© CrunchyRoll
Anime is largest animation industry in world but it have it's own good share of haters.
Anime is a vast world filled with incredible storytelling, beautiful animation, and unforgettable characters. But not all anime are loved equally. Some series — despite big budgets, hyped releases, or fan-favorite characters — have earned the not-so-glorious title of being the most hated. From poor writing and bad animation to unnecessary fanservice or ruined endings, here are the 6 most hated anime of all time that left fans scratching their heads or outright fuming.
Similar Titles For Above List
- Around the World : Most Hated Anime List
1 . Sword Art Online (SAO)
© WIXMP & SAO
The Lovers: Sword Art Online: Kirito and Asuna by DDesigns0 on DeviantArt
Why It’s Hated: While Sword Art Online started with a promising premise — players trapped in a deadly VR MMORPG — it quickly went downhill for many fans. The biggest criticisms? Overpowered protagonist, lack of real stakes after Season 1, and forced romance arcs. Despite its popularity and commercial success, SAO remains a love-it-or-hate-it title in the anime world.
Reasons for Hate:
Overpowered Protagonist: Kirito quickly became too strong with little struggle, making fights predictable.
Forced Romance: The relationship between Kirito and Asuna felt rushed and overly idealized.
Loss of Tension: Once the first arc ended, the "trapped in a game" tension vanished. The new arcs (like Alfheim Online) lacked the same intensity.
Questionable Themes: The cousin’s romantic feelings toward Kirito in later arcs creeped out many fans.
Despite being a commercial success and gaining a loyal fanbase, Sword Art Online is often cited as the poster child for wasted potential and poor writing.
2 . School Days
© Wikipedia
School Days characters
Why It’s Hated: On the surface, School Days appears to be a generic high school romance. But as the series progresses, it evolves into a psychological horror filled with betrayal, manipulation, and violence — culminating in one of the most infamous endings in anime history.
Reasons for Hate:
Unlikable Main Character: Makoto, the protagonist, goes from shy teenager to manipulative playboy who emotionally devastates every girl he interacts with.
Shock Value: Many viewers felt the plot twists existed only to shock and disgust.
The Ending: A brutal, graphic finale left fans stunned — and not in a good way.
School Days became a meme in the anime community, but it’s mostly remembered with contempt. It’s often described as an “anime you watch once — and never again.”
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3 . Pupa
© Pinterest / Studio Deen
PUPA Anime : Yume Hasegawa in action
Why It’s Hated: Pupa was hyped before its release as a chilling, psychological horror anime — but what fans got was an incoherent, uncomfortable mess that left people wondering, “What did I just watch?”
Reasons for Hate:
Episode Length: Each episode lasted only about 4 minutes (with OP/ED), leaving no room for plot or character development.
Disturbing Imagery: The story involves a sister turning into a monster and eating her brother to survive. It’s as bizarre as it sounds.
No Narrative Flow: The anime jumps scenes without context or explanation.
Pupa is often mentioned in “worst anime ever made” lists because it turned a decent manga into a completely unwatchable anime.
4 . Ex-Arm
© CrunchyRoll
Ex-Arm is a Japanese science fiction manga series written by HiRock and illustrated by Shinya Komi
Why It’s Hated: Ex-Arm is a masterclass in everything that can go wrong in anime production. Based on a cyberpunk manga, the anime was expected to deliver a futuristic action thriller. Instead, it became a laughingstock across the internet.
Reasons for Hate:
Terrible CGI Animation: Characters looked like early 2000s video game models. The movement was stiff, expressions lifeless, and the action scenes were painful to watch.
Inexperienced Studio: The studio admitted to having no prior experience with anime or 3D animation.
Awkward Direction: From camera angles to pacing, everything felt off.
So bad was Ex-Arm that it became a meme. Critics and viewers alike called it a “train wreck you can’t look away from.” It holds one of the lowest ratings on MyAnimeList for good reason.
5 . Mars of Destruction
© IMDB
Some time after a space mission to Mars ends in destruction, strange monsters called "Ancients" begin appearing around Tokyo
Why It’s Hated: If there’s one anime that defines “so bad it’s painful,” it’s Mars of Destruction. This 2005 OVA tried to be a serious sci-fi story but failed in every possible aspect.
