Anime Creators Who Ignored Fan Feedback Leading to Declines

Anime creators usually have a clear idea of how they want their stories to unfold, and this doesn’t always match what fans expect. Some creators listen to viewer feedback and use it to make their work better, while others stick to their original plan, even if it means potentially losing fans. When creators ignore what viewers want, it can sometimes lead to the anime becoming less popular or receiving negative reviews. This shows how tricky it can be to balance artistic freedom with the desires of a worldwide audience.

Hajime Isayama

The ending of ‘Attack on Titan’ sparked significant criticism from fans worldwide, particularly regarding how characters acted. While creator Hajime Isayama admitted the ending wasn’t universally loved, he explained it was consistent with his initial vision for the story. This disagreement led to online petitions requesting changes and negatively impacted how critics viewed the series. Isayama later added extra content to the final volume, but this only deepened the divide among fans.

Masashi Kishimoto

The introduction of Kaguya Otsutsuki in ‘Naruto’ is still a hotly debated topic among fans. Many had expected the story to culminate in a final battle with Madara Uchiha, but the focus unexpectedly shifted. Creator Masashi Kishimoto decided to build out the world’s backstory instead of giving fans the straightforward conclusion they wanted. This change in direction led to disappointment for many longtime viewers as the series ended.

Yoshiyuki Tomino

Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of the popular ‘Gundam’ series, came back with ‘Gundam Reconguista in G,’ but it was notoriously hard to understand. Many viewers and critics found the plot confusing and required outside sources to follow along. Tomino argued that the show just needed careful attention to be appreciated. Unfortunately, it didn’t attract many viewers and is now considered a challenging installment for new and returning fans.

Shoji Kawamori

With ‘Macross Delta,’ Shoji Kawamori took a risk by making the story about a singing idol group instead of focusing on the usual aerial battles. While some longtime fans missed the more realistic military style of older ‘Macross’ shows, Kawamori chose to emphasize the music. This decision led to fewer sales in Japan than previous installments and briefly slowed the ‘Macross’ franchise’s popularity worldwide.

Mamoru Oshii

After the first ‘Ghost in the Shell’ movie became a huge hit, a sequel was anticipated to deliver a similar blend of action and mystery. However, director Mamoru Oshii took a different approach with ‘Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,’ crafting a slow, thoughtful film that explored big questions about what it means to be human. He deliberately moved away from the things that made the first movie commercially successful, choosing instead to focus on his own interests in language and philosophy. This artistic decision resulted in the sequel appealing to a smaller audience and earning less money at the box office.

Goro Taniguchi

Goro Taniguchi chose to create ‘Code Geass Akito the Exiled’ as a standalone story, moving away from the political intrigue and characters that made the original series so popular. While fans hoped for a continuation of Lelouch Lamperouge’s story, Taniguchi instead focused on a new cast and a European setting. This new direction didn’t resonate with audiences, and the franchise experienced a decline in popularity until the original storyline was revisited later on.

Hirofumi Ogura

The director of ‘Black Butler II’ chose to create a completely new story with original characters, instead of adapting the existing manga. This decision upset many fans, who were disappointed by the changes and the introduction of characters like Alois Trancy. Despite fans wanting the anime to follow the manga more closely, the director and production team continued with their original storyline. Many in the ‘Black Butler’ community consider this season to be one of the weakest in the anime series.

Kunihiko Yuyama

The creators of the ‘Pokemon’ anime surprised and disappointed many fans when they had Ash Ketchum lose the championship match in the Kalos League, even though viewers were widely expecting him to win. This decision seemed intended to ensure the show continued indefinitely by preventing Ash from achieving his ultimate goal. The result was a huge wave of criticism online and a noticeable drop in ratings for the next series, ‘Pokemon Sun and Moon.’ Many fans felt the loss wasted all the progress Ash had made as a trainer and strategist over the years.

Gen Urobuchi

‘Aldnoah Zero’ faced criticism from fans, largely due to the direction taken by Gen Urobuchi during its production. Many viewers were unhappy with how the main character’s story unfolded in the second season. Despite this negative reaction – including disappointment with the romantic and political storylines – Urobuchi and the team stuck to their creative vision. As a result, the show’s popularity dropped, and it concluded in a way that left many viewers divided.

Hiroshi Nagahama

The anime adaptation of ‘The Flowers of Evil’ used a distinctive and debated animation style called rotoscoping, intentionally creating a disturbing atmosphere. While manga fans disliked the visuals because they differed greatly from the original artwork, director Hiroshi Nagahama argued that this change was crucial for portraying the story’s complex psychological themes. Despite his artistic vision, the anime wasn’t commercially successful and continues to be a divisive adaptation among viewers.

Let us know in the comments which creative choice you think most strongly affected your favorite TV show or book series.

2026-02-03 03:23