Sometimes anime fans just can’t be satisfied with series that cover a very short period of time. Because of that, they want to watch anime where the characters grow up — to see their entire life stories.
Thankfully, these anime do exist — and here are some good examples.
Mushoku Tensei
Among the recent isekai series, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu) is definitely among the more popular ones. Despite only getting an adaptation recently, it’s actually based on a source material which predates many other modern isekai series.
It’s also characterized by a unique feature: it follows the protagonist, Rudeus, through different stages of his (new) life, from his infancy to adulthood. While that’s generally a premise in many reincarnation series, Mushoku Tensei actually seems to get a full adaptation.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
One of the best drama anime of all time, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu follows Yakumo Yuurakutei the 8th throughout his life.
It’s not just the story of a rakugo (a unique type of Japanese comedy) performer: it’s the story of a very complicated web of relationships between people — as well as the art of rakugo itself.
While From the New World (Shinsekai yori) might start out very slow, you can see the small hints at the series’ true nature since the very beginning. The setting of the anime is initially presented as a post-apocalyptic utopia, but it’s anything but that.
The group of protagonists goes on to live in this cruel world, and often learns the hard way — we follow them throughout their childhood, teenage years and adulthood.
Major
There’s a good reason why Major is one of the most well-received sports anime of all time. It’s a story of the entire life of Gorou, a young baseball star.
Besides just being involved in baseball, he also grows as a person: it is much more than a simple sports series. It’s also a coming-of-age story, as well as the tale of one’s entire life.
The Heike Story
For a series based on a Japanese epic covering a rivalry between two clans, it’s understandable why The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari) spans so many years. While the main plot of the series takes place in the 1180s, it actually covers more than that.
We see multiple characters from their childhoods to their eventual involvement with the war itself — and for some, to their deaths. The anime captures the spirit of the era beautifully, and the direction is very unusual even for anime standards.
It’s perfectly fine to crave epic stories.
Sometimes anime fans just can’t be satisfied with series that cover a very short period of time. Because of that, they want to watch anime where the characters grow up — to see their entire life stories.
Thankfully, these anime do exist — and here are some good examples.
Mushoku Tensei
Among the recent isekai series, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu) is definitely among the more popular ones. Despite only getting an adaptation recently, it’s actually based on a source material which predates many other modern isekai series.
It’s also characterized by a unique feature: it follows the protagonist, Rudeus, through different stages of his (new) life, from his infancy to adulthood. While that’s generally a premise in many reincarnation series, Mushoku Tensei actually seems to get a full adaptation.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
One of the best drama anime of all time, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu follows Yakumo Yuurakutei the 8th throughout his life.
It’s not just the story of a rakugo (a unique type of Japanese comedy) performer: it’s the story of a very complicated web of relationships between people — as well as the art of rakugo itself.
While From the New World (Shinsekai yori) might start out very slow, you can see the small hints at the series’ true nature since the very beginning. The setting of the anime is initially presented as a post-apocalyptic utopia, but it’s anything but that.
The group of protagonists goes on to live in this cruel world, and often learns the hard way — we follow them throughout their childhood, teenage years and adulthood.
Major
There’s a good reason why Major is one of the most well-received sports anime of all time. It’s a story of the entire life of Gorou, a young baseball star.
Besides just being involved in baseball, he also grows as a person: it is much more than a simple sports series. It’s also a coming-of-age story, as well as the tale of one’s entire life.
The Heike Story
For a series based on a Japanese epic covering a rivalry between two clans, it’s understandable why The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari) spans so many years. While the main plot of the series takes place in the 1180s, it actually covers more than that.
We see multiple characters from their childhoods to their eventual involvement with the war itself — and for some, to their deaths. The anime captures the spirit of the era beautifully, and the direction is very unusual even for anime standards.
