When it comes to anime, some series leave a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons. From poorly executed adaptations to disastrous animation, the top 20 worst anime of all time serve as a reminder of how critical production quality, storytelling, and character development are to creating a memorable series. Titles like Rusted Armors, which attempts to merge 2D and 3D animation but ends up delivering a jarring visual experience, highlight how even intriguing premises can fail when executed poorly. Similarly, Vampire Holmes, a weak adaptation of an already bad mobile game, suffers from awkward animation and incoherent storytelling, making it a painful watch for most anime fans. These series, while infamous, are often ironically enjoyed due to their unintentional humor and awkward production, becoming “so-bad-it’s-good” experiences.
As we delve into the world of Top 20 WORST Anime of All Time 2024, it’s essential to acknowledge not just the best but also the worst that the medium has to offer. This retrospective on the least impressive titles serves as a stark contrast to the beloved characters and stories that have captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. On animeking, we celebrate the highs and lows of the anime industry, ensuring that fans stay informed about the evolving landscape of anime, including new rankings and adaptations. While these worst titles remind us of the importance of quality in storytelling, they also highlight the vibrant community that thrives on both enjoyment and critique, making the anime journey all the more exciting.
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20: Rusted Armors Merges Classic and 3D Animation Terribly
MyAnimeList Score: 3.84/10
Anime-Planet Score: 2.27/5
Release Date: January 9, 2022
Production Company: BS Fuji, Crunchyroll
Rusted Armors combines 2D and 3D animation in one of the most awkward ways imaginable. The animation shifts between these two styles are jarring and poorly executed, making the viewing experience painful for the audience. The anime is set in Japan’s feudal period, a historical setting that had the potential for interesting world-building. Unfortunately, the bad CGI and lackluster animation detract from any potential the story had to offer.
Despite its historical samurai setting, Rusted Armors feels generic, as it fails to capitalize on its intriguing premise. The story about a gun-wielding mercenary force in the Sengoku period could have been exciting, but the lackluster execution makes it forgettable. Without its awful CGI, Rusted Armors would likely just be another disposable fantasy anime, but the animation choices make it stand out for all the wrong reasons.
19: Vampire Holmes Is A Weak Adaptation Of A Bad Mobile Game
MyAnimeList Score: 3.29/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.49/5
Release Date: April 4, 2015
Production Company: Crunchyroll, Signal.MD
Vampire Holmes is often remembered as one of the worst anime comedies and detective stories. Based on a shallow mobile game, it delivers none of the wit or charm associated with Sherlock Holmes adaptations. Instead, it features awkward animation and poorly timed jokes that rarely land. The detective story, involving the hunt for vampires in London, is barely coherent, with plot points that feel disconnected and underdeveloped.
The anime’s poor animation quality, coupled with a nonsensical plot, makes it an unbearable watch for most viewers. It’s a prime example of an anime that failed in its adaptation from a weak source material, becoming more of a parody than a serious detective series.
18: Wonder Momo Is The Epitome Of Cheap Video Game Animations
MyAnimeList Score: 3.47/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.82/5
Release Date: February 6, 2014
Production Company: Namco, Graphinica
Wonder Momo is based on a forgotten 1987 arcade game, and unfortunately, its adaptation into anime did nothing to revitalize the franchise. The series follows Momoko, an aspiring idol who fights aliens, but the plot quickly becomes a formulaic and predictable affair. The animation feels cheap, with lifeless character movements and uninspired action scenes that detract from any potential charm the series might have had.
Despite the nostalgia that could have come with an adaptation of a classic video game, Wonder Momo failed to capture any magic. The dull animation and uninspired storytelling make it difficult to engage with, leaving it as a relic that should have remained in the past.
17: Ladyspo Is Barely Animated At All
MyAnimeList Score: 3.05/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.97/5
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Production Company: Tokyo MX
Ladyspo is a sci-fi sports anime that barely qualifies as “animated.” The series feels like a slideshow, with static frames and almost no character movement, making it seem more like a PowerPoint presentation than an actual anime. The premise, which follows bounty hunters competing in various sports, could have been entertaining, but the lack of animation ruins any potential it had.
The still images and lack of fluidity in Ladyspo rob it of the excitement that a sports anime should have. Any comedic or action elements fall flat, leaving the audience with a series that is boring, visually unappealing, and hard to sit through.
