Anime reboots
Some anime series are just too good to be produced only once, while others are in dire need of a proper ending. A select few went under the radar the first time they aired and just needed a second chance. Whichever the case, a reboot means that we can savour our favourite series for the second time with an entirely new art style and zhuzhed up animation. Here are 10 anime reboots that are glammed up versions of the original series.
1. Sailor Moon Crystal (2014 – 2016)
Sailor Moon reboot
Image credit: Sailor Moon Official
90’s kids will know that Sailor Moon was all the rage when it aired in Japan from 1992 to 1997.
Like the original series, Sailor Moon Crystal follows the story of middle school girl Usagi Tsukino. One fateful day, Usagi encounters a black cat and is given the power to transform into a magical alter ego, the titular Sailor Moon.
Original anime series released in 1992
Image credit: IMDb
Tasked to fight for love and justice, Sailor Moon meets other interplanetary heroines – or Sailor Guardians – like herself along the way. Together, the young girls search for the lost Moon Princess and a legendary artefact known as the Silver Crystal.
Sailor Moon’s transformation in the original series (left) and reboot (right).
Image adapted from: Toei Animation and Toei Animation
While the classic and much-beloved 1990’s animated series is an adaptation loosely based on the manga, Sailor Moon Crystal is a faithful rendition of the plot in print.
Sailor Moon’s transformation in the original series (left) and reboot (right).
Image adapted from: Toei Animation and Toei Animation
Fervent fans may be used to the old art style in the original series, but the modern animation in Sailor Moon Crystal brings something different to the table.
Genre: Magical girl, Adventure, Action, Romance
Length: 3 seasons, 39 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll, Bandai Channel
Status of anime: Completed
2. Hunter x Hunter (2011 – 2014)
Hunter x Hunter reboot
Image credit: IMDb
The titular Hunter is an elite member of humanity who performs all sorts of dangerous tasks, like battling monsters and venturing into uncharted territories to find hidden treasures.
Original anime series released in 1999
Image credit: IMDb
Gon and Killua in the 1999 version (top) and 2011 version (bottom).
Image credit: Minty_Sauce
In a bid to reunite with his long-lost father – who happens to be a Hunter – Gon Freecss strives to become a professional Hunter.
As Gon vigorously trains and works towards passing the Hunter exam, he befriends 3 other applicants – Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. Along their journey, things get bloody serious – literally – as the protagonists fight a plethora of monsters and criminals.
Gon versus Hisoka fight scene in the 1999 version (left) and 2011 version (right).
Image adapted from: Chrollo Lucilfer and Chrollo Lucilfer
Thankfully, the reboot isn’t as gory as the original version. So if you’re someone who gets squeamish at the sight of blood, you’d be better off watching the 2011 Hunter x Hunter remake.
Besides the absence of gore, the reboot also covers arcs which weren’t animated in the original series. With a much faster pacing and a whopping 148 episodes in total, you’d have more than twice the amount of episodes to binge through.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Shōnen, Superpower
Length: 6 arcs, 148 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Status of anime: Completed
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009 – 2010)
Fullmetal Alchemist reboot
Image credit: MyAnimeList
Abandoned by their father when they were kids, two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, grew up with their mother in a small town called Resembool.
Original anime series released in 2003
Image credit: IMDb
After losing their beloved mother to a terminal illness, their frantic attempt to resurrect her goes horribly wrong. Edward ends up losing his right arm and left leg, while Alphonse’s entire body is completely obliterated and his soul is now trapped in an armour.
Now, the duo must go to great lengths and embark on a dangerous journey to find the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, which is supposed to help them regain their lost bodies.
Side profile of Edward in the original series (left) and reboot (right).
Image adapted from: J and J Productions 1809
The original 2003 anime series follows the manga’s plot for the first half of the series, then diverges into its own story with a radically different ending. However, the revamped Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was released when the manga was nearing its completion and faithfully adapts the storyline from start to end.
Mother transmutation scene in the original series (top) and reboot (bottom).
Image adapted from: Netflix and Netflix
Considering its unstoppable reign at the top of My Anime List – the most popular anime-related website – Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is easily considered the highest–rated and one of the most critically acclaimed series of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X59yPeVk_70
Genre: Action, Adventure, Shōnen, Comedy, Magic
Length: 1 season, 64 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Status of anime: Completed
4. Fruits Basket (2019 – )
Fruits Basket reboot
Image credit: Fruits Basket Fandom
Tohru Honda’s life gets turned upside down following her mother’s death, and she somehow winds up living with Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure from the Soma clan.
Original anime series released in 2001
Image credit: Fruits Basket Fandom
Everything seems to be well until Tohru accidentally stumbles upon the family’s well-kept secret. When a member of the Soma clan is hugged by someone of the opposite gender, they temporarily transform into one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac.
