10 Best Anime Series Adapted from American Franchises

The world of anime is vast and diverse, but did you know some of its most exciting series draw their origins from American franchises? From iconic superheroes to beloved video games, Japanese animation studios have taken Western favorites and reimagined them with unique artistic styles, fresh narratives, and a distinct anime flair.

These cross-cultural adaptations often bring new depth and perspective to familiar stories, delighting fans on both sides of the globe. Dive in as we count down the 10 best anime series adapted from American franchises, proving that sometimes, the best collaborations happen across oceans.

1. Stitch! Goes Japanese

When Disney handed full creative reins to Japan for Stitch!, the result was wonderfully chaotic and heartwarming. This anime reimagines the mischievous alien’s adventures, replacing Lilo with a Japanese girl named Yuna and relocating the setting to a fictional Okinawan island. The series shifts into a slice-of-life comedy with sci-fi chaos sprinkled throughout, leaning into Japanese humor and local culture while keeping the original’s alien antics.

While themes of found family and emotional lessons remain, they’re now interwoven with sumo matches and ancient yokai legends. Though not as polished as the original film and clearly aimed at younger kids, Stitch! successfully cemented Stitch as a beloved figure in Japanese households. It’s a rare example of a Western character being fully embraced into anime pop culture.

2. Witchblade: Dramatic and Revealing

The Witchblade anime reboots the American comic book, taking its supernatural weapon and female hosts to introduce new characters with a distinct Japanese flair. The story follows Masane Amaha, a single mother who unwillingly becomes the host of the Witchblade, gaining immense power but also becoming a target of dark conspiracies. The anime masterfully blends action, sci-fi, and surprisingly tender moments of motherhood.

While it’s brimming with campy fights and show-stopping costume unveilings, the anime also delves into identity and maternal love. It’s more melodramatic than the original work, sometimes venturing into questionable taste, but it powerfully constructs a world where power comes at an agonizing price. While the fanservice-heavy presentation might not appeal to everyone, a powerful emotional story rarely seen in superhero anime lies beneath the surface.

3. Logan Gets a Japanese Makeover in Marvel Anime Wolverine

When Marvel partnered with Madhouse to give its characters a Japanese anime twist, Wolverine received one of the most unexpected makeovers. This isn’t the scruffy Canadian Logan; he’s tall, sleek, and looks like he stepped right off a Final Fantasy cover. Yet, beneath the stylish hair and sharp jawline, he remains as dangerous and determined as ever. The anime follows Wolverine as he travels to Japan to rescue his kidnapped lover and dismantle a corrupt crime syndicate.

The story heavily leans into noir vibes and intense sword fights, transforming the gritty antihero tale into a full-blown samurai revenge saga. The action scenes are sharp, and the moody tone gives the anime a unique feel. While a significant departure from classic X-Men, the anime effectively captures Logan’s tragic core and explosive rage.

4. Cybertron’s Fall Shines in Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy

Though technically a Netflix and Hasbro production, the Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy was animated by Polygon Pictures, a Japanese studio known for Ajin and Knights of Sidonia. This trilogy progressively delves deeper into Transformers lore, becoming surprisingly compelling anime. It adapts the classic Autobot-Decepticon civil war but introduces fresh political tensions and complex moral dilemmas.

Optimus Prime isn’t the flawless leader fans typically expect, and Megatron is given a newfound depth, making him more than just a villain. While the cel-shaded animation can be divisive, War for Cybertron imbues the robots with a mechanical realism rarely seen in other adaptations. The fights are heavy and dramatic, and the writing avoids the campiness of earlier Transformers shows. It’s clear proof that even a toy-based franchise can carry significant dramatic weight when given the anime treatment.

5. The Winchester Brothers Get Animated in Supernatural: The Animation

Supernatural: The Animation reimagines the first two seasons of the long-running CW show with a fresh anime aesthetic, even adding a few original episodes. Produced by Studio Madhouse, the anime delivers surprisingly solid animation and reworks key arcs, diving into Sam and Dean’s tragic backstory with greater stylistic freedom. What makes it truly work is how well the anime medium suits the show’s monster-of-the-week formula.

