Anime constantly produces series that capture audiences’ attention and imaginations, drawing in viewers from around the world. Some of these series go on to become massive hits that are celebrated by millions of fans worldwide, like Demon Slayer or Chainsaw Man. These titles influence new generations of fans and creators alike with their originality and narrative depth.
However, not every success story lasts, and some hits rise to prominence just to fall due to narrative missteps, production issues, or insufficient source material. These downfalls can arrive suddenly and without warning, turning an up-and-coming hit series into forgettable titles that become remembered only for their lost potential and what could have been.
Uzumaki
Uzumaki follows Kirie Goshima and her boyfriend Shuichi Saito, two teenagers who are caught in the grip of a bizarre curse that steadily begins to overtake their town, Korouzu-cho. What starts with odd spiral patterns appearing around town quickly escalates into widespread madness as it infects the minds and bodies of the town’s inhabitants.
As the curse spreads, ordinary life twists into something grotesque, terrifying, and cosmic. Kirie and Shuchi witness neighbors and friends transform under the spiral’s influence, forcing the pair to confront a wave of increasingly nightmarish events that seems impossible to escape. Filled with psychological tension and body horror, Uzumaki stood out for its unique approach to storytelling.
Based on Junji Ito’s manga, originally published in 1998, the story was known for its ability to create a strong sense of unease and its masterful, haunting illustrations. When it began its anime adaptation in 2024, Uzumaki quickly caught fans’ attention. However, after the first episode, there was a major drop in quality, along with rushed pacing, leaving fans disappointed.
One-Punch Man
One-Punch Man follows Saitama, an unassuming hero who can defeat any opponent with a single punch, and his apprentice Genos, a cyborg who seeks to become stronger and fight for justice. Despite his immense strength, Saitama grows increasingly bored and apathetic, finding no joy in fame and desiring nothing more than a challenge worthy of his power.
The series is known for its blend of satirical humor, intense action, and exploring themes of purpose and heroism. One-Punch Man’s absurdity and wide variety of threats and memorable characters made the series stand out to fans around the world. Its first season, released in 2015, quickly caught attention with sleek animation, inventive fight choreography, and subverting standard hero tropes.
By the time the series gained a second season, fans noticed a drop in quality compared to the first. A change in animation studios, a long gap between seasons, and a significant deviation from the original source material resulted in a weaker narrative and disappointment from fans as the series introduced irreversible retcons.
Tokyo Revengers
Tokyo Revengers centers on Takemichi Hanagaki, a young man stuck in a dead-end life who suddenly discovers he can travel back in time to his middle school days after the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, by his former gang. Determined to prevent her death, he begins to rewrite the past, rising through the ranks of the Tokyo Manji Gang.
As Takemichi moves between the past and present, he creates new alliances and confronts powerful adversaries, all while struggling to prevent unforeseen future consequences and steering the gang away from the path that leads to a dark future. Tokyo Revengers became known for its suspense, action, occasional humor, and exploration of redemption and sacrifice.
Despite the series’s strong start, it quickly became repetitive, inconsistent, and confusing as the story continued on. Along with rushed storylines and resolutions, many fans began to feel increasingly frustrated with the series, causing the series to lose momentum and dulling a story that could have been compelling, engaging, and thrilling.
Seven Deadly Sins
Seven Deadly Sins centers on Meliodas, the powerful leader of a legendary band of knights, and Elizabeth, a princess searching for the seven heroes to save her kingdom after a coup d’état by the Holy Knights. Ten years before the series, the Seven Deadly Sins were falsely accused of a crime, forcing them to scatter across the Kingdom of Liones.
Once Elizabeth finds Meliodas, the Dragon Sin of Wrath, the two begin a quest to find the other six Sins and reclaim the kingdom. At the beginning of the story, fans praised it for its engaging characters, imaginative world, and fluid animation. Its blend of humor, adventure, and action drew in audiences from around the world.
However, the series began to falter after the production shifted studios, along with rushed schedules, inconsistent characters, and stagnant fight sequences that left behind a significant noticeable drop in quality. In addition to that, later story developments were heavily criticized, leading to highly controversial and problematic character dynamics that polarized the fan base.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is a dark fantasy that centers on Ken Kaneki, a college student whose life changes after a chance encounter with a flesh-eating ghoul, Rize Kamishiro, who is also known as the Binge Eater. After a fatal accident, a doctor implants Rize’s organs into him, effectively creating a half-ghoul, half-human hybrid, making him the first known artificial one-eyed ghoul.
As he struggles with his new existence and tries to maintain his humanity, Kaneki faces numerous challenges, from hiding his identity to learning how to survive by eating human flesh. The series is most known for its exploration of what it means to be human, its in-depth exploration of identity, and intense conflicts paired with psychological tension.
Tokyo Ghoul had a strong start after its first season was released in 2014, drawing in international interest and building a strong fan base. Yet, by the time its second season aired, significant deviations from the manga led to a confusing plot, missing details, and inconsistent character development. This left many fans frustrated with the anime, resulting in widespread disappointment.
Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online follows Kirito, a skilled gamer who becomes trapped in a virtual reality MMORPG, along with thousands of other players. To escape, they must clear all one hundred levels of the game without dying, as death in the game means death in real life. Alongside other players, Kirito takes on high-stakes battles as he fights for survival.
The series had an amazingly strong start with its imaginative, fresh world and influential premise. Sword Art Online quickly became known for its world-building, relatable characters, and for popularizing the isekai genre. Along with themes that explore technology and its impact on people’s lives, the story stood out as exciting, new, and relevant.
However, after the first half of its first season, many fans felt the series had lost its high stakes and had become rushed and inconsistent. The story suffered from questionable plot elements and character developments that undermined the series’ initial strengths. Many viewers felt the series fell short of its early premise and should have ended after the Aincrad storyline.
The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland follows Emma, Norman, and Ray, three orphans living at the Grace Field House, who discover the dark truth behind their orphanage. Initially believing that they were under the care of their kind-hearted caretaker, Isabella, the three find out that all the children at the orphanage are being raised as livestock for demons.
After the shocking revelation, the three must create a daring plan to escape and survive on their own beyond the walls of the orphanage. Best known for its psychological tension, dark premise, and thrilling suspense, the series quickly captured the attention of fans around the world. With its themes of freedom, survival, and friendship, the series offered a thrilling experience.
Yet, despite its strong first season, the series faltered during its second. With a drastically condensed storyline, omitting arcs, including Goldy Pond, and a heavily criticized time jump, The Promised Neverland was stripped of the elements that made it unique and compelling to fans, leaving many disappointed after its successful first season.
Death Note
Death Note follows Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who comes across a Death Note, a notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name in it. Determined to create a new world free of crime, he takes on the identity of Kira, becoming a mass murderer who draws the attention of world-renowned detective L.
As the two geniuses engage in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game, the series raises profound questions and themes surrounding morality, justice, and the corrupting nature of power. The first half of the series is best known for its psychological suspense and tension, clever plotting, and complex characters, turning the series into a cult classic.
Yet, despite its widespread praise, every fan can cite exactly when the series begins to lose its momentum. After this major shift, the pacing slows, the stakes feel lowered, and the plot points come off as rushed and underdeveloped. Despite Death Note’s strong finale, the moments leading up to it were lacking in comparison to the first half.
