Summary
- Anime sequels often leave fans hanging with unanswered questions, promising more depth to the story.
- Series like No Game No Life, Deadman Wonderland, and Btooom! Ended with loose ends, needing satisfying conclusions.
- Despite financial challenges and non-linear storytelling, fans eagerly anticipate sequels to these unresolved anime series.
Anime lovers often find it upsetting to finish a series with so many unanswered questions. Some anime conclude everything well, some promise more and a few never satisfy us by answering all the final questions. Although anime can have unfinished stories for many reasons, such as hard adaptation or delayed production, these shows still deserve to end properly.
Here is a list of eight anime series that kept audiences on the edge of their seats, yet stopped just when the most important moments were about to happen. Everybody wants to know how these tales are finished, and a follow-up sequel would do just that.
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1 No Game No Life
The Siblings Who Conquered the Game World, Yet Left Us Hanging
No Game, No Life
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2014
- Cast
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Ai Kayano, Yoko Hikasa, Scott Gibbs, Ying Huang, Sara Ornelas, Caitlynn French, Yuka Iguchi
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Japanese Title
- No Game No Life
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Yuu Kamiya
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE, Hulu
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.05
The novel attracted many readers with its dazzling animation and the pair, Sora and Shiro, who must win in each game to move forward. Although the series has many fans, no second season has so far been announced. This happens for a number of reasons. The main reason for these breaks is that the author’s health has made it hard for the source books to be released on time. Few new adaptations can be explored because of this.
A claim of plagiarism against the author may have lowered the series’ reputation, which could have resulted in producers not wanting to back a new season. Interestingly, both the ending and the high budget of the first season are reasons that the author apparently finds difficult to understand.
2 Deadman Wonderland
A Deadly Prison Game Without a Conclusion
Deadman Wonderland
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2011 - 2011
- Cast
- Monica Rial, Kana Hanazawa, Greg Ayres, Romi Park, Kanehira Yamamoto, Aaron Dismuke, Kôzô Dôzaka, Jessie James Grelle
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Manglobe
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Jinsei Kataoka, Kazuma Kondou
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.14
The series introduced us to a place where a boy is sent to jail in a park that entertains its visitors with bloody games. Many plots were left unfinished by how the story concluded in the anime. The main reason for not having a sequel is the part of the story that diverges from the original manga.
In addition, Manglobe, the production studio, encountered financial problems and ended up going bankrupt, which meant there would be no more episodes. Weak interest from viewers on television and in DVD sales made the series less likely to be continued.
3 Btooom!
A Survival Game Begging for Closure
Btooom!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2012 - 2012-00-00
- Network
- Tokyo MX
- Directors
- Kazuo Nogami, Hideki Hosokawa, Makoto Kato, Takahiro Kawakoshi, Noriaki Saito
- Cast
- Miyuki Sawashiro, Suzuko Mimori, Kanata Hongo, Ken Narita, Yuichi Nakamura, Toru Okawa
- Main Genre
- Anime
- Seasons
- 1
In the series Btooom!, the players are placed on an uninhabited island and are forced to defeat each other with special bombs. The way the show mixes tension, fast action and plans draws people in from the very beginning. The way it examines human psychology enriches the idea of a survival game. Fans were left with lots of mysteries, since the anime did not complete its own story or explore all the characters’ possible plot developments. Although the manga wraps up most storylines, the anime’s ending seems lightweight and strewn with loose ends.
The sequel might show the outcomes of the characters and bring the series’ anxiety to a climax. However, that might just remain a dream for the fans of the series because even though its idea attracted interest from viewers, the anime wasn’t as popular in Japan as it should have been. Not many people bought Blu-ray copies and only a very small number of sales were recorded, putting it in the group of the most overlooked anime series in 2012. Furthermore, the mobile game version did not manage to keep its success from the first days, falling quickly from the app charts. Because the first season sold poorly and was not warmly welcomed, there was no future for a second season.
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4 Land of the Lustrous
A Stunning World of Gems Needing Resolution
Land of the Lustrous
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2017 - 2017
- Cast
- Tomoyo Kurosawa, Sarah Wiedenheft, Ai Kayano, Yumi Uchiyama, Ayahi Takagaki, Mamiko Noto, Shelley Calene-Black, Heidi Hinkel
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Orange
- Japanese Title
- Houseki no Kuni
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Haruko Ichikawa
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.39
The series, Land of the Lustrous, set itself apart thanks to its beautiful animation and ideas, centering on gem creatures in a new post-apocalyptic setting. And perhaps one of the most well-received CGI adaptations of its time, which is rare as CGI in anime is mostly always negatively received by fans. Just as the series was reaching its peak at the end, the season concluded and fans were left hoping for season 2.
