8 Bestselling Manga That Have Not Been Adapted into Anime, from FIRE PUNCH to VAGABOND

8. I SOLD MY LIFE FOR TEN THOUSAND YEN PER YEAR This manga by Sugaru Miaki has become one of the most emotional drama stories ever to appear on the Shonen Jump+ platform. Its popularity is so high that it eventually received a physical release of three tankobon volumes due to high reader demand. The series also has a high rating of 8.91 on MyAnimeList and continues to receive praise from new readers to this day. The story follows Kusunoki, who sells the remainder of his life for money, and slowly discovers the meaning of life with Miyagi, who watches over him. Their relationship develops gradually, making the story feel very human. Many fans feel that this manga deserves an anime adaptation because its emotional depth is deemed suitable for reaching a wide audience.

7. BLUE GIANT BLUE GIANT by Shinichi Ishizuka successfully brings jazz music to life through black and white images. This manga has sold over 12 million copies worldwide and won major awards such as the Shogakukan Manga Award 2017. Many readers praise how this manga can make readers "hear" music through its panels. The story centers on Dai Miyamoto, who aspires to become the best jazz player in the world despite having no formal music background. His journey is filled with hard work and realistic emotional moments. Although it received an anime film in 2023, its adaptation only covers a small part of the story, so fans still hope for a full anime series.

6. BOY'S ABYSS BOY'S ABYSS by Ryo Minenami is known for its very dark and realistic psychological atmosphere. Although it belongs to a niche genre, this manga has surpassed 1 million copies in circulation and has consistently ranked high on Young Jump+ since its debut. Its popularity continues to rise because its mature themes feel very different from other mainstream mangas. The story follows Reiji Kurose, who feels his life is trapped in a small, pressure-filled town until he meets an idol named Nagi Aoe. This meeting slowly drags him into increasingly heavy emotional conflicts. With themes of depression, trauma, and complicated human relationships, many fans feel that an anime adaptation for this manga is actually long overdue.

5. FIRE PUNCH Before gaining fame through CHAINSAW MAN, Tatsuki Fujimoto had already created the brutal and absurd FIRE PUNCH. This manga achieved a high position in Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2017 and was nominated for the Manga Taisho Award. To this day, FIRE PUNCH is still considered one of the most unique works in Fujimoto's career. The story of Agni, who continues to live in eternal flames, evolves from a simple tale of revenge into a strange narrative about identity, film, and humanity. Many of its scenes feel surreal and unpredictable. With strong visuals and very distinctive symbolism, FIRE PUNCH is often regarded as one of the most intriguing mangas to be adapted into an anime someday.

4. 20TH CENTURY BOYS 20TH CENTURY BOYS by Naoki Urasawa is one of the most legendary thriller mangas of all time. This manga has sold over 36 million copies and won numerous international awards including the Japan Media Arts Festival. Urasawa's big name keeps this series in discussion even years after its conclusion. The story follows Kenji Endo who gets caught up in a major conspiracy related to the cult "Friend" and his own childhood prophecy. The timeline jumps around but still feels neat and full of mystery. Although it has received a live-action trilogy, many fans feel that a complex story like this is much more suitable for adaptation into a long anime series.

3. CHOUJIN X After the success of TOKYO GHOUL, Sui Ishida returns with CHOUJIN X which immediately garnered significant attention. In just its first 10 volumes, this manga has already circulated over 1.2 million copies. Many readers also praise Ishida's improvement in art quality and paneling compared to his previous works. The story follows Tokio Kurohara in a world filled with superpowered humans known as Choujin. This world is rife with brutal conflict and unstable powers. With increasingly mature art style and a unique world, many fans wonder why its anime has not yet been announced.

2. GOODNIGHT PUNPUN GOODNIGHT PUNPUN by Inio Asano is known as one of the most depressing and emotionally realistic mangas. This manga has a very high rating of 8.98 on MyAnimeList and has continued to receive critical acclaim for years. Many readers even consider this manga too emotional to reread. Punpun is depicted as a simple bird character in a realistic world filled with family problems, trauma, and loss. Punpun's visual form also continuously changes according to his mental state. Precisely because its visuals are so unique and the emotions are so heavy, many people find this manga difficult to adapt but too good to ignore.

1. VAGABOND VAGABOND by Takehiko Inoue is one of the most famous mangas in the history of the industry. As of 2026, this manga has sold over 82 million copies worldwide and is often said to have the best art quality in the manga medium. Many of its illustrations are even considered on par with professional painting artwork. Bringing the story of Miyamoto Musashi to life with a visual style reminiscent of traditional brush paintings, VAGABOND offers a philosophical and profound samurai story. Musashi's journey is also filled with reflections on strength and human life. Due to its exceptionally high visual quality, many fans believe that any anime studio would struggle to create an adaptation that truly matches the original manga.