30 Overrated Anime Everyone Seems To Like

Anime has created countless series loved by fans around the world, and many of these shows are hugely popular on streaming services. Some anime become so well-known they enter mainstream culture, sparking debate about whether their popularity matches their storytelling quality. This list highlights thirty notable anime that are often discussed for their widespread appeal and how critics view them.

‘Sword Art Online’ (2012)

The series centers around Kazuto Kirito Kirigaya, who finds himself trapped in a virtual reality game where dying in the game means dying in real life. To escape, players must conquer all one hundred floors of a floating castle. The story primarily follows Kirito’s connection with a powerful warrior named Asuna. It became incredibly popular worldwide and helped launch the ‘isekai’ genre – stories about being transported to another world – in animation.

‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ (2019–Present)

The story follows Tanjiro Kamado’s journey to find a way to turn his sister back to human after she’s become a demon. He teams up with a skilled group of demon slayers who fight to protect people from dangerous supernatural creatures. The series is famous for its stunning animation, created by Ufotable, and has become incredibly popular, breaking sales records for both the original manga and the movie.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

People live in walled cities to stay safe from enormous, human-like creatures that wander the ruined world outside. After losing his home to these creatures, Eren Yeager dedicates himself to wiping them out. The story quickly moves beyond a simple fight for survival, becoming a deep look at the costs of war and the lingering effects of past tragedies. The series is famous for its thrilling action and powerful music.

‘My Hero Academia’ (2016–Present)

In a world filled with people who have superpowers called Quirks, Izuku Midoriya is unique – he’s born without any. However, he eventually gains the power of the world’s strongest hero and begins training at a school for future heroes. The story follows Izuku as he learns what it means to be a hero, and the constant battle between good and evil. It’s become a hugely popular anime and manga, known as a prime example of the shonen genre.

‘Naruto’ (2002–2007)

Naruto Uzumaki is a young ninja determined to earn his village’s respect, all while secretly containing a powerful, sealed spirit. The story follows his journey from a lonely outcast to a celebrated warrior, and is famous for its detailed world and the strong friendships between ninja. It’s become one of the most popular manga series ever created, with fans all over the world.

‘Tokyo Ghoul’ (2014)

After a terrifying encounter with a ghoul in Tokyo, Ken Kaneki is transformed into a half-ghoul himself. He then struggles to find his place in a world where humans and ghouls are constantly at war. The story delves into questions of who he is and what it means to survive when everything is against you. It’s also well-known for how its art style changed when it was adapted into an anime.

‘Fairy Tail’ (2009–2019)

Lucy Heartfilia, a budding wizard, becomes part of a renowned guild and joins forces with a powerful fire dragon slayer and other magical friends. Together, they take on different adventures, highlighting the value of strong bonds and working together. The series is full of diverse magical powers and plenty of funny moments. It was popular for many years, resulting in multiple seasons and animated movies.

‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

When a high school student named Light Yagami finds a magical notebook, he gains the power to kill people simply by writing their names in it. He decides to use this power to rid the world of criminals, but his actions attract the attention of L, a brilliant and enigmatic detective. The story is a gripping psychological thriller that centers on the intense mental battle between Light and L, and it’s become a classic in the suspense genre.

‘The Future Diary’ (2011–2012)

A group of twelve people are trapped in a deadly game where they must foresee the future using diaries and defeat each other. The last one standing will become the new god of time and space. Yukiteru Amano is unexpectedly protected by Yuno Gasai, a classmate who is intensely devoted to him. The series is known for its disturbing content and helped make the ‘yandere’ – a character who is sweet but secretly obsessive – a popular trope.

‘Elfen Lied’ (2004)

This anime tells the story of a person genetically engineered to have invisible, telekinetic arms who flees a research lab and finds shelter with their cousins. It’s a mix of sci-fi, intense violence, and psychological suspense, delving into the ethical implications of human experimentation and the problems of prejudice. The show became popular with a dedicated fanbase thanks to its distinctive animation and thought-provoking subject matter.

‘The Seven Deadly Sins’ (2014–2021)

Once labeled as outlaws, a formidable group of knights bands together to free their kingdom from a tyrannical religious order. Led by Meliodas, they embark on a quest to reunite their former team. The story blends classic Arthurian themes with traditional fantasy elements and quickly gained popularity when it first appeared on streaming services worldwide.

‘No Game No Life’ (2014)

A brother and sister, both skilled gamers, find themselves in a world where all disputes are settled through competitions. They set out to defeat the world’s god and bring its different peoples together under their leadership. The show is known for its bright, colorful visuals and clever, tactical battles, and fans are eagerly awaiting news about a potential second season.

‘Akame ga Kill!’ (2014)

A novice warrior teams up with a band of assassins determined to topple a tyrannical government and its young ruler. They wield potent, age-old weapons in their dangerous missions against powerful foes. The story is notorious for frequently killing off main characters and takes a unique direction, diverging from the original story it’s based on.

‘Blue Exorcist’ (2011)

Rin Okumura learns he’s the son of the devil and chooses to become an exorcist, determined to defeat him. He attends a special school to master his unique blue flames and battle demons. The story centers around Rin’s bond with his twin brother, Yukio, and has continued with multiple seasons and a movie.

‘Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ (2017–2023)

This follow-up to the original ninja story centers on a new group of young warriors growing up in a modern village. Boruto Uzumaki, the son of a famous ninja, is trying to make a name for himself. The series features updated technology and new dangers that test the traditional ninja lifestyle. Many fans have discussed whether the story moves at the right speed and how it connects to the original series.

