The anime genre has a cult following that has steadily grown since the 1980s. Fan-favorite series like One Piece and Gundam Wing were enjoyed through multiple seasons and spin-off series. However, there are some stunning and well-liked shows that were cut short or left with only a single season. This, sometimes, occurs if the adaptation catches up too quickly with the original manga, or if the show does not have studio support to continue with more seasons. While these are not new problems when it comes to adaptations, this can leave fans dissatisfied with plot holes and cliffhangers, never to be answered. Included here are five anime series that deserve to be continued.
5 Plunderer (2020)
Plunderer premiered its first season in January 2020. Taking place in a world that is dominated by a kind of point system, everyone has a "count" located on their body, and should it drop to zero, the person will be swallowed up by the "abyss". Each person's count has a special way of increasing and lets them earn a way of life. The series follows Hina as she travels, after her mother's count reached zero, to find a legendary warrior and help him in his quest. When she finds the legend, she is surprised to find that he is not what her mind imagined, and Licht Bach is a degenerate, with an impossibly low count. It takes a team of friends to help Licht on his journey to fight against the Royal Military to help the civilians under their rule.
This interesting story world gave anime fans a surge of curiosity to see what sort of life could take place in such an environment. The characters are extremely relatable with the way that their "counts" are a part of their very being. The perverted hero has a count that reflects the number of women that accept or reject his advances. The determined traveler has a count for every kilometer walked. The audience is also pulled into the mystery of the "abyss" and what its purpose could be. The incredible scenery brings an entirely new fantasy to life and the music matches the tone that goes along with it.
Ending with a cliffhanger made it seem as if the second season would be following along quickly. However, fans of the show were extremely disappointed when, even two years later, the studio still has not confirmed or denied a second season. The manga of the same name did end in April 2022, but there is sufficient material to add a second season, possibly of even wrapping up the story with the true ending, bringing fans a satisfying end.
4 Deadman Wonderland (2011)
Deadman Wonderland first aired in the US in May 2012, one year after it aired in Japan. It is set 10 years after a gigantic earthquake hits Japan, sinking three-quarters of Tokyo into the ocean. Ganta, a survivor of the earthquake, is falsely imprisoned for massacring his high school class, and is sent to Deadman Wonderland, a privately operated prison. The prison contains the inmates by placing a collar around their necks to monitor everything around them. They are also given a poison through the collar, that they can only get the antidote through performing activities through the prison. While on death row, Ganta tries to survive a gladiator-style deathmatch created to entertain rich, paying spectators.This is a gore-filled series that drew in an audience with its post-apocalyptic world. It has a style like Death Race and Hunger Games combined. The reason the series was canceled was due to the adaptation deviating from the manga it was based on. There were significant differences between the stories as well, and that added to the difficulty to continuing into a second season. While the source material concluded the main story and mystery in 13 volumes, the anime was cut short without delving into the gritty details. Rather than a traditional second season, it may be in the fans' best interest to restart the series, much like the series Fruits Basket did in 2019.
3 No Game No Life (2014)
Premiering in 2014, No Game No Life follows the prodigy gamer siblings Sora and Shiro. Bored with all life has to offer, the introverted duo is transported into a world that is ruled by games. With their aptitude for strategy, the interlopers lead the human kingdom against the game god for ultimate victory.
This was a strategy-driven series with a key focus on how to outsmart the enemy. The detailed and precise explanation of tactics could rival a chess teacher. Bringing in a bright color palette of pink and blue, the stunning visuals made for an exciting, playful background for the high-stakes games. Fans enjoyed the eccentric series and desperately wanted a second season. There was a buzz around a continuation was being made, but in 2017 there was a prequel movie instead of a proper continuation. While the new glimpse into the world was enjoyed, fans still want to see the story from season one completed.
2 Ouran High School Host Club (2006)
Ouran High School Host Club is an anime fan-favorite from 2006. When Haruhi knocks over an expensive vase, she must conceal her gender to work off her debt with the notorious Host Club, a group of young men that entertain the young ladies of the school. What she didn't expect were the lessons and friends she made along the way.
The manga of the same name completed at 18 volumes, only 8 of which were covered by the anime series. There is plenty of material to continue the heartfelt, romantic comedy into a second season, and maybe even a third. There have been many announcements of a second season being in production; however, the latest update was that production had been halted due to Covid-19 and would be revisited in 2021. Unfortunately, fans are still waiting without many updates.
1 Monster Musume (2015)
Monster Musume is a comedy/mystery series from 2015. A boy's life is thrown into turmoil when the government-run "Interspecies Cultural Exchange Program" sends a snake-monster girl to live under his care. When he receives notes threatening his life, the monster friends he has made want to help protect him and find out why the notes are being sent.
This is one of the more odd anime series on the list. It is a romantic comedy with a hint of mystery, but it contains quite a lot of perverted, sexual humor. It is something that has to be in taste, but is very funny. After all of the characters are established and the audience bonds with their cooky personalities, the life-threatening mystery is introduced.
Right as the series begins to pick up pace, the first season ends with questions begging to be answered. A continuation to solve the mystery is all fans crave for closure. Once fans bond with the characters, it's like torture, not knowing what becomes of them.
There are wonderful worlds and characters in each of these shows that fans would love to see more. There are stories that deserve to have their endings told and questions answered. Fans are often left disappointed with a series that is cut short, and they still dream about the stories that could be. Hopefully one day, the production companies will listen and some of these shows will have their continuations.