This strange phenomenon sounds like a premise for a comedy, but it is actually a terrible curse with a twisted history. As Tohru sets out to break the curse, her kindness and positivity eventually warm the heart of those possessed by the zodiac.
Tohru in episode 1 of the original series (left) and reboot (right).
Image adapted from: yuushaninarenakattabakaraidaa
The remake faithfully adapts the storyline from the original source material, so it’s perfect if you’re someone who prefers bingeing through episodes rather than reading the manga.
Kyo in the original series (left) and reboot (right).
Image adapted from: yuushaninarenakattabakaraidaa
Apart from a more comprehensive storyline, the Fruits Baskets reboot has a better and newer art style. It is also far less dramatic as compared to the 2001 version, which was known for its over-the-top slapstick humour.
Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy, Supernatural, Romance, Shōjo
Length: 2 seasons, 50 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Status of anime: Ongoing
5. Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (2018)
Cardcaptor Sakura reboot
Image credit: MyAnimeList
Cardcaptor Sakura is a quintessential anime series in the mahō shōjo (魔法少女, or magical girl) genre. Some might even argue that the classic series is in the same league as Sailor Moon.
Original anime series released in 1998
Image credit: MyAnimeList
A little more than 20 years after Sakura Kinomoto first captured cards and hearts, our favourite magical girl made her return to the screen in Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card.
Unlike many other reboots on this list, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card is a sequel that picks up from where the original left off, so you might want to watch the 1998 version first. The latest series did remake some scenes from Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card, so be prepared to go down memory lane.
Scene from the original Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card (top) and reboot (bottom).
Image adapted from: Rona Park
The new series focuses on Sakura and her friends in junior high school. After all her Sakura cards mysteriously turn blank and are rendered powerless, she embarks on a quest to find out what’s wrong.
Syaoran and Sakura from the original Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card (top) and reboot (bottom).
Image adapted from: Rona Park
For the most part, the animation and art style for the remake has remained unchanged, just slightly spruced up with brighter colours. Sakura and friends even look like they’re glowing, iridescent almost, at times.
Genre: Magic, Adventure, Shōjo, Romance
Length: 1 season, 22 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Status of anime: Completed
6. Ushio and Tora (2015 – 2016)
Ushio and Tora reboot
Image credit: Ushio and Tora Fandom
If you’re into old school shōnen (少年) manga and anime, the 1992 version of Ushio and Tora will be right up your alley with its retro aesthetics. But for others who find the old art style and character design of the earlier series outdated, the remake of Ushio and Tora is your next best bet.
Original anime series released in 1992
Image credit: Ushio and Tora Fandom
Rather than continuing from the older Ushio and Tora (1992), which only had 10 episodes, the animation studio restarted the new series from scratch. The reboot series, which has more than thrice the number of episodes, aired in Japan from 2015 to 2016.
Ushio and Tora in the original series (top) and reboot (bottom).
Image adapted from: @LunarArchivist and The Geekly Grind
Protagonist Ushio thinks that his father’s talk of an ancient ancestor impaling a demon using a cursed spear is nonsense – until he finds the said demon, Tora, in his basement. After being cornered by other monsters who are attracted to the house due to Tora’s presence, Ushio has no choice but to release Tora from captivity.
The demon would like to eat Ushio if he could, but it is afraid to do so as Ushio keeps the cursed spear nearby. And so begins their unexpected friendship as the duo battles against supernatural foes together to protect the innocent.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Shōnen
Length: 1 season, 26 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll, YouTube
Status of anime: Completed
7. Digimon Adventure (2020)
Digimon Adventure reboot
Image credit: Digimon Fandom
Take a trip down memory lane and be transported back to the 1990s, when having virtual pets was the in-thing for children everywhere.
Original anime series released in 1999
Image credit: IMDb
Kids pestered their parents to buy them the latest version of Tamagotchi, competed with friends to see who can catch ‘em all, and of course, kept digital pocket-sized monsters otherwise known as “Digimons”.
Character designs in the 1999 version (top) and 2020 version (bottom).
Image credit: ChipmunkRaccoonOz
Relive your childhood with old concepts which have been improved upon with brand new animation. The Digimon franchise has returned to our screens with their newest adaptation, Digimon Adventure.
In this series, 8 kids are transported to the Digital World, a world within the internet, where creatures called Digimon roam. Together with their new–found digital partners, these children have to navigate their way through an unfamiliar place to stop unknown threats and dangers.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Length: 1 season, 66 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll
Status of anime: Ongoing
8. Higurashi: When They Cry (2020)
Higurashi: When They Cry remake.
Image credit: IMDb
The transfer student trope takes on a horrifying twist in Higurashi: When They Cry.
Original anime series released in 2006
Image credit: IMDb
Protagonist Keiichi Maebara moves to the seemingly peaceful Hinamizawa village and quickly befriends his classmates. He soon learns of the upcoming Watanagashi Festival, an annual local festival that commemorates the deity Oyashiro.