16: Twinkle Nora Rock Me! Hits The So Bad It’s Good Level
MyAnimeList Score: 2.97/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.8/5
Release Date: November 21, 1985
Production Company: Filmlink International
Twinkle Nora Rock Me! is a forgotten OVA from the 1980s that has recently gained infamy for its incredibly stiff animation. The budget constraints are painfully obvious, with scenes that barely move and action sequences that are laughable at best. Despite this, Twinkle Nora Rock Me! has gained a cult following for being “so bad it’s good,” as fans enjoy mocking its over-the-top presentation and lackluster production quality.
The story itself follows a bounty hunter named Nora, but the plot is secondary to the hilariously bad animation. It’s become a must-watch for fans of bad anime, a prime example of how limited resources can lead to a legendarily poor production.
15: Gundress Did So Poorly It Ruined Its Animation Studio
MyAnimeList Score: 5.41/10
Anime-Planet Score: 2.70/5
Release Date: March 20, 1999
Production Company: ORG
Gundress was a cyberpunk anime with high ambitions but disastrous execution. Its production was so rushed that it hit theaters with incomplete animation, leading to refunds being issued to angry viewers. The plot, revolving around an all-female military group called Angel Arms, was a typical Ghost in the Shell knockoff, but the unfinished product overshadowed any narrative or thematic potential.
The failure of Gundress was so significant that it led to the closure of the studio responsible for its production. This unfinished mess left a sour taste for fans of cyberpunk anime and remains a warning of what can happen when an anime is released before it’s ready.
14: Offside Girl Has Almost No Dialogue Or Story
MyAnimeList Score: 3.93/10
Release Date: April 25, 2007
Production Company: MS Pictures
Offside Girl is an adult OVA that fails in every regard. The anime lacks dialogue, a coherent story, or any meaningful character development. The entire series feels like a slideshow of loosely connected scenes, with almost no animation to speak of. The plot, involving a girl who becomes a soccer team manager, is little more than a flimsy excuse for fanservice, with no real substance.
The lack of effort put into Offside Girl makes it one of the laziest adult anime ever made. It’s devoid of any redeeming qualities, even in the genre it aims to serve, leaving it as one of the most forgettable OVAs in anime history.
13: Super Kid Is A Bad Dragon Ball Clone
MyAnimeList Score: 2.90/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.91/5
Release Date: July 23, 1994
Production Company: A.L. Entertainment
Super Kid is infamous for being a blatant rip-off of Dragon Ball. The similarities between the two are undeniable, but Super Kid lacks the charm, narrative strength, and animation quality of the iconic Dragon Ball franchise. The audio and video quality are abysmal, making it almost unwatchable. It’s unclear whether the poor production was due to bad transfers or simply terrible execution from the start.
Super Kid is remembered for being a shameless knockoff that does a disservice to its source of inspiration. Despite the enduring legacy of Dragon Ball, this South Korean anime left a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons.
12: Mars Of Destruction Is A Knockoff Of A Far Better Anime
MyAnimeList Score: 2.2/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.12/5
Release Date: July 6, 2005
Production Company: IDEA Factory
Mars of Destruction is often cited as one of the worst anime ever made. It desperately tries to imitate Neon Genesis Evangelion, but the 19-minute OVA ends up as a convoluted mess with laughably bad animation and a nonsensical plot. The show’s ambition far exceeds its actual quality, leading to a disjointed narrative that is more confusing than compelling.
Despite its grandiose title and attempts at epic storytelling, Mars of Destruction falls flat in every aspect, from character development to visual design. Its status as one of the worst anime is well-deserved, as it fails to deliver on every level.
11: Skelter Heaven Tried To Shove An Entire Season’s Plot Into One Episode
MyAnimeList Score: 1.86/10
Anime-Planet Score: 0.99/5
Release Date: December 8, 2004
Production Company: Idea Factory
Skelter Heaven is infamous for being one of the lowest-rated anime on MyAnimeList, and for good reason. The OVA tries to cram an entire season’s worth of content into 19 minutes, leaving the plot rushed, disjointed, and almost impossible to follow. The animation is a chaotic blend of poorly executed 2D and 3D, making it visually unpleasant to watch.
The OVA’s attempts to combine mecha action with a harem plotline fall flat, and the lack of proper pacing makes it feel like a messy trailer for a much larger series. Fans often cite Skelter Heaven as a prime example of what happens when an anime tries to do too much with too little.