Reasons for Hate:
Zero Character Development: You learn absolutely nothing about the characters — and you don’t care when they die.
Horrible Dialogue: The lines are awkward, meaningless, and often poorly delivered.
Terrible Pacing: Events happen with no buildup or explanation.
Clocking in at just one episode, Mars of Destruction somehow manages to be unforgettable — for all the wrong reasons. It’s the anime equivalent of a film school project gone wildly off track.
6 . Naruto (Filler Arcs)
© Times Of India & Pierrot
Naruto Uzumaki (うずまき ナルト, Uzumaki Naruto) is the titular character and main protagonist of the franchise.
Why It’s Hated: This one’s a little controversial. Naruto as a series is beloved around the world, and it helped define a generation of anime fans. However, what earned it a spot on this list is its notorious use of filler episodes. I love it though. !!
Reasons for Hate:
Too Many Fillers: At one point, Naruto aired over 80 episodes of filler in a row before getting back to the main story.
Pointless Plots: Most filler arcs had no bearing on the central narrative and felt like time-wasters.
Recycled Animation: Some filler episodes reused scenes and animation, which fans picked up on quickly.
Even hardcore Naruto fans will often recommend watching the series with a “filler guide.” When a series becomes that reliant on skipping episodes, something clearly went wrong in pacing and planning.
# . Extra Mentions
7 . Berserk (2016)
Why It’s Hated:
The original Berserk anime from 1997 is praised as a dark fantasy masterpiece. However, the 2016 reboot was universally criticized.
Reasons for Hate:
Terrible CGI: The animation combined 2D and 3D CGI in the worst way possible, breaking immersion.
Ruined Atmosphere: What should’ve been a gritty, emotional journey felt hollow due to poor visuals and pacing.
Disrespect to Source Material: Fans felt the adaptation failed to honor Kentaro Miura’s legendary manga.
Even fans who loved Berserk couldn’t watch this version without frustration.
8 . Big Order
Why It’s Hated:
Created by the same author as Mirai Nikki (Future Diary), Big Order promised action, chaos, and powers — but delivered confusion instead.
Reasons for Hate:
Incoherent Plot: Powers weren’t well-defined, and the story felt rushed and forced.
Edgy for the Sake of It: It relied on shocking scenes without strong storytelling.
Unlikable Characters: Audiences struggled to connect or care about anyone.
Big Order had potential but quickly spiraled into an over-the-top mess.
9 . Hand Shakers
Why It’s Hated:
Hand Shakers was a visual experiment gone wrong — trying too hard to stand out but failing to deliver substance.
Reasons for Hate:
Overwhelming Visuals: Flashy backgrounds and camera spins made it hard to focus (and even triggered motion sickness for some viewers).
Confusing Storyline: The plot was shallow and hard to follow, with awkward pacing and dialogue.
Lack of Character Depth: Characters felt one-dimensional and emotionally flat.
Instead of being innovative, Hand Shakers turned into a sensory overload that most viewers couldn’t enjoy.
10 . Garzey’s Wing
Why It’s Hated:
This 1996 OVA became infamous for being unintentionally hilarious due to its clunky dialogue and awkward execution.
Reasons for Hate:
Poor English Dub: It's often ranked among the worst dubbed anime of all time.
Disjointed Story: Viewers were thrown into the plot with no proper world-building or explanation.
Unintended Comedy: Its serious tone was ruined by bizarre lines and absurd transitions.
It’s so bad, it’s almost entertaining — but Garzey’s Wing is still seen as a failure in storytelling and direction.
. Conclusion
Anime is a creative playground that thrives on experimentation and bold ideas. But not every gamble pays off. The shows listed above are examples of when things go very, very wrong — from terrible animation and inconsistent storytelling to controversial endings and character assassination.
To be fair, even the most hated anime often have a niche fanbase who enjoy them, and that’s the beauty of subjective art. However, when a large part of the community rallies together in disappointment or outrage, it’s clear something didn’t sit right. These anime serve as lessons for creators — hype isn’t enough; the execution must deliver.
So, whether you’re a seasoned otaku or a casual viewer, proceed with caution before diving into any of the titles on this list. They’re infamous for a reason.
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