Quite a few anime receive hate from the general public, whether it's due to a strange plot, unlovable characters, or terrible pacing. They're cast aside to be forgotten, sometimes resurging only to be ridiculed by seasoned anime fans. However, not every anime deserves that treatment.
Some of these titles might've aged poorly or seemed outdated, but that doesn't mean they don't have potential. Some interesting stories deserve a second chance or even a new set of eyes on them. Perhaps if there's enough push and faith in the project, studios could remake them into something better.
10 Sailor Moon Crystal's First Season Had An Odd Choice Of Art Style
Sailor Moon fans were "over the moon" when Toei announced the 2014 re-release. They advertised the anime as more faithful to the original manga, unlike its 1992 counterpart. However, fans were disappointed with the first season's inconsistent art style — especially the infamously "ugly" computer-animated transformation scene — that ruined the viewing experience.
The art style constantly changed over the next two years, angering many longtime Sailor Moon fans. However, the story's adaptation has stayed faithful to the manga source, with the recent two movies garnering a lot of media attention with their release. Anime fans looking to get into Sailor Moon will enjoy Crystal if they can get past that first season.
9 Boruto Has More To It Than Its Large Amount Of Filler Episodes
The past five years of Boruto's runtime was far from smooth. It was riding on the heels of Naruto's ending, so, understandably, fans wouldn't be too receptive to a show about Naruto's descendant. But Boruto's large filler count was the main reason people dropped the series.
Filler arcs make up most of Boruto's episode count, ranging from Team 7's various missions to fleshing out supporting characters' backstories. The amount of filler episodes has died down in recent years. Now, the anime is re-focusing on its original manga source material, with the introduction of Kawaki and the resurgence of the Otsutsuki Clan. The newer storyline pays homage to Naruto's roots as Boruto faces a new threat to his village.
8 Bakumatsu Rock Is A Fun Musical Take On The Shinsengumi
Bakumatsu Rock wasn't very well-received when it aired in 2014, which is odd considering that samurai-based anime are a popular concept. Even with famous Japanese seiyuu like Kishio Taniyama, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, and Showtaro Morikubo voicing the main characters, it still couldn't attract enough fans.
Fans should give Bakumatsu Rock another chance because it's a unique take on life in Meiji-era Japan. Ryoma Sakamoto is an aspiring rockstar living in a country where the shogunate heavily censors music. But it doesn't stop him from sharing his sound with whoever will listen. Ryoma's blind optimism frequently gets him into trouble, but that's what makes the anime all the more entertaining.
7 Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE!—A Mouthful Of A Title
This magical boy parody is exactly as advertised: a parody. It's a hilarious take on the light-hearted and sometimes over-the-top magical girl genre that has flooded the anime markets.
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! follows five ordinary high schoolers who encounter a talking wombat from outer space. The creature gives each boy a set of nature-based powers, instructing them to become the "Earth Defense Club" and save the world from evil. Getting past the very colorful and dramatized poses and final attacks, it's an anime that doesn't take itself too seriously.
6 Don't Discount Wedding Peach Just Yet!
Although Wedding Peach aired just after Sailor Moon, it suffered from a lack of a strong fanbase. Most have dismissed it as a "Sailor Moon ripoff" due to how close their airdates were. However, its light-hearted and sweet storyline deserves a second glance.
Like Sailor Moon, Wedding Peach showcases a group of female warriors protecting the world from Queen Raindevilia and her minions. But what makes the anime unique is its motifs around love and marriage shown throughout the girls' personal lives. As "Love Angels," they must collect the "Sacred Four Somethings" to defeat the evil queen once and for all.
5 No One Should Ignore The Way Of The Househusband
Despite its strange animation style, The Way of the Househusband is not a bad show in the slightest. It's hard not to enjoy Tatsu's everyday life while reminiscing his gangster past.
Viewers will love this dutiful househusband, whether he's challenging a Roomba or indirectly terrorizing people at the grocery store. He's devoted to his workaholic wife, Miku, and will do what it takes to make her happy, even if it means embarrassing himself to pick up the newest PoliCure merch for her.
4 Powerpuff Girls Z Was Inspired By Its Predecessor
Powerpuff Girls Z may appear as a cringe-y anime ripoff of the original 1998 cartoon. But some would argue that The Powerpuff Girls inspired this adaptation. Cartoon Network's Japan branch was behind the anime's creation while making a few distinct changes. That doesn't mean this adaptation was terrible.
Giving the girls a whole new origin story, different personalities, and even different weapons can provide a fresh feel to the overall story. There's also a magical girl aspect introduced in this adaptation. A few years prior, Sailor Moon popularized the sentai-style magical girl anime, so it makes sense to hop on the trend. Fans of The Powerpuff Girls — or even magical girl fans — shouldn't hesitate to give this anime a try.
3 Vampire Knight Already Has a Strong Fanbase, Just Not Enough Story
Vampire Knight has its glaring controversies, but fans shouldn't dismiss its potential to be a good series. Matsuri Hino excels in her storytelling and doesn't hesitate to emphasize the beauty behind dark aestheticism.
Two seasons weren't enough to do this anime justice, and more seasons could have explained more about the various vampire clans and their internal struggles. The anime already had fans hooked with its hypnotic story and intriguing characters. It's unclear why it was cut so short, but it has the potential to be much greater if given the opportunity.
2 Ghost Stories Deserves A Second Chance
Older anime fans may remember the Ghost Stories anime with its highly controversial English dub. Unfortunately, it's the main reason it goes down in infamy and is occasionally mocked and memed across social media.
The anime is much tamer than most horror anime, but its overall plot is solid. It follows Satsuki Miyanoshita, a transfer student who moves back to her deceased mother's hometown. Satsuki works with her classmates to figure out the mysteries hidden in an abandoned building adjacent to their school. It would be interesting to see Ghost Stories get a remake, to see how it would've held up as a horror anime.
1 Peach Girl Is About Self-Love
Drama is Peach Girl's lifeblood, but it isn't necessarily bad. There's a lot more to Momo Adachi's story than just her constant run-ins with one horrible situation after another.
While serving as an emotional rollercoaster, Peach Girl's core story is about Momo learning to love herself and trust those around her. Her unorthodox appearance makes her an easy target for bullying and gossip; most judgments are based on stereotypes and jealousy from her classmates and frenemy Sae Kashiwagi. Momo learns that she can't please everyone and that people are willing to accept her despite her looks.