Storytelling isn't easy. Even the best authors struggle with pacing, and sometimes the journey towards a rewarding conclusion is a bumpy ride. When it comes to anime, there are additional complications for creators to contend with: adapting the source material, tackling a tough animation schedule, and balancing a budget may hinder plans, among others.
It's no surprise that some anime get off to a slow start. Countless series are dropped by the third episode and nobody can fault their viewers — there are a lot of duds out there. On the other hand, some shows start off weak, only to develop into truly rewarding experiences by the end. These series may require some patience, but the wait is entirely worth it (and then some.)
10 Madoka Tricks Early Viewers Into Underestimating It
It's hard to believe it now, but when Madoka started airing, a lot of otaku were skeptical about the series. Fans wondered why Studio Shaft had wasted such incredible art, time, and production value on a show that — for the first couple of episodes — seemed like a slightly more morose take on magical girls?
All of that changes in episode three, when more events unfold, and a single harrowing scene establishes that Madoka is decidedly not like most other shows. By the end of its 13-episode runtime, this show, that began with a girl going to school, has become one of the best genre subversions in any medium.
9 Trigun Has Aged But The Story Remains Rewarding
While fans of Trigun have always been loud and proud, newcomers to the Yasuhiro Nightow series are sometimes put-off, not only by the anime's dated animation, but also by the cast of characters themselves. Vash eventually becomes a deeply nuanced character, but at first, he seems like an irksome shonen hoodlum with bad hair and a tacky dress-sense.
The elevation of this show happens gradually, and while Trigun has always had a great setting — not to mention a sense of style aided by an excellent soundtrack — it takes a while for the real pathos to kick in. Once it does, though, this series earns its place as a classic.
8 Charlotte Seems Unremarkable Until It Gets Serious
Another anime about a school club! And psychic kids! And a romance! Well, none of these topics are new to the medium, but Jun Maeda is the kind of writer who should always be given a little time and the benefit of the doubt.
Although Charlotte starts off feeling a bit vapid and forced, soon enough, the characters are faced with some serious grief and forced to grow accordingly. While far from perfect, the series is not afraid to flip the script and pull viewers' hearts out in the process. When Charlotte goes dark, it really goes dark.
7 Beyond The Boundary Seems Unoriginal But Blooms Over Time
Another romance from Kyoani. Another slew of shallow moe characters who don't deserve such beautiful animation. It has sometimes been felt, that in the years following the roaring success of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Kyoani has fought hard to reclaim its sense of originality.
At first glance, there's nothing incredibly original about Beyond the Boundary. Gradually, however, these characters begin to feel real and the film sequel truly brings a beautiful closure to a story about searching for belonging while vying with both internal and external monsters. Audiences who stick with the series will not be disappointed in the end.
6 Durarara!! Takes Some Time To Find Its Footing
It's fair to say that Durarara!! takes a while to get going. At times a bit bland, and at other times confusing — the show's first few episodes are something of a head-scratcher. Why should anyone care about these random people in Ikebukuro? What do they even have to do with each other? And which story are audiences supposed to follow?
But fans of author Ryogo Narita and director Takahiro Omori remember Baccano's gradual climb to narrative brilliance and therefore know that patience is key. By the finale, DRRR!! manages to become an impressive balancing act of fascinating characters, in a seemingly mundane setting with remarkable paranormal elements.
5 Gurren Lagann Starts Off Fun And Leaves Fans Crying By The End
Gurren Lagann is never boring — and calling it "mediocre" is quite a stretch. Animated with care by the Gainax folks who later branched away to become iconic Studio Trigger, the animation in this show is always sharp and zany, the pace is electric, and the writing bombastic (in a good way.)
Still, Gurren Lagann manages to become more than the sum of its parts. Fans go into the series knowing they'll be treated to several colorful action scenes and creative art. What's less expected is the emotional devastation the series wreaks by the end. It's all fun and games until it isn't and that's when Gurren Lagann really shines.
4 Golden Time Is Anything But Carefree
Golden Time's first episode was panned by critics who were unaware of the source material. Further, the show was directed by the somewhat controversial director, Chiaki Kon, the character designs were nothing remarkable, and the story seemed primarily twee.
As a new college rom-com, it didn't seem to add much to the anime landscape, considering that it came in the wake of such young adult classics as Nana and Honey and Clover, which excelled at documenting the early days of adulthood. But episode five more or less changed everything — thereafter, Golden Time became a harrowing examination of mental illness and disability, and its characters struggled to cope with deep trauma while simultaneously trying to enjoy their youth.
3 From The New World Is Dizzying And Surreal Despite A Slow Start
An ethereal start isn't always a good way to hook hesitant viewers — cryptic storytelling and a confusing premise don't help much, either. But over time, From the New World reveals itself to be a great work of post-apocalyptic science-fiction, full of stunning revelations along the way.
From the New World is set around a thousand years in the future, at which point people begin to develop special psychic abilities. To reveal any more would spoil the incredible journey the show takes viewers on.
2 Tanaka-Kun Is Always Listless Grows On Viewers In The Best Way
The titular character in Tanaka-kun is Always Listless is one who really doesn't change: and neither does the show. For the duration of its runtime, the series remains a warm and charming slice-of-life story about a kid who wants nothing more than to achieve peak laziness. But as the audience comes to know Tanaka and his classmates, with all their various quirks and habits, every episode becomes increasingly more rewarding.
Tanaka-kun jokes about wanting to be a background character in the story of his life, because that way life will be just as dull as he longs for it to be. Ironically, this makes him a character that's hard to ignore, because he embodies a strange sort of zen wisdom. Tanaka-kun is not a background character, because no one in the world is a background character.
1 Natsume's Book Of Friends Has Had 6 Seasons For Good Reason
Natsume's Book of Friends has never achieved the sort of skyscraping popularity in the States that it has in Japan and China. But even otaku who've never watched the series are accustomed to seeing Nyanko-sensei's plump form on keychains, mugs, bags, and pins. Directed by Takahiro Omori, what's most gratifying about this modern classic is its unwavering dedication to being comfortable.
The show is slow and often episodic, and Natsume's character development is subtle. Over a long period of time, the audience watches him grow more confident and happy — in a very organic way. Like the show, and like most people, the characters plod through life at a realistic pace. There's something so warm and tangible about Book of Friends, like a favorite, ever-present blanket. There's no rush to be anywhere. How nice is that?