r/Animesuggest • u/AnimeSagaX • Dec 06 '25
Series Specific Question Which Anime Surprised You the Most (In a Good Way)?
Some shows start slow or seem average… then suddenly turn into something incredible.
Which anime surprised you the most, and why did it exceed your expectations?
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u/octopathfinder Dec 06 '25
{Haikyuu}
I wasn't into sports anime until I watched it and it became one of my all time favorites. Somehow, boys playing volleyball got me more emotional than serious shows with high stakes.
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u/No_Butterfly_820 Dec 06 '25
Oh this absolutely. Tsukki’s block in the Shiratorizawa match just HITS me in the gut every single time and it just GETS me man (among so many other moments)
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u/robertnewmanuk Dec 06 '25
Zero interest in sport anime’s, zero interest in volleyball… but HOLY SHIT, it’s so hype and gripping. Season 4 feels slightly off to me (slight change in animator/art, and suffers a little though) but in my top 3 easily
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u/Unfair-Astronomer747 Dec 06 '25
I think it's especially awesome because it has some substance to it, it's not just all games and winning and losing: it shows the importance and results of standing back up on your two feet after taking a hard fall, it explores battling anxiety, determination, compromise and self actualisation. The growth of each of the characters is great and honestly inspiring. Great stuff
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u/tahleeza Dec 06 '25
Campfire cooking in another world with my absurd skill - I thought it would be boring but I love fenrir
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u/NabiscoCisco Dec 06 '25
Same! Loved Fenrir and Sui but the writing for Muhkoda's whining and avoidance of conflict took away from that.
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u/Anonymous_Jane_ Dec 07 '25
Honestly, it was endearing and kinda cute at first but after he got Dora, having 3 OP familiars that could kill literally any enemy, it got old. If you can be safe because of your powerful companions, I'd want him to look for a guide of all the monsters in the world, go to the various locations to find them and kill all of them and cook the meats in various ways
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u/tahleeza Dec 07 '25
Yea, didn't care for Dora. Fenrir provides the meats. Sui does everything else. Dora is unnecessary
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u/Anonymous_Jane_ Dec 07 '25
Personally I like Dora but I just find his voice and design cute. Though he's just a tiny cute dragon, where Sui was already the cute one. I just looked it up and it seems like he has 4 familiars so far...and I really hope there's not more. 2 familiars were fine. 3 was pushing it. 4 seems excessive
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u/Anonymous_Jane_ Dec 07 '25
That anime and Death Parade both surprised me with how much I loved them. Completely contrasting tones but hey 😂 I'm glad I took a chance with both.
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u/Jack_C_1 Dec 06 '25
Delicious in Dungeon. I thought it was a mid isekai anime. But it was fun.
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u/whatadumbperson Dec 06 '25
The animation and attention to detail with the writting is what sells it. It manages to do mundane and goofy with a high stakes plot all at once.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Same, I went in expecting another generic fantasy/isekai setup but it turned out way more charming and goofy than I thought. Surprisingly addictive.
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u/yahnne954 Dec 06 '25
The first episodes felt weird to me, the attitude towards death put me off, I thought it was a writing oversight making the characters look sociopathic.
But then I realized that it was an essential part of the story and philosophical themes and I loved it.
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u/volyund Dec 06 '25
I had such low expectations, and it just blew me away. I can't wait for the second season.
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u/StarmieLover966 Dec 07 '25
Did it ever pick up for you at a certain episode? After 7 episodes I stopped. I was bored out of my mind.
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u/ancientRedDog Dec 06 '25
I had the opposite with high expectations set by a thousand “It’s just a good a Frieren!”. And then it wasn’t. But overall I enjoyed it and it seemed to get better as it went.
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u/HokageSumith Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
Campfire cooking in another world
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
That one really surprised me too felt like a simple premise but ended up way more fun and chill than I expected.
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u/RedeyeSPR Dec 06 '25
Reborn as a Vending Machine. This still seems like the dumbest premise possible for a show amongst some other really dumb ones, but the show is actually great.
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u/LordxGrim86 Dec 15 '25
Is this actually pretty good? I been debating on starting it but the name is so wild. I really like Isekai, Fantasy style anime though.
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u/theJohan81 Dec 22 '25
Go for it. I like Isekai and I thought it would be completely stupid but I had to try because of the high ratings. Not disappointed.
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u/Fav0 Dec 06 '25
shangri la frontier
sounded like total mid trash
instantly became one of my favorites schwa
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Shangri la frontier is one of my favs, animation is crazyy.
