A list of the 8 most disappointing anime of all time has been making waves Somos Kudasai website . While the creators have the best intentions, these sequels can sometimes disappoint and lead to the project being abandoned.
Before the list, we have some points that could contribute to the failure of the sequel.
To talk about disappointing anime, first and foremost, there's pressure to match or surpass the success of the original series. When a series becomes a cultural phenomenon or acquires a passionate fan base, expectations for the sequel become incredibly high. Fans expect the story and characters to evolve significantly while maintaining the essence that drew them in in the first place. This pressure can be overwhelming for creators, sometimes leading to hasty decisions or forced plot changes that don't always work.
Additionally, a lack of source material can be a problem. In many cases, an anime series is based on a manga , light novel, or game. If the source material hasn't yet advanced enough to provide a solid foundation for a sequel, creators may be forced to invent new stories or expand the plot , often resulting in a less cohesive and satisfying final product.
Changes in the creative team can also be a factor. Sometimes, the original writers, directors, and character designers may not be available to work on the sequel, leading to a shift in the series' vision and style. This can result in a lack of consistency with the original series and dissatisfaction among fans who expected continuity in terms of quality and tone.
Finally, lack of time and budget can also play a significant role in a sequel's failure. Tight deadlines and limited resources can affect the quality of the animation, which in turn affects viewers' viewing experience.
The Dark Side of the Sequel: Top 8 Disappointing Anime
8. FLCL
The original FLCL was a six-episode coming-of-age story that followed Naota Nandaba as he navigated the difficult feelings of growing up, interspersed with the eccentric Haruko Haruhara bursting into his life and bringing with her plenty of sci-fi weirdness. It was short but meaningful, and surprisingly, it spawned two sequel seasons about fifteen years later.
FLCL Progressive served as a more direct sequel, but its new characters proved uninteresting and its plot meandered. FLCL Alternative was more independent in its approach, but its plot was more generic and bore little resemblance to the original FLCL. Despite their best efforts, none of these sequels were able to recapture what made the original a cult classic.
7. Black Butler
Black Butler's first season initially followed its source material and ended up on the list of disappointing anime, but the plot eventually diverged into the anime's original territory, and the season ended with Sebastian taking Ciel's soul. However, these events didn't stop Black Butler Season 2 from attempting to continue the story, and the results left a bad taste in fans' mouths. Being completely original to the anime, Black Butler Season 2 suffered due to its unlikable new characters, plot holes, and an unimpressive story with a truly unsatisfying conclusion. It was so unpopular that the third season would reboot the story , declaring the second season non-canon.
6. Nanatsu no Taizai
Joining this list of disappointing anime is Nanatsu no Taizai, which had a very promising start. Featuring a motley crew of knights fighting to reclaim a kingdom against them, the characters were quirky but likable, and the animation was energetic and vibrant. However, production of this battle shonen was transferred to Studio Deen starting with the third season. This was the beginning of the end for this anime. With sloppy and inexpressive animation, Nanatsu no Taizai's thrilling battles became difficult and difficult to watch. To make matters worse, the story also began to fall apart as it lost its plot, wasting its premise and characters as it slowly progressed towards its conclusion.
5. One-Punch Man
Few anime manage to make as big an impact as One-Punch Man did in its first season, introducing the powerful but dull Saitama as he nonchalantly saves the world with a single punch. With stunning animation that gives weight to the heroes' power and quite quirky and fun characters, many wanted to see more of Saitama's exploits after the first season ended. The second season finally arrived, but unfortunately, it was a disappointment. The change from Madhouse to JC STAFF caused the animation quality to decline compared to the original season, and the lack of humor or focus on Saitama himself caused this sequel to quickly lose its charm.
4. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu is fondly remembered by many fans , thanks to its strange yet captivating premise and equally strange yet compelling characters. So it was no surprise that by the end of the first season, viewers were eager to see what the SOS Brigade would do next. To everyone's surprise, they would find out the hard way. The second season of Haruhi Suzumiya features an arc called "Infinite August," in which the group is trapped in a time loop for eight episodes, with the same events repeating themselves with minor differences. This arc dragged on for most of the second season, killing any enthusiasm fans had for this season and the series as a whole.
3. Tokyo Ghoul
Bizarre, violent, and hard-hitting, Tokyo Ghoul quickly gained notoriety in its initial season. While it wasn't perfect, it managed to maintain a coherent story, something that couldn't be said for the rest of the series. The second season made major mistakes by trying to blend the original anime content with only fragments of the manga's plot, and the result was an erratic mess that ended without much enthusiasm. Tokyo Ghoul:re attempted to continue beyond the second season, but its rushed pacing and poor animation didn't help matters. In short, Tokyo Ghoul stumbled after the first season and never fully recovered.
2. The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland captivated viewers with its dark premise, stunning visuals, equally terrifying antagonists, and the enduring spirit of Grace Field's children as they tried to escape their fate. However, it also made the list of Disappointing Anime. The series was poised to continue its intense story after the first season's finale, but everything went wrong in the second. Although it started well, viewers began to notice something wasn't right, with details and characters from the manga being omitted as the anime progressed, worsened by the omission of highly anticipated story arcs. The anime went through over a hundred manga chapters of story content, making this highly anticipated season a major disappointment for many. Yakusoku no Neverland soared high only to plummet.
1. Berserk
The use of CGI in anime can be an acquired taste for many, and some have managed to make it work to their advantage. The same cannot be said for the 2016 sequel to Berserk. Even though its dark and profound story was still very much present, the animation was ugly and sloppy, making it practically unbearable to watch . What hurts most about this case is that there had been high expectations for a new season of Berserk since the late 1990s, and the recap films only heightened those expectations. But with two horribly animated seasons, any hope of more content from this dark fantasy epic practically vanished into thin air.
Finally, do you consider any other sequels to be disappointing anime? Comment below.
Source: Kudasai
