When it comes to anime, the act of creating a follow-up to a very successful series is a hard job. The follow-up in question has some tough boots to fill and living up to the original always ends up being one of the most seemingly impossible things to do. However, when it does happen and the spin-off ends up even better than the original, it's always a pleasant surprise.
If you don't know what we mean don't worry, we've got your back with this list. For any fans of the series that these spin-offs come from, these shows should definitely be checked out.
10 THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NAGATO YUKI-CHAN
Now, this one may be a bit of a tough pill to swallow for most 2000s anime fans. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was a staple anime of that decade, so this spin-off was going to take a whole lot of work to live up to its predecessor's fame. If anyone in the Haruhi series can achieve this feat, it's Yuki Nagato, right?
The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan started off as a dark feature film based on Haruhi. It's based in that same alternate universe featured in that film and, of course, follows Nagato and her adventures with the rest of the Brigade, save for a missing Haruhi.
9 SWORD ART ONLINE ALTERNATIVE: GUN GALE ONLINE
The reception of the long-running anime series Sword Art Online seems to be very hit or miss with anime fans. Well, if someone didn't like that series but loved the isekai inside of an MMO premise, then its spin-off, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, might be their cup of tea.
This series takes place during the original series after the VR unit that trapped players was recalled. Karen Kohiruimaki decides to play an alternate game to the original SAO called Gun Gale Online. She goes inside the VR shooter trying to make friends with her cute chibi avatar.
8 DRAGON BALL Z: BARDOCK-FATHER OF GOKU
This one might be a bit controversial, but the Dragon Ball prequel Bardock-Father of Goku might be a spin-off that is even better than the anime/manga it's based upon. Bardock-Father of Goku is somewhat of a self-contained and more serious look at the world of Dragon Ball outside of Earth and the heroes.
This special is dark and really delivers on multiple fronts, including characters, plot, and action. Seriously, how can you not love Bardock? The character and his story are just so badass!
7 FULL METAL PANIC? FUMOFFU
Full Metal Panic! is somewhat of a serious anime that plays out in a very dramatic fashion which many come to expect from a series of this caliber. Well, throw that out the window for its spin-off series, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, because it will defy all expectations established by the original series.
Fumoffu completely shifts the tone of the series and focuses on romance and humor. In doing so, it becomes one of the funniest anime to ever grace the industry. Check this one out.
6 A CERTAIN SCIENTIFIC RAILGUN
The general consensus of A Certain Scientific Railgun is that it does everything its predecessor, A Certain Magical Index, does and does it better. It introduces new characters and gives even better versions of events that happen in Index. This series is also a prequel as it takes place before (or during) the events of the original series.
Funnily enough, A Certain Scientific Railgun and its characters broke out in popularity so much so that many don't even know the series is a spin-off. That's a true testament to how good it is.
5 MAGICAL GIRL LYRICAL NANOHA
You may have never heard of the anime series Triangle Heart. Well, that might be due to the fact that it has always been completely overshadowed by its spin-off series, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha. While the original series focuses on love triangles and terrorist organizations, the spin-off throws all that aside for an action-packed magical girl jacket.
Thee spin-off has received much more love than the original series. In fact, Nanoha has spawned countless spin-offs of its own, as well as multiple sequel series.
4 POKÉMON ORIGINS
Are you a fan of the Pokémon series? Do you wish that the longrunning Pokémon anime would stop following the endless adventures of Ash Ketchum with his never evolving Pikachu and start actually adapting events and characters featured in the video games? Well then, this anime is made for you.
Say hello to Pokémon Origins, an amazing short anime series that follows Trainer Red from the original two Pokémon games. It's a faithful adaptation of those games and serves as a welcome change of pace from the main series.
3 FATE/KALEID LINER PRISMA ILLYA
The sad thing about this alternate universe spin-off on the popular Fate/Stay Night series is that it is mainly known for its absurdly creepy loli fanservice. However, behind that is a very solid anime spin-off that comes close to, if not surpasses, the quality of its father series. The series has so much more to it than bad perversion, but it's understandable if some people cannot get past that.
For those who can, this is a series with great action sequences and a story as dark, if not darker, than Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel.
2 DRAGON BALL Z: HISTORY OF TRUNKS
Now, this one will definitely be as controversial as the Bardock entry, but the same case goes for Dragon Ball Z: History of Trunks. For many, this one-shot spin-off episode surpasses the Dragon Ball series. For years now, many fans of Dragon Ball have been begging for a longer spin-off starring Future Trunks.
The only bad thing about this spin-off is that it is only one episode long, presuming we aren't counting the "Trunks returns to the future" episodes at the end of the Cell Saga of Dragon Ball Z.
1 SKULL MAN
Skull Man is a series that is truly one of a kind. Not only is it a spin-off of the classic and legendary anime/manga series Cyborg 009 but a spin-off of the popular tokusatsu series Kamen Rider, along with a spin-off of Henshin Ninja Arashi as well. It was made as Shotaro Ishimori's personal version of Kamen Rider because that show was being made with a producer.
Skull Man basically takes everything that makes Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider and adds a lot of dark and gruesome elements that television producers deemed too mature for the ages Kamen Rider was originally meant to appeal to.