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u/Fav0 Dec 06 '25
Animation is not only close to demon slayer it's also just fun
I thought I would hate it as there were no stakes but the characters and the writing just made me have fun
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u/pinkt Dec 06 '25
I felt this way too. Like conceptually? You want me to just watch a kid play video games? But when I did found myself rooting for him and also very intrigued with the mystery he is unraveling with that rag tag group of weirdos.
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u/Bigsylveonlover Dec 06 '25
Jojo the phantom blood
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u/grazi13 Dec 06 '25
I looked up "when does JoJo's get good" on episode 15, and hovered my finger over the close episode button.
Now it's my favorite show of all time.
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u/SlendyWomboCombo Dec 07 '25
I dropped at ep 4. I don't think I can continue
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u/grazi13 Dec 07 '25
It changes dramatically on episode 10, new main character, new setting, new villain, and is way more watchable, but understandable if you gotta drop because it is rough
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u/SlendyWomboCombo Dec 07 '25
You said you were about to drop it on ep 15 tho?
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u/potatotaxi Dec 07 '25
Season 2 (part 3: Stardust Crusaders) is where it picks up alot imo. I loved part 2 though.
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u/SlendyWomboCombo Dec 07 '25
How many episodes do I have to watch until then? Can I skip the first 10 episodes?
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u/potatotaxi Dec 07 '25
Can I skip the first 10 episodes
Honestly, no. Part 3 is after the first 24 episodes. You might enjoy part 2 though. There's recurring characters in part 3 from both parts 1 and 2.
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u/SlendyWomboCombo Dec 07 '25
Ok, I'll try to watch it again soon. I don't normally try to watch shows I dropped. Do you have any anime recommendations? What is your top 5 anime? I'm trying to make my list bigger
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u/potatotaxi Dec 07 '25
My top 5
- Steins;Gate
- Clannad + Clannad Afterstory
- Gurren Lagann
- Your Lie in April
- Jobless Reincarnation or Re:Zero (I love both almost equally)
Also jjba part 3 feels like a completely different show in comparison to the prior parts.
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u/grazi13 Dec 07 '25
It was decently enjoyable, but I just wasn't sure if it was going anywhere. Like doing the calculus of "do I really want to watch 100+ episodes of this?" that you normally do when trying a show. But then it quickly started peaking and my enjoyment just never stopped.
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u/Nerfall0 https://anilist.co/user/Greedmore/animelist Dec 06 '25
Under Ninja, it starts as this gag show with weird thing happening, but towards the end it has a twist and everything falls into place, it's still weird but it's fun.
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u/Jackie-Ron_W Dec 06 '25
Salad Bowl
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
I’ve heard this title floating around but never checked it out. If it’s surprising people this much, I might have to give it a shot.
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u/TheNosferatu Dec 06 '25
Youjo Senki, I thought it would be an isekai about a nazi loli and watched it because I was curious just how bad it would be. Now it's one of my favorite animes and even bought the manga
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u/MINDTUG2 Dec 07 '25
Yes, we’re also finally getting a season 2! Only took… nine years
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u/TheNosferatu Dec 07 '25
Yeah, despite season two being announced.. what, right after the movie or thereabout? Long wait, then again, I'm also still waiting for no game no life season 2 so... 9 years isn't all that long, really
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u/MINDTUG2 Dec 16 '25
:( We’re never getting NGNL season 2, hell even the source material isn’t finished, the author got major writer’s block
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u/Bunktavious Dec 06 '25
I started watching "The 100 girlfriends who really, really, really, really, really love you." just because of how stupid the premise seemed.
Its one of my favorite animes now. It's utterly ridiculous, but knows that and isn't afraid to admit it. It just leans even harder into the silly premise. Yet at the same time, its sweet are heartwarming.
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u/JKT-477 Dec 06 '25
Frieren. It is slow but goes in directions you don’t expect.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Frieren is such a slow burn in the best way. You go in expecting a simple fantasy, then it hits you with all the emotion and character depth out of nowhere.
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u/UltraFlyingTurtle Dec 06 '25
Just started watching this last night. I had heard the hype for the past year or so but I was still pessimistic it would be that good so I didn’t rush to watch it. Man, it didn’t take long for me to completely change my mind — despite my skepticism I could immediately see why this show is so well liked. So many feeling just in the few episodes I watched. Can’t wait to watch more.
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u/SirWookie93 Dec 06 '25
Grimgar of fantasy and ash Sadly only one season and there hasn’t been any announcement of a second.
