Anime lovers on Reddit are engaged in a lively debate about their evolving tastes and perceptions regarding the series they used to love. The question that started this entire discussion was direct and profound: “ What animes did you love, but were 'disappointing' when rewatched? “.
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Forum users expressed a variety of opinions and disappointing experiences on this sensitive but relevant topic. Many shared stories of anime that captivated them a decade ago, but upon rewatching them years later, they discovered that their appreciation for them had significantly diminished. Personal evolution, growth and exposure to new series and genres were cited as important factors influencing this opinion .
Some participants highlighted how their perception of certain plots, characters or themes changed over time, affecting their overall enjoyment of the series . Others pointed out defects in the narrative, animation, or character development that they had not noticed on their first viewings, contributing to their disappointment upon rewatching them.
However, the debate was not limited to just negative reviews. Many users shared how, despite feeling disappointed when reliving certain animes, they still held a special fondness for them due to nostalgia or memories associated with their first viewing.
This aspect raised the broader question of whether it is possible to separate critical evaluation from emotional connection to a beloved series.
- “The original Naruto, especially the fight between Naruto and Sasuke. A great fight ruined by a cascade of Itachi flashbacks.”
- “Tokyo Ghoul, without a doubt.”
- “Oh yes, Love Hina was one of my favorites at the time. Now in my mid-30s, I tried watching it again recently and couldn’t bear it.”
- “Elfen Lied. For some reason, this anime has aged terribly, but the manga is still pretty solid.”
- “I tried watching Elfen Lied for the first time as an adult. I can't, it's very embarrassing. It definitely had its time, but not anymore.”
- “The Seven Deadly Sins. The first time I liked it so much that I watched it again later, but then the annoying pig, Meliodas abusing Elizabeth, and the wildly inconsistent power scaling made me dislike it more. He went from 9 to 6 on repeat.”
- “I have avoided watching Golden Time and AIR for this very reason.”
- “As an alternative, I tried watching Golden Time again and was unable to continue when the ghost Banri started appearing. I really liked the first half, but the Banri before the amnesia irritated me.”
Other animes were also disappointing after rewatching:
- “Soul Eater after reading the manga”.
- “For me, it was Sailor Moon. As a child, she was obsessed with this series. Beautiful and powerful girls? It was the best way to keep myself quiet while glued to the TV screen. However, I watched Sailor Moon again when the 90s version was rerun on TV and it wasn't the same. Too many filler episodes and poor pacing. But it's still a very beautiful series. I still love its aesthetic. But I guess that’s the way life is, our tastes can change.”
- “Kaichou wa Maid-sama! I first watched it when I was 12 and recently decided to watch it again and realized how embarrassing it is, but the manga is definitely better than the anime.”
- “Rosario x Vampire and Given, I was 13 years old when I watched it for the first time and I didn't understand half of what was happening. I watched it again and I actually felt embarrassed for them.”
- “Death Note/Code Geass. I thought it was so cool when I first watched it as a teenager. Watching it as an adult is literally just fuel for the edgy teenager who thinks 'I'm so much smarter than everyone I know'.”
- “Lovely Complex was in my TOP 10 as a teenager, but after trying to watch it again, I couldn’t even make it through a full episode.”
- “For me, it was Gundam Wing. When it came out and aired on TV, it was epic. Incredible battles, incredible story, incredible characters. Awesome mecha fights. A few years ago, I had free time at work and watched the entire series. What a rhythm. Horrible. Very slow. And the characters aren’t as cool as they used to be.”
- “Toradora. I really liked it when I started watching anime. But after trying to watch it again, Taiga is so annoying and abusive towards the male lead, I know it's a trope, but I really came to hate the overly violent and unfair tsundere. Although there are some exceptions.”
Finally, it's time for you to give your opinion on which animes became disappointing when you watched them again.
Source: Reddit