‘Guilty Crown’ (2011–2012)

Set in a future Japan overseen by international forces, this series follows a high school student who develops the ability to extract weapons from others. He then joins a group fighting to reclaim his country’s independence. Known for its stunning visuals and complex storyline, the series boasts music by the acclaimed Egoist and high-quality animation from Production I.G.

‘Black Butler’ (2008–2014)

After his parents’ tragic death, a young orphan named Ciel Phantomhive makes a deal with a powerful demon who becomes his devoted butler. Together, they work with the Queen to investigate and solve baffling crimes in Victorian London. The story blends dark fantasy with a gothic atmosphere and has captivated fans through various anime series and special episodes.

‘Vampire Knight’ (2008)

Cross Academy is a school where humans and vampires attend separate classes, and a select few students work to keep the peace. The story centers around Yuki Cross, who has the job of protecting the secret existence of the vampire students while also navigating her romantic feelings for two vampires who are rivals. At its heart, the story explores the long-standing conflict between vampire hunters and the powerful, aristocratic vampires themselves, making it a classic example of a supernatural romance aimed at young women.

‘Deadman Wonderland’ (2011)

A teenager is wrongly accused of a terrible crime and imprisoned in a bizarre private facility that’s also a twisted theme park. To survive, inmates are forced to compete in deadly games, but the teen discovers he has a unique and dangerous ability: he can control his own blood. The show is known for its grim setting, thrilling action, and is often brought up when people talk about series that were unfortunately cut short before their stories could be fully told.

‘Darling in the Franxx’ (2018)

This series is set in a dark future where children are trained from a young age to team up and pilot massive robots, defending humanity against strange creatures. The story follows a boy who’s unable to pilot and a girl who has horns, and it delves into the challenges of growing up and forming connections in a world where everything is controlled. It’s known for its unique character designs, but the ending proved to be quite controversial.

‘The Rising of the Shield Hero’ (2019–Present)

A college student is transported to a fantasy world, chosen as one of four heroes, only to be betrayed and stripped of everything except a shield. He must now overcome being an outcast, regain trust, and defend the kingdom from constant monster attacks. The story follows his rise to leadership and has become popular for challenging typical fantasy storylines.

‘Overlord’ (2015–Present)

A passionate gamer is still playing when the game servers go offline, and he unexpectedly finds himself inside the game world as his character – a skeleton! Now, he’s determined to build an empire and safeguard the digital companions who were loyal to him in the game. The story follows this incredibly powerful character as he becomes a conquering hero, and it’s a well-loved example of the dark fantasy ‘isekai’ genre – stories about being transported to another world.

‘Bleach’ (2004–2012)

Ichigo Kurosaki becomes a Soul Reaper, giving him the power to protect people from dangerous spirits. He journeys into the spirit world, fighting strong opponents to keep the balance between the human world and the afterlife. The series is well-known for its many characters and cool character designs, and it’s considered a hugely important anime and manga from the early 2000s.

‘One-Punch Man’ (2015–2019)

Saitama is an incredibly powerful hero who can defeat anyone with just one punch, but this makes him feel bored and unfulfilled. He’s constantly searching for a strong opponent to truly test his abilities, all while living in a world populated by both professional heroes and dangerous monsters. Originally a popular webcomic, the story has been adapted into a widely praised animated series that playfully mocks superhero clichés while still offering exciting action.

‘Goblin Slayer’ (2018–Present)

Driven by a painful event from his youth, a lone warrior makes it his life’s mission to destroy goblins. He joins forces with a priestess and fellow adventurers to rid a grim fantasy world of these dangerous creatures. The series is known for its dark, realistic portrayal of everyday threats in a fantasy setting, emphasizing the clever tactics used to defeat overwhelming and resourceful enemies.

‘Rent-a-Girlfriend’ (2020–Present)

A college student, reeling from a tough breakup, decides to hire someone to be his fake girlfriend for parties and events. Things get messy when he discovers she’s connected to his family and goes to the same school. The story follows their funny, awkward encounters and the growing attraction between them. It’s become a popular example of a modern romantic comedy.

‘Fire Force’ (2019–2020)

Firefighters with special abilities battle people who suddenly burst into flames in this action-packed series. Shinra Kusakabe joins a team investigating this mysterious phenomenon, known as “Infernals.” Set in a world powered by a giant energy plant, the show is known for its incredible visuals and exciting fight scenes.

‘Your Name.’ (2016)

A captivating film follows two Japanese teenagers who mysteriously begin switching bodies. Separated by distance, they must find a way to connect and understand what’s happening to them. The story delves into questions of destiny and memory, all set against beautifully animated backdrops and a compelling central puzzle. It became a massive international success and helped launch director Makoto Shinkai to global recognition.

‘Spy x Family’ (2022–Present)

An undercover agent goes deep under cover, building a fake family as a way to get into an elite school and prevent a global crisis. He unexpectedly finds himself with a daughter who can read minds and a wife who happens to be a highly skilled assassin. The show is a fun mix of thrilling action, humorous family situations, and genuinely touching moments. Its lovable characters and original storyline quickly made it a hit.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020–Present)

Yuji Itadori accidentally consumes a cursed object, resulting in a powerful demon named Sukuna living inside him. He then teams up with a hidden group of sorcerers who fight evil spirits using their own unique energy. The series is known for its intense, dark atmosphere and intricate fight scenes, and has become very popular thanks to its beautiful animation and compelling characters.

We’d love to hear your opinions! Tell us in the comments which anime you think get too much praise.

2026-01-06 16:53