There’s a widespread belief that modern anime is the best it’s ever been, and recent shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, Bocchi the Rock!, and Delicious in Dungeon demonstrate exceptional visuals and writing. These series have redefined animation standards, making it a great time to be an anime fan.

Not All New Anime Shine

However, for every successful new-generation anime, there are others that fall short. Several recent releases stand out for failing to meet their potential.

Pokémon Horizons

Pokémon Horizons, produced by OLM, Inc., serves as a soft reboot of the long-running Pokémon anime. The story follows Liko as she joins the Rising Volt Tacklers, investigating the mysteries of the legendary adventurer Lucius while evading the villainous Explorers who seek a pendant and the Terapagos within.

While boasting impressive animation and a narrative-driven story, Pokémon Horizons struggles with consistency and ultimately falls short of the original’s iconic status.

Blue Lock

Based on a highly-regarded manga, 8bit’s Blue Lock depicts Japan’s attempt to rebuild its soccer program with an intense training regime to create the ultimate striker. Failure means being barred from professional soccer, motivating Yoichi Isagi and others to strive for the top.

Despite the strong source material, the anime suffers from lackluster artwork and poor animation, relying heavily on its writing to stay afloat. A third season is currently in development, offering hope for improvement.

High Guardian Spice

High Guardian Spice, Crunchyroll Studios’ first original anime, takes place in a world of swords and sorcery. Rosemary and Sage attend High Guardian Academy to protect West City from mysterious threats.

The series was criticized for resembling an anime-inspired cartoon rather than a true anime. Upon release, it continued to disappoint with poor visuals and uninspired writing, becoming a significant setback for Crunchyroll originals.

Solo Leveling

A-1 Pictures’ Solo Leveling is set in a world where individuals awaken to supernatural abilities and become Hunters. Sung Jinwoo, initially the weakest Hunter, gains a video game-like power that allows him to rapidly grow stronger.

The anime’s animation and direction are visually stunning, contributing to its global popularity. However, the writing is criticized as a generic power fantasy, making its widespread acclaim feel somewhat undeserved.

Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night

Doga Kobo’s Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night follows Mahiru Kozuki, a former artist who rediscovers her passion with the help of a former idol and other creatives, forming the anonymous artist group JELEE.

The series begins strongly with impressive visuals and a message of self-expression, but ultimately falters due to forced drama, unresolved plotlines, and superficial thematic exploration.

Kaiju No. 8

Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro dreamed of joining the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. While Mina became a powerful fighter, Kafka repeatedly failed to qualify. After gaining the ability to transform into a kaiju, Kafka’s dream becomes complicated.

Despite the anime and manga’s initial success, Kaiju No. 8 suffers from fast pacing, limited worldbuilding, and repetitive action sequences, becoming another generic action anime.

Rent-A-Girlfriend

TMS Entertainment’s Rent-A-Girlfriend centers on Kazuya Kinoshita, who rents a girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara, after being dumped. They are forced to pretend to be a couple, leading to increasingly complex situations.

The series is a typical harem romcom with predictable tropes and fanservice. However, Kazuya’s unlikeable personality and underdeveloped supporting characters make it a less appealing option within the genre.

Lazarus

MAPPA’s Lazarus takes place three years after the release of a miracle drug, Hapna, with a deadly side effect. Lazarus, an elite task force of criminals, must find the drug’s creator to develop a cure as the world descends into chaos.

Despite the hype surrounding director Shinichiro Watanabe’s return, Lazarus is plagued by poor pacing, nonsensical storytelling, and a subpar dub, falling short of expectations.

One-Punch Man

J.C.Staff’s One-Punch Man follows Saitama, a hero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch, leaving him perpetually bored.

While season one was praised for its animation, subsequent seasons, particularly season three, have suffered from declining visual quality due to production issues, failing to live up to the series’ initial potential.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Studio Pierrot’s Boruto: Naruto Next Generations continues the story of the Naruto universe, focusing on Naruto’s son, Boruto, and his journey as a ninja in a time of peace threatened by new dangers.

The series has been criticized for its pacing, inconsistent power scaling, and poor character development, making it a disappointing follow-up to the original Naruto anime.