7 Anime With Great Animation (But a Forgettable Plot)

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Anime has a lot of promise, blending creative ideas, unique visuals, and heartfelt stories. Many shows come close to being truly amazing, but often struggle to maintain that quality. They can be incredibly captivating at times, but don’t always leave a lasting impression.

The biggest problem with anime like this isn’t that it’s poorly made, but that it feels like a missed opportunity. It shows initial promise and creativity, but then it loses its way – maybe by focusing too much on what fans want instead of a strong story, or by prioritizing flashy action over meaningful substance. Having big ideas is great, but it’s even more important to actually deliver on them.

7. The God of High School

When it comes to animation, The God of High School is incredibly energetic and visually impressive. The fight scenes, created by MAPPA, are electric, stylish, and flow seamlessly. Each punch and special move is a treat to watch, and the dynamic camera work truly highlights the quality of the animation.

Despite the impressive visuals, the story is surprisingly weak. It begins as a simple martial arts competition but quickly becomes a confusing mess of gods, mysterious objects, and over-the-top doomsday scenarios. The focus on action overshadows any real emotional connection, making it a case where the animation quality far exceeds the quality of the writing.

6. Sword Art Online: Alicization

The animation in Alicization is truly stunning. The colors, backgrounds, and fight scenes are all top-notch, looking like they came straight out of a movie. A-1 Pictures clearly invested a lot into making the visuals spectacular, with detailed effects and impressive action. It set a new standard for how fantasy virtual world settings can be presented in anime.

However, the story unfortunately falls into the same traps as Sword Art Online: it spends too much time explaining things, the pace feels slow and unfocused, and the characters don’t show much emotional growth. It feels more like a showcase of the world’s backstory than a story with a clear purpose.

5. Takt Op. Destiny

Produced by the studios Madhouse and MAPPA, Takt Op. Destiny is a visually stunning anime that feels like watching a beautiful art exhibit come to life. It’s incredibly polished, with vibrant character designs and graceful fight scenes perfectly synchronized to classical music. The way the show combines music and action is truly creative, and its art style—rich and painterly—is a rare treat for anime fans.

Despite its promising start, the story feels incomplete and lacks emotional impact. While the show hints at big ideas – like the power of music to save people – it doesn’t fully develop them. The ending is disappointing, falling flat instead of building to a powerful climax. It had the potential to be something truly epic, but ultimately feels like a strong introduction rather than a complete masterpiece.

4. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song

WIT Studio’s Vivy is a truly stunning and unique anime. The visuals are beautifully crafted, seamlessly combining science fiction settings with exciting, orchestral action sequences. Each episode feels like a miniature movie, featuring incredibly detailed lighting, realistic reflections, and fight scenes that are as good as anything you’ll find in top-quality animation. The sound design perfectly enhances this impressive visual experience.

Despite exploring complex themes like artificial intelligence, what it means to be human, and identity, Vivy struggles to create truly impactful emotional connections. The story’s speed is inconsistent, and characters sometimes act in ways that move the plot forward rather than feeling realistic or emotionally driven. It’s a visually stunning show, but ultimately leaves you feeling strangely detached.

3. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (2016)

WIT Studio has once again delivered stunning animation, capable of making even bizarre concepts look incredible – like steampunk trains battling zombie-like monsters and beautifully hand-drawn explosions. The show boasts a striking visual style, clearly influenced by Attack on Titan, but with even more vibrant colors and a cinematic feel. However, the story doesn’t live up to the visuals. Characters don’t have enough time to develop, and important emotional moments often feel rushed or unearned.

2. Promare

Trigger’s Promare is a stunning visual experience. It’s a vibrant explosion of bright colors, unique polygonal designs, and incredibly dynamic movement – a true achievement in animation. Director Hiroyuki Imaishi creates unrestrained energy, blending 2D and 3D animation in a way that feels fresh and innovative. However, the story itself is fairly straightforward – a battle between firefighters and mutants – and gets bogged down in excessive drama. The film’s emotional impact doesn’t quite live up to the intensity of its visuals. Promare is both thrilling and overwhelming – a sensory rush that doesn’t leave a lasting impression beyond its striking imagery. You’ll remember the visuals, but not necessarily the characters.

1. Garden of Sinners

The Garden of Sinners anime films are still some of the most visually stunning ever created. Ufotable’s incredible work with digital effects, lighting, and overall atmosphere in this series paved the way for their later successes with Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works and Demon Slayer.

Despite being visually striking, the story’s confusing and indirect style turns many viewers off. Characters speak in a way that’s hard to understand, important ideas are hidden, and clear emotions are sacrificed for a mysterious atmosphere. It’s beautiful to look at, but can leave you feeling disconnected – a paradox, since the experience itself isn’t very memorable despite the stunning imagery.

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2026-01-03 22:11