Every year, anime fans buckle up for the highs and lows of seasonal releases. While some series soar to greatness, others crash and burn, leaving a trail of memes, disappointed fans, and endless “what could have been” discussions. Here are 2024’s five misfires that, for one reason or another, left viewers more frustrated than fulfilled.
1Uzumaki
Junji Ito’s Uzumaki had all the ingredients for success: an iconic horror manga, a distinct black-and-white aesthetic, and a hype train big enough to fill an infinite spiral. But what fans got instead was a masterclass in unfinished visuals and awkward storytelling.
The animation quality fluctuated wildly, from genuinely unsettling to laughably bad, with stock effects and half-baked sequences doing the heavy lifting. Rather than inspiring dread, it became a cult pick for bad anime night.
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The sheer ambition of adapting Ito’s art is commendable, but it’s painfully clear that this production bit off more than it could chew. What should’ve been a chilling deep dive into psychological horror ended up a clunky spiral into mediocrity.
2Tower of God: Return of the Prince
After Season 1’s stellar mix of betrayal, action, and cliffhangers, Tower of God: Return of the Prince decided to take all that momentum and… toss it out the window. Instead of continuing Bam’s story, it introduced a new cast, a new plot, and none of the stakes that made the first season so compelling. Worse, the pacing was rushed, with whole arcs skipped, leaving fans bewildered and disconnected.
Visually, the show didn’t fare much better, with a noticeable downgrade in animation quality. While the soundtrack still slapped, the magic of season one was nowhere to be found. Fans were left wondering why such a promising series chose to hit reset when it had so much to build on.
3Suicide Squad Isekai
On paper, Suicide Squad Isekai sounded like chaos in the best possible way: DC supervillains in a fantasy world, but in reality, it was a bland isekai that ruined its premise with generic storytelling and unremarkable worldbuilding.
The visuals were awesome, but the plot downgraded through a series of forgettable events, failing to capitalize on its wild concept. By the time the story found any direction, it was already too late. While fans of DC or isekai might find a few sparks of enjoyment, the anime ultimately felt like a missed opportunity to create something truly memorable.
4Blue Lock Season 2
Blue Lock had all the momentum going into Season 2, with fans expecting another dose of cutthroat soccer action. Instead, the first half felt like watching static slides with dialogue—a criminal offense for a sports anime.
Viral clips of motionless kicks became the internet’s new favorite joke, and the lackluster animation sucked the life out of what should’ve been high-energy matches.
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Thankfully, the U-20 Arc salvaged things in the final episodes with an uptick in quality, reminding fans of what the series could’ve been all along. But for many, the inconsistency overshadowed the payoff, leaving Blue Lock Season 2 a frustrating entry in an otherwise beloved series.
5Whisper Me a Love Song
Whisper Me a Love Song seemed like the much starved girls’ love anime fans had been waiting for—sweet, heartfelt, and with a strong manga foundation. But production issues dragged it down, with erratic pacing, rushed emotional beats, and delays that killed any remaining hype. While the story of Himari and Yori had its charming moments, the execution left much to be desired.
By the time the series wrapped, it felt more like a chore than a celebration of love. For all its potential, Whisper Me a Love Song landed squarely in the realm of mediocrity, another case of promising anime undermined by behind-the-scenes struggles.
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