Entertainment
10 Most Polarizing Anime Series of All Time, Ranked
Content Warning: The following article contains discussions of abuse and sexual assault.When fans think of anime, big shows such as Dragon Ball usually come to mind first, but despite being incredibly popular, it is bound to have haters because it is so widespread. Anime like One Piece and Dandadan are more loved, but they have aspects ranging from pacing and flanderization to crude and uncomfortable material. Still, despite a good deal of dislike, they are overall widely acclaimed.
However, there are anime series that are much more polarizing than these, with fans split between loving them or hating them. That is why this list will rank the ten most polarizing anime of all time based on the standard deviation of scores, mix of love and hate, controversial elements, and popularity. These ten anime are divisive among the anime community, so do you love or hate these series?
10
‘Devilman Crybaby’ (2018)
There are plenty of dark anime series out there, and while they can be critically acclaimed, their depressing nature often makes them polarizing. Devilman Crybaby follows Akira, a kind-hearted soul who turns into a demon during a sabbath. Despite doing everything he can to use his powers for good, Akira can’t help but get into trouble and attract other dangerous demons.
Devilman Crybaby went through the checklist of dark content and checked them all, from gore to sexual content, taboo themes, and a general mature vibe that didn’t sit well with many viewers. It won the anime of the year award at the Crunchyroll Awards, but its ratings are vastly different. From 10/10s to 5/10s to 1/10s, Devilman Crybaby is justified in any of these ratings depending on fan preferences, but it is still overall critically acclaimed.
9
‘School Days’ (2007)
There are plenty of bad anime, but not many on this list, except for School Days, one of the most notorious anime shows of all time. The main character has a crush on a girl in his school, and when someone learns this, they work together to get him a date. However, what ensues is a weird love triangle that devolves into a murder spree.
School Days isn’t as polarizing as it is just bad or hated, regarded as one of the worst anime shows of all time. The plot is nonsensical, the characters are horribly written and generally just the worst, and the gore and sexual material are unnecessary and gross. However, there are still some fans who enjoyed him, meaning that no matter how bad the reviews are, it is still polarizing.
8
‘Made in Abyss’ (2017–Present)
The last couple of entries on this list were pretty dark, and at first glance, fans might think Made in Abyss is different, but underneath its wholesome exterior is a dark and disturbing anime. A girl and a robot boy travel into the Abyss searching for answers about their mother and history, respectively, encountering horrific creatures and situations the further they go.
Made in Abyss has one of the greatest stories in manga, delivering a dark yet intriguing plot with fascinating worldbuilding. However, for everything good about it, this show has an equally bad aspect, mainly its depiction of the young characters. From the horrific violence they experience to the sexual scenarios, Made in Abyss divides the fanbase with the author’s obvious fetish.
7
‘Aku no Hana’ (2013)
Anime doesn’t try new things as often anymore, unfortunately, because when they do, the results are mixed. Aku no Hana, also known as Flowers of Evil, follows a student after he commits a deed he regrets. Caught in the act, he is blackmailed to fulfill their darkest fantasies, caught in a spiral of traumatic experiences.
Aku no Hana already features a wildly sexual and dark plot, which always splits the audience. However, what made it so polarizing was its rotoscoping animation, which it used extensively. This animation does look weird and uncanny, but it is also visually distinct. Aku no Hana is an artistically ambitious anime, but weird art styles are a recipe for polarizing reviews.
6
‘Beastars’ (2019–2026)
Set in a world where anthropomorphic animals make up society, an uneasy tension resides between the carnivores and herbivores. Beastars follows a humanoid wolf, who tries to lie low after one of his classmates dies. However, his predatory instincts and interest in a unique rabbit create a troubling situation for him and the mysterious death of his classmate.
Whether fans refer to them as anthropomorphic or furries, it is a topic that spurs much debate and leads to many fans not watching certain shows. This general theme has already made Beastars polarizing, but the author’s weird fetishes can also be seen, creating an uncomfortable romance with weird moments.
5
‘Fire Force’ (2019–2026)
Soul Eater is an incredibly popular anime, but the author also made Fire Force, a series that fans can’t seem to agree on. In a world where humans spontaneously combust into demon-like creatures, the firefighters exorcise these monsters. Shinra joins the 8th company to learn more about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his parents’ deaths.
Fire Force is a typical shōnen for the most part, but it has a unique vibe, premise, sound design, and moments that separate it from the rest. However, no matter how good the rest of the show is, there is one character who is always suddenly naked. This instantly shifts the vibe for the worse, ruining any serious or comedic impact that had previously been there. Some fans can look past this, but others can’t, making Fire Force a polarizing show, even if it is one of the best anime series on Crunchyroll right now.
4
‘Monogatari Series’ (2009–Present)
A lot of anime are all about flashy moments and spectacular fights, but the Monogatari Series is different, delivering a dialogue-focused experience. Araragi is a normal human with the abilities of a vampire, which he uses to fight the physical manifestations of his friend’s mental illnesses. It is an endless fight against horrific monsters and depressing situations.
The Monogatari Series is one of the most unique anime shows on this list, becoming critically acclaimed because of its profound and well-written dialogue, distinct editing, and avant-garde style. However, it ruins whatever prestigious writing it had with perverted moments where the protagonist abuses female characters for jokes, some underage. This obviously creates a polarizing anime that fans love or hate.
3
‘Sword Art Online’ (2012–2020)
The Isekai genre is already polarizing because of a mix of unoriginality and weird storytelling, so naturally, there are a few controversial shows, such as Sword Art Online. A bunch of eager players hop into the new VR game, but they don’t realize that they will be stuck in the game. Death in the game means death in real life, prompting players to try to escape.
Sword Art Online quickly became one of the most popular anime series of all time because of its escapist fantasy and fun premise. However, it left what it did well in favor of incestuous moments, odd narrative choices, and generally poor writing. Sword Art Online is a very popular Isekai, but it is also one of the shows with the widest standard deviation, as reviews are never consistent.
2
‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation’ (2021–Present)
Yet another Isekai lands on this list, this time being Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. After a stay-at-home loser dies, he is reborn as a child in a fantastical world. Not wanting to waste his new life, he becomes a powerful mage and travels across the world, but he still has plenty of flaws and traumatic experiences in store for him.
Ignoring its controversial aspects for now, Mushoku Tensei does feature some compelling character development and magical worldbuilding. Unfortunately, Rudeus is a controversial protagonist. Some fans justify his actions as flaws he will develop out of, and others can’t get over his disgusting behavior. Mushoku Tensei is the most polarizing modern anime at the moment.
1
‘Fairy Tail’ (2009–Present)
Fairy Tail technically still isn’t over, with a sequel manga currently running, even if fans haven’t heard much about it. The titular wizard guild is home to a plethora of odd characters, such as Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza, and Happy. Together, they take on dangerous missions, all the while a dark force threatens to reemerge.
While Mushoku Tensei is the most polarizing anime right now, Fairy Tail is the most polarizing of all time. A lot of fans have forgotten about it, so the hate has died off, but there was a time when everyone either loved this series or hated it more than anything. Fans have cited the overt fanservice, overuse of the power of friendship, and lack of a plot as criticisms, but others appreciate Fairy Tail‘s great arcs, endearing characters, emotional weight, and sense of adventure. Fairy Tail also used to be massive, sparking hate from other fanbases, resulting in its status as the most polarizing anime of all time.
Fairy Tail
- Release Date
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2009 – 2019-00-00
- Directors
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Shinji Ishihira
- Writers
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Hiro Mashima, Masashi Sogo
- Franchise(s)
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Fairy Tail
