Reboots are, in a word, a pickle. For every successful reboot of a beloved series, it seems there are a dozen that fail to resonate. Some feel pointless, like the most recent iteration of Kino's Journey, and others, like 2018's Berserk, are a painful downgrade that do no favors to a much-lauded franchise.
But sometimes a reboot isn't just good. By highlighting the strengths of the source material, polishing the animation, writing more nuance into the story and characters, or completely reinventing the story, several reboots have raised the bar. Just as Fury Road is an improvement on the other Mad Max films in virtually every way, there are anime reboots that truly celebrate what made the originals so great.
10 Casshern Sins Transformed A Milque-Toast Protagonist Into A Tragic Hero
Sentai anime may be a thing of the past, but their influence is impossible to ignore. Costumed superheroes remain prevalent the whole world over, so perhaps it's not surprising that Casshern Sins came to be. What is surprising, however, is the makeover this character went through.
While the original Casshan is a story about a man who turns himself into an android in order to destroy robots who have dominated the world, the reboot focuses on an android assassin whose sole purpose is to destroy humanity. This reboot is decidedly bleak, filled with existential angst and contemplating what it is to lose one's identity. But it's also impeccably animated by Madhouse, and worth watching because of — or in spite of — its deep ennui.
9 Osomatsu-San Brought Beloved Characters To A Modern Setting
Reimagining a series so beloved in Japanese culture as Osomatsu-Kun was a big ask. The character designs were outdated but iconic, and these days it's hard to wedge "ugly" characters into a medium so obsessed with aesthetics.
Realizing this, the first episode of Osomatsu-San lambasts the idea that there's no room for these characters among modern anime favorites, transforming the Matsus into bishies and having them fight titans before allowing them to settle back into their more traditional designs. Crude at times but incredibly creative and often very funny, it's no wonder Osomatsu -San captured such a huge audience when it hit its stride.
8 Devilman Crybaby Is A Weird Revamp Of a Forgotten Show
While initial Western reactions to Netflix's stream of Devilman Crybaby ranged from "wow, how edgy" to "wow, how weird," many American fans were unfamiliar with the source material that inspired Masaaki Yuasa's hit reboot.
Devilman debuted as a manga in the early 1970s, and it caused a great stir due to its content and violent themes which set it apart from other popular series at the time. By all accounts, the time must have been ripe to introduce this series to a new generation, because Devilman Crybaby is considered one of the best anime of 2018.
7 Hunter X Hunter Is Forever Unfinished But More Satisfying Than Ever
A Song of Ice and Fire fans and Hunter x Hunter fans have a certain agony in common: the agony of waiting. Mangaka Yoshihiro Togashi has been working intermittently on the shonen manga for over two decades but goes on hiatus so often that a real ending is doubtful.
While the original anime had its share of fans, the 2011 version gave the story the animation and pacing it deserved. Alas, no fan has gotten the ending they deserve, and Gon, Kurapika Killua, and all the others exist in a constant purgatory, trapped by the author's pen.
6 Fate/Stay Night Finally Got The Budget It Longed For
Fate/Stay Night was something of a sleeper hit when it first aired in 2006. It's hard to imagine now, but this show based on an adult game was once the sort of anime fans in the know would recommend, and not the kind that had the reach of Naruto or Bebop.
All of that changed when Fate/Zero's anime shook things up, and so it isn't surprising that a reboot was in the works. Luckily, Unlimited Blade Works is in every way an improvement on the original series, backed by Ufotable's impeccable production values.
5 Lupin III: A Woman Named Mine Fujiko Finally Gives Mine Fujiko The Agency She Deserves
Mine Fujiko is one of Japan's most familiar sex symbols. While this is of course problematic in the same way that, say, the Bond films are when it comes to depicting women, throughout history Mine Fujiko has been given a few rare, lovely chances to shine as a character in her own right. In Miyazaki's The Castle of Cagliostro, for one, and then in the feminist take on the franchise that was A Woman Named Mine Fujiko.
Directed by Sayo Yamamoto, the woman responsible for catapulting Yuri!!! On Ice to fame, the show deliberately pushes the boundaries of the male gaze and then twists them. Mine Fujiko is still sexy and anatomically impossible, but these traits are used to manipulate both those around her and the audience. For once, this is her show, and she's got autonomy and purpose, and the whole thing is a weirdly beautiful experience.
4 Rebuild of Evangelion Is Hideaki Anno's True Vision Realized
Neon Genesis Evangelion is widely considered a masterpiece. Among the first mecha shows to truly question the morality of asking mentally ill teenagers to save the world, the show became legendary even as its creator fell into a deep depression that resulted in his hospitalization. A show this legendary and this strange by the end seems impossible to replicate, but it turns out that's not the case.
With a beautiful budget and the ability to finally tell his story in full, Hideaki Anno signed on to release Evangelion as a series of films. And what groundbreaking films they are, initially loyal to the original series and later throwing wrenches in the works to challenge the audience. At long last, the fourth film will be released this year.
3 Fruits Basket Is Finally The Show It Always Should Have Been
Shojo fans have long since understood that Fruits Basket isn't just a good series: it's a phenomenal series. This story deals with the conflict between societal expectations and identity, trauma and poor coping mechanisms, the immeasurable importance of found family, and learning to throw aside tradition when it is harmful.
In Japan, a culture steeped in traditions, this story resonates deeply. Unfortunately, the original anime, while endearing, didn't have the budget or ability to convey this story properly. Now, fans are finally getting a Fruits Basket that truly understands and elevates the source material. A must-watch for any otaku.
2 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Somehow Improved On A Modern Classic
Original fans of Fullmetal Alchemist have every reason to adore the 2003 Bones series. Though the manga was at the time unfinished, Bones produced this story of young misguided alchemists with loving care and managed to create an emotional ending to a story that didn't yet have one.
It's not surprising that before Brotherhood, FMA was already considered one of the best anime of all time. And so, many approached Brotherhood with mixed feelings when it began airing just 6 years later. Those qualms were soon set aside, however, as the story was even better than before and far more loyal to Arakawa's iconic manga.
1 Dororo Is Finally The Iconic Story It Always Should Have Been
Osamu Tezuka is often referred to as the godfather of manga. He helped invent a medium that is now universally successful and diverse, and his impact can't be understated. Despite this, many of his best stories haven't had the adaptations they deserve.
While manga like Urasawa's Pluto reinvented Atom in a fascinating way, for too long Dororo sat on shelves as an unfinished samurai story before good old MAPPA took it on. The result is one of the best series of 2019, featuring a disabled lead seeking identity and an orphan girl seeking her own path. Dororo is absolutely worth the acclaim it receives. Finally, one of Tezuka's best works has truly been celebrated.