This article was written by guest contributor Ichi, a member of the tabletop community and an avid anime fan. He’s hoping for more quality remakes in the future and even provided us with a must-watch list below.
In a recent interview with legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, who created timeless classics such as Nausicaa, Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki believes that the golden age of anime is over and has been for quite a while now. While movie remakes are commonplace in Hollywood in Japan, in the past couple of years, there has been a steady stream of anime remakes of popular titles from what Miyazaki considers to be within a period of peak Japanese animation.
One Giveth, One Taketh
The sudden rise of anime popularity overseas and the manner of its consumption through streaming services has created an immense demand for the constant production of titles faster than studios or even manga artists could ever hope to meet. Despite major advances in film and animation technology, even the most experienced animation studios struggle to keep up as viewers binge-watch anime seasons that took months or years in the making over a couple of days. With less time to explore or create unique stories and the financial risks of a project flopping, remaking an older anime with an already established fan base is the safer bet for any production company.
From a purely artistic perspective, remakes allow the creator or studio to improve their previous work, ranging from something cosmetic as refining animation sequences with today’s modern tools to something as meticulous as expanding the stories, resolving plot holes, or adapting an unreleased story arc often skipped from their manga counterparts. From a branding and marketing perspective, remakes are golden opportunities to introduce these titles to potential new fans, thus ensuring their legacy and sometimes even cultural relevance. However, not all anime remakes are made equal, which many fans have discovered. While these newer anime versions often offer crisper and better visuals, some elements that made their predecessors memorable and unique have also been lost in translation.
Fans have quickly realized that there is a certain charm about traditional hand-drawn animation that modern CGI-infused animes can still not capture, with similar opinions towards anime soundtracks lacking the overall impact of the previous iterations of opening and ending themes. While fans remain divided on their reception of the visuals and auditory side of things, the inclusion of previously un-adapted story arcs seemingly resonates with fans more, proving perhaps that new, original material is necessary for a remake’s success.
Something New, Something Old, Or Something Borrowed?
The release of Boy and the Heron in 2023 marks Miyazaki’s 12th feature film under Studio Ghibli and, to date, has grossed US$294.2 million worldwide, making it the fifth highest of all time in Japan and has won multiple awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Studio Ghibli has long stood out within the industry with its unique and recognizable style. It has continued its tradition of producing beautiful, award-winning projects and has yet to remake any of its titles or those of any other creator. Many fans have cited that the direction of Studio Ghibli is the gold standard upon which Japanese animation studios should aim to emphasize quality rather than quantity and originality over recycling. However, by the same merit, it is also difficult to ignore the significance and cultural impact of anime titles, albeit with lesser accolades, as evidenced by the generally positive reception of most anime remakes.
Here are my top picks for anime remakes worth watching:
Ongoing / Finished
Rurouni Kenshin
Sakura Wars
Sailor Moon
Trigun
Helsing
Evangelion
Dororo
Upcoming
Ranma 1/2
Magic Knight: Rayearth
With the re-introduction of a slew of well-loved anime titles set to release in the upcoming years, the future of anime looks bright as fans continue to grow their respective fandoms. Whether or not remakes provide animation studios a much-needed respite from the ever-growing demands of viewers for high-quality animation is a different issue altogether. What remains true is that anime fans all seek the fantastic, whether it be a well-loved title or a modern classic.
Which anime title do you think deserves a remake? We are dying to know!
Can’t wait for the remakes? Check out the best anime to watch for July in Crunchyroll!
