5 Anime That Start Strong but Completely Fall Apart (Yes, We’re Calling Them Out)

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There’s a special feeling when you begin a new anime that you think will be amazing. The first episodes draw you in with beautiful visuals, a fascinating setting, and characters that seem capable of telling a truly great story. Everything feels perfect – the music is fantastic, the story moves at just the right speed, and you start to believe you’ve found the next classic.

It started so promisingly, but then the series just…lost its way. It was like being on a rollercoaster that unexpectedly jumps the tracks. Suddenly, the story felt flat, or the plot became confusing and dragged on. I found myself watching, genuinely puzzled about how something with so much potential could fall apart so completely. It was a real disappointment.

5. Tokyo Ghoul

The anime series Tokyo Ghoul starts strong, immediately grabbing your attention with the story of Kaneki Ken, a shy college student who becomes a half-ghoul. His struggle to come to terms with this new, frightening existence is both moving and disturbing. The first season effectively explores complex ideas about who we are, what’s right and wrong, and how to survive when humans and ghouls are constantly at war. Unfortunately, the show loses its way in later seasons, especially Tokyo Ghoul √A. It strays considerably from the original manga, introducing confusing storylines and failing to give its characters the development they deserve. This is particularly noticeable with Kaneki’s story, which should have been the heart of the series but instead becomes unclear and lacks focus.

4. Sword Art Online

The initial storyline of Sword Art Online (Aincrad) is incredibly compelling. The idea of being stuck inside a virtual reality game where dying in the game means dying in real life is genuinely exciting, and the high stakes are immediately apparent. Watching Kirito navigate the dangers of Aincrad as a solo player is captivating, and his relationship with Asuna feels genuine and moving. However, the series loses some of its strength after the Aincrad arc. The second arc, Fairy Dance, isn’t as good. The threats feel less serious, the villain (Sugou) is overly stereotypical, and Asuna, who was previously a powerful character, is unnecessarily put in a helpless position. Later seasons continue to have problems with uneven writing and character growth. While the show keeps introducing new virtual worlds and ideas, they often feel like repeats of things we’ve already seen, lacking the same emotional impact.

3. Promised Neverland

The first season of The Promised Neverland is truly exceptional, skillfully blending suspense, horror, and heartfelt emotion as Emma, Norman, and Ray discover the terrifying secrets of Grace Field House and what awaits them. The clever back-and-forth between the children and their caretaker, Isabella, is brilliantly done, keeping you completely hooked. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and the characters are so well-developed that you genuinely care about what happens to them. Unfortunately, the second season drastically falls apart, squandering the potential for this to be one of the greatest anime series ever made. Important storylines from the original manga, like the Goldy Pond arc, were completely left out, which diminished some of the most powerful and important moments for the characters.

The second season’s biggest problem is its breakneck speed. It tries to fit a story that needed several seasons into only eleven episodes. Important plotlines are rushed, characters appear and disappear without clear reasons, and the story’s emotional impact is lost in the confusion. The finale, capped off by a clumsy slideshow meant to tie everything up, feels disrespectful to viewers who cared about the show and its characters.

2. Attack on Titan (Final Season Part 2 and Beyond)

Attack on Titan begins as a thrilling and violent story about humanity fighting for its life against monstrous Titans. The first three seasons expertly blend action, suspense, and character growth, constantly surprising the audience with unexpected turns. The series’ revelations about the Titans and the world beyond the walls are truly shocking, and it evolves from a simple survival story into a complex political and philosophical drama. Unfortunately, the later parts of the series, especially starting with Final Season Part 2, suffer from some issues. The story’s pace becomes inconsistent, and episodes often feel overloaded with explanations, which weakens the emotional impact of important moments.

The story’s dramatic shift towards Eren’s extreme change and the controversial Rumbling storyline was a daring move, but it left many viewers feeling disconnected because it was hard to understand his sudden change of heart. The series’ conclusion, as presented in the final episodes, has proven to be very controversial.

1. Darling in the Franxx

Darling in the Franxx starts strong, blending exciting sci-fi action with heartfelt drama and a captivating romance. The premise – children raised to pilot giant robots and battle strange creatures – is immediately interesting, and the connection between Hiro and Zero Two feels genuine and moving. The show touches on important themes like love, finding yourself, and growing up in a bleak world, which really draws viewers in. Unfortunately, as the story goes on, it becomes obvious the writers struggled to bring everything together into a satisfying conclusion, ultimately leaving a lot of potential unrealized.

The last few episodes of Darling in the Franxx become confusing and overcomplicated, throwing in unexpected plot twists and losing the relatable emotional focus that made the beginning so strong. The introduction of the VIRM, an alien race secretly controlling things, feels random and takes away from the characters’ personal struggles. The show’s shift to a larger, space-based conflict is sudden and weakens the meaningful development the characters had already experienced.

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2025-12-26 22:17