Top 10 Most Overrated Anime of All Time

Anime is not a medium that anyone can manufacture on its own. It requires proper management, a team, a budget, and many other things. So, considering how this medium requires a team and budget, the person, who is on the receiving side should feel it’s worth. But sometimes, the series is hyped more than it deserves, which makes that anime overrated.

The dictionary meaning of “Overrated” means “rated or valued too highly.” So, it is clear that it does not mean if something is overrated, it’s terrible. Sometimes, it’s hard to brand something as “overrated” because of nostalgia or some other connection. So please read the article with an open mind.

Here are the top 10 most overrated anime serials of all time that get praised more than they should.

10. The Devil is a Part-Timer Season 2

• Number of Episodes: 25 episodes
• Personal Rating: below average

The Devil is a part-timer season 1 was quite enjoyable, and the series also got good ratings of 7.77/10 on MAL. Many years after the first season, season 2 was announced, which was entirely unexpected, and fans were looking forward to the sequel.

However, season 2 had below-average animation (probably because of Studio change for season 2), and slow pacing was the primary issue throughout the 2nd season. Season 3 of “The Devil is a part-timer” is already in production and scheduled to release in 2023. Hopefully, season 3 will have better animation and pacing than season 2.

Synopsis: Devil is a part-timer tells us the story of the demon lord Satan as he wants to conquer the world. But his plans are interrupted by the female hero Emilia and Satan escapes her through his dimensional tunnel. This tunnel leads him into Earth where his demon lord powers are useless and now, what follows Satan is life as a normal person with no powers.

He names himself Maou (Japanese of Satan) and he starts working at MgRonalds (a fast food joint). What follows the life of this demon lord trying to grind through life in this unknown world?

9. Tokyo Ghoul (Series)

• Number of Episodes: 48 episodes
• Personal Rating: Average

Tokyo Ghoul suffers from the same fate as The Devil is a part-timer. The first season of Tokyo Ghoul was phenomenal and still rated one of the highest anime series on MAL i.e. 7.79/10. Unfortunately, the later 2 seasons of the sci-fi-horror series were completely rushed and skipped a lot of content from the manga.

The character development of some of the major characters was not done right and the pacing of the story went from slow at the start to a speed-run at the end, despite all that, Tokyo Ghoul is pretty popular in the anime community which makes this series overrated.

Synopsis: The story of Tokyo Ghoul takes place in Tokyo, where flesh-eating ghouls are popular nowadays and can blend with ordinary people. Ken Kaneki is a bookworm teenager who likes to avoid the news and has no idea about these monsters. He meets Rize, a beautiful woman, in a café by chance, and he gets some progression with her.

On their way back, Rize takes Kaneki to a secluded place and starts to devour him, which Kaneki was not expecting. Fortunately, both of them get smashed under debris, and Rize dies. After Kaneki wakes up, he senses some changes in him, and one of these changes is he craves human meat now! What will happen to him in the future? Will he give in to his desires?

8. Future Diary

• Number of Episodes: 26 episodes
• Personal Rating: Below average

Most shows released during the 2000s had issues with pacing and character development. Future Diary is one of them that throws random information at you every episode, which hardly makes any sense. It has a rating of 7.44/10 on MAL. The anime is shallow and the main character is so unlikable yet he is liked by every character in the series (Just like Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion).

This anime also shows some wacky nude scenes which put you off, and the character development of some characters ends with just their names. So, this makes the show overrated and boring!

Synopsis: Yukiteru (Yuki) is the protagonist of Future Diary. He is a high school student and a loner who is most seen talking to imaginary people. One day, when he wakes up, he finds different events of his day written on his phone in detail.

He considers this a hoax but when all these events happen exactly as written, he feels concerned. He also finds that his female classmate Yuno also has a similar diary with everything written on it, and besides these two, 10 more people are given these diaries, and whoever survives till the end, will become God. So, who will win?

7. Sword Art Online

• Number of Episodes: 96 episodes
• Personal Rating: Below average

The only thing to praise about “Sword Art Online” is that it remained true to its source i.e. the light novel. With season 1 having a rating of 7.2/10 on MAL, its start was not the best. But it later gained popularity and became one of the most popular anime series.

What makes this series overrated is the bland personality of the main character, Kirito. Whenever Kirito gets into some trouble, he gets a random upgrade (plot armor) out of nowhere. When Sword Art Online anime aired, isekai genre was not that popular, so the series gained immense popularity, despite of its flaws. The series gradually becomes better in the later seasons, but it is overrated.

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Synopsis: The story of “Sword Art Online” takes place during an era when virtual reality games are trendy. One of these games is Sword Art Online, which has been popular among teenagers. Kirito is a teenager who participated in this game’s beta-testing and knows everything about it.

Unfortunately, after the game starts, no one can leave until the game is cleared. Will Kirito succeed in the game and survive?

6. Akame ga Kill

• Number of Episodes: 24 episodes
• Personal Rating: Below average

With a rating of 7.47 on MAL, Akame ga Kill is known for killing the majority of the main characters. This anime is a killing speed-run of characters without giving them any development.

The main protagonist, Tatsumi, is so unlikable, yet he is loved by most female characters, which makes him and, ultimately, the show overrated and generic!

