10 Anime Plot Twists You Can See Coming From Episode One

Anime stories frequently use clues and familiar patterns to develop their plots. Sometimes, these techniques can make big surprises obvious to viewers well before the characters realize them. Observant fans often notice visual hints or subtle comments early on – even in the first episode – that foreshadow major events or character secrets. The following anime series had plot twists that many fans predicted from the beginning.

‘Naruto’ (2002–2007)

The story begins with Naruto Uzumaki, a lonely orphan who is avoided by the villagers because he secretly holds a powerful and dangerous creature inside him – the Nine-Tailed Fox. We learn early on that the previous leader, the Fourth Hokage, gave his life to contain this beast and protect everyone. People often notice how much Naruto looks like the late Hokage, and viewers soon realize, even before it’s officially revealed, that Naruto is likely his son. This connection feels natural, as many action stories like this one often focus on family history and fate.

‘My Hero Academia’ (2016–)

In a world where most people are born with superpowers called Quirks, Izuku Midoriya is different – he’s born without any. He looks up to the world’s greatest hero, All Might, who is hiding a serious injury that’s making it harder for him to fight crime. The first episode reveals that All Might possesses a transferable power called One For All, which can be passed on to someone else. It quickly becomes clear that All Might will choose Izuku, despite him being powerless, to be his successor. The entire story revolves around this transfer of power, allowing Izuku to begin his training to become a hero.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

After seeing his home destroyed and his mother killed, Eren Yeager dedicates his life to wiping out all Titans. The show reveals that Titans devour humans seemingly without reason, and where they came from remains a mystery. From the start, many viewers wondered if Titans were actually humans who had transformed, or if Eren himself had hidden Titan abilities. This idea gained traction when Eren miraculously survived being eaten by a Titan during the Battle of Trost District. When it was finally revealed that humans could turn into Titans, it felt like a logical extension of everything the show had already established.

‘Bleach’ (2004–2012)

I’ve been watching Ichigo Kurosaki’s story, and it’s amazing! He’s a normal teenager who suddenly gains the ability to see ghosts, and then he accidentally takes on the powers of a Soul Reaper named Rukia. At first, his dad, Isshin, seems like a total goofball, always playfully attacking Ichigo. But you quickly realize Isshin is strong and clearly knows more than he lets on, hinting at a secret past. Honestly, it didn’t shock me when we found out he used to be a captain of the Soul Reapers! It makes so much sense, considering how spiritual power seems to run in the family throughout the series.

‘Your Lie in April’ (2014–2015)

Kosei Arima was a gifted pianist who stopped being able to play after his difficult mother passed away. He then meets Kaori Miyazono, a lively violinist, who encourages him to play music again. Throughout the story, Kaori secretly struggles with her health, taking medicine and going to the hospital but downplaying her condition. The series strongly hints at a tragic outcome, preparing viewers for her eventual death. It becomes clear that Kaori’s role is to help Kosei rediscover his passion for music before she’s gone.

‘Kill la Kill’ (2013–2014)

Ryuko Matoi enrolls at Honnoji Academy to find the person who wields the matching half of her special weapon, the Scissor Blade. She quickly finds herself at odds with Satsuki Kiryuin, the school’s powerful and seemingly antagonistic ruler. Their intense rivalry and shared family history strongly suggested a connection between them. As is common in action stories, their initial conflict hinted that they would eventually become allies against a bigger enemy. It made sense when it was revealed that Satsuki is Ryuko’s sister and they share the same mother, as this naturally progressed the storyline.

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ (2009–2010)

Edward and Alphonse Elric try to bring their mother back to life through a dangerous procedure, but suffer terrible consequences. The story constantly highlights the idea that to gain something, you must lose something of equal value. Fans quickly realized that the powerful Philosopher’s Stone likely required a terrible sacrifice – not just materials, but human lives. The show’s dark storyline about a government conspiracy seemed to confirm this, suggesting the stone was made through mass murder. Ultimately, the truth revealed that the brothers’ suspicions were correct all along, and the reality was as grim as they feared.

‘Blue Exorcist’ (2011)

Rin Okumura learns he has amazing power and creates blue flames, revealing he’s the son of Satan. The show focuses on this heritage and Rin’s determination to become an exorcist to defeat his father. From the start, the title and opening scenes openly show Rin’s demonic origins. While characters act like it’s a secret, the fact that Rin is the devil’s son isn’t hidden. The drama comes from how people respond to this truth, not from trying to figure out who his father is.

‘Assassination Classroom’ (2015–2016)

A devastating yellow creature obliterates much of the moon and vows to destroy Earth next, unless a group of underachieving students can defeat him. Their teacher, Koro-sensei, is completely devoted to his students’ growth and happiness. It’s clear he wasn’t originally a monster, but a human subjected to experiments. This difficult past explains why he’s so passionate about teaching and why he asks his students, Class 3-E, to be the ones to end his life. The story’s emotional peak confirms he was never truly a bad person.

‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ (2011)

Madoka Kaname is approached by a small, adorable creature named Kyubey, who offers to grant her any wish in exchange for her becoming a magical girl. However, the show isn’t always cute and colorful; it often features strange and unsettling images that stand out against the usual magical girl style. Viewers familiar with the genre quickly suspected something was wrong – the offer seemed too good to be true, and Kyubey appeared to have hidden, malicious intentions. He shows no emotion and views the girls as expendable tools for collecting energy. Those who noticed the show’s dark tone likely predicted the shocking truth about witches and soul gems.

Share any other anime plot twists you figured out early on in the comments below!

2025-11-22 05:15