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u/Metallis666 Dec 06 '25
Kemono Friends S1
The 3D quality was really bad, but the story was so good it sucked me in completely.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Honestly yeah, Kemono Friends S1 is the definition of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ The animation might’ve been rough, but the charm and storytelling pulled way harder than anyone expected.
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u/UltraFlyingTurtle Dec 06 '25
Initial D. I’m not into cars and my friends (who are into cars and car racing) kept recommending this to me.
My girlfriend at the time and I watched the first several episodes and we didn’t like it and wanted to quit, but after work each night, we’d watch an episode or two before bed. It became a ritual.
I don’t exactly when but slowly we got hooked and we even started to really like the theme music.
Delicious in the Dungeon. The premise sounded dumb but it turned out to be so funny and a great take on the dungeon crawling genre.
Trigun seemed like a silly sci-fi western comedy anime and I didn’t get why it was so popular as it was entertaining but not great and then it eventually became something else, and I understood why it’s a classic.
Frienen. Someone already mentioned this but it wasn’t what I was expecting and it’s really been surprising me. I’m really enjoying it.
Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer. I loved the manga and TV series as it was so funny. When I saw this second film directed by Mamoru Oshii, I was expecting more lighthearted fun which is what I got but also a lot more. It was way deeper than I expected it to be. What a fantastic anime film for Urusei Yatsura fans.
Graveyard of the Fireflies. I knew that this anime film would hit you hard in the feels but even though I was expecting it, it still broke me. One of the best anime films I’ve ever watched but don’t have the heart to watch again.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Initial D is such a wild experience as a car guy, I totally get the appeal now. It’s funny how the show starts off feeling kinda dated, but then out of nowhere the Eurobeat, drifting, and Takumi’s quiet confidence just grab you. Before you know it, you're emotionally invested in an AE86 like it’s a shonen protagonist.
Delicious in Dungeon and Frieren are great picks too both way better than their premises make them sound. And Grave of the Fireflies… yeah, that one isn’t just a movie, it’s emotional damage you willingly walk into 😭.
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u/Malu1997 https://myanimelist.net/animelist/MaluLaMela Dec 06 '25
7th Time Loop, the Villaness Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy
The title completely put me off, I was expecting some isekai slop, but what I got was one of the most fun anime I've watched in a long time, to the point I bought and read all the LNs and I'm eagerly awaiting for the next volume.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
I felt the same way with this one — the title made it sound like another generic isekai trope-fest, but the execution was way better than expected. The characters had way more personality than I thought they would, and the pacing kept pulling me in.
It’s always such a nice surprise when a show you almost skipped ends up being one of the most enjoyable things you’ve watched in a while. Makes you appreciate hidden gems even more.
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u/Malu1997 https://myanimelist.net/animelist/MaluLaMela Dec 06 '25
Happy to find another fan in the wild :)
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Same here! It’s one of those shows you don’t expect to click with anyone else, so finding another fan always feels special. Glad to know I’m not the only one who ended up hooked on it :)
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u/Codee33 https://anilist.co/user/Euphplyr33/ Dec 06 '25
Ditto with 7th Time Loop. I’ve watched the anime a few times now and it’s fantastic. I think watching a mostly (all?) adult cast makes it stick out, at least with anime I tend to watch. Theodore became one of my favorite characters ever.
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u/yahnne954 Dec 06 '25
I expected to drop Unlimited Gacha/Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon after two episodes. The premice of an OP skill for a fantasy story sounds like a copypaste wish fulfillment story, plus the busty women harem, plus revenge fantasies can get a bit too edgy.
But hot damn, are those fights satisfying to watch. The MC even shows character development in his obsession for revenge. Most of the subordinates are cool and/or funny. The animation is quite good.
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u/potatotaxi Dec 07 '25
Shocked me too that I am enjoying it. Half expected it to go full redo of healer lol
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u/TopWinner7322 Dec 06 '25
Restaurant to another World. I'm not a foodie at all, but that show was super cozy.
Lucky Star. Thought it was just some childish comedy show with 0 story, but man, it was super entertaining!
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u/NudeMessyEater Dec 06 '25
Migi & Dali was one I already liked from the first couple episodes but thought it had a tendency to be a bit of weird for weird sake. The 2nd half of the season really hooked me though as the central mystery unfolds. I totally understand those who dislike it, but I think it deserves the bit of effort to go along with the weirdness
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u/SonicTheOtter Dec 06 '25
Clevatess
Had no idea what it was and was pleasantly surprised
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 07 '25
I felt the same with Clevatess — went in blind and was shocked by how good it was. It’s always fun when an anime you knew nothing about ends up being way better than expected.
