Originally released in 2011, Puella Magi Madoka Magica was a brilliant deconstruction of the magical girl anime genre, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. The series has since expanded into sequels and an ongoing movie franchise. Meanwhile, key creative figures behind the show, including director Akiyuki Shinbo—also known for The SoulTaker—are reportedly exploring new projects, hinting at future creative endeavors beyond Madoka Magica.

Recently, Akiyuki Shinbo revealed that he’d like to adapt a long-running manga, possibly as a two-cour or year-long broadcast. He also named several manga he’d like to adapt one day. These titles, though relatively obscure in the West, were beloved by Japanese children in the 1960s and 1970s: Android Kikaider by Shotaro Ishinomori, Guerrilla High – Gakuen Taikutsu Otoko by Go Nagai, and Babel II by Mitsuteru Yokoyama.

Android Kikaider: A Cybernetic Classic Guerrilla High: The Forgotten Rebel Manga

Of the three titles Shinbo mentioned,...