Most popular anime are stories that have been adapted from manga. Sometimes improvements are made to the fan-favorite source material and become a critically acclaimed series. Other adaptations never reach the audience's expectations, especially due to narrative changes.

While plenty of these manga have received adaptations, many others are still waiting to receive theirs, despite their general popularity and high ratings. Whether due to the creator's reluctance or the production's lack of interest, these massively popular manga haven't received any anime adaptations thus far. If they do, the manga will become even more popular than before.

Updated on January 26, 2024, by Mayra García: Not all manga series have become anime shows, but some of them definitely should. These are the top manga without anime, but they need a studio to bet on them as soon as possible, as they can become immediately successful. This list has been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards.

24 Lone Wolf & Cub Is a Complex, Beautiful Series

Ittou Ogami has lost everything. A conspiracy costs him his job, and his rivals kill his entire family except for his only son, Daigoro. To survive, Ittou becomes an assassin for hire. Desperate for revenge against his family's murderers, his bloodthirst causes each assassination to spread his name across the country.

Samurai manga has some of the most breathtaking artistry, well-written characters, and deep, intricate storylines. Created by the late but great Koike Kazuo and Goseki Kojima, Lone Wolf & Cub expertly captures these elements. Fans can't understand why this hasn't become an anime yet.

23 Ijousha No Ai Touches on Very Disturbing Topics

Created by Daisuke Chida, Ijousha no Ai is the story of one of the worst yandere ever. Midou Saki is obsessed with Kazumi Ichinose and has gone as far as killing 27 women for having a connection to him. Once Kazumi realizes this, he tries to stop her, only to end up as Midou's victim, too.

Ijousha No Ai deals with very disturbing topics, which makes it difficult for most anime studios to work with it. Ijousha No Ai is too controversial for most companies, but its manga should get an anime adaptation. Once this happens, it would make for one of the most thrilling psychological horror series ever.

22 Goodbye, Eri Was Created by the Author of Chainsaw Man

Upon his mother's request, Yuuta decides to record the last moments of her life. He compiles these clips into a movie to show to his class and adds his personal touch, but the insensitive portrayal results in harsh backlash from his classmates. Just as Yuuta is about to lose hope, he meets one of his movie's biggest fans, a girl named Eri.

Written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Goodbye, Eri pulled on readers' heartstrings with each page turn from the very first moment. Funnily enough, this short manga was also created by the mastermind behind the widely popular manga Chainsaw Man. If the Chainsaw Man anime is so successful, Goodbye, Eri should get a chance, too.

21 Readers Always Feel Inspired by The Old Knight in Frontier Bard Loen

The Old Knight in Frontier Bard Loen or Henkyou no Roukishi Bard Loen follows Bard Loen, the People's Knight, after his retirement. Since he doesn't have a family, the knight ditches his former life — including his money and assets — and searches for a place to die, but things won't be that simple.

Bard Loen is an uncommon mix between fantasy and slice of life. This series reflects on Bard Loen's life and follows his most domestic moments, such as cooking, in great detail. It also pits him against all kinds of evil. With the right kind of animation, it could be a beautiful and inspiring series.

20 Hyakki Yakoushou Is a Josei with Supernatural Topics

Like his grandfather, Ritsu possesses a sixth sense that allows him to notice weird things happening around him. Together with his demon guardian, Blue Storm, the boy tries to solve all kinds of mysterious cases around him. Hyakki Yakoushou is an anthology of supernatural stories that uses Ritsu as a conductive thread.

Many anime embrace clichés, but not Hyakki Yakoushou. This story combines Josei with the supernatural genre to create a beautiful but mysterious manga. Unfortunately, since it's a unique mix, the manga isn't as famous. Hopefully, it will be plucked from obscurity soon.

19 Umarekawattemo Mata, Watashi to Kekkon Shitekuremasu Ka Is Adorable but Full of Feelings

Umarekawattemo Mata, Watashi to Kekkon shitekuremasu ka is also known as Will you marry me again if you are reborn? This manga, created by Milk Morinaga, is a journey about love. After Ibuki ends up bedridden, he and his wife, Kaoru, reminisce about the milestones of their lives together, one era at a time.

A perfect slice-of-life manga for anyone in the mood for something cozy but poignant, Umarekawattemo Mata will have its readers feeling nostalgic for a time they didn't even know. Nothing has been said about an anime adaptation yet, but if it happens, viewers will shed a couple of tears by the end of it.