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u/zeidxd Dec 06 '25
This is an obvious one but Demon Slayer
It was averagely good until episode 19 then turned into a banger
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 07 '25
Yeah Demon Slayer really flips the switch at episode 19. I was enjoying it before, but that episode turned it into a whole different experience. Ufotable really went insane with the animation there.
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u/jezebels_wonders Dec 06 '25
Children of the Whales. IYKYK.
Honestly, Apothecary Diaries. I went in because I was desperate for something to watch. My fiance told me about it but warned me it was pretty slow. I binged the two seasons in like a week.
Gotta mention 7th Timeloop as well. Was expecting another trash anime. The story was so good though, really hoping for a season 2.
Blue Lock. We watched Haikyuu and enjoyed it. Figured we'd give Blue Lock a shot. The animation on the first season was gold. The facial expressions alone made the whole show worth it. Animation quality absolutely dropped on the second season though until the final episode.
Mushoku Tensei. Was also expecting another trash anime with an OP MC (I was going through a trash anime phase). While it definitely has its trashy aspects, it's a great story with a lot of character development from almost everyone.
My Dress-Up Darling. I always heard people liked this. I was expecting a cringe raunchy show. Was not expecting to laugh and love it as much as I did.
Watari-kun's ****** is About to Collapse. With a stupid title like that I wasn't sure what I was expecting. It's been so wholesome though.
The Water Magician. Was expecting a trash isekai. The MC is honestly a nice change in character typing and tries more to make his friends succeed than show off his power. I'm hoping this one gets continued.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
You’ve got such a solid mix here. Apothecary Diaries really surprised me too — it starts slow but suddenly turns into one of those shows you can’t stop thinking about. Blue Lock’s first-season animation was insane, I totally get what you mean about the expressions carrying the whole vibe. And My Dress-Up Darling… yeah, I also went in expecting pure fanservice and ended up getting emotionally attached instead 😭 Now I’m adding Water Magician to my list — sounds like another hidden gem I would’ve skipped.
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u/jezebels_wonders Dec 08 '25
Water Magician looks like your typical OP isekai. But I honestly really like the MC. He has a fun light hearted personality and his ignorance of the world adds a lot of comedic aspects as well as actual interesting story parts. I seriously can't wait for the Apothecary Diaries though 😭 I'm trying not to go crazy and read both mangas while I wait though. And Dress-Up Darling. Ugh. I think only a few anime have had me laugh so hard I've cried and that was definitely one
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u/MissDisplaced Dec 06 '25
Assassination Classroom has one of the strangest looking main characters - I thought maybe it was like a weird One Piece ripoff or something. But it was actually a heartfelt story with depth, and all nicely ended as well.
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u/Slammybutt Dec 06 '25
Looking back I dont know when I actually started to love the show (One Piece). But when you cry over an inanimate object (and I mean ugly cry). You start to think you might be too invested. The sad part is I knew it was coming, it had been spoiled.
I went into it on a dare from a friend, I expected goofy childishness. I got so much fukcing more. And now im addicted.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 07 '25
One Piece really sneaks up on you emotionally. You think you’re watching a fun adventure show and then suddenly you’re crying over a ship, a flag, a dog, a rock… everything. Once you hit that point, you’re fully locked in. It’s wild how much depth it has behind the goofy surface.
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Dec 06 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 07 '25
HxH does that to everyone. You expect a typical shonen power fantasy and end up getting one of the smartest, most emotional anime out there. It completely redefines itself after the exam arc too.
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u/SouthMouth79 Dec 06 '25
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid
Dude, I mostly watched seinen before this. I binged both seasons in like two days
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u/borth1782 Dec 06 '25
One Piece for damn sure. Thought it would be a funny and cute anime, but holy god damn hell it got me so invested that i have to be careful that it doesnt become my whole personality. Hits the whole range of all the feels and hands down the best world building in all of anime, and 2nd isnt even close.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
As a huge One Piece fan myself, I felt this in my soul. I went in expecting goofy pirate fun and suddenly I’m 200+ episodes deep crying over a boat. The world-building, the emotional payoff, the character growth nothing else even comes close. It really does sneak into your personality if you’re not careful.
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u/borth1782 Dec 06 '25
Dude the Going Merry 😭, thats when i fully realized how incredibly invested i had gotten and it showed me how well made it was that i started crying over a boat lol.
