I’ve noticed a lot of anime just keep going and going, even when it feels like the best part of the story was over a long time ago. Some series seem to reach a point – maybe around the 50-episode mark – where the initial idea has been fully explored. The power systems can become overly complicated, and the number of characters gets so big that episodes start feeling like just checking in with everyone before another battle. But honestly, I don’t think it’s just about making money; there’s usually another reason these shows continue on.
When shows go on for many seasons, they become a regular part of viewers’ lives, and that consistency is appealing. Some people enjoy the original storyline, while others simply appreciate spending more time with the characters. It’s often true that a show might feel like it should have ended, yet still maintain a dedicated audience, particularly if it’s comforting to watch and occasionally offers exciting moments that keep fans engaged. However, not all long-running shows are able to earn that continued loyalty.
10. The Seven Deadly Sins
The first season of Seven Deadly Sins was strong, with a focused story and interesting characters. However, the show started to drag on, with conflicts being unnecessarily extended and a reliance on increasingly powerful villains. Production quality also declined, with later seasons suffering from inconsistent animation and visual effects, which contrasted sharply with the show’s initial polish. Ultimately, many fans continued watching only to see the story concluded and to stay connected to their favorite characters, rather than because they were genuinely excited about what would happen next.
9. Tokyo Revengers
The initial story arc of Tokyo Revengers is compelling because it centers on strong emotions – regret, the value of friendship, and the desire to fix a single mistake. However, the time-loop element eventually becomes repetitive. The story frequently resets progress with new setbacks and escalating stakes, avoiding lasting consequences. This also creates problems for the plot, as the main character spends so much time simply reacting to events, making later storylines feel like they’re just maintaining the status quo. When a story constantly asks viewers to be patient without providing satisfying results, additional episodes start to feel redundant rather than rewarding.
8. Bleach
Many fans consider the Soul Society arc to be the best part of Bleach because it skillfully combines intrigue, well-defined objectives, and thrilling battles. After this arc, the series often feels stretched out with lengthy filler episodes and storylines that repeat familiar patterns. Even the core story begins to rely too much on introducing new groups and increasingly powerful villains, which can lessen the impact of previous conflicts.
The original run of the anime (2004–2012) had issues with its pacing – it would quickly build excitement, then get bogged down in storylines that weren’t part of the original source material. The recent return with Thousand-Year Blood War feels more streamlined and fast-paced, which unfortunately emphasizes just how much of the earlier episodes could have been cut to improve the story’s flow.
7. Fairy Tail
I genuinely love Fairy Tail when it hits its stride – it’s just really comforting to watch, especially with how much fun the guild members have together and those big, heartfelt moments. But honestly, it does fall into a bit of a rut. It’s the same cycle over and over: a new bad guy shows up, everyone splits up to fight, someone wins through the power of friendship, and then… an even bigger bad guy shows up. With over 300 episodes, that repetition really started to drag. If you’re invested in the characters, you’ll still enjoy spending time with them. But if you’re looking for a story that keeps building and changing in meaningful ways, the later parts can be a bit of a test of endurance.
6. Black Clover
The first part of Black Clover is rough around the edges, but it improves as the fights get better and the characters’ relationships become clearer. The series lost momentum when it began piling one story arc on top of another, constantly introducing new magical abilities and bigger villains without letting the world develop naturally. With 170 episodes, the show also includes filler content and slower parts that reduce the sense of excitement. A more focused edit could have kept the show’s strongest quality – its fast pace – intact.
5. My Hero Academia
The core idea of My Hero Academia remains compelling, and the first few seasons cleverly mixed school life with the threat of villains. However, as the series progresses, it focuses more on complex backstory, large-scale plots, and a growing number of characters. While this expansion can be thrilling, it also makes the story feel overstuffed and disrupts the initial focus on students developing into heroes. Certain storylines are still powerful, particularly when they emphasize the repercussions of actions and the characters’ limitations. Others feel drawn out, as the show revisits familiar ideas while introducing new subplots that aren’t always successful.
4. Sword Art Online
The initial setup of Aincrad in Sword Art Online was strong – players had to beat the game to escape. The show quickly achieved this, but then continued with new worlds and gameplay elements that often felt like it was trying to recreate the excitement of that original concept. While these experiments can be fun, they rarely capture the same sense of urgency as the first storyline.
The series struggles with inconsistent writing and shifts in mood, which have created a split among fans. While some recent storylines have deepened the characters and expanded the world, the franchise seems stuck in a cycle of constantly rebooting itself with new settings instead of building on what’s already there.
3. Naruto / Naruto: Shippuden
Watching Naruto, I always felt the story really knew how to pull at your heartstrings. The best storylines featured memorable rivalries, inventive battles, and surprising twists that actually paid off. But as the series went on, it started to focus more and more on incredibly powerful enemies and constant new information. It felt like it lost some of the relatable, down-to-earth ninja world that made it so good in the first place.
The anime suffered from unnecessary filler and a slow pace. It was disrupted by lengthy, original episodes that stalled the story, and even content taken directly from the source material felt drawn out with repeated scenes and long flashbacks. A more concise adaptation, focusing on character development, would have been more effective.
2. One Piece
One Piece continues to excel with its incredible worldbuilding and captivating long-term story, consistently delivering powerful emotional moments. However, the anime’s pacing has become a significant issue. This isn’t a fault of the story itself, but rather the constraints of its weekly release schedule. It often feels like the story is being revealed too slowly. Because of this, many viewers suggest reading the manga or watching fan-made edits, as the anime tends to be unnecessarily drawn out.
1. Dragon Ball Z (and the long tail of Dragon Ball sequels)
As a huge fan of Dragon Ball Z, I have to admit it really perfected building excitement, but it also accidentally made super-long fights… normal! The Namek saga is the biggest example – so much time spent with characters powering up, just glaring at each other, and constantly repeating what’s at stake. It was amazing the first time because it felt fresh and new. But honestly, over the years, it became a bit of a joke, and we, as fans, started expecting every fight to drag on and on.
The Dragon Ball series continued to escalate its power levels with each new installment. Both Dragon Ball GT and later Dragon Ball Super brought back the familiar pattern of characters transforming, introducing new gods, and constantly raising the stakes. While the series still creates iconic scenes, the stories often feel designed to keep going rather than reach a satisfying ending.
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2026-02-06 20:14