9 Worst Anime Instances We Wish We Could Forget

"Hand Shakers" is often placed among the worst anime series due to its confusing, over-the-top presentation and poor execution.

Reviewers describe its frenetic CGI visuals as "claustrophobic and excessive," with disorienting action scenes that make the show physically tiring to sit through.

"Future Diary" has a strong concept but struggles with execution. The main character (Yukiteru Amano) is widely criticized by viewers for being ineffectual and frustrating.

The series is also notorious for prioritizing outrageous twists over logical plot progression. Critics have noted that these cheap shocks take precedence over actual character development, causing the narrative to derail after a strong start.

In short, despite its intriguing premise, the show's execution disappointed many fans as the story lost coherence.

"Highschool DxD" is a harem series that prioritizes fan service over story.

While some find it funny, others criticize the writing, repetitive episodes, and reliance on cute girls instead of meaningful characters or a good story. The series does deliver comedy for its fans, but detractors note that many characters are one-dimensional archetypes.

In other words, it’s frequently criticized for shallow writing beneath the barrage of hyper-sexualized visuals and gags.

"Heat Guy J" looks interesting on paper but rarely delivers. The anime suffers from flat voice acting, slow pacing, and a plot that never fully commits to its war-and-future premise.

Even fans acknowledge the storyline never quite goes anywhere compelling, making the overall experience underwhelming.

The second season of One Punch Man is a textbook case of wasted potential.

Compared to the first season’s excellent animation and comedy, the follow-up features poor animation, weaker fight scenes, and uneven pacing that disappointed fans of an otherwise good anime.

"Death Note" is often praised as a great anime, but its second half is heavily criticized. After a strong first season arc, the story loses focus, character decisions make less sense, and the tension that made the beginning worth watching fades quickly.

Many fans argue that Near and Mello, the new antagonists, pale in comparison to L. Consequently, the narrative loses much of its former tension and intrigue.

"Code Geass" starts with a compelling premise and memorable characters. However, the second half introduces rushed plot twists and inconsistent writing that many fans feel undermine its earlier strengths.

The narrative throws logic out the window in favor of shock value in the final stretch, leaving viewers frustrated that the tightly plotted, compelling drama of the first season loses cohesion by the end.

This one is a hot take, but hear us out: "Gurren Lagann" is surprisingly good for many viewers, but it loses others early.

Its loud style, exaggerated characters, and over-the-top comedy cause some people to drop it before the story finds emotional depth.

"Assassination Classroom" divides audiences despite its popularity.

Some viewers dislike the middle school setting, tonal shifts, and uneven pacing. This inconsistency, coupled with an overcrowded cast, makes it feel like the series doesn’t wholly commit to being either a straight comedy or a straight thriller, depending on who you ask.

Many poorly received anime fall into the same pattern. These shows rely on cute girls, inappropriate language, and shallow jokes while neglecting plot, animation quality, and character growth.

Anime creates strong expectations. When source material like manga is mishandled, or when animation and writing fall apart after a strong first episode, fans react strongly.

A bad anime often hurts more than a forgettable one.

That said, Even one of the worst anime has fans.

Taste varies, and some shows become cult favorites precisely because they are strange or flawed. Still, these titles are often cited as examples of how good ideas can go wrong.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.