With the rise in popularity of anime, several fans tend to hype up shows more than they deserve. These shows manage to attract audiences because of the buzz they create but more than often end up leaving viewers disappointed. Due to the amount of time fans spend watching such shows, they may even go on to fear any series being bad before watching it. This article will be of immense help to them as we list out the top 10 most overrated anime of all time.
Also Read 13 most underrated anime
11. Akame ga Kill
On its release, Akame ga Kill took the world by storm with what many considered to be a very ambitious story and great characters. However, beyond the surface, it is an extremely overrated anime that does not deserve its fame.
While the popularity it gained was due to the constant death of characters, this works against the series as it kills off characters before fans can connect with them. Placing a preference for shock value over the actual story becomes its undoing while eventually leading to an unsatisfactory and rushed ending. For this reason, it is the most overrated anime.
Synopsis: “Akame ga Kill” is a dark fantasy anime and manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro. The story takes place in a fictional world ruled by a corrupt and oppressive empire known as the Empire. It follows the journey of Tatsumi, a young fighter from a rural village, as he joins a group of assassins known as Night Raid, who aim to overthrow the Empire and bring justice to the land.
As Tatsumi joins Night Raid, he learns that the Empire is filled with corruption, cruelty, and inequality. Each member of Night Raid possesses a powerful Imperial Arms, a unique weapon with extraordinary abilities. Led by the skilled and ruthless Akame, the members of Night Raid carry out assassinations of high-ranking officials in the Empire in an attempt to weaken its grip on the nation.
Throughout the series, Tatsumi and Night Raid face dangerous enemies, including other Imperial Arms wielders, as well as the brutal and sadistic Jaegers, a group of elite assassins loyal to the Empire. The story explores themes of morality, sacrifice, and the consequences of power as Tatsumi and his companions struggle with their own inner demons and the choices they must make.
10. Bleach
As part of the Big Three anime, Bleach is considered by many to be one of those shows which every fan needs to watch at least once. With its amazing soundtracks and intense fight sequences, it is understandable how the series is so beloved among watchers. At the same time, Bleach is also far from being a high-quality anime.
With over 300 episodes that carry minimal storylines, the series has a tendency to drag its plot a lot while feeling bored in several parts. While the new Thousand Year Blood War Arc features some stunning animation, the original anime was very lackluster in this aspect.
Bleach also has a memorable cast of characters but many are also observed to have little to no character development throughout the length of the series, the most obvious of whom is its main character, Ichigo, who gains power-ups but maintains the same personality from the start to the end. Hence, while there sure is a lot to love about Bleach, it most definitely does not deserve such a high rating from fans.
But Thousand Year Blood war Animation and adaptation are on another level.
Synopsis: The story follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager with the ability to see ghosts. After accidentally obtaining the powers of a Soul Reaper, a spiritual being tasked with protecting the living world from malicious spirits called Hollows, Ichigo takes on the responsibility of defending humanity from supernatural threats.
The series begins with Ichigo encountering a Hollow attacking his family. He is saved by Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who is injured in the process. To save Ichigo’s family, Rukia transfers her powers to him, turning him into a substitute Soul Reaper. Ichigo reluctantly takes on this new role, and together with his friends, embarks on various missions to protect both the living and spirit worlds.
As the story progresses, Ichigo and his allies encounter a wide range of adversaries, including powerful Hollows, rogue Soul Reapers, and even otherworldly beings. They also uncover a larger conspiracy involving the Soul Society, the organization governing the Soul Reapers, and their dark secrets.
9. One Punch Man
One Punch Man is undoubtedly a very funny series with great animation and loveable characters. With an amazing first season by Studio Madhouse, the series was expected to be the next big thing.
Unfortunately, from its second season, both story and animation quality take a significant dive. The simplistic story as well as the lack of stakes contradicts the huge threats which the series claims it has continuously held it back.
In addition, with its main character Saitama hardly appearing in his own story and the new antagonist Garou not being able to fill in his shoes, fans are in for a harsh fall from grace for this series which was a great combination of hilarious gags and exciting fighting scenes.
Synopsis: “One Punch Man” is a Japanese manga and anime series created by ONE. The story centers around Saitama, a seemingly ordinary and unassuming man who has become so overwhelmingly powerful that he can defeat any opponent with a single punch.
Despite his extraordinary abilities, Saitama has grown bored and disillusioned with his superhero career, as he constantly longs for a challenging fight that can provide him with excitement and satisfaction.
