The world of anime is vast and varied. Many series can last for years, such as Narutowhile others manage to tell their story in a succinct number of episodes, like Cowboy Bebop. However, not all anime series are lucky enough to enjoy a full season.

From budget constraints and production issues to declining viewership and a shortage of source material, many things contribute to the premature end of these beloved shows. Some have managed to see a revival in recent years, while others may never get a second chance.

10 Attempts to revive Btooom! Failed

The survival horror anime, Too good! made waves in 2012, but never lived up to its full potential. The series follows Ryota Sakamoto, one of the best players of the online game “Btooom!”, who finds himself stranded on a deserted island where he must play a real-life version of the game to survive. Despite its premise and dedicated fanbase, Too good! faced several problems that led to its cancellation after just one season.

Too good! failed to generate enough revenue from DVD and Blu-ray sales, a critical factor in the continuation of many anime series. The animation quality and character development also received mixed reviews, impacting its popularity. The creators released a Too good! mobile game in an attempt to renew interest in the series, promising a sequel if the app performed well in Japanese app stores. This did not happen, and any plans for a second season were abandoned.

9 Gangsta animation studio went bankrupt

Released in 2015, Gangster follows “Handymen” Nicolas Brown, a deaf human with superhuman abilities, and Worick Arcangelo, a gigolo with a tragic past, as they take on jobs in both the mafia and the police. The anime has stood out for its mature themes, diverse characters, and gritty storytelling. However, Gangster was cancelled after 12 episodes, despite its strong reception.

The main reason for this was the disappearance of Winneranimation studio, Manglobe — producer of classics such as Samurai Champloo and Michiko and Hatchin —, which filed for bankruptcy in September 2015, shortly after Gangster concluded. Furthermore, although the anime had a niche following, it struggled to achieve widespread popularity, which may have further discouraged investment in future episodes.

8 Berserk ended on a cliffhanger

The 1997 adaptation of Furious was loved for its dark fantasy themes and complex storytelling. But it was still canceled after 25 episodes, leaving the story incomplete and ending on a major cliffhanger. The main reason for its cancellation was the limited budget and time constraints, which made it difficult to continue the series.

FuriousThe graphic content and dark themes of the series also made it difficult to maintain a wide audience on television. To top it off, the manga itself was still ongoing, and therefore there wasn't much source material to draw from. With a poorly received anime adaptation in 2016 and the passing of creator Kentaro Miura in 2021, it's unclear whether fans will get the proper adaptation they were hoping for.

7 D. The Gray Man had several demons preventing his continuation.

Set in an alternate 19th century, The gray man follows Allen Walker, an exorcist with a cursed eye as he joins the Black Order to fight demons created by the sinister Millennium Earl. The anime adaptation was split into two main parts: the original series that aired from 2006 to 2008 and the sequel series D.Gray-man Hallowwhich aired in 2016.

Several things contributed to the original The gray manInitial cancellation after 103 episodes. The manga's frequent hiatuses caused by creator Katsura Hoshino's health issues led to a lack of new material to adapt. The resulting filler episodes were also not well received by fans. Production and scheduling challenges led to the decision to end the series prematurely.

6 Rurouni Kenshin's final arc never made it to the anime

The original Rurouni Kenshin The anime is considered a classic among fans, but despite its popularity, it never finished its story. The series, which follows assassin-turned-wanderer Kenshin Himura, reached new heights with its Kyoto arc, but subsequent episodes saw a significant decline in quality.

THE Rurouni Kenshin The anime deviates significantly from the manga after the Kyoto arc, introducing original stories that were plagued by pacing issues and often turned the Battle Shōnen series into an adventure series. Needless to say, fans became disinterested and viewership declined, which led to the show's cancellation before it could adapt the manga's final and most critical arcs, including the Jinchū arc. With a reboot set to air in 2023, hopefully these neglected arcs will get the adaptation they deserve.

5 Hunter X Hunter was discontinued due to the Mangaka's frequent hiatuses

Anime fans are familiar with Hunter x Hunter2011 adaptation, but it was not Gon's first appearance on the small screen. The series was first adapted in 1999 and covered important arcs such as the Hunter Exam, the Heavens Arena, and part of the Yorknew City arc. This adaptation ended abruptly after 62 episodes.

Due to Yoshihiro Togashi's health problems, the Hunter x Hunter The manga's irregular publication schedule resulted in frequent hiatuses and insufficient source material for the anime to continue. The series was later rebooted in 2011, offering a more comprehensive adaptation—but it also only lasted until 2014, while the manga continues with sporadic releases.

4 The drop in ratings was the nail in the coffin for Bleach

The steamroller that is Bleach has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Initially airing from 2004 to 2012 the series is often considered one of the Big Three anime along with Naruto and One piece. However, BleachIan's reign began to hit a rough patch towards the end.

Like many anime that came before and after it, Bleach began following its manga, leaving little material for adaptation and resulting in a plethora of filler content that failed to hold fans' attention. The decision was made to end the series at episode 366, leaving the final arc of the Thousand-Year Blood War unadapted. After 10 years of begging from fans, Bleach rose from the dead with its anime adaptation of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, which put the series back on the throne.

3 Highschool of the Dead will never be revived

High school of death follows a group of high school students and their nurse as they struggle to survive during a zombie apocalypse. The series is known for its mix of intense action, horror, and fan service, set against the backdrop of societal collapse. It was one of the most underrated anime of 2010, which is also partly why it never got a proper conclusion.

High school of death was canceled after its first season; consisting of 12 episodes and an OVA, the series failed to gain much traction among audiences. The manga also went on hiatus in 2011 due to mangaka Daisuke Sato's health issues, meaning there would have been no material for the anime even if it had continued. With Sato's untimely passing in 2017, High school of deathAnime and manga were essentially left in permanent limbo.

2 Deadman Wonderland strayed far from the manga

The cult favorite, Dead Man's Wonderland, takes viewers to a dystopian future where Ganta Igarashi is wrongfully convicted of a massacre and sent to Deadman Wonderland, a privatized prison that also doubles as a grotesque amusement park. It was a brutal but unique premise, similar to TV shows like Alice in the Borderlands and Squid game. But while these programs have managed to continue their stories, Dead Man's Wonderland was not so lucky.

THE Dead Man's Wonderland The anime adaptation was canceled after only one 12-episode season, which covered only the first few arcs of the manga. Several factors contributed to the series' premature end, including low ratings, low DVD sales, and the significant divergence from the manga, which would have made it difficult to continue the story. The production studio, Manglobe, faced financial difficulties and eventually went bankrupt, permanently erasing any hope of a continuation.

1 Baccano! It was a misunderstood masterpiece

Noise! is a prime example of a great series that suffered because of misunderstandings. This 2007 anime features an ensemble cast and a non-linear narrative that interweaves multiple stories set in different time periods. The series’ unique storytelling, vibrant characters, and dark humor earned it a cult following, but its non-linear storytelling—while clever—was also its downfall.

Noise! was cancelled after only 16 episodes, even though it had much more source material to adapt from Ryohgo Narita's light novels. The main reason for its cancellation was its poor reception in Japan; its out-of-sequence narrative and American historical setting were confusing and didn't resonate well with Japanese audiences. This is a shame, as it did the same thing that Noise! a remarkable work (i.e. its complexity and unconventional narrative structure) ultimately led to its premature end.