Many of the series’ main mysteries went unexplained at the end. Due to the unpredictable release timings of the manga, development on a sequel had to be paused several times. While the original run of the manga ended last April, taking such long breaks between releases might have hampered the show’s drive for another season.
5 Baccano!
The Chaotic Tale That Needs a Sequel
Baccano!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2008-00-00
- Cast
- Michael C. Pizzuto, J. Michael Tatum, Caitlin Glass, Akemi Kanda, Maxey Whitehead, Masaya Onosaka, Sayaka Aoki, Sanae Kobayashi
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator(s)
- Ryôgo Narita
The story of Baccano! Is built from several plots set during the time of Prohibition in America, involving both immortals and gangsters. Although the anime won recognition, fans missed out on many parts of the story because the anime didn’t cover the entirety of the light novels.
Because the anime didn’t perform well in sales, there isn’t yet a sequel. Even though the game received some attention from fans, it didn’t garner the needed sales to receive another investment. Because the show told its story in a non-linear way which was new, audiences could find it harder to follow, so producers were less willing to continue it.
6 86
War, Sacrifice, and an Unfinished Battle
|
Directed by |
Toshimasa Ishii |
|---|---|
|
Written by |
Toshiya Ōno |
|
Studio |
A-1 Pictures |
|
Release Date |
April 11, 2021 |
The story in 86 centers on how marginalized soldiers known as the "86" try to survive both battles and a cruel political situation. Not only is the anime exciting to watch, but it also helps viewers understand war’s emotional results because of the human stories. Although the first two seasons covered lots of material, some important plot details and main characters’ lives are still left unfinished. There are plans for a further adaptation of the light novel, since the series isn’t completed in the anime. A sequel could wrap up the first story and also develop the main themes of giving and surviving shown in 86.
The part leading to some manga projects being canceled is a result of the artists who work on those series being affected by ill health. Because of these problems, the ongoing production of anime may have been disrupted. In addition, the many challenging themes and tough topics made the series very popular among critics, yet did not help it attract a large audience, which could have influenced choices on adapting it again.
7 Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions
A Harsh Fantasy World With More to Tell
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2016
- Directors
- Ryosuke Nakamura
- Writers
- Ao Jumonji
- Cast
- Haruhiro, Manato, Yume, Shihoru, Ranta, Moguzo, Mary
- Main Genre
- Fantasy
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Japanese Title
- Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Ao Jūmonji
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu, Prime Video
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.66
- Creator(s)
- Ao Jumonji
The series centered on rough but relatable adventures taken by a group of travelers when they arrive in a mysterious world. This anime was unique in that it moved forward slowly, thanks to its characters. However, there was not much commercial success and only a little was made selling Blu-ray releases and other merchandise.
These financial conditions most likely led to the choice not to make a second season. Also, the deliberate style and little ordinary action in the anime might have stopped a broad audience from being interested in it, which made studios feel reluctant to take a risk on it. Even so, the series ends as the characters start to discover what their world and lives are really about. The story in the source material keeps going, giving us plenty of material for new novels. The next season could share more of what happened to the characters before they came to Grimgar.
8 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
A Romantic Comedy That Needs More Love
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for an Otaku
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2018-00-00
- Directors
- Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Writers
- Fujita
- Cast
- Arisa Date, Kento Ito, Miyuki Sawashiro, Tomokazu Sugita, Yûki Kaji, Aoi Yuki
- Franchise(s)
- Wotakoi: Love is Hard for an Otaku
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Japanese Title
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Fujita
- Number of Episodes
- 11
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.93
- Creator(s)
- Fujita
Wotakoi focuses on the lives of friends at a job who are also fans of anime, manga and games. Because of its lively mood, good humor and lovable heroes, it’s fun to watch. It’s easy to see how genuine and sweet the couples are. The love stories for most of the supporting characters remain unfinished. A sequel might assist these characters in settling their romance, as many fans are eagerly waiting for it.
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku captured viewers with its look at romance among otaku. Although it received a lot of popularity, just 11 episodes and some OVAs were released for the TV series, so much of the original manga’s storylines were not explored. The commercial success of the anime is one reason why a full sequel wasn’t favored. Our manga was a major success, but our anime did not attract significant numbers of viewers or earn a lot. When an anime starts with a small viewership, getting additional funding to adapt the rest of the story is a problem in slice-of-life series.
Because many plots, character stories and new worlds are still unexplored, these stories deserve the time to reach their fullest forms. A sequel might give fans what they have been missing for so long by telling the story from the last cliffhanger to completion. May the industry pay attention and bring back this delightful series that fans love.