Sometimes, either due to the lack of new projects or because of the uncertainty of venturing with an original idea, many animation studios resort to makinganimeremakes of successful classic franchises. However,surpassing the original workis such a complicated task that very few anime remakes can boast of having achieved it.
While there are great anime remakes that manage to surpass their original series, many anime remakes and reboots fail to emulate the essence of their classics and attract attention from new audiences. As a result,there aremany anime remakesand reboots that, despite having everything to succeed, were a letdown to fansand failed to live up to the nostalgia of their original series.
First Adaptation:
Legend of the Galactic Heroes(1988) by K-Factory and Kitty Film Mitaka Studio
AlthoughThe Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These’s reboot is an overall great adaptation, it lacks the unique aesthetic that helped the classic series become the best space opera in anime. Due to its shorter length and fast pace,Die Neue Theseglosses over a lot of world-building from the classic anime, which gives more exposition to the characters and a better perspective on certain conflicts.
Legend of the Galactic Heroessurpasses the remake in the character designs, the hand-drawn animation, and the music composition. Yet,Die Neue Thesemanages to stand out due to its visual presentation, having great animation for its battle sequences. Nevertheless,Die Neue Theseis an enjoyable series despite falling short compared to the charm of the classic anime, being a great entry point to the franchise for new fans.
Kino’s Journey(2003) by A.C.G.T.
Even thoughKino’s Journeyadaptation from 2003 wasn’t as popular, over time it became a cult series, being remembered as one of the deepest and most thought-provoking anime of the early 2000s. However,the remake of 2017 presented a different take on the story, without the distinctive aesthetic or the mature and dark tone of the classic, featuring colorful animation and feeling less nostalgic and melancholic in comparison.
Furthermore, the remake didn’t reach a large audience, and some of the stories showcased weren’t as impactful as those in the classic series. Still, the remake has great moments and shares the essence of the story. So, while it doesn’t reach the brilliance of the classicKino’s Journey,it might be an option for fans looking for a more lighthearted versionor as a complement to the original series.
Shaman King
Cast
Shaman King follows medium Yoh Asakura as he participates in a prestigious battle tournament held every 500 years. Competing against other shamans, Yoh aspires to become the all-powerful Shaman King, facing numerous challenges in his quest for victory. Released in 2021, the series adapts the popular manga series.
Shaman King(2001) by Xebec
Shaman Kingis one of the emblematic shōnen anime from the 2000s and was remembered with fondness by fans despite straying from the source material in its second half and having an original finale. Because of this, the 2021Shaman Kingreboot was everything that fans asked for: a faithful adaptation that will bring more popularity to the franchise. Yetthe reboot sparked mixed opinions due to its animation quality and pacing.
Shaman King’s reboot compressed all 300 chapters of the manga into only 52 episodes; the battles weren’t as dynamic or exciting due to its simple animation, and the comedy felt repetitive and lacked the charm of the classic series. As a result,Shaman King’s reboot wasn’t as captivating or nostalgic as the 2001 anime, with Hiroyuki Takei’s manga remaining as the best version to enjoy the story.
Soul Hunter(1999) by Studio Deen
The Shōnen Jump mangaHoshin Engi, known asSoul Hunter,had an anime adaptation way back in 1999. But despite its dated animation, plot changes, and incomplete story, it was a refreshing battle shōnen due to its Chinese inspiration and world-building. Although these issues could have been fixed inHakyu Hoshin Engi,the remake had low production values and was even messier than the classic series.
The first episode ofHakyu Hoshin Engiadapted almost the entire first volume of the manga, with the subsequent episode making sudden plot jumps and excluding major characters. Additionally,Hakyu Hoshin Engididn’t improve the tropes of the 90s in the original story, making it feel outdated. For these reasons, the ’90s adaptation ofSoul Hunteris still a more enjoyable version with a better rhythm and understandable story.
