Classic anime series will always have a special place in our hearts for a reason. You might’ve grown up watching Naruto, Dragon Ball, or Pokémon, which acted as the gateway to all things anime. Conversely, you might’ve binge-watched the entirety of Neon Genesis Evangelion or Cowboy Bebop during a particularly vulnerable time of your life. No matter the circumstance, classic series like these always evoke a feeling of nostalgia. Even if aspects of these shows feel flawed or dated, it’s natural to resist the prospect of them being remade.
That said, not every genre staple warrants a remake. A classic time travel adventure like Steins;Gate feels pitch-perfect in spite of its drawbacks, while an atypical shonen like Mob Psycho 100 already feels timeless despite being a more recent entry.
With that in mind, here are five classic anime that deserve a fresh interpretation, replete with dynamic animation and a creative approach that must outclass the original.
1
Tokyo Ghoul
Sui Ishida’s Tokyo Ghoul is a dark fantasy masterpiece. The manga’s expressive paneling gives us insight into the complex psychological states of its characters, which Ishida enhances with deep symbolism and intricate world-building. None of these strengths are conveyed in Studio Pierrot’s anime adaptation, which follows up its middling first season with the massively disappointing Root A. The third season, Tokyo Ghoul: Re, also suffered a similar fate. The contrast between the anime and the source material became too vast to ignore, compounded by rushed pacing and animation that did little to elevate an adaptation that didn’t understand what makes Ishida’s tale so special.
A remake could address all of these issues. An art style that hews closer to Ishida’s striking, chaotic illustrations would do wonders, while incorporating the source material’s literary references would heavily enrich the story. Tokyo Ghoul was never just about Ken Kaneki undergoing metamorphosis and becoming a half-ghoul. It is also a dense allegory about systemic corruption and cyclical hatred, where the definition of what makes us “human” is constantly challenged and redefined. Trauma informs character decisions at every turn, necessitating an anime adaptation willing to do the legwork for such a nuanced subject matter.
2
Soul Eater
This one’s a bit more complex since the Soul Eater anime is truly one of a kind. A sense of gothic whimsy is woven into the visual atmosphere, and Studio Bones does a commendable job bringing a memorable ensemble to life. It also has a lot of heart and flaunts its distinct identity through the use of a fun, jazz-heavy (and hip-hop-infused) soundtrack. Even so, Soul Eater loses its way in terms of narrative, as it significantly diverges from Atsushi Okubo’s manga and delivers a rushed ending that feels rather anticlimactic.
The argument for a Soul Eater remake follows the same principle as the differences between Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009). While both renditions have their merits (with the 2009 version having the luxury of taking a darker route in the absence of a finished manga), Brotherhood is largely considered the definitive interpretation of the tale. It wouldn’t hurt to have a Soul Eater remake that gets both the tone and ending right, which would allow rushed motivations, unadapted lore, and stilted character growth to bloom without restrictions. It would also encourage new-age anime fans to check out the beloved original, which is always a win.
3
Claymore
Norihiro Yagi’s Claymore has it all. The manga features a gripping dark fantasy setting, a cast of complex female characters who engage in tactical warfare, and a lot of psychological tension. The story is set on a medieval island where humans are terrorized by humanoid shape-shifting monsters called Yoma. The Organization tackles this issue by creating human-Yoma hybrids that can overpower these beasts. These engineered weapons of destruction, dubbed Claymores, are ranked based on their skill, abilities, and sense of leadership.
Although we do have a Claymore anime courtesy of Madhouse, these 26 episodes barely cover the first 11 manga volumes and opt for a non-canon ending. This premature finale leads anime-only fans to miss out on some incredible arcs that unfold later on, including The Northern Campaign and the final confrontation, which is a dizzying spectacle suited uniquely for high-octane animation. Claymore also features some incredible creature designs that would translate into terrifying beasts if adapted well. This, combined with a well-paced plot that banks on the story’s tense survival element, can grant Claymore the recognition it deserves as a buzzy genre tale about the limits of monstrosity.
4
Deadman Wonderland
Most arguments in favor of remakes boil down to faithfulness to the source material. Deadman Wonderland is no exception. Its anime adaptation tells an incomplete story over the course of 12 rushed episodes. The story follows the aftermath of a massive earthquake in Japan that destroys most of Tokyo and sinks parts of the city. Teenager Ganta Igarashi has no memories of this tragedy despite surviving it, but this changes once he encounters a bloodstained individual who massacres his entire class and leaves him alive. Ganta is sentenced to Deadman Wonderland, a prison that doubles as a theme park.
A Deadman Wonderland remake feels overdue. A fresh interpretation of the story could do the source material justice. A good studio can make the brutal body horror elements work without compromising on the emotional weight that ties character fates together. This is also a combat-heavy setting, as some inmates at Deadman Wonderland can turn their blood into weapons with the special ability, Branch of Sin. A remake could turn Ganta’s quest to prove his innocence into an epic tale about guilt and survival, and how these emotions play out in such an uncompromising world.
5
Berserk
Past adaptations of Kentaro Miura’s Berserk have a few things going for them. The 1997 series is rightfully considered a classic and is adored for its atmospheric storytelling but criticized for skipping major arcs and ending abruptly. The Berserk: The Golden Age Arc trilogy did a commendable job of capturing the highs of the Golden Age, but this is only a flawed snippet of a grander tale that deserves to be told. Then there’s the 2016 series, which features some objectively terrible animation and sound design, along with shoddy character writing.
Huge swathes of the Berserk manga remain unadapted, and the adaptations we have do not do justice to Miura’s hand-drawn panels. A remake that tackles the story (while the manga is still ongoing) could lean into the exquisite details of inhabiting such an unforgivable world where trauma inevitably dictates a person’s path. Both Guts and Griffith are stellar characters who deserve nuanced handling, but Berserk also features a stunning cast of secondary characters who enrich the beauty and terror of it all. An anime that pays close attention to these facets while recreating the visceral bleakness of Miura’s art could easily become a contender for a modern anime classic.