Anime That Had Surprisingly Steep Declines In Quality

As a seasoned gamer and anime enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that watching anime series is as exhilarating as conquering a challenging video game level. However, the letdown when an otherwise promising series plummets to unwatchable depths is akin to discovering that your favorite RPG has glitches that make it unplayable.

It’s perfectly understandable that some individuals get incredibly excited for specific anime series due to their stunning animation, engaging narratives, captivating characters, and other appealing aspects. These shows often leave a lasting impression and garner a massive following, as fans eagerly anticipate even more excellence with each new season and episode.

It’s disheartening for fans when an anime they have become attached to experiences a sudden and shocking decline in quality. It’s difficult to understand how a show with so much promise could end up falling apart so dramatically. A variety of factors often lead to this unexpected decline, transforming what could have been an iconic anime into a cautionary tale about the negative impact a flawed production process can have on an anime’s popularity.

5 The Promised Neverland

Season 2 Completely Undid Everything The First Season Did Great In Record Time

The inaugural season of “The Promised Neverland” was a gripping spectacle that captivated many viewers. Unveiling the chilling truth about the orphanage where kids are being devoured by demons, it’s a tale filled with tension as the children unite to break free from their confines in an exhilarating series. Despite its unsettling scenes, it’s visually stunning and keeps viewers hooked. Unfortunately, the second season fell short of expectations.

Instead of maintaining the balanced pace from the first season, the second season unfortunately missed the mark and eliminated much of the suspense or intrigue that made the original so popular. The orphans receive everything effortlessly rather than earning it through hard work. To add insult to injury, a key arc in the series is omitted completely, resulting in a hasty conclusion that seemed disrespectful to fans who anticipated a faithful adaptation of this beloved series.

4 One-Punch Man

J.C. Staff Were Facing An Uphill Battle Living Up To Madhouse’s Standards

In its prime, Madhouse captivated audiences with the exceptional animation and side-splitting humor of One-Punch Man, creating a series that dominated pop culture. Saitama rapidly became one of the most renowned anime protagonists ever, showcasing seemingly endless strength with no worthy adversary in sight. Even though Season 2 was delayed, fans eagerly anticipated even more of this greatness.

Although the narrative remained true to its source material, one aspect where this remake fell short compared to its predecessor was the animation quality. Madhouse’s exceptional work had set a high bar, but J.C. Staff didn’t quite reach it, as many of the animations felt less vibrant. It’s disappointing, and fans can only cross their fingers that the animation quality in Season 3 matches the caliber that One-Punch Man attained during its first season.

3 Ninja Kamui

The Show Lost Its Edge After Replacing Its Hand-To-Hand Action With Boring Mecha Fights

The anime “Ninja Kamui” left viewers in awe due to its exceptional martial arts scenes, where the animation moved seamlessly. One of the show’s greatest assets was its focus on hand-to-hand combat, but it unfortunately introduced CGI that was not well developed. The transition to mecha battles was disastrous for the series’ popularity, as every aspect, from design to animation, fell short of expectations at best.

The result was that the anime “Ninja Kamui” failed to capture and maintain audience interest after only four episodes, marking an unexpected and startling decline in quality for any show. Audiences struggled to endure the sequences of uninspiring CGI mechs clashing without any flair whatsoever. Had “Ninja Kamui” persisted with its hand-to-hand combat scenes, it might have still garnered a reputation based on its fights alone, but the excitement surrounding this series completely fizzled out once fans expressed their dissatisfaction over the drop in quality.

2 Death Note

A Huge Turning Point In The Anime Turned One Of The Best Thrillers Into An Average One At Best

As a hardcore gamer, I can’t deny the allure of Death Note – one of the most captivating shonen thrillers ever crafted. Stepping into Light’s shoes, I found myself yearning to become a divine judge, meting out justice by inducing heart attacks on unsuspecting criminals. Yet, this quest for godhood led me down a dangerous path, as the enigmatic detective L hunted me relentlessly under the moniker of Kira. The sheer intellect displayed in their mental showdown kept me hooked, making Death Note a true masterpiece among mystery series that could hold an audience with just words alone.

As long as character L remains alive, “Death Note” stands out as an essential shonen anime to watch. Regrettably, the subsequent storyline lacks the same level of captivation, introducing less compelling and somewhat clichéd versions of L. Consequently, the series loses its unique charm and transforms into a typical mystery anime, falling short of the initial episodes’ irresistible allure that continues to captivate fans even today.

1 Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror

No Anime Has Ever Fallen Off So Hard After A Single Episode

The inaugural installment of “Uzumaki” ignited an outpouring of admiration from followers of horror manga artist Junji Ito, eager for a top-notch adaptation of his work. Though at times it moved too swiftly, there’s no questioning that the animation in this episode stood head and shoulders above the rest. Enthusiasts of the mangaka cheered and pondered how the subsequent episode would live up to this anticipation, but a week later, they were left feeling disappointed instead.

Instead of delivering even more fantastic animation as fans anticipated, the show was filled with sluggish scenes, unfunny scares, and behind-the-scenes turmoil. Producer Jason DeMarco went public with his claims of being deceived by a third party, which forced him to lower the quality to meet deadlines. It’s hard to comprehend why a four-episode miniseries would experience such a dramatic decrease in quality, and fans reluctantly accepted that they would have to wait longer for an anime adaptation worthy of Junji Ito.

2024-10-22 20:05