If we had to name manga without an anime adaptation a year or two ago, we would have a bigger list. These past few years have seen many popular manga getting adapted into anime, such as Frieren, Blue Box, Sakamoto Days, etc. Each new season brings new anime, yet the industry is overlooking some incredible manga stories. This list will mention manga that deserve an anime adaptation today!
Table of Contents
10. Akane-Banashi
Akane-Banashi is Shonen Jump’s most underappreciated treasure. It takes place in a traditional Japanese oral storytelling art, rakugo, but don’t let that disillusion you. Far from being heavy, it’s full of life. Akane’s wild drive to succeed in an industry dominated by men and bring honor back to her father is a raw, emotional punch to the gut.
The character development is downplayed, but when the punches do land, man, they land. With crisp art and sassy dialogue, an anime can easily give that same quiet fury that made March Comes in Like a Lion so popular. This manga is full of heart, grit, and rich cultural depth. Truthfully, it’s more worthy of an adaptation than several action-laden anime on the stream right now.
9. Yotsuba&!
If there’s one manga that’s guaranteed to get you in a good mood, it’s Yotsuba&!. A slice-of-life treasure that still doesn’t have an anime for some untold reason. It’s about a curious and noisy little girl named Yotsuba and how she muddles through the world in the messiest and wholesome ways possible.
There’s no grand plot or drama, just the beauty of little, everyday things. The comedy is light, the art is incredibly expressive, and the pacing makes you love the little things in life. It’s the kind of charm that could very easily make it the next comfort anime, something like Barakamon or Non Non Biyori. Honestly, it’s overdue.
8. Ichi the Witch
Ichi the Witch is a sweet, sentimental story wrapped in quiet magic. It’s the life of Ichi, who gets the magical powers of witches in a world where only women can be one.
The illustrations are nearly delicate and cozy, as if flipping through an illustrated book. But under the cuddly mood, there’s a lot of sadness that makes it really stay with you.
It’s the kind of story that would shine with gentle animation, calming soundtrack, and slow pacing. Something like Natsume’s Book of Friends or The Ancient Magus’ Bride. It might not be mainstream, but it’s a cult classic written all over it.
7. Marriage Toxin
Marriage Toxin is simply flat-out nuts, in the good sense. The premise is that an assassin has to go on blind dates in order to carry on his bloodline. The story is a mix of absurd action, side-splitting comedy, and surprisingly tender emotional scenes.
The main character, Gero, is socially awkward but totally lovable, and his dating disasters are as bizarre as his assassination missions. The action moves at a quick pace, tension is always present, and it never gets too heavy-handed, until it does, and then it delivers. With the right studio, this could be the next big action-romcom anime. Spy x Family but with a bit more edge, that’s what it would be.
6. RuriDragon
RuriDragon is about Ruri, an ordinary high school girl who’s half-dragon. But rather than go all dramatic about it, the story keeps things light and relatable. Ruri’s response to growing horns and spitting fire feels natural and charming.
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The tone’s laid-back, the humor’s dry, and the artwork has this soft, pastel aesthetic that just feels pleasant to gaze at. If it were ever made into an anime, it’d find an audience with fans of Flying Witch or Laid-Back Camp. It’s a comfortable, offbeat, and feel-good story with just the right touch of fantasy to keep things fresh.
5. Boy’s Abyss
Boy’s Abyss is not for the weak-hearted people. It goes straight into depression, abusive relationships, and the loneliness of being stuck in a life that’s going nowhere. Reiji, the main character, is drowning in despair, and the world around him isn’t being very helpful.
It’s not an easy read, but that’s part of what makes it so unique. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, it just shows people at their worst. But there’s this common undertone of needing to escape, to find something better. With the right director and a haunting soundtrack, this could be a real psychological anime gem, something like Welcome to the NHK or Aku no Hana. It won’t be fun to watch, but it’ll be unforgettable
4. Choujin X
Sui Ishida came back to writing with Choujin X, and it’s everything Tokyo Ghoul fans could have hoped for, just weirder and wilder. The story’s crazy, the powers are twisted, and the characters are morally grey. What makes this manga so good is how unpredictable it is. You never know what kind of chapter you’re in for, serious, weird, or totally off the wall.
Ishida obviously has total creative freedom here, and it’s shown in the pacing and paneling. If this ever gets made into an anime, it needs a unique art style and a bold director. Think of it as Mob Psycho 100 meets Dorohedoro. It’s weird, cult, and genius, just the anime fans like, and missing out these days.
3. Fire Punch
Before Chainsaw Man, Tatsuki Fujimoto gave us Fire Punch, and it’s a wild ride. In a post-apocalyptic ice world, Agni is a man who can regenerate endlessly, and uses it to live as if he’s always on fire. Yeah, that’s the kind of manga it is. It’s violent, it’s existential, and totally off the rails in places.
The themes are dark, revenge, trauma, and identity, but that’s why it’s so amazing. It’d be a nightmare to adapt properly, but if a studio like Science SARU or MAPPA were to take it on, it could be groundbreaking. It’s a kind of story that anime needs more of.
2. Kagurabachi
Fans were making memes about Kagurabachi before it even released. But the wild thing is, it’s actually great, and all those memes helped it get the attention it needed right from the first chapter. The art is clean, the sword fights are smooth, and the lead, Chihiro, has that awesome, slightly messed-up personality that just clicks. It’s essentially a revenge tale at its heart, but well-executed.
The pacing’s tight, the world’s cool, and it already feels somewhat cinematic. The hype began as a joke, but it’s real now. If it maintains this level of quality, it’s only a matter of time before it gets an anime. With the right team on board, this could be the next Demon Slayer-level breakout.
1. Vagabond
Vagabond is one of the greatest manga of all time. Takehiko Inoue’s art is off the charts, as each panel is like a painting. The narrative retells the story of Miyamoto Musashi, mixing philosophical introspection with brutal sword fights.
Though it’s not merely a samurai story. You can feel the gravity of each sword fight, each moment of silence, and each internal conflict. The fact that it’s still not animated is almost just criminal.
A high-quality, faithful adaptation would be iconic, on par with Vinland Saga or Rurouni Kenshin. If there’s one series that deserves an anime, it’s this one, only if done properly and not like Berserk.
And that’s it, folks.
