Anime sequels can be a major hit or missamong fans, due to a number of reasons that can verge on a sudden drop in quality, deviation from the original source material, or simply failing to live up to the same themes and motifs as presented by its predecessor. A continuation can either preserve a franchise’s reputation or tank it.
Series likeYashahimeandBorutofailed to attract the old fanbasesforInuyashaandNaruto, resulting in a cold shoulder or negative reception when both debuted. On the opposing end, these anime sequels would go on to follow the formula that worked for their prequels, or manage to fix what previous installments failed to uphold.
10Higurashi: When They Cry - Gou
Based on the visual novel video games,Higurashi When They Cry - Gouis the official start as a sequel to the originalWhen They CryandWhen They Cry - Kai, which continue to expand on the series.Gouonce again returns to the main cast of characters, including Keiichi Maebara, as he settles into the elusive and mysterious village, Hinamizawa.
The series starts out as what may appear to be a remake of the originalWhen They Cryanime that debuted back in 2006, but after the first few episodes, it reveals its true, grizzly colors. The sequel carries the same unraveling mystery as gruesome events begin to happen all around the village.
Building up tension and fear in its audience as successfully as the originalHigurashi, When They Cry - Gouis a faithful sequel that lives up to the same prestige and popularity as its predecessor.
9Pokémon Horizons
Ash’s journey throughoutPokémonmay have taken him to many regions, but it was only throughHorizonsthat the story began to really take a turn by highlighting a different set of protagonists. Liko and Roy offer a brand new perspective as well as an interesting plotline that goes beyond just collecting badges and training.
Pokémon Horizonsmanages to surpass its original animeby giving the series a new depth that isn’t handled as a B-plot or side tangent. Although it took some getting used to after the series' 20-odd years following Ash and his friends, the sequel successfully reinvented itself, establishing its own identity and still garnering popularity with its new storyline.
8Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s
For a franchise as monumental asYu-Gi-Oh!, there are very few sequels that could properly follow up the themes and thrilling battles that were featured in the firstDuel Monstersanime.GXcan come pretty close, but ultimately,5D’s did just a little better, even if its quality fell off a bit in the latter half.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s follows Yusei, who is an orphan abandoned in the rundown Satellite City. His once best friend, Jack Atlas, managed to crawl out of squalor and now lives a life of luxury in New Domino City, creating an interesting dynamic and rivalry that resembles Yugi and Saiba.
With each new series,Yu-Gi-Oh!highlights a new function or system implemented in its duels and with5D’s, major battles are performed through motorcycle races, adding flair with the unique bikes. With it came Synchro Summons, which used Tuners and non-Tuners monsters to equip stronger cards at a faster rate, perfect alongside its racing gimmick.
7Black Butler: Book of Circus
Technically,Book of Circusis a continuation of theBlack Butlerseriesas written in the manga by Yana Toboso, but the anime series would include a second season that isn’t meant to be considered canon since it introduces characters and events that are outside its main source. For that reason,Book of Circusis a return to form.
From here onwards,Black Butlerwould continue Ciel Phantomhive’s story as the queen’s watchdog, tasked with investigating mysteries and odd circumstances happening around England. Alongside his hellishly talented butler, Ciel turns his sights towards a circus where missing children are rumored to have been abducted by the troupe.
Although it’s a stretch to dub it a sequel,Black Butler: Book of Circuswas a refreshing return to the story that captivated its original gothic fanbase. Ciel’s story would only continue to enchant viewers with each new case he undertook alongside his rag-tag team of servants.
6Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
Unlimited Blade Worksis the direct sequel toFate/stay night, but follows the journey of Rin Toosaka, who gains the heroic spirit known as Archer. Since the anime is based on the visual novel game,Unlimited Blade Worksis one of the alternate routes players can take that explores a different side of the same Fifth Holy Grail War.
Fate/stay night’s sequel would take all of the criticism received from the first installment and apply the fixes toUnlimited Blade Works, improving on the original artstyle while also fleshing out the story and characters since the anime boasted quite a large number of participants. The fight sequences are clean and bombastic, sure to impress any anime fan.
5Sakura Card Captor: Clear Card
Sakura Card Captor: Clear Cardis a miracle in the making, continuing Sakura’s story even after she managed to gather all of the Clow Cards. The manga was still in the process of coming out with new volumes, so the sequel took quite a bit of time to make it to the top of Madhouse’s priority anime list.
Upon release,Clear Carddidn’t disappoint, picking up right during spring when Sakura would be entering middle school and Syaoran’s return from Hong Kong. While it was believed that her previous problems had been solved, the Clow Cards began to act up again, and strange events started occurring around town. New cards begin appearing, kickstarting Sakura’s hunt again.
4Digimon Adventure 02 and Digimon Tamers
It’s difficult to follow what was one of the best isekai stories that broke out before the genre even became popular. After a stunning26 years of success and popularity,Digimon Adventurescontinues to be an age-old classic that few can live up to, but its sequels did capture many of the same elements while defining what made them unique.
Introducing not only a new cast of Digidestined, but an Armored Digimon concept that would separate the series from its predecessor,Digimon Adventure 02would revitalize the franchise with a new antagonist, plotline, and gimmick while still paying respect to the original. This season served as a continuation, introducing the first Digidestined as a supporting cast later in the series.
Digimon Tamerswould steer away from both these storylines, fully integrating the world of Digimon and humans alike, allowing them to roam much like in the same vein asPokémon. Naturally, this would come with its own consequences, introducing some of the most interesting, dark, andmessed-up episodesDigimon’stackled thus far.
3Lupin the Third: Parts 4 and 5
Having first aired in 1971,Lupin the Thirdis an age-old franchise that still has a lot to give, following its band of crime capers and mastermind thief, Arsene Lupin the Third. There are six official seasons or Parts, as they are often referred to, and nearly 40 movies detailing the many adventures of Lupin and his cohorts.
Parts 4 and 5 are where the series truly shines, having perfectly captured the hilarious antics Lupin always finds himself in, as well as a sense of gravity by having an overarching plot drive the gang’s actions. Combined with the introduction of modern technology, these two seasons explore how an old thief adapts to a world with new, updated gadgets.
2Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shelloriginally started out as a film back in 1995, but a later anime series was released in 2002 that would once again adapt a more faithful rendition of the manga. Featuring different antagonists, the story would still focus on the cyborg officer, Major Motok Kusanagi, as she worked to uncover the identity of an at-large hacktivist.
Whereas the film would garner the attention of many sci-fi lovers,Stand Alone Complexwas able to dive deeper into the same philosophical questions raised in Masamune Shirow’s manga. Not limited to a film’s runtime, the anime further highlights all that madeGhost in the Shellan amazing cyberpunk thriller, even if it was more of a remake.
1Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ballhas spawned quite a few different sequels, but none have gone on to capture just how expansive the world can be while still holding true to its martial arts roots in the way that theSuperseries has. Currently, however, both the manga and anime are on a hiatus until the rights to theDragon Ballproperty are sorted.
WhileGTis often touted as a hit-or-miss among fans, andDaimais a love letter to the original creator, Akira Toriyama,Dragon Ball Superhas displayed that it has the potential to continue delivering a story that is faithful to the original core themes while also exploring the possibilities presented in Goku’s world and universes beyond it.
Dragon Ball Super
Cast
Dragon Ball Super is an anime series set after Majin Buu’s defeat. It follows Son Goku, now a radish farmer, as peace prevails until Beerus, the God of Destruction, appears. Seeking to challenge a legendary warrior, the series revisits events from two Dragon Ball Z films before exploring alternate universes.
