Exploring the Potential Release of a 20th Century Boys Anime: What Lies Ahead for Naoki Urasawa's Masterpiece

Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys manga tells a captivating story of childhood friendships, mysterious prophecies, and a massive conspiracy that has captured readers globally since its debut in 1999. Despite the manga's popularity among anime enthusiasts worldwide and its dedicated fanbase, the series has yet to receive an anime adaptation, leaving fans eager to see their beloved story brought to life in animated form.

As the years pass, fans are left wondering - will there ever be a 20th Century Boys anime? While the manga has been adapted into three live-action films, fans feel that three films are not enough to fully portray the 22-volume manga series.

Will 20th Century Boys manga get an anime adaptation?

20th Century Boys manga (Image via Shogakukan)

The fact that 20th Century Boys, a manga series by Naoki Urasawa, has not been made into an anime despite its widespread acclaim is surprising. Nonetheless, the series has inspired three successful live-action films. Typically, an anime adaptation only occurs when a manga has a strong following, and 20th Century Boys has clearly achieved incredible success. By 2008, the manga had sold 36 million copies worldwide since its conclusion.

Aside from being well-liked by the public, it also garnered numerous accolades, including the 2002 Excellence Prize, the 2004 Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize, the Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category, and more. The manga also achieved the prestigious honor of winning the Eisner Award twice, in 2011 and 2013, for Best U.S. Edition of International Material in the Asia category.

A color spread of manga (Image via Shogakukan)

Despite not currently being serialized, it is reasonable to expect an anime adaptation of 20th Century Boys soon, considering the popularity of Pluto and the success of Monster. However, the possibility of the series being adapted into anime is still uncertain, as there have been no official announcements or news regarding its arrival.

Plot of 20th Century Boys

A panel as featured in the 20th Century Boys manga (Image via Shogakukan)

In 1969, a tight-knit group of friends from Japan came together to establish a secret hideout where they could socialize and enjoy themselves. They created a symbolic emblem to represent the strength of their friendship and even conceived the idea of documenting a story in what they dubbed the "Book of Prophecy," featuring evil forces attempting to sow chaos in the world.

Years later, a mysterious cult called "Friend" surfaces, with their symbol bearing a striking resemblance to the one the childhood friends developed. Additionally, a deadly virus is released into society, causing people to experience uncontrollable blood loss.

Kenji, who was part of the original group of friends, begins to suspect that Friend might be responsible for all these events and wonders if their Book of Prophecy could be foretelling the future. Driven by curiosity and a concern for the well-being of humanity, Kenji embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind Friend's schemes and put an end to them once and for all.

Final thoughts

There has been no official announcement regarding an anime adaptation of the beloved 20th Century Boys manga series, but the possibility remains open. The series' popularity and the success of other anime adaptations of Naoki Urasawa's works make the chance of an anime adaptation strong. Ultimately, fan demand will be crucial in determining the potential arrival of the 20th Century Boys anime.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I am excited about the potential release of a 20th Century Boys anime. The manga is a masterpiece, and I believe that an anime adaptation could bring the story to life in a new and exciting way. The story is full of suspense, mystery, and action, and I think that an anime adaptation could really capture the essence of the manga.

However, I also have some concerns about a potential anime adaptation. I am worried that the anime might not be able to do justice to the complexity of the story. The manga is very detailed, and there are a lot of different characters and plotlines. I am concerned that an anime adaptation might not be able to capture all of the nuances of the story.

Overall, I am excited about the potential release of a 20th Century Boys anime, but I also have some concerns. I think that an anime adaptation could be a great way to bring the story to life, but I am worried that it might not be able to do justice to the complexity of the manga.