Whether it was the effects of the pandemic or a company shift change, these anime suffered a delay from their original release dates.
However, even after postponing, they've garnered a significant amount of success with anime fans, turning out amazing despite their delays.
10 To Your Eternity, Another Masterpiece After A Silent Voice
After A Silent Voice's immense success, anime fans were excited for another masterpiece from Yoshitoki Oima. To Your Eternity, her newest series, blew up in popularity, and Kodansha announced an anime adaptation in early 2020. It was meant to premiere in October of the same year, but the pandemic pushed the release date to April 2021.
Like A Silent Voice, viewers fell in love with Oima's newest work. The anime is currently airing, and fans are anticipating every new episode.
9 Love Me, Love Me Not - The Beauty Of Teen Love
Avid shojo readers were excited to hear about Love Me, Love Me Not getting a movie adaptation. Shueisha announced the anime's production in April 2019 and its release date in May 2020. Because of the pandemic, the premiere was pushed back to September of the same year.
Those familiar with Io Sakisaka's Blue Spring Ride enjoyed Love Me, Love Me Not's anime adaptation. Fans appreciated the same twists and turns of awkward but dramatic teenage love. The four characters' growth kept viewers on the edge of their seats, proving once again that Sakisaka's storytelling never disappoints.
8 Josee, The Tiger, And The Fish Was Potentially The Next Big Anime Movie
This romantic comedy was scheduled for premiere in mid-2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic. The premiere date moved a few months before arriving in theaters in December 2020. The movie focuses on Tsuneo, a college student, and Josee, a young woman who uses a wheelchair. The film progresses, showcasing Tsuneo and Josee's budding relationship and tackling the ups and downs of adulthood.
Based on the 1984 novel of the same name, Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish touched many hearts upon its release. In addition, it was nominated for two awards: the 75th Mainichi Film Awards and the 44th Japan Academy Film Prize.
7 Given's Movie Sequel Was The Perfect Continuation
When it aired in 2019, Given captured the hearts of anime fans with its beautiful storytelling and heart-warming music. Planned as a direct sequel, the movie was announced shortly after the anime's last episode, slated to be released in May 2020. The release date was pushed back to August 2020 due to the pandemic.
Despite its release to only 30 theaters in Japan, the Given movie was a hit in its opening weekend. It reached the #1 spot in Kogyotsushinsha's mini-theater ranking and made it to ninth place in overall box office sales. Given remains widely popular, and its movie only continued its beautiful love story.
6 A Potential Higurashi Remake Was Pushed Back In Time For Halloween
Horror anime fans were excited to hear about the announcement for the fifth installment of Higurashi: When They Cry. Dubbed initially Higurashi: When They Cry—New, the new anime was marketed as a remake of the original, but it soon changed to Higurashi: When They Cry—Karma and marketed as more of a spin-off.
Because of the pandemic, the anime's release was pushed back three months, just in time for the Halloween season. Although it wasn't a remake, Karma was a solid addition to the Higurashi timeline and kept fans on their toes.
5 Pop Team Epic's Delay Didn't Stop It From Going Viral
Instead of the scheduled October 2017 date, Pop Team Epic's premiere was pushed to January of the following year due to an "error from King Records."
Pop Team Epic's chaos and unpredictability didn't stop it from going viral upon its anime debut. Those who were around in the late 2010s for this anime's release will understand its popularity. From memes to cosplay, much of the fandom was head over heels for this over-the-top parody anime.
4 Somali And The Forest Spirit Remains An Underrated Classic
Originating as a popular webcomic, Somali and the Forest Spirit was greenlit for an anime adaptation for fall 2019. The first episode even aired at the Anime Film Festival in Tokyo.
Somali and the Forest Spirit's release was postponed until winter 2020 for undisclosed reasons, but the delay didn't stunt its popularity. The anime remains a cult favorite even after its release. Fans of the series continue to promote it to newer audiences across the internet.
3 Sailor Moon's Reboot Was Delayed For A Few Months
Toei Animation planned Sailor Moon's remake two years before its official debut. The studio announced the new project to celebrate Sailor Moon's twentieth anniversary. About a year after the announcement, in April of 2013, Toei broke the news about the anime's delay but refused to disclose the reason. A few months later, Toei informed fans that the anime would air the following year.
Fans never found out the reason behind the delay, but the visuals sent them into a frenzy. The new anime stays faithful to the manga adaptation, following its much darker story pattern. Coupled with a catchy opening from the popular idol group Momoiro Clover Z, Sailor Moon's reboot was the catalyst for multiple sequels to come.
2 Kud Wafter's Release Was Due To A Directional Change
Little Busters! fans were curious to see an alternate route - potentially one revolving around a romantic relationship between Riki Naoe and Kudryavka, or "Kud," Noumi. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, Little Busters!'s creator, Key, announced that the anime was set to air in September 2019. However, the premiere was delayed until the following year due to scheduling conflicts with the original director. The anime was delayed two more times because of production issues and the pandemic respectively.
Kud Wafter finally aired in December 2020, and fans got to see the anime they had been waiting for. It kept the usual light-heartedness of the original anime but still had a unique and touching premise. Key's four-year labor of Love had finally come to life.
1 The Violet Evergarden Movie Was Delayed Twice
Fans of the widely popular anime, Violet Evergarden, were excited to hear of a second movie; the movie was meant to be a spin-off and sequel to the original anime. Kyoto Animation greenlit the project back in 2018, and it was slated for release in January 2020. Unfortunately, the studio was still recovering from the effects of the 2019 arson attack and pushed the date back to April 2020. The movie's release was delayed once more due to the pandemic and was finally released in September 2020.
Despite the two delays, the movie garnered a lot of attention from Japanese and Western fans. For those who followed Violet's journey after the war, this movie provided one of the best endings to her story.