10 Classic Anime Series Nobody Wants To See a Remake Of
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
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We live in an era of constant remakes and reboots, and with anime reaching the level of fame it has, it is ever more true for that medium. On the one hand, shows like One Piece are getting remakes, and their story isn't even done; on the other, classic anime such as Fist of the North Star are getting new adaptations. But there will always be series, including Tokyo Ghoul and Soul Eater, that deserve a remake and get nothing.
But there are always two sides to this coin, because sometimes a classic anime is so perfect that nothing else can top it, and it is better off not having a remake. That is why this list will feature ten classic anime series that nobody wants a remake of based on popularity, writing, animation, how well it has aged, timeless themes, and overall quality. To be considered a classic for this list, an anime needs to have come out in or before the 2000s, so basically anything before 2010. This list won't feature any anime series that already have a remake/reboot.
10 'Yu Yu Hakusho' (1992–1995)
Long-running shounen anime in particular are getting remakes, and while some shows, like Dragon Ball, probably need one, others, such as Yu Yu Hakusho, don't. Yusuke is an ordinary street punk who dies unexpectedly, with even the devil not knowing what to do with him. Making him a spirit detective, Yusuke must maintain the balance and order of the mortal and supernatural realms.
Out of all the anime on this list, Yu Yu Hakusho is most likely to get a remake since it is the oldest show featured and everyone loves a long-running shounen, meaning it will be popular. However, it doesn't specifically need one, especially since the 1990s vibe and aesthetic are part of the reason why it is so memorable. A remake could reach a wider audience, but in terms of quality, it will be tough to follow the original.
9 'Hajime no Ippo' (2000–2014)
Sports anime are some of the best out there, and while the genre hasn't seen too many remakes, it is always possible for a Hajime no Ippo revival. The titular character is tired of being bullied and grows a fondness for boxing, which takes him into a gym. He has set his eyes on being the best rookie boxer in Japan, but the road to get there is long, winding, and strenuous.
Hajime no Ippo desperately needs a new season, but there is no point in a remake that would rehash the hundreds of episodes that fans already went through. The animation still holds up and has a nice 2000s touch to it, not to mention a remake would get rid of lots of the filler, which includes character development and funny moments. Hajime no Ippo is too long an anime to start over with, meaning a new season is the way to go.
8 'Great Teacher Onizuka' (1999–2000)
Comedy has drastically evolved over the years, with many classics not being funny anymore, but this doesn't apply to Great Teacher Onizuka. The titular character has always wanted to be a teacher for less than noble reasons, but when he finally gets his chance, he is saddled with a classroom full of troublemakers. Thankfully, his time as a delinquent has prepared him to deal with punks.
Some aspects are outdated and awkward, but Great Teacher Onizuka is as funny as ever. This anime is very ingrained in the 1990s, meaning a modern remake will lose some of the pizazz that the original anime had. This anime strikes a remarkable balance of goofy, raunchy, and profound, switching from hilarious jokes to emotional moments that handle heavy themes with nuance.
7 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' (2006–2008)
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion has received plenty of sequels, but never any remakes, thankfully. After Lelouch gains the mysterious ability to control others, he uses it to lead the Japanese people against the Britannia Empire and take back their country. He also has a personal vendetta that he must quench.
The movie was decent, but the new anime was a letdown, further proving that any attempt to bring Code Geass back will be a letdown. The magic stayed in the original anime, which is still one of the most engrossing narratives in the medium, ripe with political intrigue, strategic tactics, and some of the most shocking plot twists in anime history.
6 'Death Note' (2006–2007)
The 2000s were home to some of the most influential anime, including the show that has a stranglehold over everyone, Death Note. When a brilliant student named Light finds a notebook that can kill anyone, he uses it to be the god of the new world he aims to create. However, the world's smartest detective is on the case, creating the best game of cat and mouse viewers will ever see.
The middle third was definitely a step-down compared to the rest, but a remake wouldn't be able to solve anything, since that is just the story. The Death Note anime was essentially perfect, with very few improvements that could be made. There is absolutely no reason for there to be a Death Note remake, since it wouldn't add anything the original didn't already have.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you'd actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don't trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn't just tactical — it's physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they're actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You'd Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You're a systems thinker who can't help but notice the seams in things.
