There Are Some Things the MCU Cannot Do, So Please - Give Us Marvel Anime ASAP

The MarvelCinematic Universe has dominated pop culture for over a decade, but with recent misfires and growing superhero fatigue, the need for fresh, exciting storytelling has never been greater. One often-overlooked avenue is Marvel’s past collaboration with Madhouse, the legendary Japanese animation studio behind some of the most visually striking anime of all time. Over a decade ago, Madhouse delivered a bold, anime-inspired take on Marvel’s heroes that struggled to gain traction at the time, but the current media landscape presents an opportunity for a revival—one that could reinvigorate Marvel storytelling in ways that live-action no longer can.

Madhouse, known for its work on Death Note, One-Punch Man, and Trigun, is one of Japan’s most acclaimed animation studios, celebrated for its high-quality action sequences and dynamic storytelling. Despite animated hits like X-Men ‘97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvelhas largely neglected anime in favor of traditional animation and CGI-driven projects like What If...?, which concluded its series run in 2024. However, with anime more popular than ever and Marvel's movies struggling to regain momentum after multiple box-office flops, revisiting the Madhouse collaboration could provide the creative spark the franchise desperately needs.

Marvel’s Madhouse Anime Series Were Ahead of Their Time

Both Marvel and Anime Have Grown In Popularity During the Last Decade

In the early 2010s, Marvel and Madhouse teamed up to produce a series of anime adaptations featuring some of Marvel’s most iconic characters. The collaboration resulted in four distinct series; Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade, plus the film Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher. While these projects weren’t without their flaws, they were ambitious in their attempt to merge Marvel’s superheroes with the stylish, action-driven sensibilities of anime.

MCU fatigue due to oversaturation and declining quality in recent projects suggests that the franchise would benefit from a different format that offers a bold new take on its characters and stories.

At the time, Marvel’s anime adaptations struggled to find a large audience outside Japan, where they were primarily marketed. The global dominance of MCU movies, then still in its early phases, limited alternative portrayals of Marvel’s characters as well. However, the landscape has changed significantly since then. Today, with anime’s surge in mainstream popularity and the MCU facing creative hurdles, a Madhouse revival could now thrive in ways it couldn't a decade ago.

Anime Can Do What The MCU Could Never

The Time Has Come for Marvel to Stop Playing It Safe

One of the biggest advantages of Marvel anime is the creative freedom it allows. The constraints of live-action storytelling—casting, A-list actor salary demands, CGI budgets, and continuity restrictions—don’t apply to anime. Madhouse’s previous Marvel series took full advantage of this, delivering fluid fight choreography and bold artistic interpretations that would be difficult to achieve in live-action. MCU fatigue due to oversaturation and declining quality in recent projects suggests that the franchise would benefit from a different format that offers a bold new take on its characters and stories.

Sam Wilson's Captain America in front of the Avengers

Do you think Marvel is rushing the next two Avengers movies?

Anthony Mackie recently confirmed that the next two Avengers movies, Doomsday and Secret Wars, are on track to begin filming this summer in London, keeping them on track to make their 2026 and 2027 release dates. That being said, I've noticed some pointing out that the studio is moving too fast to get to the next two crossover events, and I honestly couldn't agree more. As of this point, we still don't have an official roster of whom the current Avengers are after Endgame, and given how scattershot the current output of Marvel Cinematic Universe releases are, I wish they would pause their Avengers plans and lay some better groundwork before closing out The Multiverse Saga.

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More importantly, an anime revival could explore storylines and character arcs that the MCU wouldn’t dare to touch. Madhouse’s X-Men anime, for instance, leaned heavily into the supernatural, incorporating elements from the Phoenix Saga in a visually stunning way, unlike either live-action adaptation of the same material has seen thus far. A new collaboration could push even further, adapting Marvel’s more surreal or experimental stories that would struggle under the constraints of live-action. Picture a psychedelic Doctor Strange anime, a brutal Thunderbolts series, or a She-Hulk story unburdened by the complexities of the live-action MCU.

Marvel Anime Could Be the New What If...?

The Comics Giant Should Continue to Focus on New Interpretations of Its Classic Heroes

Marvel’s What If...? series, which explored alternate realities within the MCU, wrapped up its third and final season (for now) in 2024. While its animation style was well-received, the show remained tethered to MCU continuity, limiting its potential for truly radical storytelling. A new Madhouse anime could fill that void by offering non-canonical yet engaging narratives that expand Marvel’s universe in ways What If...? never could. This would allow Marvel to introduce different interpretations of characters across media, like their publishing rival DC has done with Batman, Harley Quinn, and the Teen Titans.

A Madhouse-led Marvel Anime anthology could introduce standalone, high-quality anime films or miniseries that bring fresh takes on familiar characters. For example, the Fantastic Four—who are set to debut in the MCU later this year—could be explored in anime to build hype around a long-dormant franchise. The X-Men, who feature in the recent Disney+ animated hit, X-Men ‘97, could receive a parallel anime series to reintroduce them to audiences before their MCU debut. Meanwhile, characters like Moon Knight, Ant-Man, and the Eternals, whose futures in the MCU remain uncertain, could thrive in anime without the need for multi-film commitments.

The Time is Right for a Madhouse Revival

Marvel Must Pivot Before It Buckles Under the Weight of the MCU

While the MCU attempts to recalibrate, a Marvel anime revival could offer a fresh, exciting alternative. With anime studios like MAPPA and Science Saru gaining widespread acclaim for their work, Marvel could collaborate with Madhouse or even explore partnerships with other top-tier anime studios to produce multiple series catering to different audiences. Furthermore, Marvel anime would allow the company to revitalize lesser-known properties without the massive financial risk of live-action productions. A Ghost Rider anime, for example, could reintroduce the character in a stylized, visually stunning way without the budget constraints of expensive CGI.

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The new Ghost in the Shell anime, as well as a first-of-its-kind exhibition chronicling the franchise's history, arrive in 2026.

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The continuity between Marvel properties was once a strength, but now it appears to be a hindrance, as recent projects are buckling under the weight of what’s come before, and all the dangling plot threads from post-credits scenes. Anime’s ability to explore different genres within a shared universe could also open up exciting possibilities. With the right creative direction, a new wave of Marvel anime could redefine how audiences experience these beloved characters. If Marvel wants to reinvigorate its brand and explore storytelling beyond the MCU, now is the perfect time to bring Madhouse back into the fold.