Manga has been captivating audiences worldwide with its diverse storytelling, stunning artwork, and rich character development for quite a long time now. From thrilling action and heartwarming romance to fantasy and sci-fi, these titles deeply resonate with fans and keep drawing in new audiences as they get adapted into anime.
This article explores the ten best manga out there that totally deserve an anime adaptation, each of which is unique and captivating and could also be beautifully animated. With the right studio and direction, these manga could potentially birth masterpieces. Without any further delay, let’s explore the details of these masterpieces.
10Real (1999)
Real is a manga by Inoue Takehiko, who is popular for his work in Slam Dunk, which has already gotten its anime adaptation several years ago. Although not as good as Slam Dunk, it is still a great manga, which is a huge inspiration to any sports enthusiast.
This is a story about three teenagers, each with their own problems: a high school dropout, an ex-sprinter with a lost leg, and a paraplegic man. The manga deals with several issues, like social disparities, disabilities, and the like. The one uniting point in this manga is everyone’s passion for basketball.
9All You Need is Kill
All You Need is Kill is a manga adapted from the Light Novel written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka and illustrated by Abe Yoshitoshi. The story follows a soldier, Kiriya Keiji, who fights extraterrestrials for a living… until he dies in battle.
What would you do if u were caught in a 24-hour time loop? Revisit your best moments? Correct all your mistakes? Well, to Kiriya, this time loop is a huge opportunity for him to improve his fighting skills. This is followed by Kiriya’s desperate attempts to break this time loop, when he discovers the existence of another person stuck in a similar loop, Rita, and they together solve the mystery behind the time loop.
8Homunculus
Homunculus is a manga written and illustrated by Yamamoto Hideo. The manga is about a homeless man, Nakoshi Susumu, who lives in his car all day and night. During his times of despair, an unhinged medical student stalks him. He then later approaches Hideo and asks him whether he would be willing to be a test subject for a scientific experiment. However, Hideo’s self-respect makes him turn down the offer.
Later, due to unforeseen circumstances, when Hideo’s truck gets towed, he is forced to submit and accept the student’s offer in exchange for money. Following this, he has a hole drilled in his skull which seemingly heightens his sixth sense to give him esper abilities.
While he initially felt no changes after the procedure, soon he started to realise huge changes in his surroundings, he started to notice that his left eye is now able to show him something different: the Homunculus inside every human.
7Billy Bat
Billy Bat is a manga written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa, who is also popular for his works like Monster and Pluto. Like his every other piece, Billy Bat, too is a masterpiece that is a must-try for every manga fan.
Ironically, Billy Bat is about a manga, Billy Bat, inside of the manga. The mangaka is a man named Kevin Yamagata, who works for a publishing company. On realizing that he unconsciously copied a character in his manga from a Japanese manga, he travels to Japan to get copyright permission from the author, only to find himself involved in crime… crimes that almost seem to be prophesized by his manga, Billy Bat.
6Fire Punch
Fire Punch is a popular manga series written by Tatsuki Fujimoto (also popular for his work in Chainsaw Man and Look Back).
On an earth that has been frozen over by the hands of an ice witch, there are also special individuals with abilities called “blessings.” The main character, Agni, shares the blessing of regeneration with his sister, Luna. They assist the remaining elders in their village by providing sustenance from Agni’s severed arms.
One day, a blessed named Doma arrives in their village and offers to take Agni to his city, Behemdorg. Disgusted by the villagers’ practice of cannibalism, Doma unleashes his unquenchable flames upon them. Although Luna’s regeneration is slower, she ultimately falls victim as well, urging Agni to “live” before she dies.
5Yotsuba to!
“Yotsuba To!” is a manga written and illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma(also known for his work in March Comes in Like a Lion). The story is about Yotsuba, an energetic and quirky five-year-old girl whose unusual behavior shocks her father. Initially unaware of common things like doorbells, escalators, and swings, her innocence leads to humorous situations as she discovers and often misinterprets everyday life.
At the beginning of the series, Yotsuba and her adoptive father, Yousuke Koiwai, move to a new city with the help of his tall best friend, Jumbo. Much of Yotsuba’s daily adventures stem from her interactions with these characters and others, including Asagi’s friend, Torako, nicknamed Tiger.
4The Climber
“The Climber” is a manga written by Sakamoto Shinichi, a story about a gloomy and lone boy, Mori Buntarou, who has a passion for climbing.
On his first day at a new high school, Mori Buntarou is persuaded by a classmate to climb the school building. Knowing that one wrong move could lead to his death, he still agrees. Upon finally reaching the top, Mori is overcome with a sense of fulfillment. This exhilarating feeling ignites his passion for rock climbing.
320th Century Boys
“20th Century Boys”, is yet another masterpiece produced by Urasawa Naoki, the author of Monster. In the story, when the 20th century nears its end, global anxiety about the changing world grows for the worse. At this point, Kenji Endo, an ordinary convenience store manager, is in turmoil when he discovers that an old friend known as “Donkey” had committed suicide.
The rise of a notorious cult led by a figure called “Friend” raises alarm bells for Kenji, especially as he uncovers clues left by Donkey. He realizes this cult is targeting him and his childhood friends and poses a serious threat to the entire world.
2Oyasumi Punpun
“Oyasumi Punpun” is a manga written and illustrated by Asano Inio. This is a coming-of-age story that follows Onodera from his elementary school days to adulthood. This manga is surely not for the light-hearted as it has many themes such as depression, trauma, death, isolation etc.
The manga highlights four stages of his life: elementary school, middle school, high school, and his early twenties. We get to see him maneuver through the several problems in his life through these periods.
Punpun comes from a dysfunctional family marked by a suicidal mother and an abusive, alcoholic father. These troubling family dynamics significantly impact his behavior throughout the story, leading to a downward spiral of self-loathing and a lack of empathy. It is a truly emotional story and definitely one of the best manga of all time with praiseworthy art.
1Vagabond
There is not a single manga fanatic who isn’t familiar with this title. “Vagabond” is a manga written and illustrated by “Inoue Takehiko” (who also wrote Slam Dunk and Real, as we discussed earlier).
The story is about Miyamoto Musashi, originally named Shinmen Takezo, who began his quest to become the strongest samurai at a young age after being exiled from his village. Born into a samurai family with a renowned father, Musashi was driven to excel in sword fighting as a way to overcome the harsh treatment he received during his childhood and his inability to rebel.
His unique swordsmanship, characterized by unconventional movements and a lack of formal style, stems from spending much of his time in the forest, where he was labeled a demon child by his village due to his troubled nature. The forest becomes his true home and the place where he learns from his master.
Though the story is a little slow-paced, it has deep philosophical meaning and may hit close to home for some people. Besides this, it also boasts one of the best art styles among all manga.
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