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Anime is full of stories that captured the hearts of fans but were left unfinished or abruptly cut short. Whether due to studio closures, financial difficulties, or simply because they were ahead of their time, many promising series were left hanging.
While animated series like Bleach And Rurouni Kenshin have been lucky enough to be rebooted, there are many others who deserve a second chance to tell their story. Crazy mad has Deadman’s WonderlandThese ephemeral series stand out as excellent candidates for making a triumphant return.
15 Claymore hastened his conclusion
The series had an abrupt ending that didn’t live up to its source material
Claymore is a story of fierce warriors and monstrous battles that met an untimely end, leaving fans longing for the dark, medieval world. The anime, which aired in 2007, was canceled after only 26 episodes, mainly because it deviated from the source material and created an original ending. At the time, the manga was still ongoing, and rather than risk a long hiatus or filler episodes, Claymore chose to conclude his story with a rushed conclusion that many felt did not do justice to the original narrative.
A reboot of the series could correct these missteps by faithfully adapting the entire manga, allowing the story to unfold in all its dark glory. With modern animation, the series’ visceral fight scenes and eerie, desolate landscapes could come to life with even more intensity. Given the anime’s unique blend of horror, fantasy, and action, a Claymore The reboot would give fans the complete, gripping saga they’ve long wanted.
14 Slam Dunk couldn’t compete with its competitors
Fans were left with no closure when this series ended prematurely
Originally aired in the mid-90s, Slam Dunk became a cultural phenomenon, sparking a basketball craze in Japan with its compelling blend of sports action and humor. However, due to declining viewership and the growing popularity of other anime at the time, the series was put on hiatus before it could cover the manga’s final and most intense arcs. This premature ending left fans without the closure of seeing Hanamichi Sakuragi and his teammates face their greatest challenges on the court.
Slam Dunk The manga would certainly benefit from a reboot, with modern animation enhancing the dynamic basketball scenes and capturing the energy of the sport in a way that wasn’t possible in the ’90s. It could also delve deeper into the characters’ personal growth, particularly Sakuragi’s transformation from a delinquent to a passionate athlete. With a full adaptation, fans could finally experience the iconic matches and emotional moments that made the manga a classic.
13 Btooom! Failed Before Reaching Its Full Potential
Previous attempts to continue the series have also failed.
Btoum! was scrapped before it even had a chance to establish itself. Released in 2012, the series was canceled after its first season due to disappointing sales and a lack of immediate interest in the series’ sequel. Despite its thrilling storyline—where players of a survival video game are forced to fight to the death in real life—the anime struggled to stand out in a market crowded with similar survival-themed shows.
The manga ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans with no answers to the intense and morally complex storylines it had begun to explore. But a reboot could capitalize on the continued popularity of the battle royale and survival genres by offering a more polished and well-rounded adaptation of the manga. With better pacing, it could deepen the psychological tension and character development, making the stakes even higher and providing a satisfying conclusion that the original left unfinished.
12 Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic had more story to tell
Character arcs and plots were not resolved
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic The series was not canceled, but its anime adaptation ended prematurely, leaving much of the story untold. The series, which blended elements of One Thousand and One Nights with fantasy and adventure, captured viewers’ imaginations with its rich world-building, diverse characters, and complex themes of power, destiny, and freedom. However, the anime ended after only two seasons, adapting only part of the manga. As a result, key plots and character arcs were left unresolved, particularly the epic conflicts and character developments that take place in the later parts of the manga.
With a more faithful adaptation, a reboot could delve deeper into the political intrigues, character moral dilemmas, and grand battles that define the series. Modern animation techniques could bring even more vividness to the magical landscapes and intense action scenes, making the world of Magi more vivid and immersive. This would not only satisfy longtime fans, but also draw new viewers to a story that deserves to be told in its entirety.
11 Usagi Drop only adapted the first few chapters of the manga
The anime never got a chance to cover the manga’s most polarizing story arcs.
Usagi’s Fall is another series that wasn’t exactly canceled, but ended without adapting the rest of the manga’s story. The anime focused on the heartwarming story of a man, Daikichi, who adopts his grandfather’s illegitimate daughter, Rin. This storyline captivated audiences with its touching portrayal of parenthood, showcasing the challenges and joys of raising a child. However, the anime ended after covering only the universally beloved first few chapters of the manga, stopping just before the more controversial developments of the story in later volumes.
