabond. While Vagabond is inspired by Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel ‘Musashi,’ Inoue brings his own unique perspective to the story. The manga is praised for its incredibly detailed artwork and compelling narrative, which many consider to be even better than the original novel. It also offers insightful philosophical reflections. Despite its popularity, Vagabond unfortunately doesn’t have an anime adaptation, and one doesn’t seem likely in the future.
Vagabond is a manga that tells the story of Miyamoto Musashi, a famous swordsman. While based on history, the story takes creative liberties for dramatic effect. Unfortunately, the manga is currently on hold with no confirmed plans for its continuation.
4. 20th Century Boys
- Author: Naoki Urasawa
Naoki Urasawa is widely considered one of the best manga artists ever. Unlike many creators who have a few popular works, Urasawa has consistently produced hits like Pluto, Monster, Billy Bat, and 20th Century Boys. These manga have all been praised by critics and loved by fans. Currently, Billy Bat and 20th Century Boys haven’t been adapted into other formats like anime or live-action.
20th Century Boys is widely considered a masterpiece of the thriller manga genre. The story unfolds as a shadowy figure called “Friend” gains influence and plunges the world into turmoil. At its heart, it follows Kenji Endo and his childhood friends who unexpectedly become entangled in a global conspiracy with potentially devastating consequences.
3. The Climber
- Author: Shin-ichi Sakamoto, Yoshio Nabeta, Hiroshi Takano
“The Climber” is a highly-rated manga on MyAnimeList that stands out from typical sports stories. It’s full of drama and explores serious themes like loneliness, failure, and depression, making it more than just a sports manga. Despite its popularity with fans worldwide, there haven’t been any announcements about a potential anime adaptation.
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The Climber tells the story of Mori Buntarō, a shy student who discovers a passion for rock climbing after starting at a new school. Climbing helps him overcome his introversion and gives him an exciting new challenge.
2. Billy Bat
- Author: Naoki Urasawa
Naoki Urasawa delivers another stunning work with Billy Bat, a mystery series guaranteed to keep you hooked. The story boasts a simple but incredibly compelling premise, and, like many of Urasawa’s creations, it doesn’t have a
Billy Bat tells the story of Kevin Yamagata, an aspiring comic book artist who journeys to Japan hoping to get approval from the artist who inspired him. However, his simple request quickly spirals into a terrifying situation when he becomes entangled in a murder investigation.
1. Lone Wolf & Cub
- Author: Kazue Koike
I recently learned about Lone Wolf & Cub, a manga created by Kazue Koike and Goseki Kojima. It originally ran from 1970 to 1976, and what’s amazing is how much people still talk about it today. It’s considered a really important work – I understand it practically created the now-common story idea of a strong man protecting a young child. Despite all its success and praise, though, it never actually got turned into an anime series, which I found surprising.
Lone Wolf & Cub tells the story of Ittou Ogami, a disgraced samurai who seeks revenge after being falsely accused and losing his family. Only his son, Daigorou, survives the tragedy, and together they begin a journey to find those responsible.
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2026-05-10 14:34