Some of the bestanimeseries ever pull viewers in right at the starting line, and refuse to let go until the final credits roll. Even more recent shows likeMob Psycho 100andChainsaw Manhave celebrated debut episodes that have been extremely successful in stealing the audience’s attention. However,not every great anime series is able to get off to a particularly hot start.
Certain narratives require careful world building, which can take several episodes before viewers are able to get to the meat of a story. Other shows might simply improve drastically over the course of a season. Where countless other anime series might lose stamina after a strong opening,these titles can often use slow starts to slingshot them to greater heights down the line. However, slower starts can also turn viewers away, stopping them just before they reach the goldmine. For a number of shows, fans would be wise to stick it out.
Black Cloveris one of the more difficult battle shōnen series to get into. The beginning portions of the anime have their problems, which isn’t exactly rare for most titles in the genre, butBlack Cloverdoes pose a bit of a challenge to new viewers. Not only does it start slow, but countless anime fans have been turned off by its incredibly divisive protagonist, Asta.
For those having trouble getting intoBlack Clover, but are generally enjoying the visual style and magic system, the series begins to shift into gear around the 20-episode mark or so. The remainder of the series isbattle shōnen at its finest, with flashy fights sprinkled throughout a relatively even-paced narrative. Unfortunately,Black Cloverentered a long hiatus following the completion of its fourth season,and it is still unknown when the anime will return.
A 2000s romantic comedy classic,Toradora!is remembered fondly and still widely enjoyed today, remaining a staple series for the early journeys of countless budding romance anime fans. However, many will be quick to claim that the anime isn’t perfect.Early on,Toradora!is prone to slowing to a crawl, and spends far too much time with its focus away from the development of its two main characters.
A Big Rule Broken - How a Beloved Anime Created One of the Best Christmas Episodes Ever
While many romance anime use Christmas-themed episodes as adorable filler content, Toradora subverted this expectation in a big way.
Even worse, Taiga is often not very enjoyable during her screen time, which would otherwise be a death sentence for a romance series,thoughToradora!is able to reign itself in for its second half. If viewers can get past the anime’s slow opening section and into the drama that comes later, there are plenty of heartwarming, wholesome moments to be found.
8Bakemonogatari
Animated by Shaft (2009–2010)
Bakemonogatari, the first anime entry into theMonogatariseries, is legendary. A hit at the time of its premiere, and a staple for anime fans once they begin to dive a bit deeper into the medium, the series has built itself a reputation as a must-watch show in certain corners of the anime community. There is a bit of an issue with it, however. TheMonogatariseries is incredibly intimidating from the outside looking in,andBakemonogatariisn’t exactly the easiest show to get into.
10 Best Studio Shaft Anime
Studio Shaft has been led by directors Shinbo Akiyuki, Oonuma Shin, and Oishi Tatsuya towards creating an impressive collection of anime series.
A slow start isn’t quite the best way to describeBakemonogatari’s opening. In fact, as a whole, theMonogatariseries is incredibly fast-paced. What puts many off is its dialogue-heavy experience and just the right number of smash cuts to give an unsuspecting viewer whiplash.There’s an adjustment period when getting intoBakemonogatarifor the first time, but its unique structure tends to pull viewers in before they can notice.
Contrary to what many may think, and despite an explosive first episode,Attack on Titantakes some time to find its footing. Following the appearance of the Colossal Titan and the destruction of the town, the series takes a step back from the action in order to build upon the apocalyptic world in which Attackon Titantakes place. The next few episodes follow the series' main trio joining the military and going through their training.
This structure of action followed by extended, slower-paced sectionsmakes up the majority of the anime’s first season, and if viewers aren’t immediately won over, they might have a difficult time getting into the series. AsAttack on Titanprogresses, however, and the world in which the narrative takes place is established,the story of the downfall of Eren Yeagerbecomes incredibly difficult to look away from, and the series' lasting popularity proves as such.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis based on the original manga by Hiromu Arakawa, and is a reboot of 2003’sFullmetal Alchemistanime adaptation. While regarded as one of the greatest anime series of all time by countless fans, the show begins on a bit of a rough note. Rather than slowgoing in its early sections,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodblazes through sections already covered by its previous adaptation, making it somewhat difficult for viewers to sink their teeth into the series.