These developments, which involve a significant time skip and a drastic change in Daikichi and Rin’s relationship, have not been adapted, likely due to their divisive nature among fans. Given the chance, a reboot could explore these final chapters with a more nuanced approach, offering a deeper look at the characters’ evolving dynamics. With careful adaptation, the reboot could address the complexities and ethical questions raised in the manga’s second half, offering a more rounded and thought-provoking story.
10 Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers struggled to hold viewers’ attention
Pacing problems and disappointing sales led to its demise.
The series was canceled due to disappointing sales and a slow-paced narrative that divided viewers. While the anime’s premise—six heroes battling the Demon God to find a seventh among them—was intriguing, the execution may have failed to grab a wider audience. The series focused heavily on mystery and character interactions, which, while compelling, took a back seat to the action-packed fantasy that many were expecting. This shift in expectations may have contributed to its commercial underperformance, leading to its cancellation after just one season.
However, Rock deserves a reboot because its concept is a hidden gem in the fantasy genre, blending action, mystery, and psychological drama. A reboot could sharpen the pace, balancing mystery with more dynamic action sequences to keep viewers engaged. With a greater focus on world-building and character development foreshadowed in the first season, a reboot could delve deeper into the show’s rich history and unanswered questions.
9 D. Gray-man has failed twice to deliver an ending
The series was revived in 2016 but only lasted one short season.
D.Gray-man The series was initially canceled after 103 episodes due to the anime catching up with the manga and frequent interruptions of the manga itself, caused by the health issues of its creator, Katsura Hoshino. The series, a dark and captivating tale of exorcists battling demonic forces in a gothic, dystopian world, quickly became a fan favorite. However, the anime ended in 2008, leaving fans with an incomplete story and many unresolved plot lines.
Although it was briefly revived in 2016, picking up where the story left off and spanning 13 episodes, the sequel still failed to deliver a conclusive ending. Fans were essentially deprived of the epic battle between the Black Order and the Millennium Earl and a definitive ending on two separate occasions. By fully adapting the remaining arcs, a reboot could deliver the conclusion fans have been waiting for.
8 No Game No Life left fans wanting more
The series ended on a positive note, but had much more to offer
The animated adaptation of No game, no life The series was axed after only one season, despite its huge success thanks to its dynamic animation, clever gameplay strategies, and quirky sibling duo. It was unofficially canceled, or rather put on indefinite hiatus, largely due to the production studio’s shifting focus to other projects and the controversy surrounding the writer, Yuu Kamiya, affecting the series’ momentum.
The series ended on a high note, but it left fans with even more of a hunger for thrilling games and the ultimate showdown against the god of games, Tet. A reboot is desperately needed to wrap up the story and further explore the vast and imaginative world of Disboard. With the light novels now offering plenty of content, a reboot could reintroduce the series with better pacing, ensuring a more balanced narrative that deepens character development while still maintaining the intense, high-stakes games that fans love.
7 Elfen Lied was too controversial to survive more than one season
The cult classic has yet to reach its full potential
The controversial but iconic, Elfen liedexplores themes of human cruelty, identity, and redemption through its protagonist, Lucy, a mutant with invisible telekinetic arms. The series explores her violent escape from a laboratory and the tragic consequences that follow. Despite its cult status and influence on later dark anime, Elfen lied was effectively axed after just 13 episodes, primarily due to its extreme violence, nudity, and mature themes, which made it a difficult series to sell to a wider audience.
The anime also only covers a small portion of the manga, leaving out important character arcs and plot developments that would have made for a more rounded story. Giving the series another chance could help fill in these gaps by expanding on the original material, providing deeper character development, and exploring the manga’s philosophical and ethical dilemmas in a more nuanced way – giving the series a chance to reach its full potential.
6 Viewers lost interest in the Tokyo Ravens before they reached their peak
The pace once again breaks a series full of potential
A combination of factors, including mixed reception and poor sales, led Tokyo RavenThe series ended after only one season. The anime, while offering a rich blend of Japanese folklore, magic, and school life, struggled to stand out in a crowded market filled with similar supernatural-themed series. The series’ pacing was also a point of contention; it took a while for the story to gain momentum, which may have caused some viewers to lose interest before the more interesting plot points unfolded.
As a result, despite a dedicated fanbase and intriguing source material, Tokyo Ravens never got a second season to continue its story. However, Tokyo Ravens deserves a reboot because its onmyouji world, spiritual battles, and complex character relationships hold immense untapped potential. Improving the pacing and diving more quickly into the series’ high-stakes conflicts and darker aspects of its magical world could help the series re-emerge as a standout.