The series presents a satirical take on the superhero genre, often poking fun at its tropes and clichés. Saitama’s invincible strength stands in stark contrast to the struggles and limitations faced by other heroes. He joins the Hero Association, an organization that ranks heroes based on their abilities and assigns them to fight against various threats, ranging from giant monsters to villains with destructive ambitions.
8. Tokyo Ghoul
It would not be a stretch to call the Tokyo Ghoul Manga a masterpiece as it shows us a complex view of the relationship between humans and man-eaters known as Ghouls. With a multi-faceted protagonist and deeply interesting world, the story completely sucks the reader in.
However, among the various disappointing anime adaptations that have been produced, Tokyo Ghoul ranks very high. The anime does not come close to doing the stellar art and designs of the manga justice while cutting out a large chunk of the source material and going on its own route.
With a rushed ending and many unsatisfying character conclusions, the acclaim the series has received is certainly undeserved.
Synopsis: The series follows the life of Ken Kaneki, a college student who becomes a half-ghoul after a chance encounter with a female Ghoul named Rize Kamishiro. Ken undergoes a traumatic transformation and is forced to navigate the complexities of his new identity as a Ghoul while trying to retain his humanity.
As Ken struggles to adapt to his new life, he becomes entangled in the conflicts between Ghouls and humans. He discovers the existence of different factions, including the peaceful Ghoul organization known as Anteiku, led by Yoshimura, and the more aggressive and radical Ghoul group called Aogiri Tree. Ken must navigate these factions, each with their own agendas and power struggles.
Throughout the series, Ken faces internal and external battles as he grapples with his desires, moral dilemmas, and the prejudices of both Ghouls and humans. He forms relationships with other Ghouls, including Touka Kirishima and Nishiki Nishio, who help him understand his new reality and find his place in the complex world of Ghouls.
7. Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online managed to dazzle audiences during its introduction with a unique story that followed real people who get stuck inside a game. While this was initially a fascinating concept, the many faults with the anime were soon revealed.
For a series that dealt with a new type of story, it was shockingly lacking in originality as it followed several tropes, clichés, and fan service scenes. It also has several time skips which leave fans confused and lacking in context which reduces its overall impact.
Finally, the characters of Sword Art Online are very superficial and don’t have any depth or development. Hence, while there is a lot to appreciate about the series such as its beautiful animation, great music, and fight sequences, Sword Art Online is not as great a series as others make it out to be.
Synopsis: In SAO, players immerse themselves in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) called Sword Art Online. The game utilizes a revolutionary virtual reality device called the NerveGear, which allows players to fully experience and interact with the game world using their minds.
The protagonist, Kirito, is one of the players who log into Sword Art Online on its launch day. However, they soon discover that they are unable to log out. They are informed by the game’s creator, Akihiko Kayaba, that if they die in the game or attempt to forcibly remove the NerveGear, a device in the real world that connects to their brains, they will die in real life as well.
Trapped in this life-or-death situation, Kirito and the other players must adapt and survive within the virtual world of Sword Art Online. They form alliances, battle monsters, and undertake quests in their quest for freedom. Along the way, Kirito forms a close bond with a fellow player named Asuna, and their relationship becomes a central focus of the series.
As the story progresses, Kirito and his friends navigate through various virtual worlds within the SAO universe, each with its unique game mechanics and challenges. They encounter other players, both allies and enemies, as well as uncover the deeper mysteries surrounding the game and its creator.
6. Naruto
Arguably one of the most popular and influential anime of all time, everyone, be it an anime fan or even non-anime watchers has heard of Naruto. The series which shows the inspiring growth of the young boy named Naruto as he goes from being hated by everyone in his village to becoming its leader is one that instantly made fans fall in love with it.
At the same time, the anime has also received a lot more praise than it deserves. The main issue with it is its pacing in the final war. The story is too long and often feels dragged out while there are oddly placed filler episodes throughout.
Additionally, while characters like Naruto and Sasuke do receive a lot of development, others like Sakura are poorly written and cause a lot of frustration. The power of friendship and underdog themes in the series are also enjoyable at first but end up feeling repetitive.
Synopsis: The story follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who dreams of becoming the strongest ninja in his village, known as the Hidden Leaf Village.
Naruto lives in a world where ninja villages exist and each village has its own unique set of abilities and specialties. However, Naruto faces several challenges as he is an outcast and carries a dark secret within him.
