Anime Fans Confess Which Popular Series Didn’t Meet the Hype for Them in An Animated Discussion

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jul 18, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

We've all been in this situation: it seems like everyone around you is obsessed with a particular anime. One of your friends has, within a week of finishing the series, erected a small shrine of figurines and keychains to a side character that has a total of five minutes of screen time. Another friend has started cosplaying the main character and posting thirst traps on TikTok. Your buddies keep blasting the OST and singing along in mumbled Japanese whenever you hang out. Reviews on Crunchyroll and MyAnimeList are raving; Reddit posts and discussions are flooding your homepage.

So, one day, you finally get around to watching it. And you're excited. I mean, it ticks all the boxes for things you're usually in to, but as you make your way from episode to episode, it starts to feel like a chore. At some point, it dawns on you, with a sinking feeling, that you're not vibing with it and haven't for at least two arcs. If you're a real trooper (or you hate it so much that you want to be able to properly trash talk it), you might actually make it to the end. Read below to find out which anime series disappointed Redditors and had them questioning the taste of whoever suggested it.

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  • 01
    r/anime u/Last-Inspection-8156 ⚫ What's a popular anime you just could not get into after watching it? Discussion Unpopular opinion. I honestly couldn't stand Komi Can't Communicate. I was tired of people saying it was so realistic when people with social anxiety would never be as popular as that girl was. And the inability to speak is also not the same as social anxiety. A good example of realistic social anxiety would be Watamote. ☆ 6, 6,725 ☐ 6,913 Д
    via u/Last-Inspection-8156
  • 02
    Ballistic Thundr⚫ I think komi can't communicate is a cute anime but I would never call it a realistic portrayal of social anxiety ... Reply 2.7k
    via u/BallisticThundr
  • 03
    Sparky Mountain ⚫ I really loved the show. Multiple rewatches with wife and kids. I don't see it as a "this portrays the social anxiety experience" to a T, but rather it's a show about person with social anxiety that you wouldn't stereotypically associate with it and a group of friends willing to include and help her. 580
    via u/SparkyMountain
  • 04
    YukiNeko777. There is no unanimous way in which social anxiety is manifested. Every story of anxious people is different, and I find this anime very similar to my situation. I'm very socially anxious to the point I faint. I fainted many times at school, but I also was one of "the popular girls." I'm not gonna pretend that I'm unaware that I'm pretty, and my social anxiety adds me points because people think I'm shy, and that's cute and a desirable feature of a girl in my culture. So I attracted
    via u/YukiNeko777
  • 05
    Anyway, I think that the realism of this anime depends on the person and cultural norms. Also, this is a Japanese comedy, so of course there will be exaggeration, but the gist is pretty realistic to some... 69 ↓
    via u/YukiNeko777
  • 06
    atomic_bubblegum ⚫ Seven deadly sins Reply 1.1k Quirky_Value_9997. It just got progressively worse 546
    via u/atomic_bubblegum, u/Quirky_Value_9997
  • 07
    imperfectionlad⚫ Take a shot every time you saw JJK Reply 3.2k
    via u/imperfectionlad
  • 08
    jojoismyreligion ⚫ Its the "That one big popular shonen syndrome". Half the people will only talk about it as of its the only anime ever made and the other half will just hate on it. 193 imperfectionlad ⚫ Like someone said on the comments below. Both side of the spectrum are being aggressive about this 16
    via u/jojoismyreligion, u/imperfectionlad
  • 09
    Chakramer ⚫ I really can't get into any long shounen. I absolutely just hate the tropes of over explaining everything as if the watcher can't piece together a single thing. Just feels like low quality writing, they never heard of "show don't tell." Reply 694
    via u/Chakramer
  • 10
    VinCatBlessed ⚫ • I like Naruto, DBZ and a few of those but I always found it weird when you see stuff like. -now I caught you in my technique which is made. out of chakra, good luck getting out of it. The viewer can conclude that shadow possession, spider webs or aqua domes indeed trap the opponent. 287
    via u/VinCatBlessed
