Anime is in a great place right now, with it being massively popular worldwide. This excitement has spread to the world of manga, the weekly comics from which most anime is adapted. Because of word of mouth and growing interest, it has never been easier for a new series to become popular. Recent examples include Chainsaw Man and Solo Leveling, which were incredibly popular right from the get-go.
While many anime series have high expectations, this isn’t the case for most. Some anime have zero hype and excitement leading up to their release, and this list will highlight some of the best anime that started like this. Entries on this list had low expectations because of mediocre/unpopular manga, had an uninteresting/unassuming story that didn’t intrigue people, or the anime simply blew the manga/expectations out of the water. Either way, these ten entries proved not to judge a book by its cover.
10 ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (2023)
Studio: Madhouse
Every anime fan knows of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which recently took the world by storm. After her party defeats the demon king and restores peace in the land, Frieren loses time as her friends grow old. Taking up the pupil of a friend, they embark on a nostalgic journey that retraces her old journey. Reminiscing, they head to Aubsert, the land of souls, in order to say unsaid words and connect with those gone.
- Release Date
- September 29, 2023
- Cast
- Mallorie Rodak , Jason Douglas , Clifford Chapin , Chris Guerrero , Jill Harris , Jordan Dash Cruz
- Seasons
- 1
WATCH ON CRUNCHYROLL
9 ‘Space Dandy’ (2014)
Studio: Bones
With no manga, fans had no method of knowing if Space Dandy would be good or not. The only hope was that Shinichirō Watanabe created it, the legendary director known for Cowboy Bebop. This episodic show follows the misadventures of Dandy, a romance-loving traveller who, with QT and Meow, captures strange aliens for money. However, it is never this simple, as they encounter strange dangers and the constant threat of the Gogol Empire.
While the hype of a new series by Watanabe gave some expectations, the idea of a goofy comedy sci-fi didn’t excite many fans. When many fans skipped this anime, those who watched it would understand its brilliance. Even with loads of humor, goofiness, and campiness, it still features profound and dark stories. With stunning animation and diverse plots, Space Dandy is a wild ride with various spices that is sure to appeal to many fans, which is why it is one of the best sci-fi anime.
Space Dandy
- Release Date
- January 4, 2014
- Cast
- Ian Sinclair , Alison Viktorin , Joel McDonald , J. Michael Tatum , Micah Solusod , Kent Williams , Alexis Tipton , Colleen Clinkenbeard , Johnny Yong Bosch
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator(s)
- Shinichirô Watanabe
- Writers
- Shinichirô Watanabe , Dai Sato , Kimiko Ueno , Ichirō Ōkōchi , Keiko Nobumoto , Toh EnJoe , Masaaki Yuasa , Hayashi Mori , Kiyotaka Oshiyama
8 ‘Hajime no Ippo’ (2000)
Studio: Madhouse
One major appeal of anime is the unbridled sense of hype it gives fans, mainly from epic action shows. However, the sports genre is also privy to some incredible hype moments. Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) follows the timid Ippo, who decides to join a boxing club after being bullied. However, he learns that he has a knack for it as he continues his journey on a long road to becoming Japan’s champion by besting all who challenge him.
Before watching it, most fans expected a simple, enjoyable sports show. Little did they know that Hajime no Ippo is one of the best sports anime ever made. The underdog story is an easy hook, but the characters, fights, and comedy anchor fans to the series, never wanting it to end. Not only is this one of the most entertaining anime, but its well-written and perfectly paced fights also result in some of the most exciting moments in sports anime.
- Release Date
- October 3, 2000
- Cast
- Kôhei Kiyasu , Rikiya Koyama , Wataru Takagi , Keiji Fujiwara , Tomokazu Seki , Sanae Kobayashi , Kenji Utsumi , Toshihiko Nakajima
- Seasons
- 3
- Creator
- George Morikawa
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Creator(s)
- George Morikawa
- Writers
- Tatsuhiko Urahata , Kazuyuki Fudeyasu , Ryosuke Nakamura
- Number of Episodes
- 127
- Network
- Nippon TV
- Directors
- Tadao Okubo , Namimi Sanjo , Minoru Yamaoka
- Japanese Title
- Hajime no Ippo
- Based On
- Manga
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.77 (Season 1)
7 ‘Bocchi the Rock!’ (2022)
Studio: CloverWorks
Cute girls doing cute things is a staple genre of anime, and while it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it certainly has its appeal and fair share of amazing shows. Bocchi the Rock! follows a socially anxious girl with a passion for music who anonymously runs a popular YouTube account. Wanting to join a band, Hitori (Bocchi) must conquer her insecurities and get to know her new bandmates in a wholesome journey of growth and rocking out.
There are too many anime with a group of girls doing fun things, resulting in an oversaturated and repetitive genre. This was why many anime fans kept their expectations low going into Bocchi the Rock! However, fans experienced the best of the genre since K-On! Not only did the music impress and the characters rock, but the development hit hard with its relatable themes, helping make this one of the best anime of this decade.
Bocchi the Rock!