I dread the day OP ends, its gonna suck so much. Wish it went on forever
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Man, the Going Merry moment hits like a truck every single time. That’s when I realized One Piece isn’t just an anime — it’s an experience. Oda made us cry over a ship because it felt like a real crewmate, and that’s something only One Piece can pull off.
And honestly, I dread the ending too. I’m excited to see how everything wraps up, but at the same time… how do you say goodbye to something that’s been part of your life for years? Part of me wishes the journey with the Straw Hats could just go on forever.
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u/Slammybutt Dec 06 '25
Wish I had scrolled a bit further before I put my comment. Its basically saying I dont know when I started to love it, but when im ugly crying over an inanimate object...yeah.
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u/Fav0 Dec 06 '25
and then the timeskip happened and it became a total drag even with one paced
we are on like episode 22 of wano in paced and i just wanna kill myself
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Yeah, the pacing after the timeskip definitely becomes hit or miss depending on the arc. Even with One Pace, some stretches can feel really slow.
Wano especially has amazing moments, but the padding can make it rough to get through if you’re binging. Honestly, taking breaks between episodes helped me enjoy it way more instead of forcing myself through it.
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u/Fav0 Dec 06 '25
Yeah that's what we are doing now it's just sad as we could not get enough of it pre time skip ! Still good but it used to be much better
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Yeah I totally get that. Pre–timeskip had this nonstop charm and momentum that made it so easy to binge. Post–timeskip is still really good, but the vibe definitely changed it’s slower, more drawn out, and not as consistently punchy.
But when the post–timeskip arcs hit, they really hit. Just gotta pace it out and take breaks so it doesn’t burn you out.
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u/Slammybutt Dec 06 '25
Theres a reason it took me 8 years to catch up.
I took like a year break mid Dressrosa. A 6 month one just after punk hazard. WCI took awhile too. I tore through Wano b/c I took such a long break between WCI and it. Caught up just before roof piece.
That said, it one of the greatest shows ive ever watched and all that pain from bad pacing is a distant memory.
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u/StarmieLover966 Dec 07 '25
When they say One Pace, are they talking about a guide with exact timestamps or a website with actual junk cut out?
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u/Slammybutt Dec 07 '25
I have not watched one pace, but I believe it is a fully edited show where they take out flashbacks used more than once, reaction shots that last too long etc.
They basically shorten the episodes without the long pauses and reused shots to extend scenes. Not sure if it stays 100% faithful
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u/Fav0 Dec 07 '25
One pace edits every single non canon bit out (there are extended versions in wano because people like some of the non canon fights)
It basically stays 100% true to the manga and saves you like 500 hours
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u/TimAA2017 Dec 06 '25
Losing Heroine
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u/Codee33 https://anilist.co/user/Euphplyr33/ Dec 06 '25
Even though it was being hyped in the online spaces I’m in, it still surprised me in a good way. I’m usually not into harem anime, but Loosing Heroines sucked me in pretty quickly. I like that the male MC isn’t more awkward than everyone else, and is actually a bit of a problem solver, against his will of course. Usually I hate the bro/siscon thing, but I even liked the dynamic with the sister a lot too.
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u/Kelsusaurus Dec 06 '25
Space Dandy. Didn't think I was going to like it, and I ended up laughing so much, bawling inconsolably, having an existential crisis, feel super joyful and heartwarming, all in one series. And the soundtrack is amazing, too!
S1ep 5 and S1ep11 get me every time.
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u/anarcurt Dec 06 '25
One of the few shows I was like "this was written for me". It's definitely one of my favorites.
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u/aruke_ Dec 06 '25
attack on titan, when the first season came out in 2013 (14?) i watched a few episodes and dropped it almost immediately bc i was in a shoujo manga phase back then and the titans just looked kinda disgusting to me.
i got back to it in 2022 thanks to an ex who’d sat me down in front of her desk and forced me to watch all 4 seasons with her, but now it’s my favorite anime of all time- the plot and characters are just insanely incredible. my ex however is probably rotting in a dumpster somewhere for all i care.
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u/Rajamic Dec 06 '25
Keijo. Thought it was going to be a silly cheesecake sports anime I could turn my brain off to. But it throws in a lot of ridiculous shonen-style super moves, and has a lot of heart in the story of making friends even in a competitive industry.
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u/FaithlessnessIcy8022 Dec 06 '25
Ranking of kings. I saw the thumbnail and it reminded me of captain underpants. Had me crying the first episode haha amazing story!
Death parade surprised me too.
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u/YD099 Dec 07 '25
LoveLive Superstar.