  • 11
    AllesYoF ⚫ That's more of a problem with adaptating from a limited medium like manga, it doesn't have the visual expression of animation, nor the capacity to explain in detail like novels, so it's ends up in a middle ground in which it has to complement visuals with textual explanations. And since anime tries to be faithful it brings all of that with it, even if it doesn't make sense. Still some battle shounen manage to get away with "show don't tell" by leaving things for the readers to interpr
    via u/AllesYoF
  • 12
    RussianHoney Badger ⚫ Exactly. For example, why does a character announce the name of their attack? Because the manga had too so the reader would know what's happening. ← 29 FabCitty ⚫ Oh my gosh I never considered that but I makes so much sense. Manga is black and white, like someone with ice powers could very easily be mistaken for rock powers without the context. 32
    via u/RussianHoneyBadger, u/FabCitty
  • 13
    Former_Breakfast_898. I think that's more of fault on adaptation. In manga and light novels, they tend to explain everything cuz it's difficult to portray what's happening in still images, but for some reason a lot of shonen anime tried to incorporate that instead of show, don't tell ... 80 ↓
    via u/Former_Breakfast_898
  • 14
    JU elpinguinosensual ⚫ One Piece. I have a job. Edit: thanks for the tips guys, but I'm probably still gonna keep rewatching my 6-10 episode stories. ... Reply 11.6k ♡
    via u/elpinguinosensual
  • 15
    INeedANerf ⚫ One Piece is way easier to read. It took me a few months but I got through it. I can't imagine trying to find the time to watch all 1,000+ episodes though. 101
    via u/INeedANerf
  • 16
    Routine_Log8315. If you (or anyone else) are interested in One Piece but doesn't want to have to deal with all the recaps, fillers, intro songs, etc., look into "One Pace". It's a "fan project that recuts the One Piece anime in an endeavor to bring it more in line with the pacing of the original manga by Eiichiro Oda. The team accomplishes this by removing filler scenes not present in the source material, fixing animation errors and correcting subtitles". Supposedly it cuts down over 40% of the
    via u/Routine_Log8315.
  • 17
    Capital-Chemistry172 ⚫ i may get a ton of for the but one piece.. i just couldn't get into it. i've been told to watch it by tons of people so i watched 20 or so episodes and just never could get into it really enjoy it.. ← Reply 1.5k
    via u/Capital-Chemistry172
  • 18
    TriforceofSwag ⚫ As a huge One Piece fan myself, I get it. A lot of fans tell people you have to get through Arlong Park because "that's where it gets really good!" But that's like 40+ episodes. No one should sit through 40 episodes just to get the "good part". ✩ 1.2k
    via u/TriforceofSwag
  • 19
    just_one_random_guy ⚫ Demon slayer, cast is either boring or kind of annoying and the story is pretty bland. Animation carried it to me. Didn't continue after season 1 Reply 783
    via u/just_one_random_guy
  • 20
    Deikar ⚫ I'm still watching it based almost exclusively on sunk cost falacy, and because my wife is in the exact same place so we can complain together. On the following seasons they decide to ramp up the characters being silly, loud and doing stupid faces up to a million and it's unbelievably annoying. The series can't take itself seriously for ☐ second, ONLY in the most serious of a serious moments, and when it does, oooh boy, 10 minute dialogs with sad music that really drive the point with n
    via u/Deikar
  • 21
    Freakjob_003. Same. Standard traumatic backstory, training montage, mysterious "strong" character. I got to the first big monster fight and it was cliche as "I got this!" "Oh no, I'm not strong enough, I'm going to let my friends down by dying." "No wait, I have to live to protect my sister!" The animation was sick as , but it otherwise felt like a classic shonen action show. ; 110
    via u/Freakjob_003
  • 22
    ☐ VinylPool . Probably gonna get crucified for this but I just couldn't with Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, like really I don't understand what is so popular about it, I mean the action scenes are cool with the super powers like the hamon and the stands and stuff but other than that just a lot of really ridiculous stuff I just don't understand it at all like is it the flashy outfits everyone wears? The constant sexual actions and innuendos? All the dumb and crazy actions and decisions all the charact