The horror elements are darker, and the emotional beats resonate more profoundly due to the expressive animation. Not every episode is a hit, and the tonal shift might be jarring for some fans of the original. However, as a reinvention, the anime does the Winchester brothers justice. For both fans and newcomers, it’s a solid supernatural anime with some surprising bite.

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6. Spartans Get the Samurai Treatment in Halo Legends

Halo Legends is a seven-part anime anthology set in the iconic Halo universe, the first-person shooter game from Microsoft. Produced in collaboration with Japanese animation studios like Bones, Studio 4°C, and Toei Animation, this series brings a wildly diverse visual and storytelling palette to the Halo lore. Each short explores a different facet: the origins of the Spartans, the ancient Forerunner war, and even Cortana’s emotional toll.

Some segments boast gritty sci-fi visuals, while others transform into full-blown samurai dramas. This isn’t mere fanservice; it’s deep world-building wrapped in unforgettable animation. It’s a rare instance where a shooter game, primarily known for action, is adapted into a meditative, multilayered anime experience. Even non-gamers can appreciate the storytelling. It’s as if The Animatrix and Master Chief had a crossover.

7. Batman: Gotham Knight Delivers Stylized Grit

Batman: Gotham Knight is an ambitious project that entrusts the Dark Knight to six different anime studios, each scripting their own unique story. The result is a series of short films that deeply explore Bruce Wayne’s psyche, with a distinct aesthetic and atmosphere for each. Some focus on gritty realism, others venture into sci-fi or surrealism. While not a traditional series, it’s one of the most memorable anime takes on an American hero.

Studios like 4°C and Madhouse bring Batman to life in ways Western animation rarely attempts. The anthology format champions creativity, and the varied perspectives highlight just how versatile Batman is as a character. It’s not always perfectly cohesive, but that’s part of its charm; every short adds something new to the legend. Fans of Love, Death & Robots will feel right at home.

8. Cyclops Gets More Angst in X-Men (2011)

Marvel’s 2011 X-Men anime, created by Madhouse, drops the mutants into Japan for a stylish and often tragic take on the classic team. While featuring familiar faces like Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, and Beast, the anime introduces new characters and storylines that make the experience feel fresh. The series hones in on core X-Men themes like discrimination and identity, but with a distinctly anime flair.

Cyclops, in particular, is given more emotional depth than usual, grappling with loss and leadership in ways the comics often bypass. Visually, the anime is sharp, with detailed character designs and intense battle scenes. While not without flaws (some pacing issues and underused characters), it remains one of the best anime reimaginings of a Marvel property.

9. The Animatrix Expanded The Matrix’s Story in All the Right Ways

Long before anime anthologies became trendy, The Animatrix showed everyone how it’s done. Created as a companion to The Matrix trilogy, this series brought together Japan’s finest animation minds, including Shinichirō Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) and Koji Morimoto (Akira), to explore the Matrix universe in entirely new ways. From the fall of humanity to a rogue program seeking freedom, each episode tells a different, compelling story.

The animation ranges from traditional 2D to experimental CGI, with creativity that never falters. Some episodes even surpass the actual films in emotional depth and world-building. While not a full series, The Animatrix remains one of the best anime adaptations of an American franchise. The anthology treats its source material seriously while expanding the story in unexpected, unforgettable ways. If The Matrix raised questions, The Animatrix offered answers, and then some.

10. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Might Be the Best Video Game Anime Ever Made

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a ten-episode gut-punch of neon chaos and heart-wrenching emotion. This anime takes the dark, high-tech universe of the Cyberpunk 2077 video game and makes the story entirely its own. Produced by Studio Trigger, the anime doesn’t adapt the game’s plot; instead, it crafts a new tragedy around a boy named David, caught between ambition and survival in a city that devours its inhabitants.

While the anime embraces classic cyberpunk tropes like corporate exploitation and moral decay, its powerful emotional storytelling and relentless pace make it truly shine. It’s a rare case of an anime that not only complements a Western franchise but arguably surpasses it in tone and depth. Tragic and visually stunning, Edgerunners is easily one of the best anime of the decade.