Plot twists are major changes in the direction of a narrative that subvert expectations. Usually viewers can expect a twist at the midpoint or near the end of a story. However, a plot twist may also be foreshadowed at the very beginning. When this happens, viewers now know what to expect for the rest of the narrative.
Some plot twists alter the narrative completely, while some are more predictable. In some cases, narratives have multiple plot twists from beginning to end, guaranteeing that audiences never really know what to expect. Throughout anime series, plot twists happen quite often depending on the narrative.
10 Delusions In A Zombie Apocalypse Define School-Live!
From its adorable opening to its introductory moments, at first glance School-Live! portrays a usual slice-of-life schoolgirl series, except the first episode's ending shows the series' true colors. The episode starts with Yuki realizing she's late for school after being awoken by her dog, Taromaru. She rushes to the School Life Club for breakfast and is excited for the school day to officially begin — except what seems like an average, comedic school day for a group of girls turns into a delusional Yuki in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
9 The Enemy Is Among Them In Talentless Nana
Talentless Nana is, at first, a typical super power-based anime, based in a classroom setting where students have to train in order to be prepared to fight against some powerful force being a threat to humanity. However, the end of this anime's first episode presents a radical change in expectations from this first impression.
It begins with Nanao Nakjima's introduction of himself, stating he possesses no "Talent" in a class full of "Talented" students. Soon, the teacher enters the room and introduces two new students. Towards the end of this episode, viewers learn the majority of Nanao's classmates might not be who they seem.
8 A Village's Dark Secret And Multiple Universes Are Featured In When They Cry
In the beginning of its first episode, When They Cry gives the impression of being another typical school life series with the male lead, Keiichi Maebara, surrounded by several girls. He and his family are new in this small village, Hinamizawa, after leaving their old home in the city.
Soon, it's discovered that the village and its people have a dark secret. Keiichi leaves the school with his classmate and new friend, Rena Ryugu, to a junkyard to help her find more miscellaneous things to add to her collection. Keiichi is then greeted by a man who tells him a little about the town's past and when Keiichi asks Rena more about it, the plot takes a drastic turn.
7 This Happy Sugar Life Is Filled With Questionable Obsessions And Desires
This slice-of-life anime's name and art style suggest it's adorable, but actually has a narrative that is the complete opposite. Right off the bat, Happy Sugar Life starts with two characters on top of a burning building, then falling off of it.
But after this scene and the cutesy opening, it introduces one of the characters just shown on the burning building, Sato Matsuzaka, living a normal lifestyle. This isn't the first episode's major twist, though. Between the other characters she interacts with and her only true love always waiting for her back home, Sato's "Happy Sugar Life" is an interesting one.
6 The Magical Girls Of Puella Magi Madoka Magica Make A Contract With A Strange Creature
From the name, viewers would probably expect a regular magical girl anime narrative, and at the beginning of the first episode that appears to be the case for Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The episode starts with middle school student, Madoka Kaname, watching a girl fight some strange, powerful being while talking to a strange creature whose name is later revealed to be Kyubey.
After this, Madoka wakes up from what seemed like a dream and gets ready for school, and once class starts the girl she saw fighting before is introduced as a new student. Kyubey re-enters the scene and offers to make Madoka and her friend Sayaka Miki magical girls, but at a cost — and that's the twist that defines the rest of the series.
5 BNA: Brand New Animal Is Set In A City Full Of Secrets
A universe where anthropomorphic animals called beastmen live alongside humans is the general narrative for BNA: Brand New Animal. Due to their alienation, many beastmen go into hiding or flee to the safe haven, Anima City, to be free of the oppression. It's a story of this societal oppression the beastmen are subjected to, that soon takes on deeper elements after the introduction of Michiru Kagemori.
Michiru travels to Anima City and learns it isn't the haven it claims to be after she witnesses an explosion during the city's 10th anniversary celebration. Following this, she meets a powerful wolf and the multiple mysteries of Anima City begin to unfold.
4 Zombie Land Saga Introduces A New Zombie Pop Idol Girl Group
The first episode begins with Sakura Minamoto introducing herself as a second-year high school student, explaining how she's always wanted to be an idol. She is then abruptly interrupted by being hit by a truck and dying.
She wakes up in a creepy, old house and is greeted by zombies. Sakura, with no memory, soon finds out that she's woken up ten years after her death as a zombie, and is finally about to live her dream of being an idol. Probably one of the funniest plot twists a person can experience happens in the first episode of Zombie Land Saga.
3 Buying An Egg Gets Ai Ohto A Lot More Than She Bargained For In Wonder Egg Priority
At first glance, this anime portrays a pleasant but unique story about girls and eggs. The first episode showcases exactly what makes this anime so unique. It begins with Ai Ohto talking to a bug about something she wants to purchase and it leading her down a secret passage, then her waking up with a marked egg beside her.
After many strange, unsettling events viewers learned that the recent passing of Ai's friend is a vital reason for her purchasing a Wonder Egg. Thus begins the extraordinary narrative of Wonder Egg Priority.
2 A Fairy Tale Comes To Life In Princess Tutu
The fairy tale written by Drosselmeyer comes to life in Princess Tutu. The tale begins with a duck wishing she could dance ballet with the handsome prince she's watching. The duck's daydreaming is then interrupted by a strange man, and in her panic, the duck shifts into a young girl named Ahiru waking up from what was actually her dream.
Later she wants to visit Mytho, a boy in the advanced ballet class, to apologize for an earlier event. She witnesses him jumping out the window to save a baby bird, then in desperation to save him the amulet she wears turns her into Princess Tutu. After being saved, Mytho asks for her name and while doing so, Ahiru quacks like a duck — realizing she really is the duck from her dream and not a human at all.
1 A Family Is Cursed To Turn Into Animals In Fruits Basket
It seems like your typical shojo anime, but Fruits Basket adds an interesting twist to the genre. The first episode introduces viewers to Tohru Honda, who is living in a tent in the middle of the woods. On her way to school, Tohru sees a house and learns that her school's idol, Yuki Sohma, stays there with his cousin, Shigure Sohma.
Later that night, Tohru's tent is struck by a landslide and the Sohmas offer to let her stay with them temporarily. The next morning, Kyo Sohma shows up challenging Yuki to a fight and during the commotion, Tohru falls into the three men, who then turn into animals.