A list of the 8 most disappointing anime of all time has been generating a lot of discussion Somos Kudasai website . Although the creators have the best intentions, sometimes these sequels can disappoint and lead to the abandonment of the project.
Before the list, here are some points that could contribute to the sequel's failure
To discuss 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 fanbase, expectations for the sequel become incredibly high. Fans expect the story and characters to evolve significantly while maintaining the essence that attracted them 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.
Furthermore, 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 original material hasn't progressed far enough to provide a solid foundation for a sequel, the 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 large role in the failure of a sequel. Tight deadlines and limited resources can affect the quality of the animation, which in turn affects the viewing experience for viewers.
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 a lot of science fiction weirdness. It was short but significant and surprisingly had two sequel seasons about fifteen years later.
FLCL Progressive acted as a more straightforward 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, neither of these sequels was able to recapture what made the original a cult classic.
7. Black Butler
The first season of Black Butler 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's second season from attempting to continue the story, and the results left a bad taste in the mouths of fans. Being completely original to the anime, Black Butler 2nd Season suffered due to its unlikeable new characters, plot holes, and an uninspired story with a truly unsatisfying conclusion. It was so unpopular that the third season would reboot the story , declaring the second as non-canonical.
6. Nanatsu no Taizai
Included in 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 from them, the characters were quirky but likeable, 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 expressionless animation, the exciting battles of Nanatsu no Taizai became difficult and hard to watch. To make matters worse, the story also began to crumble as it lost its plot, wasting its premise and characters as it slowly progressed towards its ending.
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 annoying Saitama as he carelessly saves the world with a single punch. With impressive animation that lends weight to the power of these heroes and quite peculiar and fun characters, many wanted to see more of Saitama's exploits after the end of the first season. Finally, the second season arrived, but unfortunately it became a disappointment. The change from Madhouse to JC STAFF caused the animation quality to decrease 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 of its fans , thanks to its strange yet captivating premise and its equally strange but appealing characters. Therefore, it was no surprise that, at 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 in the worst possible way. The second season of Haruhi Suzumiya features an arc called "Endless August" in which the group gets stuck in a time loop for eight episodes where the same events repeat themselves with slight 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 fame in its initial season. While not perfect, it managed to maintain a coherent storyline, something that cannot be said of the rest of the series. The second season made major mistakes by attempting to mix the original anime content with only fragments of the manga's plot, and the results were an erratic mess that ended without much enthusiasm. Tokyo Ghoul:re tried to continue beyond the second season, but its fast pace and low-quality animation did nothing to help. 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 attempted to escape their fate. However, it also made it onto the list of Disappointing Anime. The series was poised to continue its intense story after the end of the first season, but everything went wrong in the second. Although it started well, viewers began to realize something wasn't right, with details and characters from the manga being omitted as the anime progressed, which worsened when highly anticipated story arcs were ignored. The anime skipped over a hundred manga chapters of story content, turning this highly anticipated season into a major disappointment for many. Yakusoku no Neverland rose high only to plummet.
1. Berserk
The use of CGI in anime may be an acquired taste for many, and some have managed to make it work to their advantage. The same cannot be said of the 2016 Berserk sequel. 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 in this case is that there were high expectations for Berserk to have a new season since the late 90s, and the recap films further increased 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 anime sequels disappointing? Comment below.
Source: Kudasai