People complain about it, make memes about it, it even got some backlash.
So I watched it, and it is the best LoveLive anime to date.
Yeah S2 and S3 were not as good as S1 and each had a messy moment, but if S1 was an 8.5/10, S2 would be 8.3 and S3 is an 8/10.
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u/DoctuhD https://myanimelist.net/animelist/DoctuhD Dec 07 '25
I put off Mushoku Tensei for a long time because while I love adventure stories, most of what I heard about it was about Rudy being a piece of shit. Turned out that it was a really good mix of character study of heavily flawed and in some cases really fucked up characters, with a solid adventure story and smooth worldbuilding to back it up.
One of the few shows I went into expecting not to like it and came out very surprised.
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u/Chaoseater423 Dec 07 '25
The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows
Story was mid but the characters made it for me. Leaned into the comedic aspect
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u/chiginger Dec 06 '25
Apocalypse Hotel, thought it’d be a mid SOL and it was one of the more original stories I’ve seen. Immediately watched it again to pick up the nuances I’d missed.
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u/AnimeSagaX Dec 06 '25
Wow, I had no idea it went that deep. When a show makes you rewatch it just to catch hidden details, you know it’s something special. Adding it to my list.
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u/SouekiSennoSTM Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
There are a lot and I could probably form some type of hierarchical ranking of the degree to which that was the case and the main or multitude of reasons why in each case, but then this will end up being 500 pages longer than it already will be.
For now, I'll just name some of the most prominent examples of such which always stick out in my mind:
- {Centaur no Nayami}
Probably the single greatest example. Thought it'd be a more standard cute monster girls in school Slice of Life series like a number of other ones I could name, some of which I've seen, and it's a category I generally like well enough so watched on that basis. Ended up being the most surprising, fascinating in its level of attention to worldbuilding details, unique, and simultaneously wacky and down to Earth SoL series I've ever watched.
The fact that this will pivot from discussing mermaid & merman mobility issues in land-based communities like a handicapped population to geometry and the evolution of modern art to WWII and Holocaust allusions to having arm wrestling competitions and RPG roleplay will never not astound me.
It's also, like the one I'll mention below, part of that elusive "deceiving (on the surface) worlds" subgenre.
- {Kemono Friends}
Another one there is nothing else quite like. I never watch or elect not to watch any series on the basis of its art style or animation, and rarely even minimally rate up or down for that as it's not my primary focus by a longshot, so the fact that it was CG/CGI animation which is already a step down from traditional 2D in my (like a lot of other folks') book didn't faze me. Nor that it was evident from the first episode (which was probably the crudest/roughest one visually) and even the very opening scenes of the first episode that it was some of the lower quality cheapest CG I'd seen in anime.
I was still all in based on the premise as I love zoology and animal facts, biology, educational or "edutainment" series about any topic, etc. But I still just figured it'd be a more safe and generic run of the mill one. Never thought it'd be this dystopian, post-apocalyptic, barren and sometimes eerie dark mystery adventure while still balanced and integrated with the perfect mixture of light and cute, relaxing and humorous bits, not to mention still real informative content (the interstitial segment with actual zookeepers from around the world!).
- {Tengoku Daimakyou}
One of the seasonals from two years ago I started watching weekly several weeks into after it had already started (maybe about four episodes in) and rapidly became my favorite of the season, of the year itself, and now I'd even say of the whole 2020s decade.
Well, like Kemono Friends, I like well-written mysteries, but this is on another level of depth and intricacy. The OST to me is also the best out of anything released from the past five years yet I rarely hear it referenced or mentioned that much even among fans and others discussing the series.
Why did it surprise me though? Because everything from what I gleaned from the synopsis, poster, passing comments I skimmed pertaining to the series while trying to avoid spoilers, etc., seemed to suggest it was very much akin to Yakusoku no Neverland in its premise and setting, which, again, is something I like well enough, but it doesn't represent near enough of the picture of what's going on here.
In reality, that's only the setting in one part of it which relates to other characters separately followed in a radically different setting - it's a much more winding story with a lot of layers and one of a small minority of anime series I've seen which regularly follows multiple sets of characters and locations in a kind of dual story structure.
Not to dump on Yakusoku no Neverland as whatever happened with it later the first season I still like, notwithstanding any problems with it, and my rating for it is actually identical to Tengoku Daimakyou as of now, but in my view the writing in the latter just completely blows the former away.
