The aftermath of Anime series They often generate great anticipation as fans are eager to re-immerse themselves in the world and characters they loved so much in the original series. However, despite the best intentions of the creators, sometimes these sequels can disappoint and sometimes even lead to the abandonment of the project. What factors contribute to an anime sequel failing?
Firstly, there is pressure to match or surpass the success of the original series. When a series becomes a cultural phenomenon or acquires a passionate fan base, expectations for the sequel become incredibly high. Fans expect the story and characters to evolve significantly, while maintaining the essence that attracted them in the first place. This pressure can be overwhelming for creators, sometimes leading to hasty decisions or forced plot changes that don’t always work.
Additionally, the lack of source material can be a problem. In many cases, an anime series is based on a manga, light novel, or video game. If the source material has not yet advanced enough to provide a solid foundation for a sequel, the creators may be forced to invent new stories or fill in the plot.often resulting in a less cohesive and satisfying final product.
Changes in the creative team may also be a factor. Sometimes the original writers, directors, and character designers may not be available to work on the sequel, leading to a change in the vision and style of the series. This can result in a lack of consistency with the original series and dissatisfaction among fans who were expecting continuity in terms of quality and tone.
Finally, lack of time and budget can also play a big role in a sequel’s failure. Tight deadlines and limited resources can affect the quality of the animation, which in turn affects the viewing experience of viewers.
But what have been the most disappointing anime sequels to date? Let’s review what the community has commented:
FLCL
The original FLCL was a six-episode personal growth story that followed Naota Nandaba as he navigated the difficult feelings of growing up, interspersed with the eccentric Haruko Haruhara bursting into his life and bringing with her a lot of sci-fi strangeness. It was short but significant and surprisingly got two sequel seasons about fifteen years later. FLCL Progressive acted as a more direct sequel, but its new characters proved uninteresting and its plot rambled. FLCL Alternative was more independent in its approach, but its plot was more generic and barely resembled the original FLCL. Despite their best efforts, none of these sequels were able to recapture what made the original a cult classic.
Black Butler
The first season of Black Butler initially followed its source material, but the plot eventually diverges into anime-original territory, and the season concludes with Sebastian taking Ciel’s soul. However, these events did not stop Black Butler 2nd Season from trying to continue the story, and the results left a bad taste in fans’ mouths. Being entirely original to the anime, Black Butler 2nd Season suffered due to its unsympathetic new characters, plot holes, and an unimpressive story with a truly unsatisfying conclusion. It was so unpopular that the third season would proceed to reboot the story, relegating the second as non-canonical.
Nanatsu no Taizai
Nanatsu no Taizai had a very promising start. Featuring a motley group of knights fighting to take back a kingdom against them, the characters were strange but likable and the animation was energetic and vibrant. However, the production of this battle shonen was moved to Studio Deen from the third season and onwards. That was the beginning of the end for this anime. With sloppy and unimpressive animation, Nanatsu no Taizai’s exciting battles became gritty and difficult to watch. To make matters worse, the story also began to fall apart as it lost its plot, wasting its premise and characters as it slowly moved towards its ending.
One Punch Man
Few anime manage to make as big an impact as One-Punch Man did in its first season, featuring the powerful but boring Saitama as he nonchalantly saves the world with a single punch. With stunning animation that gives weight to the power of these heroes and quite quirky and fun characters, many wanted to see more of Saitama’s exploits after the first season ended. Finally, the second season arrived, but unfortunately it became a disappointment. The switch from Madhouse to JC STAFF caused the animation quality to pale in comparison to the original season, and the lack of humor or focus on Saitama himself caused this sequel to quickly lose its charm.
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu is fondly remembered by many of its fans in general, thanks to its strange but captivating premise and its equally strange but attractive characters. So it wasn’t surprising that at the end of the first season, viewers were eager to see what the SOS Brigade would do next. To everyone’s surprise, they would find out in the worst way possible. The second season of Haruhi Suzumiya presents an arc called “Infinite August” in which the group is trapped in a time loop for eight episodes in which the same events are repeated with small differences. This arc dragged on for most of the second season, killing any enthusiasm fans had for this season and the series as a whole.
Tokyo Ghoul
Bizarre, violent and hard-hitting, Tokyo Ghoul quickly made a name for itself in its initial season. Although it wasn’t perfect, it managed to keep its story coherent, something that can’t be said for the rest of the series. The second season made big mistakes by trying to mix original content from the anime with just fragments of the manga’s plot, and the results were an erratic mess that concluded without much excitement. Tokyo Ghoul:re tried to continue beyond the second season, but its rushed pacing and low-quality animation didn’t do it any favors. In short, Tokyo Ghoul stumbled after its first season and never fully recovered.
Yakusoku no Neverland
Yakusoku no Neverland gripped viewers with its dark premise, striking visuals, equally terrifying antagonists, and the enduring spirit of the children of Grace Field as they attempted to escape their fate. The series was ready to continue its intense story after the end of the first season, but everything went wrong in the second. Although it started out well, viewers began to notice that something wasn’t right, with details and characters from the manga being omitted as the anime progressed, made worse when highly anticipated story arcs were skipped. The anime rushed through over a hundred manga chapters of story content, turning this highly anticipated season into a major disappointment for many. Yakusoku no Neverland rose high only to plummet.
Berserk
The use of CGI in anime can be an acquired taste for many, and some have managed to make it work in their favor. The same can’t be said for the 2016 sequel to Berserk. Although its dark and deep story was still very present, the animation was ugly and sloppy, making it practically unbearable to watch.. What hurts the most in this case is that there were high expectations for Berserk to have a new season since the late ’90s, and the recap movies raised those expectations even more. But with two horribly animated seasons, any hope for more content from this dark fantasy epic practically vanished into thin air.