Throughout the series, Naruto embarks on various missions, trains to improve his skills, and forms friendships with other ninjas, including Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha. Together, they face dangerous enemies and learn valuable life lessons along the way.
As Naruto progresses, he discovers that he possesses a powerful spirit within him, known as the Nine-Tailed Fox. This spirit grants him incredible strength but also poses a great danger. Naruto must learn to control and harness its power while fighting against those who seek to use it for evil purposes.
5. Charlotte
Charlotte is an anime that has become extremely popular gradually with its creative fantasy story. While many fans keep watching it for its short yet memorable journey, it has also grown to be very overrated.
The series has a lot of odd character arcs and everyone other than the main character gets left in the dust by the conclusion. It relies on several tropes and while it feels slow in the start, the ending rushes to a halt. Hence, while it has achieved a lot given its limited number of episodes, Charlotte is not the must-watch series that many people claim it is.
Synopsis: “Charlotte” is an anime series created by Jun Maeda. The story revolves around Yuu Otosaka, a high school student who possesses a special ability. In this world, a small percentage of individuals develop supernatural powers during their teenage years.
Yuu’s ability allows him to possess and control another person’s body for a short period of time. He initially uses this power for personal gain, cheating on exams and engaging in other mischievous activities. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he is caught by a girl named Nao Tomori.
Nao is a member of the student council at Hoshinoumi Academy, a school that specializes in gathering and protecting students with supernatural abilities. She coerces Yuu into transferring to the academy and joining the student council alongside her and several other students with unique powers.
As Yuu becomes more involved in the activities of the student council, he learns about the existence of a mysterious organization known as the “Syndicate.” The Syndicate captures individuals with supernatural abilities and conducts inhumane experiments on them. The student council’s mission is to protect their fellow students and prevent them from falling into the Syndicate’s hands.
4. My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is known by most fans as a series that redefined the superhero genre in anime as well as one of the best new gens. Unfortunately, there are several reasons why these aren’t true and which make My Hero Academia an overrated series.
The most obvious of these is that it is an unoriginal shounen at its core while following every stereotype there is to offer. The quirks and fights it offers are exhilarating but the characters wielding them are unimpressive and generic.
While these don’t exactly qualify it as a bad show, it is far from the greatness which many fans claim it has achieved.
Synopsis: “My Hero Academia” is a popular anime and manga series created by Kohei Horikoshi. The story is set in a world where superpowers, known as “Quirks,” have become a common occurrence among individuals.
The protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, is a young boy who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without a Quirk. Despite this setback, Izuku idolizes the greatest hero of all time, All Might, and strives to follow in his footsteps.
One fateful day, Izuku encounters All Might himself, who recognizes his bravery and determination. Impressed by Izuku’s unwavering spirit, All Might decides to pass on his own Quirk, “One For All,” to Izuku, turning him into All Might’s successor.
With his newfound power, Izuku enrolls in U.A. High School, a prestigious academy that trains aspiring heroes. Alongside his classmates, including the explosive Bakugo Katsuki, the gravity-manipulating Ochaco Uraraka, and the icy Todoroki Shoto, Izuku undergoes intense training to develop his Quirk and improve his hero abilities.
3. Black Clover
Yet another very popular long-running new-gen anime is Black Clover which has impressed fans with its unique take on magic. It follows a young boy named Asta as he overcomes his lack of talent with hard work in order to become the Wizard King.
This sets up a basic Shounen story riddled with every cliché in the book. Black Clover, similar to many other anime on this list, has a great cast of side characters but its main character itself is uninspired and can also be considered annoying.
Most of the series has average animation and the stakes are also very low as characters are hardly ever in a fatal position despite their extremely powerful opponents. Black Clover is a fun series to watch in your free time but it isn’t an engrossing series as a whole that completely invests viewers.
Synopsis: “Black Clover” is a fantasy manga and anime series created by Yūki Tabata. The story is set in a world where magic is a common element, and people are born with the ability to use it. However, Asta, the protagonist, is born without any magical power, making him an outlier in society.
Despite lacking magic, Asta aspires to become the Wizard King, the most powerful mage in the kingdom. He possesses an unwavering determination and a strong sense of justice. Asta’s journey begins when he joins the Black Bulls, a ragtag group of mages known for their reckless behavior and unorthodox methods.