- You're drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
- You'd find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines' worst nightmare.
- You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
- The Matrix built an airtight prison. You'd be the one probing the walls for the door.
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn't reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That's you.
- You don't need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
- You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you're good at all three.
- You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
- In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Blade Runner
You'd survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
- You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
- In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
- You're not a hero. But you're not lost, either.
- In Blade Runner's world, that distinction is everything.
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
- Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they're survival tools.
- You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
- Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You'd learn its logic and earn its respect.
- In time, you wouldn't just survive Arrakis — you'd begin to reshape it.
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn't have it any other way.
- You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
- You'd gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire's grip can be broken.
- You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn't something you're capable of.
- In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
5 'Monster' (2004–2005)
Naoki Urasawa is one of the most prolific manga authors out there, and his magnum opus is also an untouchable masterpiece, Monster. Dr. Tenma chooses to save the life of a child over the mayor, but when that kid grows up, he becomes a serial killer. It is now up to Tenma to kill Johan before it is too late, but will hearing his tragic and dark history change things?
Urasawa has plenty of other manga that need adaptations, like 20th Century Boys and Billy Bat, meaning a Monster remake would only delay potential masterpieces. Putting that aside, there isn't much that could be better in a remake, with the long episode count fleshing out the world, mystery, and characters. Monster features one of the best arcs in anime, and a remake would only jeopardize that status.
4 'Clannad' (2007–2009)
The majority of anime on this list are either dramas or action shows, but there are a few romances that shouldn't be touched, including Clannad. Tomoya is a typical school delinquent, but his unexpected friendship with a girl has begun to slowly change them. From their days at school trying to revive the drama club to their later adulthood, this chronicles the good and bad of their lives.
The art style and dated animation may get in the way, but Clannad is still a perfect romance that did everything it set out to achieve. This deeply personal and intimate view of their lives and how they grow is fascinating and tragic, especially the final season, which is the ultimate culmination of their development.
3 'FLCL' (2000–2001)
There are fewer and fewer avant-garde anime gracing our screens, but the solution isn't to remake the old ones. FLCL is a coming-of-age anime that follows Naota, a kid who takes all the responsibilities of his brother who moved away. This doesn't give him the time to be a kid, that is, until a vespa-riding woman flips his life upside down, even if she is just using him to summon her interdimensional lover.
They may not be remakes, but there have been sequels to FLCL, and all of them have been awful, proving that this universe doesn't need to be revisited. The original anime is perfect, with 6 short but sweet episodes that tell a relatable story through the most bizarre of narratives. FLCL is one of the best anime of all time, and if they want it to stay that way, they should leave it alone as is.
2 'Initial D' (1998–2014)
Some anime are so 1990s infused that any modern version pales in comparison, and Initial D is one such example. Takumi is a great driver, but he doesn't find the fun in it. However, this all changes when he discovers an underground drifting society, which pushes him to use his talents and become a world-renowned street drifter.
The animation is solid, and the story is fun, but the real reason there shouldn't be a remake is that Initial D is so '90s-coded. The Eurobeat music is a staple of the show and is now ingrained in the anime community itself, and even if they use it in a remake, it won't hit the same. Initial D is a defining anime of its time that is best to live on in its purest and most true form.
1 'Cowboy Bebop' (1998–1999)
Shinichiro Watanabe is a prolific anime director with some incredible series under his belt, such as Cowboy Bebop. Spike Spiegel and his crew of bounty hunters travel the galaxy looking for jobs to complete and scum to defeat. But when his dark past reemerges, Spike must face it head-on or risk losing his friends.
Realistically, none of his anime should be remade, but especially not Cowboy Bebop. Fans already saw what a disaster the live-action adaptation was, and a new anime would add insult to injury. The vibe, style, aesthetic, animation, choreography, music, voice acting, writing, story, and comedy were all perfect and on point. Every moment of every episode of Cowboy Bebop is a masterpiece, and it is so untouchable and timeless that it deserves to be left in the perfect state in which it was made.
Cowboy Bebop
- Release Date
- 1998 - 1999
- Network
- TV Tokyo, WOWOW Prime
-
Koichi Yamadera
Spike Spiegel / Ein (voice)
-
Unsho Ishizuka
Jet Black (voice)
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.