by I wonder why… but somehow I understand.
“After Dinner Mysteries” (originally written by Atsuya Higashikawa), which was adapted into a live-action drama in October 2011, is now finally being adapted into a TV anime in April 2025. When the decision to produce the series was made, fans erupted in excitement and responded positively. In fact, there’s another charismatic manga artist whose work has been adapted into live-action multiple times, but whose TV anime adaptation has yet to be announced.
A prime example is manga artist Masanori Morita. Known for hits like “Rokudenashi Blues” and “Rookies,” all of his significant works, including “Beshari Kurasu,” have been adapted into live-action versions. “Rookies” in particular became a popular drama series representative of the late 2000s, and the 2009 film “Rookies: Graduation” was the highest-grossing live-action film of the year, both in Japan and internationally. Surprisingly, despite this impressive track record, none of her works have ever been adapted into a TV anime.
Only one, “Rokudenashi Blues,” has been adapted into a feature film, and none have been made into a series. Fans speculate that the original artwork is so realistic and beautiful that it would be challenging to maintain the same quality in anime. Speaking of Morita, she serialized her first full-scale suspense horror work, “Zasis,” until April 2024. It’s an ambitious work that stands out from her previous work, and it’s also expected to be adapted into a film in the near future.
Kyoko Okazaki, a charismatic icon of 90s culture, is another author whose work has never been adapted into anime. Her signature works, such as “Helter Skelter,” “Chihuahua-chan,” and “River’s Edge,” have all been adapted into live-action films, generating significant buzz each time. However, Okazaki’s works often portray the desires, loneliness, and conflicts of young people, contrasting sharply with the mainstream of shojo manga, which typically focuses on dreams and aspirations. Due to frequent depictions of realistic sexual and drug use, all live-action adaptations have been rated R15+.
These extreme themes and depictions may be one of the reasons preventing anime adaptations. One manga artist whose work has somehow never been adapted into anime is Taro Nogizaka. His medical manga, “Iryu – Team Medical Dragon” (original story by Akira Nagai), which has sold over 10 million copies, was adapted into a TV drama starring Kenji Sakaguchi in 2006, and four series were produced by 2014. His works have also been adapted into live-action films, including “Arata Natsume’s Marriage,” starring Yuya Yagira.
Nogizaka’s works are characterized by their detailed portrayals of human nature and profound story developments that intertwine with social systems. His themes, such as “Iryu,” which depicts the harsh realities of the medical field, and “Arata Natsume’s Marriage,” which explores the subject of a prison marriage to a death row inmate, are all serious and socially conscious. Perhaps it’s this realistic style that has led to the judgment that the series is “better suited to live-action than anime.”
Even so, an intense desire among fans remains to one day see the series animated, with many still hoping for an anime adaptation of “Yurei-to.” Many people’s hearts race just at the thought of how the complex web of human relationships and tense, suspenseful scenes will be portrayed in the uniquely anime-like style.
Looking back, the realistic style is striking, and it’s easy to agree with fans’ view that the art style and themes pose a high hurdle to adapting into an anime. While the creators themselves may have turned down offers, we can look forward to the day when these works are adapted into anime on terrestrial television.
