There has been a lot of different anime series over the years, so it shouldn't be a surprise that more than a few of them are actually reboots. There are a lot of reasons to remake an anime, whether it be to bring a new generation of fans to a series, to revamp it entirely, or because the original had too much filler and it needed a newer adaptation that followed its manga source material more closely.
You'd be surprised by how many modern anime have older adaptations, so let's take a look at a few of them. Here's 10 famous modern anime you didn't know had older adaptations!
10 Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works
Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is a dazzling 2014 anime from the production company Ufotable. The series is based on the Fate/Stay Night visual novel and follows the Unlimited Blade Works storyline about two young mages taking part in the Fifth Holy Grail War. Not a lot of know it, but the visual had an earlier adaptation in 2006.
The 2006 adaptation included elements from all three of the possible storylines in the visual novel, so the anime had a tough time deciding on which of the endings to use, an issue the modern adaptation avoided by choosing to follow only one storyline. The 2006 version pales in comparison to Unlimited Blade Works' improved art and animation.
9 Berserk
Berserk is a dark fantasy anime that ran from 2016 to 2017, centers on the adventures of Guts, aka The Black Swordsman, as he seeks revenge against Griffith, a former friend who sacrificed his followers to gain God-like powers. The anime was almost universally panned, both for its animation and its changes to the story, but you might not have known that there was a previous Berserk anime.
There was an adaptation of Berserk back in 1997, that was much more beloved than the modern adaptation. This adaptation focused on the "Golden Age" storylines that saw Guts' journey to becoming the Black Swordsman. The 90s adaptation only ran for one season as it was only made to promote the manga, but it's definitely still worth checking out.
8 Gatchaman Crowds
Gatchaman Crowds is a 2013 anime set in the city of Tachikawa, Japan, that is protected by the Gatchaman, a group of warriors that fight in specialized suits powered by their NOTEs, the manifestation of their spiritual powers. The series is about the Gatchaman having to deal with Berg Katze, an alien hell-bent on destroying Earth.
Gatchaman Crowds is actually an adaptation of a 1972 anime called Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. The original 70s anime centered on a group of five young superhero ninjas fighting against a terrorist organization who are trying to control Earth's dwindling natural resources. Science Ninja Team Gatchaman was a staple of 70s anime.
7 Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a 2018 anime taking place in the distant future and centered around an ongoing war between two interstellar states, the monarchist Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance. The series focuses on two key players, Reinhard von Müsel of the Empire and Yang Wen Li of the Alliance, and their rivalry.
It's the perfect series for any fan of sci-fi, but this isn't the series' first outing. Legend of the Galactic Heroes had already been adapted once before in 1988 in a long-running series that had over one hundred episodes, whereas the 2018 series only has twelve episodes and three films.
6 Osomatsu-san
This 2015 slice of life comedy anime follows the antics and hi-jinks of six identical brothers, the Matsuno brothers. Osomatsu-san is a series with a lot of heart, but it's also a hilarious parody of modern anime tropes. It's the perfect anime for fans of Gintama.
There have actually been two previous anime adaptations of this series, the first in the 60s, and the second in the 80s, and they were both called Osomatsu-kun. Those adoptions have the same basic premise of the antics of the Matsuno brothers but were the first two adaptations focused on the brothers as children, Osomatsu-san sees the brothers as adults in their 20s.
5 Devilman Crybaby
Devilman Crybaby is a hit anime series from Netflix that was released in 2018. The series follows Akira Fudo, a teenager that transforms into a devil while still retaining his human soul. It's a gritty and gory horror anime that's well-told and closely follows the manga, despite some changes like having a modern setting and original characters.
The Netflix series was probably the first introduction many viewers had to the Devilman franchise, but there was a previous adaptation back in 1972 that never really had much popularity here in the States. The original adaptation has a distinct 70s feel, so it might be a bit tough for modern audiences to get into.
4 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
You can often find 2009's Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood at the top of many "best anime of all time" lists, and for good reason. The series follows two brothers as they search for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies to normal following a transmutation gone wrong.
There was also an adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist back in 2003, but both adaptations differ widely. Where Brotherhood follows the manga source material very closely, 2003's Fullmetal Alchemist has an almost entirely original story. Both adaptations are great in their own way, but Brotherhood is the definitive adaptation.
3 Dororo
Dororo is a 2019 anime based on Osamu Tezuka's manga of the same name, about a young rōnin named Hyakkimaru who has had numerous organs taken by demons, and an orphan child named Dororo traveling Japan and hunting demons.
The anime saw a lot of popularity when it was released, but not many people know that it wasn't the first adaptation. Another Dororo adaptation was released in 1969, but it's not nearly as dark and gritty as the source material or 2019 anime.
2 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, based on Hirohiko Araki's seminal manga, is an ongoing anime from 2012 following the adventures of the Joestar bloodline over generations in their unending quest to fight evil. It's a great action-oriented anime in its own right, but it also supplies a near endless stream of memes.
As popular as it is, not many people know that Jojo's had an earlier adaptation back in 1993. The six-episode OVA (original video animation) was only an adaptation of Part 3 of the series, Stardust Crusaders, and it can be argued that the OVA had better animation overall than the anime.
1 Hunter X Hunter
Hunter X Hunter was an anime that ran from 2011 to 2014 and is still hugely popular and widely regarded as one of the best anime ever made. The series follows the adventures of a young boy named Gon as he searches for his father, a legendary hunter named Ging.
While the anime was able to wrap up fairly neatly, the same cannot be said for the 1999 adaptation that not many know of. The 90s adaptation started out well enough, but, due to Yoshihiro Togashi's health issues, the production soon ran out of source material and sort of just ended without any conclusion.