Anime are, in many of our opinions, the best adaptations for manga. However, like any show, they sometimes suffer from being delayed, discontinued, or outright canceled. It’s a damn shame, but at least we can still read the source material, like for these amazing manga below.
Maid-Sama! by Hiro Fujiwara
Not only is Misaki Ayuzawa the student council president at a former boys-only high school, but she has a huge secret — she works part-time at a maid café! When the school’s heartthrob, Takumi Usui, discovers her secret, how can she maintain her smart, cool, and strong image at school? Can she trust Usui to keep her secret? Also, why is he always at the café when she’s working?
The anime ran from April 1 to September 23, 2010, with 26 episodes and an OVA (Original Video Animation). The anime covered the first 34 chapters of the manga, but there are a total of 85 chapters to explore. The anime likely didn’t get enough views or make enough money to justify a second season, but at least the manga got finished!
Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
Haruhi is a scholarship student at the rich Ouran High School. One day, she stumbles into the “Host Club” and accidentally breaks their vase, which costs $80,000! These six rich and beautiful guys make her work for them to repay her debt, and through their interactions, she learns how different they really are in terms of wealth and personality.
The series started on April 5 and ended on September 26, 2006, with 26 episodes. It covered only the first eight manga chapters, and there are 18 volumes total. There have been rumors about a second season, but since these rumors have circulated for years, they’re not credible.
Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusanagi
Princess Yona is the only princess in her kingdom, and she’s doted on by her father, protected by her guard and childhood friend, Hak, and in love with her older cousin, Su-Won. But her life drastically changes on her sixteenth birthday, when her father is murdered! She has to flee the castle and run for her life, protected only by Hak, and escape enemy forces. But where will she go now?
The anime has 24 episodes running from October 7, 2014 to March 24, 2015, and three OVAs that were released after. The manga is still going, and though it is likely to end soon, there are currently over 200 chapters to enjoy. The chapters are released slowly, fewer than two per month, which is likely what led to the anime’s cancellation.
Snow White with the Red Hair by Sorata Akiduki
Shirayuki is an herbalist famous for her bright red hair, and Prince Tanbarun wants her for himself! Shirayuki refuses and runs away, finding shelter in the woods in the neighboring kingdom of Clarines. She soon meets new allies, including the second prince of Clarines, Zen, who saves her from Prince Tanbarun. As she pursues her dreams of advancing her herbalism skills, a love story between her and a lovestruck Prince Zen is set into motion.
This show has two seasons with twelve episodes. The first half aired from July 6 to September 21, 2015, and the second season from January 11 to March 28, 2016. The manga currently has 138 chapters, and the anime ends on chapter 32. It’s unclear why the anime stopped, but the most likely answers are money, low views, issues with the studio, or the anime caught up to the manga too quickly.
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku by Fujita
Narumi Momose is struggling. Every boyfriend she’s ever had has broken up with her after learning she’s an otaku, so she started hiding it at all costs. One day, she meets Nirotaka Nifuji, a childhood friend and otaku, at work, and her secret almost gets out! She creates a plan to ensure he never reveals her secret, but he has a different idea: why doesn’t she just go out with him?
This show only has 11 episodes, which ran from April 13 to June 22, 2018. There are 87 manga chapters, and the anime covered the first 23 chapters. Fans have hoped for another season, but it’s unlikely.
Claymore by Norihiro Yagi
Monsters called Yoma disguise themselves as humans and then prey on them. Their only salvation is a new breed of warriors called Claymores, half human and half monster. They are discernible by their silver eyes, and they possess incredible strength, but they are destined to either continuously fight their savage impulses or to lose all their humanity.
A village is afraid after a Yoma kills six people, and the Claymore who comes for them is unexpected. She seems more monster than human.
The show ran from April 4 to September 26, 2007, with 26 episodes total. It covered the first 40 chapters or so of the manga, for a total of 155 chapters. The first season caught up to the manga and was never picked up for another season.
Rave Master by Hiro Mashima
Haru feels he has no purpose, that he’ll never leave the island of Garage. But when fate comes to him, he’s up to the challenge! Dark Bring, a horrid evil, is wielded by the evil organization called Demon Card, and they’re working to conquer the world. The four missing Rave stones are the only thing that can stop them, and Haru starts traveling to find them. He’ll go anywhere he has to to protect those he cares about.
This series has two seasons, with 51 episodes each, from June 5 to December 11, 2004, and then again from January 22 to July 31, 2005. The manga has 296 episodes, and the first 95 were covered by the show. It was cancelled because views and sales were low, so there’s no hope for a second season.
Deadman Wonderland by Jinsei Kataoka and Illustrated by Kazuma Kondou
After being framed for the horrific murders of his middle school classmates, truly done by the mysterious Red Man, Ganta Igarashi is sentenced to death. He’s thrown into the strange and deadly theme park that doubles as a prison, risen from ruins caused by the Great Tokyo Earthquake, called “Deadman Wonderland.” The prisoners fight every day to survive and entertain the crowds that come to see them, and scary secrets lurk in every corner. Ganta plans to survive and clear his name, but the price may be more than he can afford.
There are 12 episodes and an OVA, which ran from April 17 to July 3, 2011. There are 57 chapters, and the show covers the first 20 or so chapters. It was cancelled after the first season due to its dark and horror content not selling well and other factors, though the manga is still beloved by many.
BTOOOM! by Junya Inoue
Ryouta Sakamoto is a loser in all things except his favorite RPG, BTOOOM!. His drab life is interrupted after being kidnapped and brought to an uninhabited island where he must fight against others in an explosive-riddled, deadly contest. How is this happening? Who is doing this? Why!? The name of this “game,” as well as the goal, are strangely familiar, who mastered the virtual version of the game. Can he still succeed when his life is on the line?
There were 12 episodes that ran from October 4 to December 20, 2012. There are 121 chapters, and the anime covered them until chapter 50. Despite the love for the manga, the discs didn’t sell well, for reasons such as poor animation and character quality, so a second season never happened.
If you haven’t already, you should definitely put these on your TBR. Happy reading!
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