Animes that disappointed fans when watching them again

Anime lovers on Reddit are engaged in a lively debate about the evolution of their tastes and perceptions regarding series they used to love. The question that started this whole discussion was direct and profound: " Which anime did you love, but were 'disappointing' upon rewatching? "

Forum users expressed a variety of disappointing opinions and experiences on this sensitive yet relevant topic. Many shared stories of anime that captivated them a decade ago, but upon revisiting 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 flaws in the narrative, animation, or character development that they hadn't noticed in their first viewings, contributing to their disappointment upon rewatching.

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However, the debate wasn't limited to just negative reviews. Many users shared how, despite feeling disappointed at seeing certain anime re-aired, 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's flashbacks.".
"Tokyo Ghoul, without a doubt.".
"Oh yes, Love Hina was one of my favorites back then. Now, at around 30 years old, I tried watching it again recently and couldn't stand it.".
"Elfen Lied. For some reason, this anime has aged terribly, but the manga is still quite solid.".
"I tried watching Elfen Lied for the first time as an adult. I can't, it's too embarrassing. It definitely had its time, but it's not anymore.".
"The Seven Deadly Sins. The first time I watched it, I liked it so much that I watched it again later, but then the annoying pig, Meliodas abusing Elizabeth, and the absurdly inconsistent power scale made me dislike it. It went from a 9 to a 6 on the repeat.".
"I've been avoiding watching Golden Time and AIR for that very reason.".
"As an alternative, I tried watching Golden Time again and couldn't continue when the ghost Banri started appearing. I really enjoyed the first half, but the pre-amnesia Banri annoyed me.".

Other anime were also disappointing after rewatching:

"Soul Eater after reading the manga.".
“For me, it was Sailor Moon. As a child, I was obsessed with that series. Beautiful and powerful girls? It was the best way to keep me quiet while glued to the TV screen. However, I watched Sailor Moon again when the 90s version was re-aired on TV and it wasn't the same. Too many filler episodes and bad pacing. But it's still a very beautiful series. I still love its aesthetic. But I guess that's how life is, our tastes can change.”.
"Kaichou wa Maid-sama! I first watched it when I was 12 years old 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 when I first watched them and didn't understand half of what was going on. I watched them again and really 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 when I was a teenager, but after trying to watch it again, I couldn't even get through a whole episode.".
"For me, it was Gundam Wing. When it was released and broadcast on TV, it was epic. Incredible battles, incredible story, incredible characters. Impressive mecha fights. A few years ago, I had some free time at work and watched the whole series. What pacing. Horrible. Very slow. And the characters aren't as cool as they used to be.".
"Toradora. I really enjoyed it when I first started watching anime. But after trying to watch it again, Taiga is so annoying and abusive towards the male protagonist. I know it's a trope, but I really came to hate the excessively violent and unfair tsundere. Although there are some exceptions.".

Finally, it's time for you to give your opinions on which anime became disappointing when you rewatched them.

Source: Reddit