10 Modern Anime That Are Completely Overshadowed By Controversy

As a huge anime fan, I’ve noticed something pretty consistent: no matter how amazing a series is, someone will always find something to complain about! It could be the story, the characters, or just how something is presented – fans are passionate, and sometimes their issues seem less about the show itself and more about their own personal preferences. It’s just part of the territory when you’re dealing with creative work, I guess!

It’s nearly unavoidable for an anime series to spark some debate, and this is particularly true for shows released recently. Because anime is so popular now, it’s even harder for new series to avoid controversy, and it doesn’t look like that will change in the near future.

10) Dragon Ball Daima

Toei Animation’s Dragon Ball Daima is the newest series in the Dragon Ball saga. A year after their victory over Majin Buu, Goku and his companions are mysteriously turned into children by Gomah, the ruler of the Demon Realm. Now, Goku must embark on an epic journey through the Demon Realm to restore everyone to their normal size and defeat Gomah’s oppressive rule.

Despite its funny moments and beautiful animation, Dragon Ball Daima has sharply divided fans due to its lack of serious consequences and several inconsistencies with established storylines. The fact that it was the final story written by Akira Toriyama before his passing adds to the disappointment, and with the Dragon Ball series currently paused, it’s unclear how long the debate over Daima will continue.

9) Dandadan

I’m absolutely hooked on Science Saru’s Dandadan! It follows Momo and Okarun, these two high schoolers who suddenly get powers after a seriously spooky encounter with ghosts and aliens. There’s just one tiny problem – Okarun loses something important in the process! So, the series is all about them trying to fix things, battling all sorts of crazy supernatural baddies, and, slowly but surely, falling for each other. It’s wild, funny, and totally captivating!

Dandadan has become very popular recently thanks to its engaging story and impressive visuals. However, it’s also faced criticism for including too much suggestive content and using the threat of sexual assault as a plot device, particularly in the first season. While the upcoming third season is expected to address these issues, Dandadan will likely remain a topic of debate.

8) Solo Leveling

The anime Solo Leveling from A-1 Pictures is set in a world where people can develop special powers and work as Hunters – fighting monsters for money and to keep others safe. The story follows Sung Jinwoo, who starts as the weakest Hunter around. But after gaining a unique ability that works like a video game, he begins a journey to become incredibly powerful, though it may cost him his humanity.

Like many anime about becoming incredibly powerful, Solo Leveling shares common flaws – weak world-building and an uninteresting main character. However, these issues feel more pronounced because of all the excitement surrounding the show. While the animation and directing are truly outstanding and somewhat make up for it, it’s difficult to ignore that Solo Leveling often receives more attention than anime with stronger stories and deeper themes.

7) My Hero Academia

In the film My Hero Academia from Bones, Izuku Midoriya hopes to become a hero, even though he’s born without any special abilities. When he unexpectedly meets his hero, All Might, Izuku gets the opportunity to show he has the potential to be not just a hero, but a truly great one.

Given the massive popularity of My Hero Academia, it’s not surprising that people debate whether it lives up to the excitement. Some common criticisms include weak world development and how certain characters’ stories ended in the final part of the series. While extra endings have helped improve how people feel about the conclusion, it’s unlikely the whole story will be universally praised anytime soon.

6) Gushing Over Magical Girls

In the anime Gushing over Magical Girls, Utena Hiiragi eagerly becomes a magical girl, hoping to emulate her heroes, Tres Magia. However, she’s secretly been chosen as an evil magical girl. When Utena transforms into Magia Baiser, she loses control and acts on hidden sadistic desires, inflicting BDSM-style torture on her opponents.

While Gushing over Magical Girls has a certain appeal in its writing, it’s deeply problematic due to its highly sexualized content featuring characters who are all under 15 years old. Many find the premise disturbing and believe it shouldn’t have been created.

5) Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

The anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End follows Frieren, an elf mage who doesn’t age, after she and her companions defeat the Demon King. Years later, after the hero Himmel passes away, Frieren realizes how much she valued their friendship. This prompts her to embark on a new journey to better understand people and their feelings.

The anime Frieren portrays demons as purely evil, which is a common fantasy element. However, some viewers are interpreting this as an allegory for real-world racism, leading to disturbing reactions – some hate the show for it, while others actively support the idea. This is a deeply troubling trend, and it’s likely to be amplified when the second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is released.

4) Attack On Titan

In the anime Attack on Titan produced by MAPPA, humanity’s final fortress is breached by man-eating Titans after a century of peace. This event deeply impacts Eren Yeager and his family, driving him to commit his life to eliminating the Titans – a quest that proves to be far more complex than he initially expects.

The story of Attack on Titan became very political, which caused a lot of debate among fans. Some disagreed with how the political themes were handled, and others struggled with choosing sides, particularly because one group clearly resembled a fascist ideology. Combined with a very controversial ending, this explains why Attack on Titan sparks so much discussion and disagreement.

3) Rent-A-Girlfriend

After a breakup, Kazuya Kinoshita rents a girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara, to cheer himself up. Despite initially clashing, they end up pretending to be a couple due to unexpected situations, and feelings between them begin to grow.

While the premise of Rent-A-Girlfriend might sound appealing, the show is often criticized for its frustrating main character and underdeveloped female leads. Many anime fans find it particularly disappointing due to its slow pace and the way characters, especially Chizuru, seem to become less compelling over time. Although harem anime can be enjoyable, Rent-A-Girlfriend is generally considered one of the weaker entries in the genre.

2) Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

The anime Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, produced by Studio Bind, tells the story of a reclusive and overweight man who dies a hero after saving children from traffic. He’s reborn in a magical world as Rudeus Greyrat, a boy naturally gifted with magic, and determined to make the most of his second chance at life.

Despite its stunning animation and detailed world, Mushoku Tensei is a controversial series due to the main character, Rudeus, exhibiting consistently inappropriate and potentially predatory behavior. The story doesn’t address or resolve this issue, which has caused significant division among viewers. With the upcoming third season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, these concerns are likely to be amplified.

1) Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, created by Studio Pierrot, continues the story of the beloved Naruto anime. Set years after Naruto Uzumaki became Hokage and saved the world, the series follows his son, Boruto, as he begins his training as a ninja. While the world enjoys a period of peace, Boruto’s path promises to be even more challenging than his father’s was.

Despite criticisms of its slow storytelling and how it portrays both familiar and new characters, Boruto still has a dedicated fanbase who fiercely defend it and often dismiss other anime. The strong negativity from both Boruto‘s supporters and critics is hard to miss, making it arguably the most divisive anime series currently available.

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2025-12-12 20:13