6 Long Anime That Actually Aren’t Worth the Time to Watch

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I’m a huge anime fan, and I’ve noticed something interesting: some of the best shows need a lot of episodes to really shine. Take Attack on Titan, for example – it took over 100 episodes to build that incredible world and give the characters the development they deserved. My Hero Academia is the same way – eight seasons felt just right to tell Deku’s story and everyone else’s. But then you get anime that just… keep going, and it feels like filler. They can be great shows, but all those extra episodes just drag things out unnecessarily.

Some anime are best enjoyed in smaller portions or not at all. If you want the full story quickly, reading the original manga is often a better option, and the artwork might be superior too. Many really long anime become repetitive, with only the most dedicated fans sticking with them through hundreds of episodes. These extremely lengthy series demand a significant time commitment, and viewers should carefully consider if it’s worth it when there are other anime they could enjoy in less time.

One Piece is Too Hefty to Attract New Viewers

The Manga, One Pace, and the Netflix Version Are Strong Options

When people talk about anime that go on for too long, One Piece is almost always mentioned. The issue isn’t the quality of the story itself – it’s considered one of the best in the shonen genre – but how it’s presented. The character development and world-building are fantastic, especially as the story unfolds across the Grand Line, but the anime adaptation can feel slow. The manga is a better experience, with less unnecessary content, though even it requires a lot of commitment from readers.

As a huge One Piece fan, it really bothers me how some story arcs just drag on. It’s clear the anime tries to stay ahead of the manga, but it backfires – sometimes episodes only cover about 10 pages worth of story! They end up padding things out with repeated scenes, hoping we won’t notice. It says a lot that fans felt they had to create the One Pace project to fix the pacing! Honestly, if you’re just getting into One Piece, you might actually have a better experience starting with the Netflix live-action series.

Bleach’s Anime is Bloated With Filler and Iffy Animation at Times

Tite Kubo’s Original Manga is the Definitive Soul Reaper Experience

Image via Pierrot.

Along with Naruto and One Piece, Bleach is considered one of the defining anime and manga series of its generation. While the anime adaptation has some issues with how it’s presented, the story itself is strong, with well-developed characters and a fascinating world. Because of this, it’s recommended that newcomers skip the original anime and go straight to the manga. The manga is expertly paced and features incredibly striking artwork that stands out even among other popular shonen series like Naruto and One Piece.

While the original Bleach anime boasts excellent voice acting and memorable music, it’s often bogged down by excessive filler episodes, older animation styles, and a slow pace that can be frustrating to watch. A good way to experience the story is to read the manga up to the end of the Fullbringer arc, and then switch to the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime, which has much better pacing and visual quality. That newer anime series is highly recommended, but watching the original anime beyond that point is up to you.

Pokemon Has Been Doing the Same Thing Since the 1990s

Fans Might Pick an Era and Skip the Rest in Favor of the Pokemon Games

Image via Nintendo.

The Pokémon franchise absolutely deserves its worldwide popularity as a beloved part of pop culture for children. The video games, in particular, have kept Pokémon relevant for decades, with many of the original fans from the late 1990s now sharing their love of these colorful creatures with their own kids. The trading card game and merchandise are also great, though the anime series has had varying degrees of success.

As a huge Pokémon fan, I personally love diving into every season and movie – it’s just what I enjoy! But I get why others might hesitate. Let’s be real, it can be a lot of episodes and the core formula stays pretty consistent. A lot of newcomers will pick a favorite generation to start with, and honestly, that’s a smart move. While each season has its own little things going on, if you’ve seen one generation of Pokémon anime, you’ve pretty much seen them all. That leaves so much more time to explore all the other amazing fantasy anime out there!

Yu-Gi-Oh! Keeps Repeating Itself as a Card Game Anime

Other Game-Based Anime Are Worth Watching, Too

image via Konami.

Similar to Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! successfully combines a card game with an anime series, though this holds true to a certain extent. Fans will enjoy both playing the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game and watching Yugi Muto and his friends play it in the anime. Long-time fans might prefer the original series featuring Blue-Eyes White Dragon, while newer fans may gravitate towards the GX or 5D’s seasons.

I really enjoy watching any of the different Yu-Gi-Oh! series, but I wouldn’t recommend trying to watch all of them. While the characters and cards change up now and then, it honestly starts to feel pretty samey after a couple hundred episodes. It’s probably best for casual anime fans to switch things up and watch other anime based on games – things like Kakegurui or Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor, for example. Only the most dedicated Yu-Gi-Oh! fans will likely stick with it through everything.

Fairy Tail’s Good Moments Are Too Few and Far Between

The Power of Friendship Doesn’t Save Fairy Tail

Image via studio Satelight.

If Fairy Tail were shorter and had better animation and storytelling, it could have truly competed with the most popular action anime like Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece. While Fairy Tail definitely has a dedicated fanbase, those unfamiliar with the series might find the long length and numerous filler episodes to be a poor value for their time, even if those episodes were removed. Ultimately, finishing this magical series requires a significant time commitment that may not be worthwhile.

While Fairy Tail has some enjoyable moments and interesting character designs like Erza Scarlet and Mavis Vermillion, these highlights are spread too thinly throughout a lot of uninspired or predictable scenes. It requires a significant time investment for a relatively small reward, which is a problem when many shows now prioritize being concise and impactful. Fans of fantasy will likely find Demon Slayer and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End more satisfying, and those looking for a series similar to Naruto would probably enjoy My Hero Academia.

Dragon Ball Z is Loaded With Filler and Has Horrendous Pacing

Akira Toriyama’s Manga is the Real Saiyan Magic

Image via Toei Animation.

Longtime fans of Dragon Ball happily rewatch the original series and Dragon Ball Z countless times. While other anime fans might enjoy watching everything, including Dragon Ball Super, most would be better off starting elsewhere. Dragon Ball Kai is a good choice, but reading the original manga is even better. The manga has a much better flow and fantastic artwork that makes the action scenes easy to follow.

It’s understandable why someone new to shonen anime would want to start with a classic like Dragon Ball Z to understand its impact, but it’s not essential. While Dragon Ball Z is historically important, it’s a lengthy series with older animation and well-known pacing issues, especially during arcs like the Namek Saga. For fans who don’t have a lot of time, it’s often better to watch more concise and modern anime that were inspired by Akira Toriyama’s work.

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2026-02-02 14:35