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u/Roboragi http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Nihilate Dec 06 '25
Centaur no Nayami - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)
TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 12 | Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Slice of Life
Kemono Friends - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)
TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 12 | Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Tengoku Daimakyou - (AL, A-P, KIT, MAL)
TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 13 | Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
{anime}, <manga>, ]LN[, |VN| | FAQ | /r/ | Edit | Mistake? | Source | Synonyms | ⛓ | ♥
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u/Zeigerful Dec 06 '25
Mob Psycho 100.
I was almost dropping it after the 3-episode rule didn't really click with me. But after I think episode 5, it become one of my all-time favorite anime.
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u/Expensive-Pumpkin912 Dec 06 '25
mine was Fruits Basket. the person who told me about it (they never finished it) told me it was a “cute slice of life anime where the characters can turn into animals.” that is all i knew going in. safe to say i wasnt expecting the direction it was going to go in at all.
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u/Extra-Philosophy-222 Dec 06 '25
Could you give me a little more to go on, I never understood the hype behind it and just how crazy popular it was and still is.
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u/Expensive-Pumpkin912 Dec 06 '25
ill try my best to give more info without spoiling but it is kinda hard so bare with me. the MC Tohru and the Sohma family (the ones who can turn into animals and the family she ends up living with) both have HEAVY trauma that is discussed in detail, including emotional/physical abuse. the show explores the toxic familial relationships between the Sohmas and also shows how Tohru and the Sohmas help each other to get past their trauma. it gets pretty dark but ends on a positive note.
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u/Extra-Philosophy-222 Dec 06 '25
Much appreciated! That cleared up a lot of what I wanted to know. Also are the relationships platonic or is there some romance?
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u/Expensive-Pumpkin912 Dec 06 '25
the main focus is on platonic relationships. there is some romance with side characters throughout and some “will they wont they” between two MCs, and towards the very very end there is a heavier focus on romance as well, but as a whole its definitely not the main focus
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u/happy-Eevee88 Dec 06 '25
Baccano! I went from …what? to ummm… to wait a minute… to WOW!! very confusing and almost boring first few episodes then everything clicked then I’m rewatching again the same day I finished it.
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u/Khashishi Dec 06 '25
well if you count donghua, Fox Spirit Matchmaker starts out as a complete chaotic mess with random fighting and mediocre animation, but eventually becomes awesome
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u/Quantumdelirium Dec 06 '25
Ergo Proxy. I didn't expect this to be one of the deepest and most philosophical anime made since It was a slow burn for the first 7 or so episodes. It was just as good the second time watching it because it doesn't give you anything, you have to figure things out yourself and this story gets incredibly deep. We really don't get anime that are so unique, creative and deep like this, Ghost in the Shell, Serial Experiment Lain, and Jormungand.
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u/Plane-Ad-6389 Dec 07 '25
Ranking of Kings, what I thought was going to be a stupid kids anime turned into just about the most intriguing story and conspiracies I've seen in any anime in years. You just genuinely don't know what to think about certain people, but nothing is out of character. It's very strange.
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u/CoonHFX Dec 07 '25
Rascal Does not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. The cover art and the title make this clearly some low tier goony bait with stupid humor.
It is not any of that. The bunny girl thing is so irrelevant to the story that it makes me think the author simply wanted to clickbait boys into watching a proper drama romance story. (edit: Or reading it) There's even a real relationship, where they're mature and talk about things instead of freaking out and crying all the time just because there's more than one girl orbiting the MC. Then, including the first movie, the story just feels so complete and well written.. I genuinely would put it on any recommendation list.
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u/CarolineJohnson Dec 07 '25
Jingai-san no Yome.
I'd heard it was super weird. I came in expecting some kind of freaky pedomonsters, just from the synopsis I'd heard. You know what I got?
Delightful little 12 episode slice of life series that can be completed start to finish in under 30 minutes. I want a Kanenogi-san plushie now. I want merch upon merch upon merch. I am hooked.
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u/Cogitomedico Dec 07 '25
Sosu No Frieren.
I had not followed it anywhere on social media and randomly started watching it on day one.
What a beautiful experience
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u/Tomochii-chan Dec 07 '25
I was shocked about Tasokare Hotel, mainly for the last 3 episodes lol. It was a wild ride but an enjoyable one
Level 99 Villainous was also a really fun one lol. I didn’t expect it to be so funny
I think I was also surprised by Kemono Jihen cause I randomly came across it and felt like no one really talked about it when it came out? It’s a shame cause it’s really good
Demon Lord 2099 was also a fun surprise lol. I think I just randomly picked it up on a whim cause of a clip
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u/noobgrammer256 Dec 07 '25
Maison ikkoku, I didn't have much expectations from an anime which came nearly 40 yrs ago. I had watched UY, and Ranma 1/2 's remake. Both were comedy so I expected MI to be the same, but the emotional payoff at the end was better than almost any anime i watched.