    via u/VinylPool
  • 23
    JackStephanovich ⚫ It's all the stuff you listed and more. It's just really funny and dramatic. Every episode is a roller coaster. Fights are short and brutal. Characters frequently die and often die from a single blow so combat feels dangerous. Each part has a different setting, protagonist, antagonist, cast of friends and enemies, so things always feel fresh. I think the worst thing a story can be is boring and Jojo's is never boring, not to me. 175
    via u/JackStephanovich
  • 24
    Robbie Rott3n⚫32 Mine was Neon genesis evangelion. It's just way too slow and doesn't itch my brain even if the OP slaps Reply 336
    via u/R0bbieR0tt3n
  • 25
    Awesomedude33201⚫ Eva is a show where you either absolutely love it and think it's a masterpiece, or you heavily dislike it. There really isn't an in-between. ← 320 DrStein1010. MALhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/DrStein1010 I love it to death, but I can totally see how someone would find it unwatchable. ← 64
    via u/Awesomedude33201, u/DrStein1010
  • 26
    nicholastdyoung ⚫ I tried super hard to get into Cowboy Bebop! I watched it all, but found it quite the chore! I know everyone loves it, but I just couldn't enjoy it! Reply DuckGoesShuba ⚫ . û 372 ♡ Cowboy Bebop is an odd one for me: the first time I watched, like 15 I think, that was also my initial reaction. Fast forward a few years later, randomly decided to rewatch it and now it's one of my favorites and would easily call it a masterpiece. Not really sure why it didn't click the first time h
    via u/nicholastdyoung, u/DuckGoesShuba
  • 27
    pukexxr⚫ Wow that's surprising! I feel like it is so good, fun, and accessible too. The one that I struggle with is similarly beloved -Dragon Ball Z-- I just don't care about the endless pursuit of power and the huge buildups to massive fights... it just falls flat with me for some reason. It is frustrating because I love the pace energy and style of the original Dragon Ball, but taking out all the comedy and cuteness and replacing it with machismo just doesn't hold my attention. Did you try any
    via u/pukexxr
  • 28
    hinakura ⚫ • MALhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/astarcalledsp... I tried watching Steins;Gate about three times, but couldn't get past the first episodes everytime. I'm supposed to like it because I love anime that deal with time travel but I found the story and the characters boring. I'm gonna give it another try because of my friends. Reply 100
    via u/hinakura
  • 29
    UGAShadow ⚫ I'd say it definitely takes a while to get going. Most of the first half is just introducing the characters and explaining the rules of the world. Having said that, its an incredible rewatch. Those early episodes (especially the first one) hide a ton that you'd never notice in the first watch. до 19 в
    via u/UGAShadow
  • 30
    Explanda ⚫ Fer me it was attack on titan. I tried to see the hype, I made it through the entire first season thinking maybe there'd be something at the end of it to hook me but nothing. So I dropped it after season 1 ... Reply 194
    via u/Explanda
  • 31
    SwaSwa_⚫ None of my friends encouraged me to watch when season 1 came out. Fast forward to 7-8 years later, everyone was like "you should check this out, just slog through season 1". I didn't particularly like season 1. But i can echo their experience that it only gets better from there. Season 2 was better, 3 and 4 were at times amazing. Just my two cents :) ← ↑ 52
    via u/SwaSwa_
  • 32
    Money_Cattle2370. The constant melodrama really grated on me 63
    via u/Money_Cattle2370
  • 33
    Ace Dantura • I got 3 seasons in and gave up. Eren is the most insufferable character I've ever had the displeasure of putting on my TV. I can't get into a show when the main character is lacking a single redeemable quality. Cool world, and I TRIED to like the show, but I just couldn't do it. KD 8 9 3
    via u/AceDantura
  • 34
    Impossible-Tea-8774. Mushoku Tensei the fan service literally makes the show practically unwatchable i can see a good story but every episode there's fan service just disappointing ← Reply 210
    via u/Impossible-Tea-8774

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demon slayer animation anime discussion animemes Dragon Ball Z naruto attack on titan japanese entertainment jujutsu kaisen manga reddit thread weeb one piece otaku television
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