Not every anime starts off as a success. In fact, a highly anticipated new series can turn out to be a complete flop. Whether it’s because of poor writing, unlikable characters, or anything in between, many anime fail to deliver the quality story that fans had hoped for. Luckily, even the worst anime failures have a chance to turn things around.
Sometimes, all a bad series needs is a new season to start over fresh. With additional episodes, many series can go back and correct the mistakes of the previous season and finally gain their momentum. Even some of the most beloved series of all time started out weak but eventually were saved by an amazing second season.
10 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Took Off When It Finally Gave Fans New Material
The first anime adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist was a complete let-down, so when fans learned there would be a reboot series, they couldn't contain their excitement. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood has become one of the most beloved anime series of all time, but it wasn't always that way.
It actually started out very slow, retreading storylines fans had already seen in the original anime. However, once it hit the second season and gave fans all-new material straight from the manga, it quickly became a modern classic, satisfying fans everywhere.
9 Toradora Was Slow At First But Kicked Into Gear When The Romance Started
Toradora has become an iconic rom-com series that many still adore years later. But when it first came out, a lot of viewers were bored by its slow pace and unoriginal storyline. It wasn't until series protagonists Ryuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka began to develop romantic feelings for each other that the series finally picked up.
From then on, the series goes from a typical comedy to a deep and emotional story about love and life that greatly contrasts with the first season. Thanks to this shift, Toradora remains one of the most beloved anime romances of all time.
8 Yu-Gi-Oh's First Season Was Good, But It Got Amazing After Season 2
It's safe to say that the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series has never been bad, but its first season is definitely one of its weaker ones. Going solely off of the Duelist Kingdom arc, the series seems fun, but fairly repetitive and typical for the genre. It isn't until Battle City begins that the story really picks up.
Season 2 of Yu-Gi-Oh! takes a pretty good story and turns it into something incredible and iconic. It's in this season that the overarching plot of the mysterious Pharaoh's past begins to surface, and it sets the tone for the rest of the series, keeping fans coming back for more.
7 Sailor Moon Crystal Started Out Disappointing, But It Got Better With Each New Season
Sailor Moon Crystal has had a lot of ups and downs since its debut. The first season was met with excitement, but many were disappointed by its rushed storyline and poor animation. However, things only got better from there.
While the second season maintained the same low-quality art and animation, the story finally began to pick up, introducing Chibiusa into the series. Those who gave the season a chance saw hope for the reboot series after all, and from there, Sailor Moon Crystal got better and better with each continuation.
6 Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic Is Easily Outdone By Its Second Season
Many fans agree that Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is an overall disappointing series. It had a lot of potential to be something great, but many of the storylines feel poorly written and have let fans down.
Luckily, the series continues with Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, and most agree that it's a vast improvement over the first season. This is mostly thanks to its improved writing and better characters, which were two problems many fans complained about with The Labyrinth of Magic.
5 Inuyasha's First Season Was Bogged Down By Many Filler Arcs
Some argue that there are seven seasons of Inuyasha in total, but technically speaking, there are only two. The other seasons are nothing but filler arcs and are considered part of the first season. However, as a result, Inuyasha gets bogged down by a lot of filler, making it extremely difficult for a lot of fans to finish.
Luckily, Inuyasha: The Final Act has no filler to it and is nothing but canon storylines that finally finish out the series. Progress is finally made in the main group's quest, and many characters get some much-needed development, making for a satisfying second season that many fans feel vastly improves the series.
4 Steins;Gate Got Better After A Boring First Season
With its immense popularity now, it's hard to believe that Steins;Gate was once considered a disappointment. However, the beginning of the series is very boring for most fans, with a confusing premise and a plot that progresses at a snail's pace.
Thankfully, once the plot finally gets going, it turns out amazing, which is why so many fans adore this series despite its slow start. While the first season takes a long time to get into the action, the second season kicks things off strong and gets the audience invested right away.
3 Noragami's Second Season Vastly Improved Its Story
Noragami fooled viewers with its first season. Most expected an action-packed shonen-esque series but instead got the exact opposite. While Noragami's story isn't bad, it just doesn't have enough going for it to hold most fans' interest for long. However, when the second season came out, many problems got addressed.
Fans overall agree that the second season has a much better and more interesting plotline, with a lot more going on from the start. It expands on the world and gives more depth to the characters, making for a series fans can actually feel invested in.
2 K-On! Had An Okay First Season, But An Amazing Second Season
Anime fans tend to tread cautiously with any series that follows the "Cute Girls Doing Cute Things" model. However, it goes without saying that K-On! has easily won the hearts of its viewers with its charm and humor. The first season is just as beloved as the second, but fans can't help but admit that the second season is a big improvement on the series.
Whereas the first season focuses mostly on cute and funny scenarios with the girls, the second season allows the audience to really get to know each character. Emotions run much stronger in this season too, and it overall has a much better and deeper storyline.
1 Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid Is Considered The Best Of The Series
The original Full Metal Panic! is often a hit or a miss among fans. The first season isn't anything too outstanding, despite its popularity. It focuses a lot on romance and comedy, which is uncommon for the genre, and many fans don't really know how to feel about it. However, when the series continues in Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid, things immediately start on a high note.
It's got all the action and excitement fans look for in a mecha series, all while maintaining the humor of the original. Fans consider this second season to be the best of the entire series, and it easily contributed to much of the popularity the anime sees today.