18 Three Days of Happiness Could Be an Awesome Film

When 20-year-old Kusunoki sells off the last of his possessions to feed himself, a shop owner tells him about a store that purchases time and lifespan from people based on happiness and contribution to society. Kusunoki, desperate for money, has his remaining life appraised and finds that it's only worth 10,000 yen per year, or around $100. He sells off 30 years of his life, leaving him with three months to live.

Three Days of Happiness, or I Sold My Life for 10,000 Yen Per Year, follows Kusunoki during the final days of his life and results in a beautiful story about finding what truly matters in life. It's a shorter manga with only 18 chapters, so any adaptation would likely be a movie. Given the success of well-received anime films like Your Name and A Silent Voice, an adaptation of Three Days of Happiness seems likely.

17 Maka-Maka’s Mature Story Makes It a Perfect Yuri

Maka-Maka, by Torajirō Kishi, centers on the romance between Nene and Jun, two girls who are very different, but find themselves attracted to each other immediately. There's very little drama in this series, which follows their friendship as they start a casual sex affair.

Among all the yuri series that deserve an adaptation, Maka-Maka stands out because it keeps things real. Nene and Jun's relationship is a complex, mature affair, not a two-dimensional romance created for the sake of fan service. This manga deals with all kinds of explicit topics without getting vulgar. It's perfect for an adult romance anime.

16 Golden Days Is a Nostalgic Yaoi

When an overprotected high-schooler, Soma Mitsuya, travels back in time to his grandfather's teenagehood in the Taisho era, he creates an uncommon relationship with Jin Kasuga, his grandfather's best friend. Golden Days follows their friendship/romance while also delving into Soma's family's past.

Although there are many incredible BL Manga, many boys' love stories only became classics once they received an anime adaptation. Golden Days is the perfect manga to go through this process. It's a beautiful tale, full of nostalgic moments and kind-hearted considerations of human nature.

15 Witch Watch’s Humor Would Work Great in Animation

Nico Wakatsuki is a teenage witch who has recently completed her magical training. She moves into the house of her childhood friend and crush, Morihito Otogi, a human-like ogre. Together, they face different supernatural entities while their romantic relationship, and their connection as a witch and her familiar, progress at the same time.

Created by Kenta Shinohara, Witch Watch has been an absolute success thanks to its ability to subvert expectations. This manga is both a rom-com and a fantasy show full of supernatural creatures. Its characters are hilarious but not clichés. All of this makes it a fresh experience that fans really want to see as an anime soon.

14 When They Cry Fans Are Still Waiting for Umineko When They Cry Episode 8: Twilight of the Golden Witch

Not everything has been adapted into an anime, even for such a popular franchise as When They Cry. One of its manga installments, Episode 8: Twilight of the Golden Witch, is still waiting for its moment on the big screen. This 42-chapter manga ended in 2015 and hasn't been overshadowed by other mainstream manga.

Twilight of the Golden Witch puts Ange at center stage. She attends the 1986 conference with her family while trying to investigate the town's biggest mystery. Since this manga is advertised as the "final chapter" of the When They Cry series, it only makes sense to adapt it into a 12- or 24-episode anime.

13 Yotsuba To! Is a Top Slice-Of-Life Manga

This slice-of-life comedy follows the daily life of the spirited Yotsuba as she finds new friends and discovers new ways to enjoy life. Yotsuba to! has been in publication since 2003 and is still going strong, its most recent chapters being released in late 2019.

The story has no discernible plot that expands over time but takes a more episodic approach to follow Yotsuba's adventures. Showing readers how to enjoy the little things in life, Yotsuba to! has gained significant popularity and it's considered one of the best slice-of-life series ever. Given its episodic nature, it could translate very well into a slice-of-life anime. Yotsuba could easily become a fan-favorite when it comes to main characters in anime.

12 Dengeki Daisy Is Funny and Heartwarming

After her brother's death, Teru Kurebayashi finds support from an online friend, Daisy. However, soon it becomes obvious Daisy isn't real. Instead, she's talking with Tasuku Kurosaki, a high-school janitor and computer hacker who knew Teru's brother. Their friendship blossoms regardless of their rocky beginning.

Dengeki Daisy is a gem when it comes to slice-of-life shojo. The relationship between Teru and Tasuku has its ups and downs, but in the end, it's one of the most wholesome romances and friendships in manga. The warmhearted nature of this series reflects on its classic art, which would work amazingly in an anime adaptation.

