Many of the most popular Shonen Jump franchises have been either gifted with sequels once they concluded or were even revived years later due to popular demand. This can be seen in series’ such as Boruto, as well as the various permutations of the Dragon Ball franchise. On the other end of this spectrum, however, is Shaman King.

Its original manga series, while popular, was hamstrung by the demands that said popularity placed on its creator. This led to the manga ending far sooner than originally intended, with the anime soon following suit. Since then, there have been several manga spinoffs and sequels, but no attempts at correcting the errs of the original truncated animated series. It’s been announced, however, that a new anime series is in the works that will adapt the entirety of the original manga. With a definitive anime coming, plus several expansions of the manga, Shaman King has become one of the most enduring anime and manga franchises of its time.

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Shaman Tears

The original Shaman King manga, created by Hiroyuki Takei, began in 1998 in Shonen Jump, and ran until 2004. It told the story of Yoh, a young spiritualist who is one of several combatants in the Shaman Fight. This metaphysical take on the tournament trope in Shonen manga decides not just a victor, but the fate and shaper of the world. The title's end was caused by the unforeseen demands placed upon Takei to produce the series in the popularity magazine, with the originally planned ending going unused. Takei also helped work on the series' anime adaptation, which aired 64 episodes from 2001 to 2002. The demands of the manga kept him from becoming too involved, however, and the anime subsequently ended its run long before the manga did. Due to this shortening, huge swathes of the manga were never even adapted, leaving fans disappointed. This gave the series the strange status of having three different endings: the anime's ending, the manga's original ending, and the true ending, which Takei published years later to satisfy fan demand. Unfortunately, the series' origins are now unreadable to many, as Shueisha, the original publisher, allowed the license to lapse.

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Spinoffs

Despite the setbacks in the franchise's production, Takei was determined to ensure that the IP achieved its full potential. Beyond finally publishing the true ending to the original series, he continued expanding the mythology in prequels, sequels, and spinoffs. The first of these was Shaman King : Zero, a series of "zero issues" which further showcased the origins of the original cast. Afterwards, a sequel came in the form of Shaman King: Flowers, which starred Hana, the son of the old protagonist Yoh. Both series were published in Jump X, relieving the demanding schedule of Weekly Shonen Jump.

Other spinoffs have included Shaman King: The Super Star, Shaman King: Red Crimson, and Shaman King: Marcos. Red Crimson ended earlier this year, while Super Star is concluding soon and Marcos began publication two months ago. Super Star is another sequel that takes place after Flowers, while the other two series' focus on other families and characters that were introduced in the original series. This ability to constantly create new entries in what was a dead franchise shows how devoted the Shaman King fanbase is. It also shows that Takei's franchise always had the ability to last and compete with other series' like One Piece and Naruto. Kodansha, who now hold the rights to the franchise, are also republishing the print version of the original, allowing readers to enjoy the series in its entirety.

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Return of the King

Anime Shaman King

The new series is meant to adapt the manga as it was meant to be told, which likely means that it will use the true ending presented in later volumes. Ironically, Takei had once turned down the option of a remake in 2017, stating that his refusal to work on the project was out of respect for not being able to involve the original voice actors. His apparent change of heart may also suggest the original cast is back for the ride.

Superior adaptations of manga have become commonplace in modern anime. One notable example is Fruits Basket, which similarly aims to turn the entirety of the manga into an anime, whereas the original adaptation was incredibly shortened. If the definitive anime version of Shaman King is a hit, it’s possible that the spirits will be strong enough to adapt the sequels, as well.

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