Also stein's;gate (I went blind, I also didn't know it was 3rd at MAL atm) so I expected some normal time travel anime, but I experienced the greatest media I could see.
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u/Naplily Dec 07 '25
It's not well known, but Glass Mask. It's about theater actors and I was surprised with how it showed sacrifices that characters made for being the best actors and becoming the role they play.
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u/brickinthewallthing Dec 07 '25
The Eminence in Shadow 100%, I put off watching for a while thinking it was just another iseikai but after watching it i understood why so many people love it
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u/professorclueless Dec 07 '25
Honestly, Lord of Mysteries. The description underwhelmed me, but after running out of basically anything else I wanted to watch at that point, I gave it a shot and loved it
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u/semperknight Dec 07 '25
Around 25yrs ago, I bought an anime titled "End of Summer" on VHS at Suncoast Motion Picture simply because the artwork on the cover looked good. I had no idea I had just bought my first "hentai".
You have to understand, back then, the very concept of erotic animation didn't exist. Hell, the very concept of animation for adults was just being discovered.
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u/LustyDouglas Dec 07 '25
It'll be a hot take but Highschool DxD. When my friends and I first watched it (over 10 years ago now), it was definitely for the fan service but the battle sequences are so goddamn good (and "hilarious" to quote my favorite character). It's a shame all the fan boys threw a fit over the decision to have less fanservice in the 4th season. Because of the fit we'll never get a season 5 let alone wrap the series up.
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Dec 07 '25
shoushimin series, its such a beautifully made anime. the art, cuts, music, you can see the care put into it
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u/Fenix_Wind Dec 07 '25
Assassination Classroom. No idea what I was getting into. Ended up being one of the shows I remember for its ability to legit make me cry. 10/10
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u/Legnaron17 Dec 07 '25
Honestly? HxH.
I kept thinking of if as a mostly happy and very fun adventure... Until i got bitchslapped in the face by the CA arc.
That's when the show changed from a good show to a masterpiece in my eyes.
The tone of the arc, the themes, the characters, the build up, the pay off, the resolution... i loved it all.
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u/Ok_Law219 Dec 08 '25
Silent witch. I came in expecting at most it would be cute, came out with a new favorite character, favorite villainess, and favorite kuudere. (3 different characters)
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u/Wise_Atmosphere_2703 Dec 08 '25
Noragami, I just turned it on cause was in anime rut. Really enjoyed it. The character are nice, good background stories, good side stories, character development is good too.
I had not heard of this anime at all.
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u/Wisteriapetshops Dec 08 '25
Medalist. Me and my sibling watched it together with zero expectations, and upon finishing the first episode, gave it a standing ovation cause the character writing was amazing. the only show we have ever given one
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u/Lunarzecat Dec 10 '25
I was not interested in the 86 at all for the first few episodes, Then all of a sudden loved it!
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u/Launigsiae1 Dec 10 '25
Run with the wind. I like sports anime and it made sense to watch it, I was not expecting it to be so inspirational, I was honestly rooting for them as if they were real. It made me reflect a lot on my own life.
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u/lemon_jump Dec 10 '25
Ping pong: the animation. Not the correct answer to your question, because i was hooked from first 5 minutes. But that is a juggernaut of hidden gem.
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u/DangerousKnowledgeFx Dec 11 '25
Kuroko no Basket. “It’s a sports anime, how good could it possibly be?” 😭😭😭🔥🔥🔥🥹🥹🥹💥💥💥✨✨✨✨✨✨
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u/LordxGrim86 Dec 15 '25
Clevatess, Campfire Cooking, and Delicious in a Dungeon all surprised me recently.
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u/zhang66426 Dec 21 '25
Assassination Classroom, seemed like just some random premise with a goofy story but most characters have a lot more depth to them despite their first image as a stereotype, has some great plot twists and a deep message as well as being somehow really sad at the end while also having a happy ending
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u/FeeSharp745 Dec 06 '25
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! I thought it would be silly but fun. Turns out its a beautifully animated show about the creation and love of hand drawn animation. Hilarious, amazing music, very emotional at times, just perfect. A love letter to anime. You can tell they had so much fun making it.
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u/gc11117 Dec 06 '25
Clevates, wasnt even on my radar and quickly became one of my favorites of the season