11 I Am a Hero Has Spawned Several Spin-Offs

Hideo Suzuki is an assistant mangaka with an incredibly unfulfilling life and serious self-esteem issues. He believes he's destined for mediocrity until a zombie-like pandemic hits his city, forcing him to arm himself and try to survive. The series follows Hideo as he works with other survivors and questions his own decisions, especially when it comes to killing.

I Am A Hero, by Kengo Hanazawa, is one of the best manga without anime. This series has incredible action sequences and a lot of deep consideration about human nature. It has even spawned several spin-offs in other Japanese towns. However, no anime studio has adapted it, which is a terrible mistake. Once they do, I Am A Hero could become one of the biggest anime franchises ever.

10 Real Is an Inspiring Story

Takehiko Inoue is one of the most prolific mangaka of all time. He's famously known for creating Slam Dunk, but Real is just as good. Like Slam Dunk, Real centers on basketball, focusing on three young men who face significant barriers on the road to fulfilling their hopes of being great basketball players.

Real is a story about overcoming obstacles both physically and mentally, refusing to let doubt or disability get in the way of achieving one's dreams. Its inspiring story and relatable characters make it a suitable candidate for an anime adaptation. Considering Inoue's reputation, it would be quite successful.

9 Fire Punch Follows the Perfect Shōnen Formula

Tatsuki Fujimoto's Fire Punch follows Agni, a young man with regenerative abilities who is set on fire by a powerful woman, Doma, who creates eternal flames. Given this combination, Agni never dies and only feels constant pain. The manga follows his journey to exact revenge on Doma for what she did to him and his village.

Fire Punch is an epic, action-packed story. It has superpowers, a dramatic revenge plot, and a relentless and inspiring main character. Compared to other shonen, it lacks very little to be a successful anime. Unfortunately, manga fans are still waiting for this to happen.

8 20th Century Boys Has a Significant Following

Naoki Urasawa, the mangaka behind the fan-favorite and critically acclaimed Monster, has another slightly lesser-known creation titled 20th Century Boys. Following the death of an old friend, convenience store manager Kenji Endo begins investigating a mysterious cult led by a man known only as "Friend." Working with his childhood companions, Kenji must unravel the mystery that connects them to the sinister organization.

While not as popular in the mainstream as its counterpart, Monster, this sci-fi mystery manga has garnered a significant following. Given the success of the Monster anime, if the author gets involved in an adaptation of 20th Century Boys, all evidence points to a tremendous anime.

7 Today’s Cerberus Is Lighthearted, Supernatural Fun

Today's Cerberus main character is Chiaki Mikado, a 15-year-old high schooler who got bitten by Cerberus when he was younger. After this, his fate was immediately tied to this creature, who returned. However, instead of being a classical three-headed dog, Cerberus transforms into Kuro, Shirogane, and Rose, three girls with very different personalities.

Today's Cerberus sees the misadventures of Chiaki and the three girls and the relationships between all of them. This half-fantasy/half-harem manga is as romantic as it is hilarious. Fans are eager to see Today's Cerberus characters in an anime adaptation soon.

6 Not All Fans Want an Adaptation of Goodnight Punpun

Goodnight Punpun is a coming-of-age story as well as a dark and profoundly emotional manga that dives into a young boy's journey into adulthood. Not for the faint of heart, this manga tackles very mature and sensitive themes that may not be suitable for everyone. However, its content and original art style result in a gut-wrenching yet undeniably beautiful story.

Goodnight Punpun's adaptation is controversial. Some fans are hungry to see it, while others believe the story is best told through the manga and feel an anime wouldn't be able to improve on the source material. For better or for worse, there's no anime adaptation for this manga, even if it's one of the best-rated stories of the last few years.

5 Chi No Wadachi Makes for a Fine Horror Series

Also known as Blood on the Tracks, Chi no Wadachi is a 15-volume horror series. It centers on the unhealthy relationship between Seiichi Osabe, a mild-mannered boy in middle school, and his overprotective mother, Seiko Osabe. After Seiko puts Seichii's cousin in a coma on purpose, with Seichii as the only witness, the boy's life transforms into a nightmare.

Horror fans have praised Chi no Wadachi for its disconcerting narrative, which matches Shuzo Oshimi's art perfectly. The only way this manga could be scarier is by animating it in the same style. It could definitely give Junji Ito a run for his money, but for now, it remains as one of the best manga with no anime.