Romance Manga That Might Be Difficult To Adapt Into An Anime

Key Takeaways

Some romance manga are hard to adapt into anime & are better suited for live-action due to mature themes & narrative style.
Josei romances often get live-action adaptations instead of anime due to audience preference & grounded stories.
Some romance manga like
Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan
tackle controversial themes making them unsuitable for mainstream anime.

As a longtime manga and anime enthusiast with a soft spot for unconventional romance stories, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia as I delve into these three titles that, despite their unique narratives and thought-provoking commentaries on relationships, remain untouched by the anime adaptation world.

Compared to the horror genre, adapting romance manga into an anime series might seem straightforward, but it’s actually more complex than you think. Many romance stories are better suited for the pages of a manga due to their unique art style or adult themes, making it challenging to translate them effectively onto a television screen.

It’s quite common that certain romance mangas, which might find challenges in becoming an anime, are instead turned into live-action dramas. This is probably due to the fact that their storylines and narrative structure align more with soap operas than typical anime. Additionally, it’s not unusual for Josei romances to get live-action adaptations over animated ones, as this is often what the intended audience prefers. Consequently, these romance mangas would likely face obstacles in becoming a successful anime series.

6 Happy Marriage!?

‘Contract Marriage’ Rom-Com That Would Be Better Received as a Live-Action Drama

Release Date: June 2009
Creator: Maki Enjouji
No. of Volumes: 10

Similar to numerous Josei romance mangas, “Happy Marriage!?” has been adapted into a live-action series, but not into an animated one. Despite the achievements of other Josei anime, such as the similarly named “My Happy Marriage“, it is believed that further adaptations of Josei mangas would be successful. However, “Happy Marriage!?” seems to be more effectively conveyed through a manga or live-action drama format rather than an anime adaptation.

This is due to the fact that the series features a romance storyline that is relatively straightforward and largely based on real-life events, without any magical or high-octane action sequences like those found in “My Happy Marriage“. Given the gradual development of Chiwa and Hokuto’s relationship, it might prove challenging to portray it effectively within an anime format.

5 House Of The Sun

Mature Themes That Would Have To Be Handled Carefully In An Adaptation

Release Date: 2010
Creator: Taamo
No. of Volumes: 13

Due to its widespread praise and the Kodansha Award it won for Best Shojo in 2014, House of the Sun seems like a prime choice for an adaptation into an anime. One might wonder why such a heartwarming story about childhood friend romance hasn’t yet been animated.

As a gamer engrossed in this captivating series, I understand why it demands a delicate touch when adapting it. Its heavy themes revolving around parental absence and emotional recovery necessitate the utmost sensitivity. Moreover, compressing its intricate character growth, internal monologues, and subtle romance into a standard 12-episode anime could be quite challenging.

4 You’re My Pet

Themes Of Gender Role Reversal Might Be Misunderstood By Mainstream Anime Fans

Release Date: 2000
Creator: Yayoi Ogawa
No. of Volumes: 14

The manga titled “You’re My Pet“, or alternatively known as “Tramps Like Us“, is a renowned romance story in the josei genre. It has been adapted into two live-action dramas, a South Korean film, and even won a Kodansha Manga Award for Best Shojo. Critics have praised it for its portrayal of an unusual relationship and its insightful observations about romantic expectations.

It’s possible that You’re My Pet may never become an anime because its themes on gender roles and societal expectations, while appreciated by critics, might not resonate with the typical anime audience. Moreover, the soap opera-like storyline lends itself more effectively to a live-action drama adaptation rather than an animated one.

3 Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan

Heavy, Tragic Themes Make it Unsuited For An Anime Adaptation

Release Date: 2007
Creator: Gong Ji-Young
No. of Volumes: 1

One frequent challenge in transforming certain romance manga into anime is that they delve into contentious themes. To animate a manga such as “Watashitachi no Shiawase no Jikan” sensitively, without exaggerating or unnecessarily intensifying subjects like suicide, would demand a deft touch.

This manga, titled “Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan“, is far from a typical cutesy romance story. In fact, it’s quite challenging to envision how this profound narrative about a death row inmate and a suicidal woman could be successfully transformed into a mainstream anime that caters to the masses.

2 Mars

Balancing Taboo Subject Matter With Romance Would Be Difficult

Release Date: 1996
Creator: Fuyumi Soryo
No. of Volumes: 15

In 2004, a Taiwanese drama was created based on the notion that Mars, much like a soap opera, is full of intrigue. Regarding an anime adaptation, it’s unlikely given the series’ intense focus on challenging topics such as bullying, sexual assault, suicide, and trauma.

In many anime, similar themes are tackled, but adding a romantic plot like that of Mars might lead to an excessively dramatic portrayal. Reducing the development of the main couple’s relationship into just 12 or even 24 episodes could diminish the series’ emotional resonance and depth.

1 Solanin

Art Style And Introspective Storytelling Wouldn’t Translate Into An Anime

Release Date: 2005
Creator: Inio Asano
No. of Volumes: 2

Inio Asano is recognized for crafting profound, unfilmable manga series such as “Goodnight Punpun” and “Girl on the Shore”. The series “Solanin”, with its musical theme, can be added to this collection due to its leisurely narrative style that delves deeply into introspection.

Solanin offers an incredibly authentic slice of life in manga form, even going as far as detailing the backgrounds within its panels. This realism, coupled with Asano’s unique art style, is likely why it was chosen for a live-action adaptation instead of an anime. Consequently, anyone eager to experience Solanin‘s music in a more vivid way should definitely catch the movie.

2024-10-15 04:33