{"id":897524,"date":"2026-04-07T10:22:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/07\/5-anime-remakes-that-completely-outclass-the-originals\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T10:22:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:22:45","slug":"5-anime-remakes-that-completely-outclass-the-originals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/07\/5-anime-remakes-that-completely-outclass-the-originals\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Anime Remakes That Completely Outclass the Originals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The magic of a great anime<\/a> can be difficult to recapture, which means that remakes often pale in comparison to what came before. However, there are a few fortunate ones that manage to outclass their original series. This can be because they\u2019re truer to the source material or because they make satisfying changes. The timing can also benefit a remake, as enhanced technology can level up the animation and production quality. (Arguably, many anime classics would benefit<\/a> from this treatment, despite not needing a remake.)<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tVideos by ComicBook.com\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Even the strongest remakes usually match their predecessors at best, but it\u2019s exciting when they actually surpass them. From an anime masterpiece that gives fans a more faithful take on its story to a remake that totally ramps up the visuals and storytelling, these remakes prove how fruitful revisiting a story can be, especially when there\u2019s a good reason for it.<\/p>\n

\"Edward
Image via Studio Bones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The original Fullmetal Alchemist<\/em> is an anime that\u2019s now impossible to stream<\/a>, but the 51-episode series left an impression back in 2003. Its early episodes get off to a strong start, with their introduction of the Elric brothers proving darker and more compelling in some ways than the opening of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood<\/em>. However, the source material wasn\u2019t finished when the original series came out, forcing it to diverge from Hiromu Arakawa\u2019s story. This ensures its middle and ending don\u2019t fit together quite as nicely as Brotherhood<\/em>\u2018s, which offers greater fidelity to the manga. There are some gaping holes and over-the-top twists, and the original has a less satisfying conclusion. By contrast, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood<\/em> is an anime that gets better and better<\/a> as it continues. By the end, it outclasses the prior adaptation easily.<\/p>\n

4) Fruits Basket (2019)<\/h2>\n
\"Tohru<\/figure>\n

The original Fruits Basket<\/em> is a charming classic, but the 2001 series doesn\u2019t tackle enough of Natsuki Takaya\u2019s manga. It\u2019s also fairly dated, with both its animation quality and pacing failing to hold up, especially compared to the 2019 remake. The new Fruits Basket<\/em> anime is gorgeously animated, and it nails the drama and emotional beats in a way the earlier series doesn\u2019t always succeed at. Like most titles on this list, it\u2019s an improvement on what came before it, even though both are decent in their own right. Overall, the 2019 Fruits Basket<\/em> earns its superior reputation though, offering a fuller and more satisfying story. <\/p>\n

3) Dororo (2019)<\/h2>\n
\"Hyakkimaru<\/figure>\n

1969\u2019s Dororo<\/em> is a dark and worthy anime, and it was groundbreaking for the time it came out. It\u2019s a great addition to any anime lovers\u2019 watchlist. However, the 2019 is more likely to appeal to modern viewers, with its animation quality and production being noticeably better \u2014 as you\u2019d expect given its debut came so much later, using modern technology and benefiting from anime\u2019s rise in popularity. The Dororo<\/em> remake also lands its emotional beats more effectively than the original, and it brings more nuance and depth to its characters. <\/p>\n

2) Hunter x Hunter (2011)<\/h2>\n
\"Gon<\/figure>\n

Both the 1999 and 2011 versions of Hunter x Hunter<\/em> are generally strong series, but the latter gets a proper ending \u2014 and it adapts more of Yoshihiro Togashi\u2019s manga than its predecessor, which only gets up to the Greed Island arc. Its lengthier run allows it to outclass the original adaptation. However, it also takes a step up when it comes to animation and production quality. The original Hunter x Hunter<\/em> is still worth a watch, especially for diehard fans of the series. But there\u2019s a good reason the 2011 series is the one lauded as a classic. If you\u2019re only going to watch one of them, it should be the remake.<\/p>\n

1) Hellsing Ultimate<\/h2>\n
\"Anderson<\/figure>\n

The original Hellsing<\/em> anime is considered a cult classic, but like the first Fullmetal Alchemist<\/em> series, it breaks off from the manga. The 2001 anime is still entertaining in its own right, but 2006\u2019s Hellsing Ultimate<\/em> offers a more faithful and higher-quality rendition of Kouta Hirano\u2019s story. As a result, it\u2019s more highly regarded, and rightfully so. The two series are different enough that they can both be enjoyed, but comparing them, Hellsing Ultimate<\/em> comes out on top every time. The pacing is tighter, the action is more of a spectacle, and it doesn\u2019t shy away from the darker or bloodier elements. <\/p>\n

What anime remake do you prefer over the original? Leave a comment and join the conversation now in the\u00a0ComicBook Forum<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Amanda Mullen
Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The magic of a great anime can be difficult to recapture, which means that remakes often pale in comparison to what came before. However, there are a few fortunate ones that manage to outclass their original series. This can be because they\u2019re truer to the source material or because they make satisfying changes. The timing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":897525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27819,148709],"tags":[12276,16179],"class_list":{"0":"post-897524","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-anime","8":"category-remakes","9":"tag-anime","10":"tag-remakes"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/897524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=897524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/897524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/897525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=897524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=897524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=897524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}