10 Classic Anime That Are Nowhere Near as Good As You Remember

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Posted 1 days ago by inuno.ai

Nothing sparks nostalgia like classic anime, bringing back memories of simpler times. However, just because an anime is considered a classic doesn’t mean it holds up. Nostalgia can mask major flaws, making outdated writing, poor pacing, or clunky animation seem better than they actually were.

These anime may still hold a special place in fans’ hearts, but a rewatch tells a different story. Many haven’t aged well, whether due to tired tropes, lackluster storytelling, or production issues. Looking back, it’s clear these so-called classics are nowhere near as good as fans remember.

10

The Prince of Tennis Drags Across 178 Episodes

Streaming On Crunchyroll

The Prince of Tennis is celebrated as a classic anime for being one of the first sports anime to really make it big. The series follows Ryoma Echizen, a tennis prodigy who joins the tennis club at Seishun Academy. Along the way, he makes friends and learns how to rely on others, all the while honing his skills at tennis.

This anime has been so well-loved it even received a sequel series, but watching this classic anime over again can be painful. Even though this is a sports anime, it doesn’t have the high levels of action and tension that most anime fans are used to in the genre these days. It only makes the series more painful to watch, knowing there are still 178 episodes left.

The Prince of Tennis

Release Date: 2001 – 2005
Network: TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
Directors: Takayuki Hamana
Writers: Masashi Sogo, Tomioka Atsuhiro, Atsuushi Maekawa

9

Ranma 1/2 Doesn’t Hold Up to Its Modern Anime Remake

Streaming On Hulu

ranma threatens mikado in ranma 1/2 — Image via Amazon Prime Video

Ranma 1/2 is a classic martial arts anime based on the manga by Rumiko Takahashi. The series recently received a remake, boosting its popularity once again. The series follows Ranma Saotome, a boy plagued by a curse that turns him into a girl when he’s splashed by cold water. He turns back when splashed with hot water. Along the way, his relationship with his arranged fiancé, Akane Tendo, grows.

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Although this anime is well-loved as a classic, the original anime isn’t without its flaws. The anime goes off on its own tangents in filler episodes, changing the original plot that Rumiko Takahashi created in the manga. Although the original manga balances Ranma’s relationships and his love of martial arts, the original anime turned its focus to making intense fights to keep that side of the audience interested. Luckily, the anime remake is sticking to its roots in manga to be a more faithful adaptation.

8

Love Hina Was Too Simple for Its Own Good

Streaming On Amazon Prime

The entire cast of Love Hina having a picnic and eating dango.

Harem anime has become a staple genre over the years, fulfilling desires by introducing a relatable protagonist surrounded by beautiful women. These anime can vary from fantastical adventures to simple slice-of-life. Love Hina falls into the latter category, but modern harem fans may be left disappointed by its simplicity.

The protagonist, Keitaro Urashima, wants to fulfill a promise he made when he was younger to get into Tokyo University. However, he soon finds himself living in a boarding house full of beautiful girls of all ages. Slowly, Keitaro falls for one girl, Naru Narusegawa. Modern harem anime fans may want something a little more intense, or at least something that has more substance to it.

Love Hina

Release Date: April 19, 2000

Yūji Ueda

Keitaro Urashima
Yui Horie

Naru Narusegawa
Masayo Kurata

Shinobu Maehara
Yuu Asakawa

Motoko Aoyama

7

Digimon Adventure 02 Couldn’t Live Up to Its Near-Perfect Predecessor

Streaming On Amazon Prime

Davis and friends ride Digimon together in Digimon Adventure 02.

The original Digimon Adventure series was a great fantasy series that could compete with the likes of Pokémon. However, the franchise floundered when its sequel series was announced. A new cast of Digidestined were introduced, with Kari and T.K. returning from the original series. New adventures were had, but there was no way they could compare to the original series that came before it.

Digimon Adventure 02 introduced plot lines only to drop them. The isekai anime series didn’t even make sense, leading fans to speculate whether this was because the creative team behind Digimon Adventure 02 didn’t know what direction to take the series in. Digimon Adventure 02 had huge shoes to fill, and unfortunately couldn’t manage to do so perfectly.

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6

Sword Art Online Was Too Confusing and Never Settled on a Given Plot

Streaming On Crunchyroll

Although Sword Art Online didn’t create the video game isekai genre, it helped popularize it and bring it to a mainstream audience. In this anime, Kazuto Kirigaya, known as Kirito, finds himself trapped within a virtual reality MMORPG game called Sword Art Online. To escape this deadly game, Kirito first has to beat it. Luckily, he isn’t alone.

