10 Marvel Franchises Perfect for an Anime Adaptation

Marvel Comics and the adaptations that the publishing company has received have been major parts of popular culture, particularly in the West. This is now manifesting in an unexpected crossover, of sorts, with the new Solo Leveling movie mashing itself up with the poster from the third Venom movie. This speaks to how popular certain Marvel heroes and villains are, not to mention the inherent potential of Marvel anime.

Marvel has produced anime before, but now is the best time to retry the concept. Both Marvel and anime are absolutely huge at the moment, with the new Venom “crossover” only one example of this. Add in how huge some Marvel characters are in just about any medium, and it’s a marvelous recipe for success for fans of the comic book publisher and Japanese animation.

10 Venom Was Literally Made for Anime

The Lethal Protector Can Swing His Tongue Into an Action Packed Anime

Given the current crossover with the incredibly popular Solo Leveling, not to mention the box office success of Venom: The Last Dance, putting Venom in his own anime would be a no-brainer. The villain-turned-antihero is both of the Spider-Man brand while also being independent of the Web-Slinger. Likewise, his visual of goo and a long tongue would be done wonders by an experimental animation studio such as Madhouse.

A Venom anime could deliver both epic, pulse-pounding anime action and body horror. Anime has increasingly become synonymous with body horror, be it through classic works such as The Guyver, Uzumaki and Parasyte or even the current popularity of the “dark shonen trio.” A world in which Chainsaw Man and Demon Slayer are hits is ripe for a Venom anime, with the medium working well for the character’s “next” dance. In the case of the latter, even adapting the recent Kid Venom character might work well, especially since he’s so inspired by anime.

9 The Newest Take On Ultimate X-Men Is Begging for an Anime

Peach Momoko’s Artistic Gem IS Essentially a Manga Already

The new Ultimate Universe has rebooted classic Marvel characters once more, sometimes radically reinterpreting a few of them more drastically than others. The best example of this is Ultimate X-Men by Peach Momoko, which uses the artist/writer’s signature style to create a particularly Japanese take on the mutants. Focused on obscure mutants instead of the franchise’s mainstays, the current Ultimate X-Men comic is closer to a Junji Ito manga than anything Chris Claremont wrote.

Given that it’s already so similar to a manga, adapting the new Ultimate X-Men into an anime would be an obvious choice. It makes more sense than a potentially lazy rendition of the classic X-Men that’s simply passed through an anime filter, and it would look radically different from anything else Marvel is producing at this time. Most importantly, it could truly help bridge the gap between manga and comic book fans, pulling this off better than other attempts at doing so.

8 A Spider-Man Anime Could Swing Higher Than Ever

Spider-Man Is Marvel’s Biggest Property, Now and Forever

Even with the newfound popularity of the Avengers, Spider-Man is still the main name at Marvel Comics. Seen in frequent comics, cartoons, video games and movies, the character has a rich mythology, supporting cast and rogues gallery that’s rivaled only by the X-Men. He also exudes a youthful aura that fits the overall stereotypical aesthetic and vibe of anime.

A Spider-Man anime needs to actually adapt the character and not be a weird adaptation in name only, a la the classic live-action tokusatsu Spider-Man show from the 1970s. Fans haven’t had a beloved animated Spider-Man show in years, with the iconic Spectacular Spider-Man being the last one with any acclaim. Thus, giving viewers a vibrant look at Peter Parker, Aunt May, Mary Jane and a gaggle of villains might be a way to break the curse.

7 A New Iron Man Anime Should Be a Mecha-Esque Series

The Armored Avenger Needs to Be as Hi-Tech as Possible

There was a previous Iron Man anime, but it didn’t make much of a splash. Part of this was due to the fact that, besides Iron/Tony Stark himself, very little of the character’s mythos was present. Given the prevalence of similarly armored enemies, giving Iron Man a series inspired by the popularity of mecha anime might be the best direction for the hero.

Villains such as Iron Monger, Crimson Dynami, Titanium Man and others could be envisioned with the same attention to robotic detail as seen in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. Likewise, having a writer who’s handled intelligent and sometimes political science fiction anime, such as the Patlabor and Ghost in the Shell franchises, would be absolutely necessary to give the show some narrative substance. Most importantly, great animation is key to doing Iron Man’s armor justice, as shabby CGI will only make the series look like a low-effort cash grab.

6 A Nova Anime Could Be a Modern Version of The Guyver

The Cosmic Hero Has Rarely Been Given a True Adaptation

Among other Marvel heroes, Nova is in a strange place. The character was once popular in the 1980s and 1990s, though this success was nothing like that of Spidey, the X-Men or other heroes. Likewise, he’s best when he’s a mix of cosmic adventures and more relatable, almost street-level heroics. Add in the fact that his powers are of an alien nature, and a classic body horror series is the best formula for the overlooked member of the New Warriors.

