Every single day numerous manga’s are getting adapted into a TV anime series. In Summer 2023 alone, more than 30+ anime are scheduled to be released soon! And, the numbers are increasing every day. But, even after all this hustle, there are still many well-written manga without anime adaptation.

In the huge catalogue of manga, sometimes these manga’s are overlooked due to several reasons. And the audience never gets to hear anything from the official. In this section, we will take a look at some of the most popular manga series that are still deprived of anime. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

10. The Climber

The Climber, also known as Kokou no Hito, is a seinen manga series partially based on real-life mountain climber Buntarō Katō. The story walks us through the life of a lonesome and “gloomy” student named Buntarō Mori who is introduced to sport climbing after being transferred to a new high school.

The manga follows his journey from a high school climbing club, to being a world-class professional climber. Going through the different stages of his life dealing with loneliness, solo climbing, and depression, Mori dedicates his life to conquering the most difficult mountain, K2.

9. Dandadan

The plot and supernatural elements of Dandadan manga are pretty bizarre and out of this world. It has an uncanny resemblance to the popular shōnen Chainsaw Man, but it’s far wilder than the latter one, including the fact that the main hero is “without balls”. Not the greatest, but it’s certainly one of the best new-gen manga without anime adaptation.

Momo Ayase strikes up an unusual friendship with her school’s UFO fanatic named Okarun. While Momo believes in spirits, she thinks aliens are nothing but nonsense. Her new friend, meanwhile, thinks the exact opposite. To settle matters, the two set out to prove each other wrong. What unfolds next is a beautiful story of young love…and oddly horny aliens and spirits!

8. Lone Wolf & Cub

Lone Wolf and Cub chronicle the story of Ogami Ittō, a samurai who loses everything including his entire family in a conspiracy war. Disgraced by false accusations from the Yagyū clan, he is forced to take the path of the assassin. Along with his three-year-old son, Daigorō, they seek revenge on the Yagyū clan.

First published in 1970, the manga is widely recognized for its breathtaking artistry, well-written characters, and intricate storyline. While the manga is yet to be adapted into an anime, its influence can be seen in various American dramas including the Star Wars spin-off “The Mandalorian”.

7. Fire Punch

Tatsuki Fujimoto has become a household name since the anime adaptation of his dark fantasy supernatural manga, Chainsaw Man. However, that’s not the first manga Fujimoto wrote, and in fact, even a better manga with a far bleaker and far more violent story than its successor.

Fire Punch takes place on an Earth that has become frozen over and barren. The protagonist Agni is a boy who has the blessing of regeneration. After his village succumbs to inextinguishable flames he is left constantly on fire, leaving him in anguish and vowing to get revenge.

6. Holyland

Holyland is a martial arts based manga that’s yet to receive an anime adaptation despite its huge success in other media forms. The story follows Yū Kamishiro, an outcast abused by his peers at school. Tired of getting beaten day after day, Kamishiro starts practicing punches from a boxing guide.

With his new knowledge, he takes to the streets, hoping to find a place for himself in the gang violence of Tokyo at night. His fighting skills progress and he begins to find his first friends, and with them a place to protect, his own “Holyland”.

5. Psyren

In the early 2000s, Psyren popularized the battle royale genre among shōnen fans. But, it never got the attention it deserved, remaining an underrated gem. The manga follows a laid-back teenager, Ageha Yoshina who gets transported to a warped alternate dimension where you’ve got to fight your way back to our world – or die trying.

As he adjusts to the strange physics of this new world and the powers it has given him, he finds that not all is as it seems, in this world or his own! Psyren has all the potential to be a successful hit anime if given a befitting adaptation by a prominent animation studio.

4. Oyasumi Punpun

Oyasumi Punpun is one of the most recognized pieces of work you’ll ever come across. Best known for its grasping plot and emotionally bending characters, the series sends its readers into a state of awe. The manga explores a very mature and sensitive theme throughout the series that blends nicely with its beautiful art.

Through a young boy named ‘Punpun’, the author has illustrated the journey of his adulthood. From elementary school to his early 20s, the author has depicted Punpun’s life struggles he goes through dealing with family problems, love life, and many other events that can be mentally challenging for anyone.

3. I Am A Hero

The zombie apocalypse is a very well-received subject in the mainstream media. Although, there’s a lack of such type of content in Japanese mediums still there is plenty of revered series featuring hordes of the undead. Kengo Hanazawa’s “I Am A Hero” is one such story that takes a subtle approach to explain how to survive a zombie outbreak.

Manga artist assistant, Hideo Suzuki’s life seems to be stuck around his exhausting but low-paying job until one day, an unknown disease (nicknamed ZQN) spreads into the city turning people into homicidal maniacs. Armed with only his sporting shotgun, Hideo runs for his life in trying to become a “hero” within a destroyed world.

2. 20th Century Boys

One of Naoki Urasawa’s extraordinary works, 20th Century Boys is a hit sci-fi mystery manga. The series follows the story of a convenience store manager Kenji Endo who begins to investigate a fanatical cult, led by a character named “Friends” after one of his old friends suddenly commits suicide.

Starring a group of middle-aged friends who grew up in 1960s Japan, they gradually reunite to face their childhood club mascot “Friend” one last time. Given the success of the Monster anime, if the author decides to get involved in an adaptation of 20th Century Boys, all evidence points to another hit anime.

1. Vagabond

Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond is one of the finest written manga to date. Seen as a parallel to Berserk and Vinland Saga, the timeless and realistic art style of Inoue binds pretty well with his fantastic storytelling. Still, it wasn’t enough for the producers to consider it for an anime adaptation.

Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher – the most celebrated samurai of all time! Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, it details Miyamoto Musashi’s journey from a wanted criminal to a legendary swordsman.

Which one of the following manga without anime deserves to receive an adaptation? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other manga like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

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