Synopsis: “Akame ga Kill” tells the story of Tatsumi, a young villager who lives in a very poor village. To better the condition of his village, he sets out on a journey to the Empire with his two childhood friends to raise money for his village.

But they discover corruption on their journey, and Tatsumi is the only one left alive. So, he is recruited by a band of assassins known as Night Raid to fight the corruption happening in the Empire.

5. Hunter x Hunter

• Number of Episodes: 148 episodes
• Personal Rating: Average

With a rating of 9.04/10, and being in the list of Top 10 most popular anime on MAL, you would think why Hunter x Hunter is on this list. Although the series is blessed with great OSTs, World Building, and popular fights like Mereum vs Netero, the series has many flaws. You have to wait for at least 25 to 30 episodes to get to any major fight.

The most famous arc of this series, Chimera Ant Arc, was not worth the hype as it showed slow pacing and all the hype of this arc is for some selected scenes only. This might be the least overrated series on this list, but it is still overrated. Hopefully, the promised Dark Continent Arc will be adapted into anime in the future as the HxH manga author has returned to drawing manga. The next HxH anime season will future a new protagonist, who has better character development than Gon and Killua.

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Synopsis: The premise of “Hunter x Hunter” occurs in a supernatural world where “Hunters” prevail. Hunters are people who do adverse tasks and travel across the globe. Gon is a 12-year-old boy who is a rookie hunter and aspires to be a professional hunter, just like his dad, “Ging,” and finds him.

During the hunter exam, Gon makes many friends and starts his struggles to become a professional hunter.

4. Fairy Tail

• Number of Episodes: 328 episodes
• Personal Rating: Below average

With its Season 1 rating of 7.58 on MAL, Fairy Tail had a pretty average run throughout its airing for obvious reasons. Excessive fan service in a non-Ecchi anime serial ruins the show for its fans, just like Fire Force.

Besides that, the concept of “friendship” is exploited way too much, making this show generic and overrated.

Synopsis: “Fairy Tail” is the story of Lucy Heartfilia, a teenage girl who is out on a journey to join her dream guild-Fairy Tail. One day, she does manage to join this guild, but all she has now are the misfit members of the guild who are all troublesome. Will she be able to survive here and bond with everyone?

3. Seven Deadly Sins

• Number of Episodes: 100 episodes
• Personal Rating: below average

The first season of “Seven Deadly Sins” has a pretty good rating of 7.69 on MAL, and the second season followed the same pattern. What messed up everything was the studio change from “A-1 Pictures” to “Studio Deen,” which was the cause of the downfall of the animation and pacing of the series.

Also, the Ecchi gags pointed at the main character Elizabeth feels unneeded. Seven Deadly Sins has a huge fan following despite of its flaws, which makes this series overrated.

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Synopsis: “Seven deadly Sins” tell us the story of ancient times when the dynasty of Liones was overthrown by knights known as “The Seven Deadly Sins”. They later vanished and corruption took over the kingdom and its rule.

Now, Elizabeth, the third princess of Liones, is in search of these knights to get her kingdom back and seek justice. Will she find any of these righteous knights?

2. Food Wars!

• Number of Episodes: 88 episodes
• Personal Rating: below average

Unlike Fairy Tail, “Food Wars!” is an Ecchi anime with pretty good pacing. Its Season 1 has an 8.41 rating on MAL, and the rating stayed on the higher side throughout its whole airing.

But this show was not for everyone as the link of food with nudity and Ecchi scenes does not go well for everyone, and it even looks stupid sometimes. Some characters in “Food Wars!” are just there to be undressed, making the series overrated! But the series has been so highly rated on MAL that it is astonishing.

Synopsis: “Food Wars!” is the story of a young teenager Souma who has been working for his father at his restaurant. One day, Souma gets admitted to the Tootsuki Culinary Academy when his father closes his shop to go to New York.

Now, Souma is advised by his father to surpass him, and for that to happen, Souma must graduate from this prestigious academy. Will Souma be able to pull it off?

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

• Number of Episodes: 64 episodes
• Personal Rating: Average

The cream of the crop. The major issue with “Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood” is not its story or anything, it’s the fandom that does not want it to get dethroned from the #1 spot on MAL. Its current rating is 9.13 on MAL, and is again the highest-rated (or overrated) anime of all time. There is an era for everything, and the time of this anime has been long gone.

Multiple anime series like Kaguya Sama: Love Is War, Attack on Titan, Gintama, and Fruit Basket surpassed FMAB ratings on MyAnimeList, but once the work gets out that FMAB isn’t #1 anymore, somehow other series start getting 1/10 ratings.

FMAB story is good, but the generic themes, rushed character developments, and romance between characters with no building of relationship all of these things show that we no longer live in the 2000s, and now, we need a new #1, which is most certainly not the overrated Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Synopsis: “Fullmetal Alchemist” follows the story of two brothers, Elric and Alphonse, who try to revive their mother from death using Alchemy. But as it is forbidden, the experiment fails and Alphonse loses his body, and Elric loses his leg and arm.

Now, both of them are searching for the Philosopher’s Stone which lets the other defy the laws of Alchemy. Will both of them be able to gain their original bodies back again?

What are your thoughts on the “Top 10 most overrated anime of all time? Do you agree or disagree with this list? Let us know in the comment section down below. We here at Anime Senpai would love to hear from you.