Guyver is a classic yet forgotten anime that combines sci-fi and body horror. While it might not immediately evoke Marvel’s Nova, the concepts are somewhat similar due to the Guyver armor and powers being alien technology. Combining Nova with The Guyver could add a sense of style that finally popularizes the Marvel character, with the anime itself featuring a mix of earth-based heroics and cosmic battles featuring alien races such as the Kree, the Skrulls and others. In all honesty, Nova might have the most chance for success in this regard, as he’s a relative blank slate to many.

5 Ant-Man’s Alter Ego Could Make for a Hilarious Kaiju Anime

A Giant Man Anime Could Be the Next Kaiju No. 8

In Japanese fiction, the concept of kaiju and similarly gigantic heroes fighting these massive monsters is very prevalent. From the Godzilla movie franchise to tokusatsu shows and even the anime/manga Kaiju No. 8, the formula is fairly common yet still very popular. This could create the best environment for a size-changing Marvel hero, namely in his biggest form.

While Ant-Man might seem like a strange candidate for an anime, Hank Pym’s Giant Man form could be used for a sort of tokusatsu anime. The formula could have Ant-Man encountering foes in the Microverse that later manifest as gigantic problems in the normal world, forcing him to turn into Giant Man to take them down. Said tentative show could be a mix of weird science with the over-the-top archetypes of Japanese wrestling and superheroes.

4 Hulk Was Made for Anime Horror and Thrills

A Hulk Anime Could Smash Expectations of the Character

The Incredible Hulk is known for his immense strength and even bigger temper, both of which aid him in smashing his enemies to pieces. All the while, his alter ego of Dr. Banner is racked with personal and psychological issues, with the Hulk being the manifestation of deep trauma and years of abuse. Sadly, some of these themes haven’t been explored that much in the movies, but an anime could finally do the character justice.

A Hulk anime needs to balance incredibly animated action in the vein of an intense shonen series with the deep psychological horror of a show like Paranoia Agent. Every Hulk transformation in the anime needs to have weight, making the character and the show feel like more than a typical superhero trope. Once again, body horror would be key, especially if elements of Immortal Hulk are used, with the result possibly being the Marvel equivalent to the mecha deconstruction Neon Genesis Evangelion.

3 Daredevil’s Noir Action Is Perfect for an Anime

Marvel’s Man Without Fear Has an Unlikely Formula to Follow

Ever since he was reinterpreted by Frank Miller, Daredevil has been a gritty hero who excels in noir, street-level storytelling. Using martial arts skills and his superhuman senses, he takes down organized crime and even the Hand ninja clan in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. This gives him an edgier vibe than many Marvel heroes, and this could work well in an anime series.

A good inspiration for a Daredevil anime is the 2007 adaptation of Shotaro Ishinomori’s The Skull Man, which wasn’t a straightforward superhero anime. Instead, it followed a detective investigating Skull Man, with the dark hero himself somewhat in the shadows. The same could be done for a Daredevil anime, with the Man Without Fear being investigated by Ben Urich. All the while, lawyer Matt Murdock would aid Urich, with the latter none the wiser in the noir, brutal show that his friend is actually Daredevil.

2 Iron Fist Is Already a Shonen Superhero

The Kung Fu Fighter Was Truly Made for an Anime

Created in the Kung Fu movie craze of the 1970s, Iron Fist is more of a martial arts adventurer than a traditional superhero. Using superhuman chi energy and martial arts mastery, he fights off against other martial artists and various supernatural threats, namely those tied to his temporary home of K’un-Lun. This could all make for a throwback anime that revels in a stylized take on “Chinese” mythology.

Using the adventurous tone of the original Dragon Ball would be a good fit for an Iron Fist anime, ensuring that the exotic locales are as much of a draw as the action. Said fight scenes need to be just as epic and breathtaking as anything in Akira Toriyama’s popular franchise, and adding Goku’s sense of lighthearted humor to the character of Danny Rand would make him instantly endearing. Plus, battle shonen remains the most popular type of anime, so putting Iron Fist in that mold would ensure at least a little bit of attention.

1 The Marvel Mangaverse is an Obvious Choice for an Anime

An Anime Adaptation Could Lead to the Imprint’s Revival

In the early 2000s, Marvel saw the growing popularity of the manga market and created the Mangaverse. This alternate universe reimagined various Marvel heroes and villains, with Spider-Man and the X-Men being the most popular reinterpretations. Also seen was a cheeky take on The Punisher, who was humorously altered by iconic writer Peter David. These versions of Marvel characters haven’t been seen in ages, but now is the perfect time to bring them back in a mainstream project.

A Marvel Mangaverse anime could be a full season of around 24–26 episodes, with 2–3 episodes each being devoted to different heroes and villains in an interconnected story. This would be a conjoined anthology, of sorts, and be a more successful take on the What If?… series’ concept. Likewise, if it’s successful, it could receive a second season and showcase even more reimagined Marvel heroes, acting as a one-stop shop for this sort of reinterpretation.