10: EX-ARM Can Only Be Enjoyed Ironically
MyAnimeList Score: 2.89/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.29/5
Release Date: January 11, 2021
Production Company: Crunchyroll, Magnet, BS Fuji
EX-ARM is infamous for its horrendous quality and has become a symbol of failed anime adaptations. Its clunky, outdated CGI, which was heavily criticized from the first trailer, sets the tone for a production that is devoid of smooth animation or proper choreography. Promoted shamelessly despite its glaring flaws, EX-ARM features truncated movements and glitched fight scenes, which make it more of a meme than a serious anime.
Its plot, revolving around a boy becoming an AI-powered weapon, was criticized for being a transparent rip-off of superior sci-fi stories. Many viewers ironically enjoy EX-ARM due to its unintentional humor, making it a “so-bad-it’s-funny” experience, but in terms of actual quality, it’s considered one of the worst anime ever produced, particularly in animation.
9: The Irresponsible Galaxy Tylor (2017) Ruined Everything People Loved About The Original
MyAnimeList Score: 3.88/10
Anime-Planet Score: 2.01/5
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Production Company: TYO Animations, Crunchyroll
A reboot that fans were eagerly waiting for, The Irresponsible Galaxy Tylor failed to capture the charm of its predecessor. The original 1993 series was beloved for its quirky humor and engaging characters, but the 2017 reboot discarded all of that. Instead, it delivered a generic and forgettable sci-fi adventure that felt like a poor imitation of the original’s brilliance. Fans were disappointed by its lackluster comedy, subpar animation, and uninspired storytelling.
By removing the core elements that made The Irresponsible Galaxy Tylor unique, this reboot turned into just another indistinguishable anime, blending in with countless others from the same era. The failure to honor the original’s identity and its low production value ensured its place among the most poorly received anime revivals.
8: Berserk (2016) Teaches A Lesson On What Not To Do With 3D Animation
MyAnimeList Score: 6.34/10
Anime-Planet Score: 3.45/5
Release Date: July 1, 2016
Production Company: GEMBA, Millepensee
The 2016 Berserk adaptation is a prime example of how not to use 3D animation. Fans of Kentaro Miura’s iconic manga were eager for a proper adaptation, but the result was a disaster. Not only did it compress several story arcs into too few episodes, but its infamous CGI was jarring and ugly. The choppy, lifeless animation lacked the intensity and detail that Berserk is known for, leaving fans disappointed.
Beyond the animation, the narrative rewrites further tarnished the legacy of one of dark fantasy’s most revered series. Berserk (2016) killed the hope for future adaptations, and its failure continues to haunt fans who long for a version that lives up to the quality of the manga.
7: In The Aftermath Is A Wasted Adaptation Of A Legendary Anime
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
Anime-Planet Score: N/A
Release Date: 1988
Production Company: Concorde Pictures
In the Aftermath is a strange hybrid, combining live-action and anime footage, the latter of which was pulled from Angel’s Egg, a highly symbolic and visually stunning film. Unfortunately, In the Aftermath squanders the beauty of Angel’s Egg by forcing it into a generic post-apocalyptic narrative. The live-action scenes are lackluster, and the film fails to capture the philosophical depth and artistry of its anime source material.
Fans of Angel’s Egg were appalled by this attempt to repurpose its content. The incoherent mix of styles and the watered-down storytelling left In the Aftermath as nothing more than a failed experiment in adapting anime into a live-action setting.
6: Warriors Of The Wind Turns A Classic Into A Generic Film
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
Anime-Planet Score: N/A
Release Date: 1985
Production Company: New World Pictures
Warriors of the Wind was the ill-fated U.S. localization of Studio Ghibli’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. This version butchered the original film, cutting nearly a third of its runtime and altering the plot to make it more marketable to a Western audience. Gone were the environmental and philosophical themes that made Nausicaä a masterpiece, replaced with a generic fantasy adventure for kids.
The poor localization of Warriors of the Wind was so egregious that it almost ended Studio Ghibli’s chances of expanding into international markets. Fortunately, the original Nausicaä has since been restored to its rightful place as a beloved classic, but Warriors of the Wind remains a cautionary tale of how not to handle anime localizations.