Negima!(2005) by Xebec
Negima!is a typical fun harem made by Ken Akamatsu, the creator ofLove Hina.Negima!was first adapted by Xebec in 2005 and follows the manga for the most part, diverging near its end, with its finale being its most criticized aspect. The first anime stands out thanks to its absurd comedy, touches of action, and focus on developing the relationships between Negi and the students.
Although the remake, titledNegima!?,premiered just a year later,instead of being a more faithful adaptation, this was an alternative version of the story, toning down the harem tropes.Negima!?had better animation, but its changes from the manga didn’t sit well with fans, and the story later ramped up its drama.Negima!?ended up not pleasing the audience and being a flop adaptation.
Orphen(1998) by J.C. Staff
Orphenis part of classic fantasies from the 90s that marked viewers thanks to its crudeness and mature story. With a unique visual style characterized by dark tones,the remakeSorcerous Stabber Orphenshould have put the franchise back in the spotlight. The remake had a different tone from the classic series, and while being lighthearted made it more faithful to the source material, its biggest problem was its rushed pacing.
Too much content was cut from the adaptation, skipping the second and third volumes of the light novel. Due to this,Sorcerous Stabber Orphendidn’t have enough time to develop the characters, making them feel superficial. This, in addition to its lackluster animation, madeSorcerous Stabber Orphena forgettable anime.
The Rose of Versailles(1979) by Tokyo Movie Shinsha
The classic 70s seriesTheRose of Versailleshad aremake film produced by Studio MAPPA. While the production succeeded at respecting the extravagant design of the original manga with a modern touch using the current animation style,the 1979 series had more freedom to develop other plotlines and characters.
The movie compressed almost the entire manga ofTheRose of Versaillesin just two hours instead ofopting for a trilogy of films, which perhaps would have allowed it to adapt the story with more care and explore Oscar’s struggle more thoroughly. Despite its visual beauty and the fact that the musical pieces tell parts of the story to speed run some developments,The Rose of Versaillesfilm lacked the substance of the classic anime.
Digimon Adventure(1999) by Toei Animation
The reboot ofDigimon Adventurehad many ups and downs during its run. AlthoughDigimonnever stood out for its spectacular plot, the narrative in the reboot is not as good as in the classic anime. Likewise, while the classic anime made up for its flaws with the great development of its protagonists, this is something that is missing inDigimon Adventure.
The villains feel flat, without an understandable purpose, due to the events happening in quick succession without having enough time to be fully explored. This also affected the interactions between the DigiDestined, which feel more organic in the classic anime. Because of this, whileDigimon Adventure:was a good addition to the franchise, including digimons from different generations and new mega evolutions, the classic anime has more memorable moments.
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac(1986) by Toei Animation
Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiyawas a reimagination of the original story by Masami Kurumada, which aimed to captivate a new generation of fans, and cater to Western audiences. But the adaptation released on Netflix had many narrative changes, with one of the most controversial ones being making Andromeda Shun a female.
The use of CGI as an animation style resulted in awkward and dull fight choreography. Additionally, its soundtrack, exclusion of key scenes, and having toned down the violence and bloodiness from the original anime weren’t well received by fans. Because of this,Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiyadoesn’t compare to the classic anime and didn’t achieve the global recognition expectedduring its release.
Berserk (1997)by Studio OLM
Berserk 2016reboot was set to cover the Conviction arc following the trilogy film series from 2012. However,Berserk 2016didn’t meet fans' expectations due to its lackluster animation and use of CGI, which didn’t blend naturally, creating a contrast between digital and traditional techniques, making the characters' movements feel static, taking away the emotion from the battle scenes, and even affecting the expressions of the characters.
Berserk 2016also made questionable narrative decisions, like skipping the Black Warrior arc and using many flashbacks that make the story confusing for those who haven’t read the manga. Because of this, unfortunately,Berserk 2016not only doesn’t compare to the classic anime of 1997 but wasn’t liked even by the most unconditional fansofKentaro Miura’s works.
