Some anime are loved by almost everyone… at first. They debut, impress people with cool animation, great characters and a fresh story, and slowly gain a strong fanbase. Once they get really popular, however, everything changes and fans on social media pick them apart. Fans also buy into the backlash and turn into critics. People stop calling these anime amazing and start referring to them as overrated.
It’s not always because the anime got worse. Sometimes, being too popular is enough to spark hate. Whether it’s because of messy storylines, loud fandoms, or changing trends, many shows like Naruto and Sword Art Online went from fan favorites to online punching bags almost overnight. As more people watch, expectations grow. Suddenly, small flaws feel like huge problems, and characters that fans once loved get labeled as boring or annoying. The bigger the spotlight, the more pressure a show faces to stay perfect, and anime is no different.
10 Sword Art Online Switched Gears Midway Through the Anime
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Before becoming a meme, Sword Art Online was a game-changer anime. The idea of being trapped in a video game with real-life consequences grabbed people’s attention fast, and the clean, stylish animation helped the series stand out. At first, it was a huge hit, but as its popularity grew, more people started pointing out its flaws.
Some fans didn’t like how overpowered Kirito was, or how Asuna, a strong character at first, was pushed to the side. As the story shifted from a serious survival game to more of a romantic drama, even longtime viewers lost interest. Still, it’s impossible to ignore how much SAO influenced anime trends, and how the show helped bring new fans into the genre, even if its reputation took a hit.
9 Attack on Titan’s Protagonist Became Too Polarizing
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Attack on Titan had one of the strongest starts in modern anime history. Gritty, emotional, and wildly intense, the first season was a global event. With rising fame, however, came rising expectations. By the time the later seasons dropped, especially with shifts in tone and political complexity, things took a left turn for fans. The divisive plot twists also didn’t help, and Eren’s controversial turn to darkness was the nail in the coffin for many fans.
Some hail Attack on Titan as a masterpiece, while others dismiss the anime as pretentious or even morally ambiguous. The shift from “kill the titans” to “gray morality war drama” didn’t land smoothly with everyone. Once universally praised, Attack on Titan became a hot spot for hot takes, not because of a decline in quality, but because popularity brought scrutiny.
8 My Hero Academia Lacks Significant Character Development
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Initially dubbed the spiritual successor to classic shōnen like Naruto and One Piece, My Hero Academia had everything: an underdog protagonist, a vast hero society, and jaw-dropping animation. Early fans were united in love for the show’s heart and world-building. But as the series got bigger, the more polarizing it became. Critiques surfaced about pacing, character development (or lack thereof), and certain narrative choices.
Then came the fanbase wars, which were marked by intense stanning, shipping battles, and online drama that turned casual fans away. Controversial My Hero Academia characters like Bakugo and Mineta were not everyone’s cup of tea. The anime didn’t get worse, but eventually got so big that pleasing everyone was an unachievable task.
7 Demon Slayer is Considered Too Simple & Flashy By Some Fans
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Demon Slayer’s rise was meteoric. With record-breaking box office numbers and breathtaking animation from Ufotable, the anime became the poster child of modern anime. But soon after, the backlash began. Some viewers called it “style over substance,” arguing that its plot was too simple and characters too archetypal. Others grew skeptical of the hype itself and questioned whether the anime could be that good.
For an anime once universally admired for its beauty and emotional moments, Demon Slayer became a classic case of the pitfalls of overexposure. Today, there exists a faction of anime watchers who refuse to watch the show because of the accumulation of hype received over the years. Its success wasn’t the problem; the fandom’s relentless praise made the anime a target for contrarians.
6 Death Note's Plot Holes Didn't Stand the Test of Time
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Death Note had the rare distinction of being both critically acclaimed and wildly entertaining. The cat-and-mouse mind games between Light and L were legendary, until the halfway mark. As the show exploded in popularity, so did nitpicks about its pacing, character arcs, and especially its post-L storyline. Indeed, it was once hailed as genius. But Death Note‘s plot holes and shallow attempts at philosophical moments have since been ridiculed.
Light Yagami’s plot armour could not be overlooked any longer. The «edgy teen with a god complex» trope didn’t age well for some viewers, and the fantastical nature of some scenes didn’t land with more serious watchers. While it remains a gateway anime for many, Death Note’s mainstream appeal ironically led to a long list of new skeptics.
5 Tokyo Ghoul Disappointed Fans of the Manga
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When Tokyo Ghoul first came out, the show was praised for being dark, emotional, and different from most other anime. It told the story of a main character stuck between being human and becoming a monster, and had a lot of fans hooked right away. But things changed once the series got more popular. Late seasons skipped important parts of the manga, and the plot became confusing and rushed.
Fans who read the manga were especially disappointed, and more people started speaking out about how the anime didn’t live up to its potential. What started as a strong, unique show ended up being remembered for its downfall. Instead of helping, the hype made the flaws stand out even more.
4 One Punch Man Dipped in Quality as the Anime Progressed
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Season one of One Punch Man was nearly flawless. The anime was fresh, self-aware, and animated like a blockbuster. Everyone loved Saitama’s boring, overpowered act until the show became a mainstream hit. By season two, the animation dipped, and the pacing slowed, and this welcomed heavy criticism. What was once a clever satire of shonen anime tropes became viewed as repetitive by some.
The long wait between seasons didn’t help. Fans had more than enough time to express their frustrations on the decline in quality. The massive fanbase, including those drawn in by memes rather than storytelling, only added fuel to the fire. While One Punch Man is still very popular, the hype felt bigger than what the show could actually deliver.
3 Naruto is a Victim of Its Popularity
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Not many anime have had the worldwide impact that Naruto did. With emotional stories, intense battles, and a huge cast of characters, Naruto quickly became one of the most popular anime ever. Story arcs like the Chunin Exams are still remembered as some of the best in shōnen history. Once Naruto reached its peak, the complaints started piling up. Fans pointed out the endless filler episodes, confusing plot points, and power levels that didn’t always make sense.
Some were also let down by how the series ended. Because Naruto was so big, even small problems got blown up. The anime went from being a fan favorite to a common target in online debates, sometimes more harshly than deserved. Still, its legacy is solid. Naruto helped shape modern anime, and can never stay out of the spotlight.
2 Jujutsu Kaisen's Fanbase is Split
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Jujutsu Kaisen made a huge impact when it first dropped, and has quickly become part of the gold standard for modern action anime. For a while, most viewers agreed JJK was a hit. But once the anime started winning awards and topping the ranks, opinions started to shift. Some critics began calling the show unoriginal, saying it relied too much on common anime tropes.
Then the anime took a darker turn. Major character deaths and plot twists split the fanbase. What was once praised for its balance of action and emotion started getting called “overrated,” not because of anything else other than the massive popularity. Unfortunately, every little flaw was harder to ignore. JJK has continued to thrive in the anime space, but this success has also brought in a lot of unwarranted criticism.
1 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the Greatest Anime Ever For Some Fans & Overrated By Others
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is often called one of the best anime ever made, and most fans agree. It’s well-written, emotional, and full of unforgettable moments. But being at the top also comes with downsides. As the show kept ranking high on anime lists, some people started pushing back. A few viewers said the early episodes moved too fast, or that the themes were too obvious.
Over time, its greatest anime ever label turned into a meme, and that actually hurt how new fans saw it. The constant praise made some people want to criticize the show just to stand out. Even though Brotherhood is still widely respected, being so popular made it an easy target for backlash, and this has continued to split the fanbase years after its conclusion.
