Throughout the history of anime, there have been many episode titles that outright give away major plot points before they've even happened. Dragon Ball Z is particularly infamous for its revelatory titles that inform viewers who dies, who comes back to life, or who wins in a highly anticipated battle.
Rather than distance themselves from that reputation, other shows continue the tradition of telling fans exactly what to expect in an upcoming episode. No matter how big the plot twist is, anime episode titles just cannot stop spoiling things for the audience. Read on with discretion. Naturally, this list will contain spoilers.
10 There Are No Winners In This Pokémon Battle (Pokémon)
In Pokémon, tournaments are always an exciting spectacle. While this episode title "Tie One On!" is easily the most forgivable in terms of spoilers, the pun still hints to the viewer that Ash Ketchum's next battle is going to end in a draw.
As Ash's Bulbasaur and Jackson's Meganium duke it out, each Pokémon continually unleash brutal attacks on one another. Both of them are an even match and refuse to falter, but, eventually, they both go down at the same time, resulting in a tie.
9 Deku Experiences His First Significant Loss (My Hero Academia)
While this episode title was not an overt spoiler during My Hero Academia's initial airing, viewers watching the series for the first time on streaming services are likely to see this title while in the middle of the second season's Sports Festival arc.
This arc features a series of battles between students at U.A. High. "Todoroki vs. Bakugo" is the final battle in this subplot, which means those who see the episode title early will know Deku, the main character most viewers would expect to win, loses before the final round.
8 Maka Faces Down Evil With Courage (Soul Eater)
The finale of any TV show is meant to be an exciting and highly anticipated event. Like "Todoroki vs. Bakugo," Soul Eater's final episode title, "The Word is Bravery," was not a spoiler during its original airing, as the title was not revealed until the end. However, audiences watching the series on streaming platforms are likely to see the name before watching.
As Maka Albarn faces off against the series' final antagonist, Asura, she realizes that because he represents fear itself, his weakness is bravery. Just as the title implies, Maka simply needs to be courageous to defeat him.
7 Garma Makes A Not So Heroic Sacrifice (Mobile Suit Gundam)
This episode of Mobile Suit Gundam does not directly spoil the twist, as "Garma's Fate" doesn't necessarily indicate he's going to die. However, it does imply something significant is going to happen to him in this one. With a title like that, and considering the episode is entirely focused on Garma, it's not too difficult for a savvy viewer to discern that the episode is going to result in his demise. In the end, Garma attempts to go out in a blaze of glory in a suicidal attack on the White Base, only to be destroyed before even reaching his target.
6 A Princess Is Drenched In Blood (Code Geass)
Until this episode, Princess Euphemia wasn't a character who saw much action. As royalty, she was generally peaceful and kind. However, the name of this episode tells the viewer that something sinister is about to happen. While the title doesn't directly reveal the twist, it does indicate that Euphie is going to be involved in a particularly bloody affair.
As any Code Geass fan knows, the episode ends with Euphie ordering the execution of an entire crowd of innocent people. The once-innocent princess even participates in the massacre herself and ends up covered in blood, hence the title, "Bloodstained Euphie."
5 The Straw Hat Pirates Suffer An Overwhelming Defeat (One Piece)
The arrival of Bartholomew Kuma in the previous episode already signaled to viewers that the next battle in One Piece would be a significant one. However, "Disappearing Crew - The Final Day of the Straw Hat Crew" tells the audience exactly what's about to happen: the heroes are going to lose this one.
As the battle plays out, each member of the Straw Hat Pirates is defeated by a powerful swipe from Kuma. One after the other, each crewmate disappears, having been swatted off the island by the arc's big bad.
4 Gaara Dies At The End (Naruto: Shippuden)
With any TV show, the death of an important character usually comes as a shock to the viewer. With Naruto: Shippuden, rather than shock the audience, "The Death of Gaara" simply tells everyone upfront that Gaara is going to die.
The episode spends some time exploring Gaara's backstory and why Naruto cares so much about him. In the end, just as anyone who saw the episode title could have predicted, he's killed when Shukaku, one of the Tailed Beasts, is extracted from him.
3 Von Stroheim Returns As A Cyborg (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
At first glance, the title of this Jojo's Bizarre Adventure episode, "Von Stroheim's Revenge," doesn't sound like a spoiler. However, the significance becomes clear once a viewer remembers that Stroheim died several episodes prior.
The character's sudden reappearance is treated as a surprise, with his face kept in shadow throughout the episode and the reveal only happening at the very last second. However, anyone who was paying attention after the title sequence would have seen the name of the episode, thus making all of the secrecy pointless in the end.
2 Sailor Moon Is Left Devastated After Watching Her Friends Die (Sailor Moon)
What was supposed to be Sailor Moon's climactic final battle between the Sailor Guardians and Queen Beryl has all tension deflated upon seeing the name of the episode: "Death of the Sailor Guardians: The Tragic Final Battle."
In their efforts to protect Sailor Moon, each of the Sailor Soldiers face off against the queen's monstrous underlings. As the title very clearly reveals to the audience, the Guardians are killed off one by one, leaving Usagi traumatized and alone. Without her friends, she's forced to enter the Dark Kingdom and go after the series' primary antagonist solo.
1 Dragon Ball Z Spoils All Of Its Plot Twists
Mentioning Dragon Ball Z is practically cheating, but as the series most notorious for spoiling major plot twists in the episode title, it has to be included. However, selecting just one episode is too hard, because the Saiyan Saga arc has so many egregious examples to choose from, including "Yamucha Dies! The Terror of the Saibaimen," "Farewell Ten-san! Chaozu's Suicide Strategy," "Tenshinhan Cries Out!! This is My Final Kikoho," and "Ferocity of the Saiyans! Kami-sama and Piccolo Both Die." These episode titles give fans very little reason to tune in after they give away everything that's about to happen.