5 Bad Anime That Do Everything Worse Than the Original Manga
There's nothing worse than spending years dreaming of a quality anime adaptation of your favorite manga, only to receive a disappointing title that's impossible to watch because the animation looks like a PowerPoint presentation.
Manga fans want one thing from anime creators – titles that are as close to the original as possible. Unfortunately, not all of them are up to the task.
In some cases, it is low-quality animation that is so bad that even a strong plot cannot save the title, and in other cases, it is dubious script decisions that completely change the original story.
1. Berserk, 2016-2017
The swordsman with a dark past became one of the most popular manga characters of all time. Incredible fan support led to two adaptations. The first was very well received, but it ended with barely enough time to show the events of the first two arcs.
The 2016 remake was a complete disaster. Fans did not hesitate to call it the most disappointing manga adaptation ever.
The reason was its extremely unsuccessful combination of 2D and 3D animation. The unique and inimitable style of the manga that fans fell in love with was completely lost in the anime due to the visual effects.
2. Uzumaki, 2024
Few Japanese mangaka have created a lasting brand that is known around the world. Junji Ito is one of those unique individuals whose expressive visual style is easily recognizable.
A large part of the stories he tells are short novels that convey the spirit of urban legends. It would seem that short stories are ideal for adaptation, but many Junji Ito titles have only upset and angered fans.
Uzumaki was one of the most anticipated anime of 2024, but it turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments. Problems with the animation and a shortened format killed the original spirit and atmosphere of the original work.
3. Ex-Arm, 2021
The Ex-Arm manga doesn't have a unique plot, but it definitely deserves praise for its beautiful graphics and unique character designs. An adaptation can either increase the popularity of a manga or significantly decrease it, and unfortunately Ex-Arm was waiting for the second option.
The anime looked like a very poor quality intro for the PlayStation 2. What could have been a great series with cool action turned into a show with poor animation that will hurt the eyes of even the most undemanding viewers.
4. Tokyo Ghoul, 2014-2018
Tokyo Ghoul's first season is brilliant, and it's easy to see why so many manga readers adore Sui Ishida's riveting work. While the first season of the anime accurately captured the beginning of Kaneki's journey, the second season begins to take its own path.
The second season altered and removed some plot points, causing controversy among fans. To truly appreciate the Tokyo Ghoul story and style, it's definitely better to read Sui Ishida's original manga.
5. The Promised Neverland, 2019-2021
This anime suffered from the same problem as Tokyo Ghoul. After an excellent first season, which followed the original manga by Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu, the second season suffered from plot changes.
Season 2 started out promising to be a faithful adaptation, but quickly deviated completely from the manga. While some fans didn't like the manga's finale either, it remains the best version of the story.
