Article contributed by Tyler Constable
Over the course of the past decade, anime has seen a massive surge in mainstream popularity, something that’s more likely than not thanks to the powers of streaming, which have such great accessibility and audience reach. Honestly, mention Attack on Titan to anybody you know now and there’s a strong chance they’ll recognise the name in some capacity.
What was once a ‘niche’ interest and dare I say it, but something deemed as uncool and incomprehensible to many, is now something on everybody’s radar. With new Shonen hard hitters including My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer filling, but by no means replacing the holes left by two of ‘the big three’ (Naruto and Bleach) finishing and streaming giants only jumping further onboard by supplying their own array of exclusive content, one thing is blindingly clear: the 2020s is going to be a great decade for anime enthusiasts.
Alongside the abundance of new and on-going titles, it seems as if the industry is heading into the new millennium by capitalising on the perfect weapon to strike both its oldest and youngest generation of fans: sweet, sweet nostalgia. Reboots certainly aren’t by any means a brand-new concept, however, there has been a surprising number of fresh takes on beloved franchises kicking off in the past year. So, without further ado, here’s a roundup of the anime that’s bound to be a hit with the kids and provide adults with that wonderful dose of childhood nostalgia well into 2021 and beyond.
Digimon Adventure
We certainly haven’t been in short supply of Digimon content over the years. Since the original run of series ended in the early 2000s, fans have had a handful of successful video games spin-offs, an entirely new story in the Digimon Frontier anime, and, of course the critically acclaimed Digimon Tri film series that allowed us all to catch-up with our favourite digi-destined group as they embarked on one final adventure. As if the reunion wasn’t heartwarming enough, the franchise treated their dedicated fanbase even more when a reboot of the original Digimon Adventure was announced to begin airing in 2020.
This retelling follows Tachi and friends as they set out with their new Digimon Partners to protect the Digital World from various threats and dangers, while albeit deviating away from the original series. Initial character meetings and introductions are different, and the real world is largely more significant in the narrative. Thanks to crisp new animation the digital world has never looked better, and this is one nostalgia trip you won’t want to miss!
Shaman King
Hiroyuki Takei’s supernatural battle manga debuted in weekly Shonen jump in the summer of 1998 and went on to become a huge success during its six-year serialisation, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Naruto. An anime adaption was of course inevitable and soon followed in 2001, but for diehard fans, it ultimately left much to be desired due to the story branching away from the original canon.
Fast forward 20 years and the anime corners of the internet collectively lost their minds when a long-awaited reboot was finally confirmed! Shaman King 2021 is slated to air this April and tells the story of Yoh Asakura, a young boy who’s determined to hone his skills with the ambition of becoming Shaman King – a godly warrior who, upon winning the Shaman Fight, will inherit the power to shape the world however they want.
With gorgeous animation and a promise to stay faithful in fully adapting the manga, this action-packed reboot is bound to be the hit of the spring season, so jump on the hype train, trust me: you won’t be disappointed.
Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai
Ah Dragon Quest, the third best-selling JRPG franchise of all time. For those unfamiliar, in the world of Dragon Quest you take on the role of a hero, journeying across fantasy lands in a noble quest while slaying monsters turn-based battles. In a word? This series is very charming, mostly because of the wonderful art stylings of Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama who’s been lending his talents to the franchise since the first game published in 1989. That same year, a manga adaption entitled ‘The Adventures of Dai’ began serialisation and was soon picked up by Toei Animation for an anime.
Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai originally aired in 1991 and chronicled the adventures of Dai, a young boy dreaming of becoming a hero, who eventually sets out on a quest to defeat the demon king and bring peace back to the world. This new adaption follows the same premise but is presented using a hybrid of 2D and CG animation technics. It’s simply a good old adventure story that will bring back all the joy and excitement of watching hours of Saturday morning cartoons as a kid.
The Genie Family
Originally broadcast from Japan in 1969, Genie Family centred on a boy called Kanichi who stumbles across a bottle that contains the king of the genies, Hakushon Daimao, his wife, and daughter. Whenever somebody sneezes, hiccups, or yawns one of the three genies is summoned and they must grant the summoners wishes until they’re sneezed, yawned, or hiccupped back into their bottle. As amazing as having unlimited wishes is, Kanichi quickly discovers it’s not all fun and games when his wishes go wrong. You see, for a genie king, Hakushon is awfully clumsy, and his daughter, Akubi, loves to make mischief. Despite its popularity in Japan, the show never found traction in the West with it only being scarcely broadcast on a few Canadian and European networks.
Thankfully, we can now experience all the genies delightful antics through the eyes of Kanichi’s grandson, Kantaro in reboot turned sequel series, The Genie Family. Heartfelt, funny, and downright charming, this modernisation of a family classic will provide laughs and magic for old and new generations alike.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Okay so this one is a stretching it considering that one. the Boruto anime has been running since 2017 [2018 in the West] and two. It’s not technically a reboot but hear me out: Boruto is both nostalgic and massively appealing to a younger audience. Whether you like the show or not, the adventures of Boruto Uzumaki and his classmates on their paths to becoming full-fledged shinobi will serve as a gateway into anime for the younger generation, much like its predecessor before did. Seeing Naruto and his peers that we, as an older generation, grew up with now all grown up themselves with children of their own also ticks the nostalgia boxes, and, with the anime finally pumping out the canon content of the manga the stakes seem to only be ramping up and getting more exciting week to week.
Is Boruto perfect? No. Does it reach the standards of the original Naruto and Shippuden? No. But it is a fun, enjoyable experience that, if you have written off, is worth giving a second chance.
