10 Anime That DESTROYED Their Legacy

#10: “Sorcerous Stabber Orphen” (2020-23)

While not without its own flaws, the original “Sorcerous Stabber Orphen” overcame its limitations with strong characters and lots of heart. The same can not be said for the reboot. Despite their near-identical story arcs, the 25th anniversary remake substitutes the character-driven core of the story for a whole lot of lame fight scenes. The animation is lackluster, the story is stuffed with filler, and the cast is reduced to hollow caricatures of their former selves. Instead of introducing “Orphen” to a new generation, all this remake did was tarnish the name of a beloved classic.

#9: “Shaman King” (2021-22)

Seeing an incomplete series finally get a full adaptation is the stuff anime fans dream of. Sadly, in “Shaman King’s” case, it was more of a nightmare. Turns out, the original ended right when the manga decided to go off the rails. As a result, this new and more faithful spin on “Shaman King” was pretty much doomed from the start. Since it has noticeably worse animation, too, it’s not even worth recommending for the earlier arcs, either. It’s strange to say, but the perception of “Shaman King” was a lot better when it didn’t have an ending.

#8: “Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer” (2010)

Blending mecha carnage with white-knuckled, political thrills, the “00” series is often cited as one of “Gundam’s” very best. So, surely, the movie followed suit, right? Nope! The villain of this flick is aliens. The hard left turn into high sci-fi strips the series of its compelling identity. All that’s left behind is a cluster of well-animated but overly flashy action sequences. Yes, we all love seeing a mech tear into an enemy like there’s no tomorrow. But, without any emotional stakes, it all falls flat. From a series as lauded as “Gundam 00,” we expected much, much better.

#7: “Blood-C” (2011)

Following in the red-stained footsteps of the “Blood” franchise, this series definitely spills enough scarlet to earn its name. However, its name is really the only thing connecting it to “Blood+.” Envisioned as a thematic successor instead of a narrative one, “Blood-C” features new characters, new settings, new everything. Fans showed up expecting more of what they already loved, and ended up with a half-baked horror show that just so happened to have the name “blood” in the title. It’s not irredeemably bad, but it’s not “Blood+,” either, and viewers still haven’t forgiven them for it.

#6: “The Promised Neverland” (2019-21)

From potential all-timer to cautionary tale, no show had as stark a fall from grace as “The Promised Neverland.” In contrast to the edge-of-your seat mind games of season one, the follow-up branched off from the manga in some seriously head-scratching ways, creating a muddled narrative that elicited more yawns than thrills. But, the real culprit is the ending. Or, rather, the lack of one. “The Promised Neverland” concluded its lackluster sophomore year by shoving the rest of the manga into a single, lifeless montage. That’s it. That’s the ending of the whole show. How did something so promising go, oh, so wrong?

#5: “Bakugan: Battle Planet” (2018-23)

Another day, another reboot claiming the popularity of a revered property. This time, the victim is poor “Bakugan.” In an attempt to cater to a younger audience, this new series dumbed itself down to the lowest common denominator. The sprawling, high-stakes narrative? Gone, along with the character nuance and inspired battles. Don’t get us started on the CG monsters, either. It’s a real shame new “Bakugan” fans are stuck with a show that doesn’t trust them to add two plus two, let alone following any sort of engaging narrative. There’s no ability card in the whole deck capable of saving “Bakugan’s” reputation now.

#4: “Berserk” (2016-17)

Almost twenty years after its last weekly series ended on the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers, “Berserk” fans rejoiced when they heard they were finally getting a continuation. Then, all that excitement promptly turned to anxiety when they heard it would be full 3D. “Berserk’s” story is hard-hitting no matter the visuals, but still, it’s hard to buy into Guts’ journey when every action scene and dramatic proclamation looks so janky. These days, it’s hard to recommend “Berserk” to new fans knowing full well this is the follow-up they have to look forward to.

#3: “Kemono Friends” (2017-19)

Maybe it’s because no one expected greatness from a show about anthropomorphized zoo animals, but “Kemono Friends” ended up as the surprise breakout anime of 2017. Its adorable characters and ongoing mysteries had viewers hooked. But, then came behind the scenes meddling. The series’ director was fired between seasons, a fact that was very noticeable when the second batch began rolling out. Episodes consisted of characters standing around looking cute for twenty minutes while the story went absolutely nowhere. Essentially, “Kemono Friends” turned into the exact same shallow garbage people thought it would be from the start.

#2: “FLCL Progressive” (2018) & “FLCL Alternative” (2018)

Trust us, you’ll be turning this show off faster than you can say “cash grab.” Adult Swim’s obvious attempts at capitalizing on “FLCL’s” enduring appeal only succeeded in giving us two of the most pitiful sequels in anime history. Neither “Progressive” or “Alternative” capture the spirit of the original. Rather, they double down on its flashiest elements, creating a pair of shows that feel shamefully empty. They simply don’t say anything. Well, besides “our producers wanted more money.” It’s devastating to know something as quietly beautiful as “FLCL” is going to be forever attached to such stinkers.

#1: “Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution” (2017-21)

When will people learn to let “Eureka Seven” rest in peace? The anime sequel, “Ao,” already has more than its fair share of issues. But, they’re nitpicks compared to “Hi Evolution.” For one, calling it a film series is pretty generous considering significant chunks of the movies are just badly-stitched together episodes of the original series. Not only that, but the new content only serves to rob fan-favorites of their happy endings in order to subject them to more needless torment. Despite the marketing, these movies are not for new fans. Or old ones, for that matter. Really, it feels like these were made by someone who actively dislikes “Eureka Seven.”

What anime sequel are you most upset about? Let us know in the comments below!