Asta’s unique attribute lies in his ability to wield a rare anti-magic sword called the Demon-Dweller Sword. This allows him to nullify and counteract magical spells and attacks. Alongside his rival and friend, Yuno, who possesses immense magical talent, Asta embarks on various missions and battles to protect the Clover Kingdom from evil forces.
As the story progresses, Asta and his comrades face numerous challenges, including encounters with powerful enemies, exploration of ancient ruins, and participation in the intense annual tournament known as the Magic Knights’ Entrance Exam. The series also delves into the intricate political landscape of the Clover Kingdom and the mysteries surrounding the origins of magic.
2. Tokyo Revengers
Tokyo Revengers is considered by many to be one of the best anime of not just the new generation but to ever be made. With its fun and exhilarating take on time travel and gang violence, the series made its way into the hearts of anime fans in quick succession. Despite its widespread praise, there are several issues it faces.
Firstly, the series follows a repetitive pattern where its protagonist Takemichi, travels to the past to be faced with obstacles that constantly break him down but is later able to solve due to help from a newly introduced character.
The animation quality is mostly lacking while several characters lack the depth for fans to fully get emotionally invested in. While the pacing of the anime is also uneven throughout, one of its biggest issues is its protagonist itself.
With clever and powerful antagonists, it feels frustrating to watch the naïve, ordinary, and quick-to-cry Takemichi try and tackle the issues. Therefore, while Tokyo Revengers is still a show worth watching, don’t go in expecting the masterpiece series it is lauded to be.
Synopsis: “Tokyo Revengers” is a manga and anime series written and illustrated by Ken Wakui. The story follows Takemichi Hanagaki, a disheartened young man who discovers the ability to travel back in time. This power allows him to revisit specific moments in his past and alter the course of events.
Takemichi’s life takes a drastic turn when he learns that his middle school girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, and her brother Naoto have been killed by a notorious gang called the Tokyo Manji Gang. Filled with regret and a desire to change the past, Takemichi travels back to his middle school days, where he aims to prevent tragic events from unfolding.
In his quest to save Hinata and Naoto, Takemichi reconnects with his old gang, the Tokyo Manji Gang, which has become a powerful and influential organization in the future. He must navigate the dangerous world of delinquents, gang wars, and shifting alliances while striving to protect his loved ones.
Throughout the series, Takemichi encounters various key members of the Tokyo Manji Gang, including its enigmatic leader, Mikey, and the charismatic Vice President, Draken. He forms bonds with these individuals, attempting to influence their choices and prevent the chain of events that leads to their downfall.
1. Fairy Tail
Fairy Tail is often seen as overrated because it lacks originality and has inconsistent power levels. The series follows common patterns found in other anime, making the story predictable and the characters’ growth expected.
Moreover, characters often get sudden and unexplained boosts in power, which doesn’t make the fights feel fair or believable. This inconsistency can take away the excitement and make it hard to care about the outcomes.
Additionally, the character development in Fairy Tail is often shallow and straightforward, with little surprise or complexity. While the series has its good points, like its colorful art and occasional touching moments, these don’t outweigh the criticisms that contribute to its most overrated anime reputation.
Synopsis: The story revolves around the adventures of a young celestial mage named Lucy Heartfilia, who dreams of joining the renowned wizard guild known as Fairy Tail. Along her journey, Lucy encounters Natsu Dragneel, a fire-breathing wizard with a mysterious past, and his talking cat companion, Happy.
As Lucy becomes a member of Fairy Tail, she joins forces with Natsu and his guildmates, including the ice wizard Gray Fullbuster, the armored mage Erza Scarlet, and many others. Together, they embark on various missions, fight powerful enemies, and protect their guild from threats.
Throughout the series, Fairy Tail explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the pursuit of one’s dreams. The guild members form strong bonds and support each other through challenging battles and personal struggles. Along the way, they uncover secrets about their own pasts and encounter dangerous foes, including dark guilds, evil wizards, and powerful mythical creatures.
Final Words:
The overrated anime meaning anime series that receive excessive praise, acclaim, or popularity compared to their actual quality or merit.
The concept of an anime being “overrated” is subjective and can vary from person to person. While certain anime series may have garnered significant popularity and acclaim, they can still receive criticism and be labeled as overrated by some viewers. It’s important to remember that opinions on anime differ, and what one person considers overrated, another may genuinely enjoy and appreciate. Ultimately, the best approach is to explore a variety of anime titles and form your own opinion based on personal tastes and preferences.
