Despite its initial popularity and captivating elements, not all anime can sustain its momentum as it progresses. This can be attributed to common problems such as hurried plot lines or excessive use of filler episodes, ultimately resulting in disappointment for viewers. Nevertheless, anime continues to be a significant aspect of global pop culture, captivating audiences with its distinct storytelling, impressive animation, and compelling characters.
In this article, we will examine various anime that initially showed potential and generated excitement, but ultimately failed to satisfy viewers as their storylines progressed. We will analyze the reasons behind their decline and discuss the impact of these missteps on their standing within the anime community.
10 – Higehiro: A Story of Taking in a High School Runaway and Shaving
Released in 2021, Higehiro sparked controversy for its subject matter. The series follows Yoshida, a 26-year-old man who comes across a homeless high school girl named Sayu and takes her in. This caused a stir due to Japanese laws prohibiting minors from living with anyone who is not their parent or legal guardian. As a result, the anime gained widespread attention upon its initial release.
Despite lacking a strong plot, Higehiro gained some recognition for portraying Yoshida as a “chad”for refusing Sayu’s indecent offer in exchange for her stay at his place. However, this alone was not enough to make the anime popular. Ultimately, due to its weak plot, Higehiro received low ratings and has been largely forgotten.
TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You
Tonikaku Kawaii is renowned for its charming romantic moments and its catchy opening song, “Koi no Uta”. The series centers around Nasa, a genius in the field of science, whose life takes a unexpected turn when he is hit by a truck. Fortunately, he is rescued by Tsukasa, to whom he promptly proposes.
Despite witnessing one of the quickest marriages in anime history, we were treated to numerous endearing moments between the awkward newlyweds as they bridged the gap and discovered their love. Despite subsequent seasons, the anime has failed to make much progress.
For those seeking raw romance scenes, Tonikaku Kawaii may be an ideal option. However, in terms of the plot, it does not hold much promise.
8. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Suzumiya Haruhi is revered by a particular group of older otakus as a timeless anime. The plot centers around Suzumiya, a rebellious high school student with the unique power to manipulate the universe.
Suzumiya’s involvement with those around her in the anime is extensive. Despite the incredible storyline, music, and humor that Suzumiya Haruhi offers, it is important to acknowledge her self-centeredness and lack of consideration for others when she causes chaos.
In most cases, it is evident that abrasive or “tsundere”characters featured in other anime have redeeming qualities that balance out their negative traits. However, Suzumiya does not display any of these redeeming qualities, leading some to believe that they were expected to enjoy the anime simply because of its plot.
7The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland follows the journey of three orphaned children, Ray, Emma, and Norman, who live in an orphanage where they are raised until the age of 11 before being sent off to be consumed by monsters. Upon discovering the true purpose of their home, the trio hatches a daring escape plan to save not only themselves, but all of the other children in the orphanage.
Despite the first season of Promised Neverland being praised for its exceptional animation, story, pacing, and music, the second season did not meet the high standards set by its predecessor. This can be attributed to a lack of engagement from viewers, as the second season failed to captivate them.
Additionally, the second season failed to address several important plot points, which greatly disappointed fans and did a disservice to the original manga. As a result, the ratings for the second season of The Promised Neverland did not match the success of the first season, and fans remain disappointed with the outcome to this day.
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
Despite varying opinions on this anime, it can be considered below average as it follows the story of Rikka, a girl with chunibyo or 8th Grader Syndrome (Delusions of grandeur), and Yuuta, a boy trying to move on from his own chunibyo past. The central focus of the plot is Yuuta’s efforts to help Rikka overcome her struggles.
Despite being a major flaw, this anime heavily relies on excessively cute scenes, which can become overwhelming. Although some fans may not mind, it is clear that the following seasons of this anime used these “moe”moments and flashy animation to distract from the lack of an engaging storyline.
Future Diary: Mirai Nikki
Yukiteru Amano, a 14-year-old introverted loner, is the focus of this tale. He has a habit of carefully recording his surroundings on his phone. However, his peaceful routine is shattered when he is selected as one of the 11 contestants in a survival game where the ultimate prize is becoming the new god, Deus.
Yukiteru’s phone undergoes a transformation, granting it the ability to predict events up to ninety days in advance. He finds protection in Yuno Gasai, a psychopathic Yandere girl.
Despite its promising plot, this anime failed to deliver due to poor execution and excessive violence and psychological themes that overshadowed the plot development. As a result, the series was not enjoyable for viewers. Moreover, the unsatisfactory execution of the story towards the end left fans disappointed and did not meet their expectations.
The Rising of The Shield Hero
Naofumi Iwatani, a serene and affable person, was unexpectedly transported to a different realm along with three companions. They were each bestowed with a legendary weapon: a sword, a spear, a bow, and a shield. Naofumi was ridiculed and belittled upon receiving a shield, which was solely intended for defense and lacked any offensive abilities.
Afterward, he constructs his party and embarks on journeys, ultimately becoming unexpectedly formidable and surpassing everyone’s predictions.
Despite having decent animation in some parts, this anime faced tough competition from other shows, which ultimately led to negative reviews and a decline in viewership after the first season.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Despite having over 750 episodes, the Naruto series and movies continue to be beloved by fans and were highly anticipated in the past. The engaging nature of the show makes it difficult for viewers to stop watching.
Despite its popularity and large fan base, Boruto failed to meet the expectations of many when compared to its prequel, Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. The characters were not as lovable and the plot felt rushed. The power scalings were exaggerated to the point where it seemed like the entire series was hastily put together. Additionally, constant comparisons to its predecessor only added to the disappointment, as Naruto had a devoted following despite its filler episodes.
Wonder Egg Priority
The focus of this series is on Ai Ohto, who is coping with the loss of her best friend, Koito Nagase, who took her own life. One evening, she is drawn to an arcade by a mysterious voice and unexpectedly finds herself transported to a strange realm after opening a “Wonder Egg”from a Gachapon Machine in the deserted arcade.
Ai has been assigned the duty of safeguarding a young girl who emerged from the Wonder Egg against creatures known as “Seeno Evils”. Along the way, she encounters three other girls who were also transported to this world.
Despite being one of the most highly anticipated anime of 2021, Wonder Egg Priority ultimately failed to maintain the interest of fans due to several factors. The unsatisfying ending and numerous unresolved plotholes left viewers disappointed. Additionally, many viewers struggled to make sense of the complex themes that were introduced throughout the series.
1. Experience the Virtual World of Sword Art Online
SAO, short for Sword Art Online, gained its initial popularity due to its captivating storyline and exhilarating battle sequences appreciated by its fans.
The initial season of the story showcased the events of Kirito, the main character, becoming trapped in an MMORPG, which he initially believed to be a harmless VR game. However, it was eventually uncovered that if a player perished in the game, they would meet the same fate in real life, causing widespread panic. As Kirito was already familiar with the game’s world, he quickly becomes overpowered and eventually crosses paths with Asuna, who becomes his romantic partner.
The first season of SAO captivated fans throughout its entirety with its intriguing plot and skillful storytelling.
Despite feeling a sense of accomplishment when Kirito and Asuna escaped from the game world, the first season should have ended there. However, the show’s quality declined when an entire series was created with no significant plot progression. This disappointed fans as the rushed plot lacked substance and did not meet their expectations.
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