5 A reboot would help Berserk complete its gripping story
Another revival could finally give the series the adaptation it deserves
This iconic dark fantasy anime was initially canceled after its 1997 adaptation, which ended at a critical point in the story and left fans on a poignant cliffhanger with no resolution. The abrupt ending was due to the anime catching up to the manga and the risk associated with continuing such a complex and mature story without sufficient source material. Despite its cult following, Crazy mad The film remained unfinished for years. When it was revived in 2016, fans were optimistic, but the new adaptation was met with disappointment.
The 2016 series, while continuing the story, suffered from poor animation quality and a heavy reliance on CGI, which many felt did not do justice to Kentaro Miura’s richly detailed and brutal world. It also did not complete the manga’s story. A classic and beloved series as Crazy mad deserves to have a proper anime adaptation. The reboot would finally deliver the epic, flawless adaptation that Crazy mad deserves to honor Miura’s masterpiece and offer longtime fans – and new ones – a comprehensive and visually stunning journey through one of the darkest tales in anime history.
4 Baccano! was critically acclaimed but viewers couldn’t follow its story
Its non-linear narrative confused its audience
Noise! is the very definition of wasted potential. This series was canceled after only 16 episodes, mainly due to low sales and its unconventional storytelling style. Although it was a critically acclaimed series with a unique non-linear storytelling technique, it struggled to capture a wide audience during its initial run. The anime industry at the time was less accommodating of series that deviated from the mainstream, and Noise! was, in many ways, ahead of its time.
Its complex plot, featuring multiple storylines and a wide cast of characters, was too complex for casual viewers of the time. However, Noise! deserves a reboot because its cult following has grown significantly over the years. A reboot could capitalize on modern audiences’ growing appetite for complex narratives, bolstered by the success of similarly complex series. It could also explore light novels further, extending the story beyond the original anime’s 16 episodes.
3 Financial problems led to Gangsta’s premature end.
The series’ production studio went bankrupt shortly after its first season ended.
The bankruptcy of Gangster.Manglobe’s production studio has put a stop to the momentum it had. Despite its realistic and stylish portrayal of a city teeming with violence, corruption, and morally complex characters, the series remained incomplete, much to the dismay of its growing fanbase. The anime’s dark, mature themes and unique focus on disabled characters set it apart from more conventional series, making its sudden end even more frustrating.
Manglobe struggled financially during the anime’s run and its disbandment effectively dashed any hopes of Gangster. get a new season. However, if another studio were to acquire the rights to the series, a reboot would not only satisfy the cliffhanger left by the original, but also tell the story with the depth it deserves. With a more stable production and modern animation techniques, a reboot could enhance the visceral, film noir-inspired atmosphere of Ergastulum, making the city even more alive and giving it a second chance to fully realize its potential.
2 Fans Never Got to See If the Highschool of the Dead Cast Survived the Apocalypse
The series ended on a cliffhanger after only 11 episodes.
The High School of the Dead The series had a rocky run when it first aired in 2010. The anime, which combined high-octane zombie action with over-the-top fan service, quickly became a cult favorite when it aired in 2010, but was never a critical darling and failed to gain much traction with a wider audience. Following the death of manga artist Daisuke Satō in 2017, the series was left unfinished, with the decision also made to leave the manga unfinished out of respect for its creator. The hiatus and eventual cancellation was deeply felt by fans, who were left hanging after the first season’s intense cliffhanger.
Although it may be better to honor the initial decision to leave High School of the Dead While unfinished, a revival could still pay homage to Satō’s work while potentially offering a new direction for the story. A reboot could also fine-tune the balance between action and fan service, making the series more accessible to a wider audience while retaining the elements that made it popular. The High School of the Dead not only would honor his legacy but also fulfill the promise of the story that remained untold.
1 Deadman Wonderland suffered from poor sales and a diversion of its manga
A reboot would answer the unanswered questions that fans still have with frustration.
Deadman Wonderland was a delightful blend of brutal action and psychological horror. Its concept was unique: a prison that turns into a deadly amusement park where inmates fight to survive. However, the series only covered a fraction of the manga’s story, leaving many plot lines unresolved. The abrupt ending left fans hanging, and with a significant departure from the manga and the lack of financial success needed to justify a continuation, the series was left in limbo. Some also felt that the pacing was rushed, with too much content crammed into 12 episodes, which may have contributed to its mixed reception.
A reboot could fix these mistakes by offering a more faithful and complete adaptation of the manga. With a longer episode count, the series could deepen the complexity of the characters, including the tortured protagonist Ganta and the mysterious Shiro. By allowing the story to fully unfold, a reboot could provide the conclusion fans have been waiting for and reintroduce a dark and captivating narrative that remains relevant.