Missing ‘Boys Over Flowers’? All the adaptations you need to check out

For many K-drama fans, Boys Over Flowers is something of a gateway series into the world of K-drama. This 1992 manga series from Yoko Kamio, however, has proven to be quite popular for adaptation. From an anime to a live-action, Boys Over Flowers has been made over multiple times, in multiple countries. So, if you finished the popular 2009 version of the series, then maybe you want to see how it translates elsewhere.

It’s understandable why Boys Over Flowers would be so popular. It’s a love story, simply put. Boys Over Flowers follows a poor girl sent to an elite high school where she stands up to the F4, a group of well-to-do and popular boys. Things devolve from there in that rom-com/drama way that all shoujo manga seems to. The story is just fantastic, and there’s a universality to it as well.

So, if you finished the K-drama and want to see how other countries have tackled Boys Over Flowers, then here are just some of the adaptations you should check out. The manga, itself, ran from 1992-2008. So some of the ones made during this time don’t follow the manga’s plot exactly, which adds to the uniqueness of each one.

Past Adaptations

From 1996-97, there was a 51-episode anime series with a theatrical film based on it as well. Boys Over Flowers, the anime, has been released twice in America. First with Viz Media in 2003 and the second time with Discotek Media in 2016. The episodes of the anime are also easy to find on YouTube, as well. There was also a Japanese live-action film released in 1995. 

There were two live-action television series based on Boys Over Flowers released in Japan from 2005 and 2007. It concluded with a feature length film in 2008, which is also the year when the manga officially ended as well. 

In 2001, there was the Taiwanese series Meteor Garden, which was set in Taipei. It also proved to be quite popular in Taiwan with a sequel series to Meteor Garden released in 2002. Finally, in 2018, there was Chinese adaptation of Boys Over Flowers also called Meteor Garden, which was set in Shanghai.

Unlicensed adaptations

These adaptations of Boys Over Flowers lift a lot from the manga, but aren’t “official” works inspired by it. They didn’t really pay for the IP, but they exist. So if you’re really curious, then here are a couple to check out as well.

In Indonesia, there’s a 2002 series called Siapa Takut Jatuh Cinta, which basically follows the plot of the manga. It was re-made in 2017 under the same title with a new cast as well. There was an unofficial Chinese adaptation from 2009 also called Meteor Garden, which is again based off Boys Over Flowers.

For the Bollywood fans out there, there’s even an Indian adaptation. In 2014, Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan aired on MTV, which was followed by a 2018 sequel series.

Upcoming adaptation

If you want even more Boys Over Flowers in your life, then 2021 will be your year. This is when the Thailand adaptation of the series will air on GMMTV. It’ll be called F4 Thailand. In September 2020, the cast for the series was announced, which includes Vachirawit Chivaaree, Tontawan Tantivejakul, Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, Jirawat Sutivanisak, and Hirunkit Changkham. 

Fans of the boy love show 2gether: the series will recognize Vachirawit Chivaaree (Bright) and Metawin Opas-iamkajorn (Win). This time, unfortunately, the pair will not be romancing each other. They’ll be competing to win the heart of the F4’s love interest. That is what fanfiction is for though, so go ham there.