Top 5 Most Overrated Anime Of All Time

Over the years as anime has been gaining popularity internationally, more and more titles have been released. With the countless number of series being released each year, there are many franchises that hold a loyal and strong fan base. But, as with all types of media, there is controversy over which series are the best. However, while some fans rant and rave about a particular show, others don’t buy into the hype.

With so many great anime out there, some shows fly under the radar or are overrated by long running popular shows. These shows have such a large fan base, that these giant franchises can keep pumping out content and spin-offs, and these fans will swoon over whatever it is. But there is the constant argument that some of these popular series do not deserve to be as popular as they are.

So which anime series are the most overrated? That is what we here at Comicbook want to dive into as we take a look at the 5 most overrated anime series of all time:

#5. Bleach

Starting off the list is a hit title from Shonen Jump Bleach by Kubo Tite. The popular title is often praised for its action and art, but it is loaded with filler galore. Not only is the show lacking character development and direction, but also tends to have many fillers and long unnecessary story arcs. The series should have stopped when it was ahead instead of running so long that it tarnished the franchise with inconsistent storytelling. Crunchyroll describes the series below: 

BLEACH follows the story of Ichigo Kurosaki. When Ichigo meets Rukia he finds his life is changed forever. 

#4. Gintama

Gintama is a comedy anime that can be enjoyed as what it is, a simple funny series. But many people give it high praise as the “best anime ever” or “amazing”, which is simply untrue. Gintama is a parody driven, usually episodic series that lack direction and loses the appeal of not having storylines or a coherent story or development. Crunchyroll describes the series below: 

In a world where aliens have invaded Edo Period Japan, skyscrapers, trains and motor bikes have replaced the simple life of Earth inhabitants. One man however, still carries the soul of a samurai, Gintoki Sakata, otherwise known as Yorozuya Gin-san. As reckless as he is, Gintoki carries his own resolve and is ready to take on any challenge with his fellow compan. 

#3 Pokemon

Pokemon is to anime as Super Mario is to videogames. Everyone knows Pokemon and even non anime fans have at least seen one episode from the anime. So why is Pokemon overrated? Let’s start with Ash, the main protagonist that does the same thing over and over again, and never becoming the best Pokemon trainer. After awhile it gets pretty boring when the story is essentially the same from season to season. Pokemon as a franchise is great, and there is nothing wrong with the nostalgic feel of watching the original series, but overall is just a fun nostalgic anime and nothing more. The series is described below:

Explore the world of Pokémon with Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu as they make new friends, meet powerful Pokémon, and aim for Ash’s ultimate goal: becoming a Pokémon Master! 

#2 Naruto

Gintama is a comedy anime that can be enjoyed as what it is, a simple funny series. But many people give it high praise as the “best anime ever” or “amazing”, which Arguably one of the most popular franchise’s on the list is the legendary Naruto. But just because the series is overrated it doesn’t mean that it is a bad show, as the franchise started off really good but many anime fans agree that after the first season the show really loses its mojo. Each of the characters had something driving them at the beginning, but after the many seasons and random filler story arcs, you lose the passion and character development. Naruto is still highly revered and popular because it is the series that many anime fans started off with. A description of the show can be seen below:

The Village Hidden in the Leaves is home to the stealthiest ninja. But twelve years earlier, a fearsome Nine-tailed Fox terrorized the village before it was subdued and its spirit sealed within the body of a baby boy. 

#1. Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online is number one on the list not because it is the worst show, but because it has arguably the biggest hype of any series on the list. The show is all over the internet however the does not have the quality to back it up. SAO has exploded in popularity with crazy loyal fanbase, and a recent feature film. The summary for the show can be seen below: 

In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called: Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game’s tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now…