5: Abunai Sisters: Koko & Mika Was So Bad It Was Canceled After Two Episodes
MyAnimeList Score: 2.54/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.44/5
Release Date: January 15, 2009
Production Company: Production I.G
Abunai Sisters was a short-lived OVA designed to promote the real-life Kano sisters, Japanese reality stars. The show was so poorly received that it was canceled after only two episodes aired, with the remaining episodes dumped on DVD. The animation was terrible, the plot was nonsensical, and the characters were completely unlikable, leading to widespread derision.
The series was essentially an excuse for fanservice, but it failed to even achieve that, with character designs that were awkward and unattractive. Abunai Sisters is remembered as a prime example of what happens when celebrity marketing and anime mix in the worst possible way.
4: Eiken Is Too Juvenile For Anyone To Enjoy
MyAnimeList Score: 4.31/10
Anime-Planet Score: 2.34/5
Release Date: June 25, 2003
Production Company: J.C.Staff
Eiken is one of the most notorious ecchi anime for its over-the-top exaggerations of female anatomy. The plot, involving a boy forced to join a club filled with absurdly proportioned girls, is little more than a flimsy excuse for juvenile fanservice. The grotesque exaggerations make the show both unappealing and uncomfortable to watch, as it offers nothing in terms of engaging story or character development.
What makes Eiken particularly infamous is how it tries to lean into its ecchi elements but fails to be titillating or funny. Instead, it’s an exercise in excess that alienates even the most forgiving viewers, cementing its place among the worst ecchi anime ever made.
3: Endsky Is Another Forgettable Adaptation Of An Edgy Visual Novel
MyAnimeList Score: 2.25/10
Release Date: August 10, 2002
Production Company: Sugino Studio
Endsky (or Tsui no Sora) is a prime example of an edgy visual novel adaptation gone wrong. The OVA features terrible animation, laughable writing, and incomplete scenes that make it almost unwatchable. Its attempts at dark themes involving school-life romance and extreme violence are undercut by the overall lack of production value.
The anime tries to evoke themes of madness and psychological horror, but the result is a disjointed mess that falls flat in every way. Endsky is remembered for how it wastes its source material with poor execution, leaving little more than an unintentional comedy of errors in its wake.
2: Kennel Tokorozawa Is An Uncomfortably Creepy Anime
MyAnimeList Score: 3.65/10
Anime-Planet Score: 1.86/5
Release Date: 2003
Production Company: Studio Pierrot
Kennel Tokorozawa is infamous for its disturbing premise involving a dog with inappropriate feelings for its owner. The cringe-worthy antics and explicit innuendos make it uncomfortable to watch, and its attempts at comedy fall flat. The protagonist, Rin Tin Tin, spends most of the OVA lusting after his owner in bizarre and disturbing ways, which only adds to the overall creepiness.
This OVA is remembered more for its shock value than any actual entertainment. Its contrived plot and awkward animation make it a forgettable yet uncomfortable experience that most anime fans would rather avoid.
1: Wounded Man Tells An Offensive, Exploitative Story
MyAnimeList Score: 4.09/10
Anime-Planet Score: 2.27/5
Release Date: July 5, 1986
Production Company: Magic Bus
Wounded Man stands as one of the most controversial anime titles of its time, receiving widespread criticism for its offensive and exploitative storyline. Released in 1986 and produced by Magic Bus, the anime centers on a deeply problematic narrative where a woman falls in love with the man who raped her. This premise, understandably, has sparked outrage for its disturbing portrayal of relationships and has been labeled as highly inappropriate by modern standards.
Despite its shocking and divisive content, Wounded Man has left a mark in anime history for all the wrong reasons. Its attempt to tell a gritty, adult-oriented story is overshadowed by its exploitative themes, making it a prime example of how a series can mishandle sensitive topics. Many anime fans and critics consider it one of the worst anime ever made due to its lack of nuance in addressing such serious subject matter.
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Conclusion
exploring the worst anime of all time not only offers a humorous look at the industry’s missteps but also emphasizes the significance of quality storytelling and production. As fans navigate the vast landscape of anime, it’s essential to recognize these low points while celebrating the high standards set by beloved series. At animeking we keep our readers informed with comprehensive content, including, ensuring that fans are equipped to appreciate both the triumphs and failures within this dynamic medium. Embracing the full spectrum of anime allows us to foster a richer understanding and appreciation of the art form, enhancing the community experience for both new and seasoned viewers alike.