10 Disastrous Anime Adaptations That Betrayed the Source Material

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Generally, the original work is stronger than any adaptation. This is because the creator’s complete idea and purpose come across more naturally in the original source material – whether it’s a book, for example – than in a series or movie based on it.

Just because an anime is based on something else doesn’t mean it’s automatically worse. In fact, a good anime adaptation can actually introduce more people to the original manga or webcomic. However, sometimes anime adaptations are so bad – straying so far from the source material – that fans become incredibly upset and even demand a complete reboot.

Many dedicated horror manga fans adore *Uzumaki*. This story features a creepy but captivating plot where strange things happen in a town, and everyone becomes strangely fixated on spirals. As the madness grows, Shuuichi and Kirie try to escape. Junji Ito’s distinctive art style is beautiful and perfectly captures the unsettling spiral patterns.

Junji Ito’s incredible artwork creates a chilling atmosphere simply through his linework and character expressions, even without animation or color. Because of this, fans were excited when the animated adaptation chose to maintain a similar black-and-white style. Unfortunately, the animation’s quality doesn’t come close to the detail and artistry of Ito’s manga, leaving many disappointed after eagerly anticipating the show.

The first season of *One-Punch Man* was a huge success, praised for its clever parody and amazing animation. It had all the elements of a great show, including a funny main character, Saitama, who enjoys being a hero. Unfortunately, the second season didn’t live up to expectations, with noticeable problems in its animation and overall quality.

The first season of *One-Punch Man* was made by the well-respected animation studio Madhouse, led by director Shingo Natsume. However, the second season was produced by a different team at J.C. Staff, and most fans agree it wasn’t as good. This came as a surprise, as viewers didn’t expect such a popular anime to experience such a drop in quality. Now, fans are concerned about whether the third season will return to the level of the first.

Deadman Wonderland started as a captivating dark anime aimed at young men, with a compelling story and unsettling characters. The series follows Ganta, an ordinary high school student whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious killer slaughters his entire class. Not only does he lose his friends, but Ganta is also falsely accused of being the one responsible.

He ended up in Deadman Wonderland, a uniquely brutal prison that’s also designed like an amusement park. The anime is visually and audibly strong, with a dark atmosphere and fitting music. Unfortunately, the first season stops abruptly, leaving many questions unanswered, and a second season was never produced. As a result, many viewers start the anime but then turn to the manga to find out what happens next.

The Seven Deadly Sins started as a promising action-adventure anime with an interesting premise rooted in medieval European and Arthurian tales. The characters themselves are often inspired by figures from those classic stories. The anime centers around Meliodas, the leader of a group of once-honorable knights who ultimately rebelled against the kingdom they swore to protect.

What really stands out in this anime is its incredibly rich and detailed world, full of diverse environments. It also features several romantic storylines, with the connection between Meliodas and Elizabeth feeling similar to the classic tale of *Romeo and Juliet*. However, the animation quality wasn’t always consistent. The seasons produced by A-1 Pictures looked great, but the quality noticeably declined when Studio Deen took over.

Blue Lock quickly became popular as a thrilling soccer anime, feeling more like an action-packed battle series than a typical sports story. The premise is unique: aspiring strikers compete in a rigorous training camp for a chance to be the best in the world. The series primarily follows Isagi Yoichi, an initially unremarkable player who steadily improves and forges his own route to success.

The first season of *Blue Lock* quickly became popular due to its exciting, competitive format and compelling characters. The soccer matches were designed to be easy to follow, even for viewers unfamiliar with the sport. However, the second season was a significant step down, featuring noticeably poor animation for most of its run, with only a slight improvement in the very last episode.

Fans were really excited for the release of *The Beginning After the End*, hoping it would be a hit. Like *Solo Leveling*, it’s based on a popular online story and features a main character who is incredibly powerful and gets to live life over again. In this story, the hero, who used to be a king named Grey, is reborn as a baby named Arthur.

He has a perfect memory of his past, and now he’s using that knowledge to live in a world filled with magic. However, the anime *The Beginning After the End*, despite having a strong foundation, was let down by its poor animation quality. A second season is rumored, and fans are hoping it will be a significant improvement.

The first season of *Tokyo Ghoul* is a fantastic dark fantasy anime. It excels in every area, boasting impressive animation and a memorable soundtrack. The story follows Ken Kaneki, an ordinary college student whose life is turned upside down when he discovers the hidden world of ghouls – creatures who look human but survive by eating people. Kaneki is thrust into a chaotic new reality where he must navigate this dangerous, secret society.

What really stands out in *Tokyo Ghoul* is its impressive animation, well-developed characters, and fascinating villains—some of whom are surprisingly sympathetic. Unfortunately, the show takes a significant turn for the worse starting with season two, when it deviates from the original manga and becomes difficult to follow. By season three, the story had become convoluted and the animation quality had noticeably declined, ultimately damaging what was once a very promising series.

Tower of God is a highly acclaimed webtoon from South Korea, known for its detailed and imaginative world. The story centers around a mysterious tower that draws people in with the promise of making their greatest wishes come true if they can reach the summit. This motivates Twenty-Fifth Bam and Rachel to begin an adventure; initially, Bam’s only goal was to join Rachel on her journey.

The first season of this anime was skillfully produced by Telecom Animation Film. While some viewers found the plot a bit confusing, it was still a good adaptation. Unfortunately, the quality dropped significantly in the second season, mainly because the creators switched animation studios.

The story of *The Promised Neverland* is frustrating because the second season seems intentionally bad. The first season was a fantastic horror anime with a shocking twist revealed right in the first episode. It centers around children living in an orphanage who are lovingly cared for by their caretaker, known as “Mom.”

The story has one core rule: the children aren’t allowed to leave the safety of the guards, because danger lurks outside. Ironically, they eventually discover that safety is an illusion. The first season of this anime was a very accurate and well-paced adaptation of the original manga, with fantastic animation. Unfortunately, the second season drastically departs from the source material, leaving out key storylines and feeling rushed as a result.

Many anime and manga fans believe *Berserk* by Kentaro Miura is the best manga of all time. It’s praised for its incredibly detailed and dark world, where evil is deeply woven into society. The series is also famous for creating unforgettable heroes and villains. Given its impact, fans have long hoped for a high-quality, updated anime adaptation, but one has never materialized.

When it comes to *Berserk* anime, the 1997 series is widely considered the best because it really captures the dark and gritty feel of the story. The movie trilogy that covers ‘The Golden Age Arc’ is also excellent. Unfortunately, the 2016 adaptation of ‘The Conviction Arc’ is a major disappointment – the animation looks cheap and the overall production quality is very poor, making it a frustrating experience for fans.

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2025-10-12 01:41