In a tried and tested tradition, AnimeJapan, one of the world’s most important anime trade fairs, has once again held its “Manga that should receive an anime adaptation” vote. The results for 2026 have now been published on the official website of the event, which takes place at the end of this month.
48 manga to choose from
This time, 48 different manga series were up for voting, which either appeared in Japanese stores with at least one volume or were published as a web comic by December 31, 2025 at the latest.
The action title “The Ghost Doesn’t Show Up” and the romance manga “The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Seen” made it into the top 10, among others. It remains to be seen whether the winners will actually receive an anime.
What do you think about the taste of the participants? Which manga series would you like to see animated? Let us know! If you are also interested in last year’s results, you can find them at this link.
More on the topic:
10th place: “Centuria”
The manga series “Centuria” comes from Tooru Kuramori and has been appearing on the “Shounen Jump +” platform since April 2024. The work is available in this country through Egmont Manga with a German translation.
Action:
Sold into slavery by his own mother, Julian knows only pain and cruelty. He experiences compassion and affection for the first time on a slave ship.
But his fate changes drastically: when an ancient god awakens, he receives a cruel offer – an innocent life in exchange for powerful forces. With these he now has to protect a helpless baby in a brutal world.
9th place: “Gokurakugai”
“Gokurakugai” by Yuto Sano has been published in Shueisha’s “Jump SQ” magazine since July 2022 and currently has six volumes. In this country, KAZÉ (formerly Crunchyroll) is releasing the work in German.
Action:
In the lively working-class district of Gokurakugai, life seems colorful and busy – but a dark side lurks in the shadows. In this lawless neighborhood, Tao and Alma work as problem solvers for money.
They search for missing people, help a boy find his friend and examine mutilated animal carcasses – while ominous spirits challenge their true nature.
8th place: “Dinosaur Sanctuary”
(Original: “Dinosan”)
The manga series »Dinosaur Sanctuary« was written by Itaru Kinoshita and has been published in the Japanese “Comic Bunch” magazine since March 2021. The publishing house Shinchosha has so far brought eight volumes onto the market.
Action:
Living dinosaurs were discovered on a remote island in 1946. Through breeding and genetic manipulation, a dinosaur craze spread worldwide – until a serious incident changed everything.
Since then, parks like Enoshima Dinoland have been struggling to survive. The friendly beginner Suma Suzume starts there as a dinosaur keeper and wants to save the park.
7th place: »Usotsuki! Gokuo-kun”
»Usotsuki! Gokuo-kun” by Makoto Yoshimoto was published in 25 volumes in Japanese stores from September 2011 to October 2021.
Action:
The world is full of lies. For Gokuou, a master liar, that’s exactly what’s fascinating: he likes to make up his own stories while also exposing the deceptions of others.
Together with his unusual companion, a Nekokarasu, he tries to uncover the many secrets and lies hidden at his new school.
6th place: “Secret Life of Corporate Flowers: On & Off”
(Original: »Kaisha to Shiseikatsu: On to Off«)
The romance work »Secret Life of Corporate Flowers: On & Off« by Shinnosuke Kanazawa has been published in the Japanese “Gangan Pixiv” magazine since December 2023. Hayabusa has been publishing the series in German since March 2026.
Action:
During the day, Sotaro Amata and Akira Hanku work in the same company. After work, however, they lead completely different lives: Sotaro loves Lolita fashion, while Akira is a rebellious punk.
There’s a world of difference between everyday office life and their unusual hobbies – and when they meet outside of work, they don’t initially recognize each other.
5th place: “#Gal and Gal Yuri”
The romance comedy series »#Gal and Gal Yuri« comes from Inoue and has been published in “Sunday Web Every” magazine since June 2025. The publishing house Shogakukan has so far released one volume into Japanese stores.
Action:
Two striking Gyarus, Yua and Reina, spontaneously decide to date each other for a year. This mood creates a turbulent time full of humor, heart palpitations and lots of gyaru power. A colorful, youthful comedy about a Gyaru x Gyaru couple begins
4th place: “The Ghost Doesn’t Show Up”
(Original: »Utsuranain desu«)
The manga series »The Ghost Doesn’t Show Up« by Ruka Konoshima has been published by the Japanese publisher Shogakukan in the “Weekly Shounen Sunday” magazine since March 2024.
Action:
A lonely high school student suffers from seeing scary things that shouldn’t exist. One day he meets a girl from the occult club who really wants to see ghosts herself.
While he has had to endure his gift alone until now, he may finally find in her an unexpected ally – and possibly even a friend.
3rd place: “Ketsu Battler”
»Ketsu Battler« was penned by Naotaka Takade and celebrated its premiere in Shogakukan’s “Shuukan CoroCoro” magazine in December 2024.
Action:
A serious battle manga – but you fight with your butt! In Ketsu Battler, the boy Densuke sets out to find his father, who died in a Ketsu battle. On his journey he meets new companions.
Friendship, training and victory drive the fights further and further. But one question remains: Why is the butt actually divided into two halves?
2nd place: “Strikeout Pitch”
(Original: »Sankyuu Pitch«)
“Strikeout Pitch” by Kyu Sumiyoshi has been published on the “Shounen Jump +” platform since September 2024 and is being marketed by the publishing house Shueisha.
Action:
In June, a rumor spread among baseball players in Kanagawa about the “baseball club hunter” who challenged them to a “three-throw duel” at night.
Kobori, captain of Yokohama-Shimoha High School, is looking for the man – but he has a secret that makes it impossible for him to join the team.
1st place: “The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Seen”
(Original: “Tonari no Seki no Yatsu ga Souiu Me de Mitekuru”)
The ecchi manga »The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Seen« was penned by mmk and debuted in March 2024 in the “Sunday Web Every” magazine.
Action:
A playful flirting begins between classmates Eguchi and Ikezawa. They continually embarrass each other by making comments about each other’s looks and increase their little exchange of looks and teasing.
©Tooru Kuramori/Shueisha; ©Yuto Sano/Shueisha; ©Itaru Kinoshita／Shinchosha; ©Makoto Yoshimoto / Shougakukan Inc; ©Shinnosuke Kanazawa/Square Enix; ©Inoue／Shogakukan; ©Ruka Konoshima /Shougakukan Inc; ©Naotaka Takade/Shougakukan Inc.; ©Kyu Sumiyoshi/Shueisha; ©mmk/Shougakukan Inc.