Korean dramas have increased in popularity internationally in recent years. While “typical” K-Dramas will focus on romantic relationships, that doesn’t mean romance is the only theme. K-Dramas span the gamut of genres, from romance to action to supernatural thrillers. No matter what genre someone likes, they can find a handful of K-dramas that will keep them entertained.
This is even true for those who like more fantastical elements thrown into a story like many like in anime. Full of fantasy, science-fiction, and all kinds of fantastical elements that would be hard to do in anything other than animation, anime can seem far different from a K-Drama. However, there are a handful of K-Dramas that would make for great anime.
10/10 The story of love beyond this world
My love from the star
My love from the star has a little bit of everything that K-Dramas are known for, including a star-crossed romance, supernatural people, and a touch of reincarnation. An extraterrestrial human landed on Earth in Joseon in 1609, missed the return ship, and must wait 400 years to return home.
The alien-human love story of My love from the star already sounds like something from an anime and animation can give aliens an alien look along with his almost perfect human form. His abilities and the situations he and his love interest find themselves in can also be called up.
9/10 A love that reappears
The Legend of the Blue Sea
If viewers are looking for a story that blends ancient time periods with modern society through traditional myth, they should turn to The The Legend of the Blue Sea. It follows a love between a mermaid and a human that ends terribly and is destined to repeat itself.
The supernatural aspect of the mermaid looking for love makes for great anime material, and the twist in the story will keep everyone hooked. An anime version may further explore the nature of the mermaid and reincarnation.
8/10 A reanimated school drama
All of us are dead
Originally created as a Webtoon comical All of us are dead would be a great K-drama to turn into an anime. The show follows a class of middle schoolers as their town is quickly overwhelmed by zombies caused by an outbreak that started at the school.
Things can easily be scaled up in an anime, with no restrictions on the number of actors and costumes, so the zombie hoards can be depicted as larger. Also, the zombie-human hybrids could really shine in the anime world and could have cooler abilities.
7/10 When worlds collide
W: Two worlds apart
W: Two worlds apart is perfectly set up to become an anime. W has two main stories: one is the story of a famous author and illustrator creating a web series and the other is the story of the web movie itself. Soon the online movie becomes more real and people from real life go to the online movie world.
The nettoon becomes its own world and people going from the real world to the nettoon world is the perfect plot for an isekai anime. Not to mention, the story of an expert shooter on a mission for justice in the web movie would make an excellent story.
6/10 Coming together to steal a dollar
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area takes place in an alternative Korea where North Korea and South Korea are close to reunification. A group of people with special skills plan to carry out a major robbery in the shared economic zone between the two countries.
An anime of this story would be action-packed with gunfights between criminals and police. Exciting moments of computer hacking, hostage terror and the mystery of the mastermind behind it all can be super dramatic. The political turmoil in the merging countries would also make an excellent story element.
5/10 Sometimes family can be the biggest threat
Vincenzo
Vincenzo took the Korean TV scene by storm in 2021. The title character was adopted by a gang when he was young, but instead of a Korean gang or something closer like the Yakuza, he is adopted by an Italian mafia family.
Vincenzoits take on gang life from the mafia’s point of view would be a new look for anime. Also, Vincenzo is not just a grunt in the mafia, but someone who advises the mob boss and is extremely intelligent. The betrayal of his adopted family and elements of legal drama can make for an anime that is sure to captivate viewers.
4/10 The kingdom is on the brink of defeat
kingdom
kingdom is a fantastic K-drama that mixes history, political drama and horror perfectly. In a time of great hardship in the Joseon period, a new threat pushes the Korean people into a corner as the dead begin to rise and devour the living.
The Joseon period would look beautiful in animation and the zombies could take on a much more terrifying look in anime than they already have in K-Drama. An anime version could lean more heavily into the battle against the undead hordes while staying true to the exciting story.
3/10 It’s not Home Sweet Home
Dear home
Like a post-apocalyptic horror, Dear home follows a group of tenants in the same building as they try to survive when people turn into monsters during a lockdown. Cha Hyun-soo, a middle school student, merges with the monster within himself and gains superhuman abilities.
Dear home has some dark elements that go well with the anime aesthetic, something similar to Tokyo Ghoul with the protagonist as part monster. The darker themes of survival and mental health crisis will also appeal to a more mature audience and make for a solid anime.
2/10 Remember my name
My name
Released in October 2021, My name is an action-packed series that follows Yoon Ji-woo, who joins the Dongcheon gang and infiltrates the police in an attempt to get revenge on the person who killed her father. The story is full of violence, drama and betrayal.
My name would make for a great adult-targeted anime with its more mature themes. The belief of children avenging their parents is common among superhero stories, but having a female lead puts a nice, fresh twist on the idea. The crime noir theme would also make for an anime that stands out from the crowd.
1/10 This competition is not just a game
Octopus game
Octopus game is a superstar among K-Dramas and has been hugely successful. The series shows the depths of despair people have sunk to in response to wealth inequality, with hundreds playing literal life-and-death games for the chance to pay off their debt.
Octopus game‘s popularity would translate well to anime style. The series is already a dark dystopia and an anime version could delve deeper into these dark themes, and maybe even provide more information to viewers about what goes on behind the scenes of the games.
