💾 Archived View for nafmusings.xyz › anime-series-in-need-of-sequels captured on 2023-03-20 at 17:33:37. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Anime Series In Need of Sequels

I came across an article on SoraNews24 titled "Japanese netizens vote for the top 20 anime they want an on-air sequel to."

HTTP Link to SoraNews24 Article

While I watch a good amount of anime, I have found when reading surveys like the one linked above that my tastes tend to not align with viewers in Japan. For example, I wrote my own list of best "depressing" anime after finding the results of a different survey that was republished in SoraNews24 to be lacking.

HTTP link to my list of depressing anime

Would I find the SoraNews24 list of anime series in name of sequels to be more to my liking?

Not at all.

To begin, I only saw 5 of the 20 anime series on the list. I would not oppose a sequel to any of the five, but none would be my first choice. I am a fan of the 13th place series on the list, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, but I am not sure that a second season would be much different or better than the first.

HTTP link to my article on Nozaki-kun

I also did not see the point of having Re:Zero on the list. The second season ended one year ago. I would be surprised if it did not receive multiple sequel seasons. Let us reserve the list for shows that have more uncertain fates.

Below, I will list six series that I think very much need sequels with some very brief commentary for each. Before my list, I will note a few ground rules:

I will not include series that have confirmed sequels in the works
I will not include series that are (A) based on source material and (B) exhausted the source material in the anime adaptation

March Comes in like a Lion

I rated March Comes in like a Lion as the best anime series of the 2011-2020 decade and its second season as the best single season of any series. Its two 22 episode seasons aired from 2016 to 2018.

My piece on March in my piece on anime recommendations from the 2011-20 decade

The March manga continued beyond the anime. The anime only covered about half of the extant manga material. It should come as no surprise that I hope it receives (multiple) anime sequels.

His and Her Circumstances

Better known as Kare Kano, the anime series aired for 26 episodes in 1998 and 1999. The first half was spectacular. The second half suffered from many conflicts and funding issues, leading to some very odd episodes from 22 to 26 and an abrupt ending. There is a great deal of source material (the manga ran through 2005) that was not covered by the 98-99 anime adaptation. To be sure, this is a better candidate for a Fruits Basket-style remake than it is for a sequel, but it technically checks the boxes for inclusion on my list.

My brief discussion of the best episode of Kare Kano

White Album 2

White Album 2, which aired for 13 episodes in 2013, was the finest melodramatic love triangle train-wreck of the previous decade. The anime adapted the first half of a two-part visual novel. The first season suffered from some flaws and excesses, but I would look forward to a second anime season to bring the events to a close in a decisive way.

My short section on White Album 2

Kimi ni Todoke

Kimi ni Todoke aired for 38 episodes from 2009 to 2011. The bubbly romance is most notable for its unique socially awkward heroine, Sawako Kuronuma. The first season was the better of the two - the second suffered from setting the main characters back to maunfacture drama. But it ended on a fine note. The anime series only covers about one-third of the manga, which concluded in 2016. Kimi ni Todoke would be a worthy sequel candidate.

My very serious study of hair color in Kimi ni Todoke

My Neighbor Seki

The best short series of anime shorts in recent memory - My Neighbor Seki should receive all of the sequels.

My piece recommending My Neighbor Seki

Do Not Make Sequel: Usagi Drop

This list made me think about which anime should not receive a sequel. This question is easy. Usagi Drop should never, ever, receive an anime sequel.

On the complicated case of Usagi Drop

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------