- Release Date
- October 9, 2022
- Cast
- Yoshino Aoyama , Sayumi Suzushiro , Saku Mizuno , Ikumi Hasegawa
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 1
6 ‘Fairy Tail’ (2009)
Studio: A-1 Pictures
During its peak, Fairy Tail rivaled some of the biggest battle shōnen anime, including One Piece and Bleach. Even though its popularity has died down, a sequel series recently came out. The wizard guild of Fairy Tail exists in the fictional world of Fiore, where Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Gray, and Erza take on dangerous missions. This group go on exciting adventures to conquer dark guilds and evil mages.
Unlike most entries on this list, Fairy Tail earns a spot for a different reason. Filled with criticism, this show is hated by a lot of the anime community. However, it exceeds expectations because the expectation for fans going in is one of the worst anime ever. While some fans may not enjoy it, Fairy Tail is, at worst, a generic shōnen anime with overt fan service and poor writing. At best, it is a fun, enjoyable, emotional, and riveting adventure.
Fairy Tail
- Release Date
- October 12, 2009
- Cast
- Cherami Leigh , Todd Haberkorn , Tia Lynn Ballard , Colleen Clinkenbeard , Newton Pittman , Brittney Karbowski , Monical Rial , Brina Palencia
- Seasons
- 9
5 ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)
Studio: Trigger
Based on Mike Pondsmith‘s tabletop game and CD PROJEKT RED’s Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a new story in the inventive setting of Night City. With a corrupt government and malicious gangs ruling the city, an angry David Martinez joins a gang with an advanced spine replacement to seek revenge and start a new life. However, this new life is only filled with pain as he is involved in countless schemes.
Every fan knows Trigger does a phenomenal job with all of its series. However, after the game’s lackluster launch, fans weren’t too keen on the anime set in the same world. Netflix also had a bad reputation for ruining the excitement of its anime. But, neither of those factors played a role in the quality of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which blew fans out of the water with its impressive animation and tragic story, making it a perfect anime.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
- Release Date
- September 13, 2022
- Cast
- Aoi Yuki , Kenichiro Ohashi , Kenjiro Tsuda , Kazuhiko Inoue
- Seasons
- 1
WATCH ON NETFLIX
4 ‘Golden Kamuy’ (2018)
Studios: Geno Studio and Brain’s Base
Recently, Golden Kamuy got a live-action Netflix adaptation, and it only has one more season of the anime until its conclusion. Set in the early 1900s, this anime follows a former soldier looking to strike it rich by panning for gold. However, he learns of a tale which leads to tons of Ainu gold. Sugimoto teams up with Asirpa to find this gold and return it to its rightful people, but first, they must journey and fight off everyone else who wants it.
Golden Kamuy is extremely underrated. Few fans actually watch the anime, but those few fans realized how good it was. The expectation was a brainless historical show with buff men, but instead, it graced fans with an eccentric plot. With unforgettable characters, worldbuilding, comedy, plot, mystery, drama, action, and absurdity, Golden Kamuy is an unpredictable masterpiece every anime fan must check out.
Golden Kamuy
- Release Date
- April 9, 2018
- Cast
- Chikahiro Koboyashi , Haruka Shiraishi , Fumihiko Tachiki , Kentarô Itô , Monica Rial , Ian Sinclair , Marcus D. Stimac , Ben Phillips
- Seasons
- 4
3 ‘Mob Psycho 100’ (2016)
Studio: Bones
Originally created by the author of One Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100 similarly uses an overpowered protagonist. Shigeo Kageyama is a powerful psychic but wishes to have an everyday life and earn his triumphs without his powers. Scared to open up and show his genuine emotions, Shigeo falls into the background as he helps his con artist boss fight against terrorist organizations and deal with their feelings.
Many fans believe manga are better than their anime adaptations. However, everyone can agree that Mob Psycho 100 blew the manga out of the water and exceeded any expectations. The animation and storytelling greatly enhanced the manga and improved in all aspects, something that rarely happens. To break even more expectations, it has one of the best endings in anime, a feat most anime don’t accomplish.
Mob Psycho 100
- Release Date
- July 12, 2016
- Cast
- Kyle McCarley , Jason Liebrecht , Chris Niosi , Michael Sorich , Max Mittelman , Erik Scott , Kimerer , Casey Mongillo , Cherami Leigh
- Seasons
- 3
2 ‘Demon Slayer’ (2019)
Studio: ufotable
Quickly becoming the most popular anime currently, Demon Slayer reinvigorated the appeal of anime, bringing in countless new fans from around the world. After a notorious demon kills his family and turns his sister Nezuko into a demon, Tanjiro must train to become a demon slayer while looking for a cure for his sister and attempting to kill Muzan. This results in an epic, action-packed journey of demon slaughter.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Cast
- Natsuki Hanae , Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Akari Kitō , Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
- Seasons
- 5
1 ‘Odd Taxi’ (2021)
Studio: OLM
Odd Taxi is a refreshing anime that blends mystery, thriller, comedy, fantasy, and drama elements to create a unique show. Following the anthropomorphic walrus cab driver Odokawa, fans witness multiple stories slowly merging to create a captivating murder mystery. From a pair of struggling comedians, the Yakuza, an idol group, and many other eccentric individuals, Odd Taxi is a must-watch hidden gem.
Odd Taxi
- Release Date
- April 6, 2021
- Cast
- Mike McFarland , Lauren Landa , Daman Mills , Lucien Dodge , Amanda Lee , Jenny Yokobori , Kayli Mills , Brandon McInnis , SungWon Cho
- Seasons
- 1
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