Original (top) and remake (bottom).
Image adapted from: Amaya Napyeer
Despite adjusting well to the new environment, Keiichi can’t shake off this nagging feeling that something is off. He later finds out that for 4 consecutive years, villagers were either murdered or disappeared mysteriously in the evening of the festival.
Rika Furude in the original (top) and remake (bottom).
Image adapted from: Amaya Napyeer
If you can’t get enough of horror, add this remake to your list of anime series to watch. The revamped series includes better graphics, new scenes and character designs, but retains the same voice actors who have worked on the 2006 original.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGC5MV3Xd1c
Genre: Mystery, Horror, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller
Length: 1 season, 24 episodes
Available on: Hulu
Status of anime: Ongoing
9. Shaman King (2021)
Shaman King reboot
Image credit: MyAnimeList
In the universe of Shaman King, shamans are individuals who have the ability to traverse different worlds to communicate and fight with spirits.
Original series released in 2001
Image credit: IMDb
The story focuses on Yoh Asakura, a young boy who wants to become the best shaman in the world. To do so, he must face strong competitors and win the Shaman Fight, a prestigious competition held every 500 years to determine the strongest shaman.
Original (top) and remake (bottom).
Image adapted from: Water-Frez and Kevi Anime
Slated to air in April 2021, Shaman King is a reboot of the original series which ran from 2001 to 2002. Unfortunately, there is only the trailer to savour for now. But based on the short teaser alone, the upcoming remake seems promising with upgraded character designs and impressive action sequences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocfCGLsujDg
Genre: Action, Adventure, Supernatural, Shōnen
Length: Unconfirmed
Release date: April 2021
Status of anime: To be aired
10. Dororo (2019)
Dororo reboot
Image credit: MyAnimeList
Dororo is one of the classic works of the great Osamu Tezuka. Widely revered and known as the “Father of Manga” in Japan, Osamu Tezuka is a manga artist who inspired generations of manga creators and cartoonists.
Original series released in 1969
Image credit: MyAnimeList
The original Dororo series was released back in 1969, in classic black-and-white with simple animation. You can expect a drastic visual difference between the 1960s series and revamped version – think richer colour palettes complemented with smoother, complex action sequences.
Dororo in the original series (top) and remake (bottom).
Image adapted from: Jennihazama
Hyakkimaru was born limbless and malformed. This is due to a pact that his father made with 12 demons – in exchange for the prosperity of his land, the demons could each obtain a piece of the then–newborn Hyakkimaru’s body.
Hyakkimaru in the original series (top) and remake (bottom).
Image adapted from: Jennihazama
Hyakkimaru is then abandoned in a river and left to fend for himself as an infant, but is saved by a kind man who provides him with prosthetic limbs and weapons.
In order to regain his body parts, the now fully grown Hyakkimaru must face several demons to reclaim what’s rightfully his. While hunting a demon, Hyakkimaru encounters and befriends the titular Dororo.
Genre: Action, Shōnen, Historical, Demons
Length: 1 season, 24 episodes
Available on: Amazon Prime
Status of anime: Completed
Bonus: Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon (2020)
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon
Image credit: IMDb
When the hugely popular Inuyasha series abruptly ended its run in 2004, devastated fans never thought new episodes would see the light of day.
Though technically not a remake, Inuyasha is gracing the screen once again through the sequel Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, complete with newer and cleaner animation.
Original anime series released in 2000
Image credit: IMDb
Taking place 6 months after the events of The Final Act, the story follows the journey of the descendants of the beloved characters – Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Kagome.
Sesshomaru in the original series (top) and reboot sequel (bottom).
Image adapted from: InuYasha Fandom and vizmedia
Sesshomaru’s daughter Towa was separated from her sister Setsuna during a forest fire and was transported to the modern era, where she was adopted by Kagome’s family.
A decade later, Towa returns to the past and is shocked to find that Setsuna has lost all memories of her older sister. To restore Setsuna’s memories, the sisters embark on an adventure with their cousin Moroha, who is Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter.
While the new story focuses mainly on new characters, it wouldn’t be a stretch to expect a cameo of our beloved old characters in future episodes.
Genre: Historical, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Length: Unconfirmed
Available on: Hulu
Status of anime: Ongoing
Anime reboots
Given the sheer number of anime that’s been given a head-to-toe reboot, it seems like series from the past are experiencing a small revival. If you’ve ever felt frustrated, dissatisfied, or sorely disappointed by any series, don’t be. An animation studio might just pick it up for a solid revamp in the future.
Check out these articles for more anime to watch:
- Supernatural anime series
- Upcoming anime series in Fall 2020
- Award-winning Japanese animated films
- Sports anime other than Haikyuu!!
- Anime inspired by Japanese mythology
Cover image adapted from: Toei Animation and Toei Animation