Sword Art Online has plenty of great ideas and characters to work with, but unfortunately, the series jumps from one plot line to the next without delving enough into the one that came before it. One moment, the characters are facing off against bosses in Sword Art Online. The next, Kirito is trying to save Asuna from her captivity in Alfheim Online. If the series took its time and focused on a single plot idea, the story would likely be far stronger than it currently is.

5

Attack on Titan Tortured its Fans For Far Too Long With Little Payoff

Streaming On Crunchyroll

Armin Arlet, Eren Yaeger, and Mikasa Ackerman look over Wall Maria in Attack on Titan. — Image via Wit Studio

Attack on Titan is an epic military adventure, sending members of the Special Operations Squad against colossal monsters known as Titans. The series was full of twists and turns as Eren Jaegar and his friends sought a way to defeat the Titans for good and save the innocents hiding within the city walls. However, the longer Attack on Titan went on, the more the series seemed to lose its way.

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The Titans became more confusing as their origins were explored, leaving many fans in the dark. Familiar faces met unsatisfying ends. The worst ending of all belonged to the series itself. Many fans couldn’t help but feel frustrated with the way Attack on Titan met its end, feeling any other conclusion would have been better than the ones fans received. The story may have started with a bang, but in the end it fizzled out.

4

Toradora! Stars an Unlikeable Tsundere Protagonist

Streaming On Crunchyroll

Taiga and Ryuji are shopping together in Toradora! — Image via J.C. Staff.

Toradora! is a classic tsundere romance from the late 2000s. In this series, Ryuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka team up to help each other win the hearts of their best friends. Along the way, they end up falling for each other instead, although they do their best to fight their feelings.

Tsundere characters may be a common trope used in anime even today. However, Taiga Aisaka is near impossible to like as a protagonist. She’s stubborn, rude, and selfish. She’ll punch and kick Ryuji if he makes a move she doesn’t agree with. He’s supposed to be her love interest, but if anything, she treats him like a dog.

Taiga Aisaka and Ryuji Takasu are glaring at each other while behind them Ami Kawashima, Minori Kushieda and Yusaka Kitamura cheer them on on the poster of Toradora! (2008).

Toradora!

Release Date: 2008 – 2009
Directors: Tatsuyuki Nagai
Writers: Mari Okada
Franchise(s): Toradora!

3

Fist of the North Star Is Mindless Action

Streaming On Crunchyroll

Kenshiro points down in Fist of the North Star. — Image by Toei Animation.

Fist of the North Star is a classic martial arts anime known for its over-the-top violence. In this post-apocalyptic world, Kenshiro specializes in a sort of martial arts style that can kill his opponents from within. As he says in the anime, his opponents are dead before they even realize it.

The action may be on point, but the story is anything but. This post-apocalyptic world should be more fleshed out for all the influence this anime has. Yet, if anything, the series focuses purely on fights that get more and more extreme. If fans are looking for a martial arts anime with a compelling story, they’d best look elsewhere.

Fist Of The North Star

Release Date: March 13, 1987

2

Neon Genesis Evangelion Still Makes Zero Sense Years Later

Streaming On Netflix

Rei, Shinji, and Asuka smile while being complimented in Neon Genesis Evangelion. — Image via Gainax

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic example of mecha anime. Young pilots step into humongous mechanical warriors to push back the Angel onslaught threatening humanity. This series has spawned famous memes and had an impact on anime history, being referenced by many other series since its completion.

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However, this series’ worst problem comes from how confusing it is. Plot points are thrown at the audience as they struggle to keep up with the newest idea the anime adds. Characters make unreasonable or even off-putting decisions as they fight for humanity and struggle with their own existence. That’s to say nothing of the anime’s ending, which left many anime fans scratching their heads.

1

Fate/Stay Night Desperately Needed Its Remakes to Correct Its Missteps

Streaming On HIDIVE

The Fate series may have grown in its popularity over the years, but it wouldn’t have gone anywhere without the original Fate/Stay Night anime. Following Saber’s route in the visual novel, Shirou Emiya fights for his life in the Holy Grail War to have his wish granted. Luckily, he has King Arthur himself – or herself, in this case – to fight by Shirou’s side.

While subsequent Fate anime have been praised for their beautiful visuals and interesting story, the original Fate/Stay Night was rough. The animation was below the quality expected from a series of its time, and the writing had struggles of its own. This series is to thank for iconic lines like “People die when they are killed”. Fans would be better off watching Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works or Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel if they want to watch a better version of this experience.