Fullmetal Alchemist Creator’s New Sci-Fi Anime, Moonrise, Gets Epic Trailer And Official Netflix Release Date
Moonrise is an upcoming Netflix anime made in collaboration with Fullmetal Alchemist’s Hiromu Arakawa, and it’s just released a brand-new trailer.
Without first watching the 2003 anime, its successor canscare viewers away with its rapid progression from one story beat to the next. However, once it reaches the point where the original anime diverges from the source material,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodsettles into itself and eventually arrives at one of thegreatest final acts in anime history.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
As ifJojo’sBizarre Adventurewasn’t a difficult sell already,its first part,Phantom Blood, doesn’t exactly do the anime any favors. The section isn’t bad by any means, nor is it particularly slow moving for the sake of world building. Rather,Phantom Bloodis a somewhat strange experience because ofjust how different a tone the arc takes compared to the rest of the series. For anyone going into the series with expectations of what’s to come later, its opening section may come as a surprise.
However, by its tenth episode,Jojo’s Bizarre Adventuremoves into its second part,Battle Tendency,which picks up the pace and begins to get into what the series is all about. It might be even more difficult for the average anime viewer to become acquainted with the series if they approach it with no expectations at all, given how strange a show it is. Though it’s near guaranteed that anyone who sticks withJojo’swill fall into its grasp eventually.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is Waris one of the most popular romantic comedy anime series in recent years. Based on the original manga byOshi no Koauthor, Aka Akasaka, the series thrives on its interconnected cast of well-written characters andunique presentation of romance. In its earliest sections, though, the animesuffers from a problem that’s relatively common within its genre.
Tired of The Notebook? These Anime Romances Are Guaranteed to Leave You Breathless
Sometimes you don’t have time to watch a whole romance series, so here are 10 amazing romance anime films for the perfect movie night!
Kaguya-sama’s early episodes all follow a similar structure, in which the series' two main characters enter into psychological warfare with one another, usually culminating in a twistedly wholesome interaction by the time the dust settles on their antics.There isn’t much direction or any overarching plot to speak of, but the anime dives deep into drama once it gets going.
Advertised as a run-of-the-mill magical girl anime series, 2011’sPuella Magi Madoka Magicais home toone of the most unexpected tonal shifts in anime history. Rather than focusing on pretty outfits, powerful abilities, and romance,Madoka Magicaflips the magical girl genre on its head, revealing something quite a bit darker than anyone could have expected. Cold, lonely, and unforgiving, the anime’s portrayal of the lives of magical girls is unlike anything that came before.
However, the viewermust stick around long enough for the show’s secrets to be revealed. It doesn’t take too long for the series to begin throwing hints that not everything is quite as it seems, though its opening episodes are status quo enough to convince the viewer that they’re likely in for just a more extreme magical girl anime. It isn’t until a bit later that the descent into despair truly begins, andthe major twist towards the endof the series makes all the waiting worth it.
For a series ashighly regarded asClannadhas been since release, the anime gets off to an incredibly slow start. Not only are many of its secrets hidden well down the road,but it opens on what is arguably its weakest arc. In true visual novel fashion, each ofClannad’s main girls is given their own dedicated section, and the anime begins by focusing on a mysterious student named Fuko. Nine starfish-centered episodes later, and the series finally moves on towards its next, much more interesting character.
10 Amazing Romance Anime That Are Perfect for Adult Fans Too
Tired of watching high school romance anime with repeating tropes? Here are 10 amazing romance anime that tackle adult life and themes.
Even the biggest fans ofClannadtend to admit that its opening act is weak, and many might confess to only continuing forward because of the show’s reputation. However,it quickly becomes apparent that sticking with the series is worth it, as the later portions ofClannad’s first season, alongside its unexpectedly devastating second half, absolutely live up to the hype.
Steins;Gateis one of the rare instances of time travel not just being done well in anime, but also being the core foundation of one of the most acclaimed anime series ever made. By the timeSteins;Gatereaches its final act, the series takes its audience through a seeminglyendless number of twists and turnsthat culminate in a suspenseful, emotional roller coaster of an ending. Its opening section, on the other hand,is quite a bit slower than what comes down the road.
Much of the first half of the series is spent establishingSteins;Gate’s somewhat large cast of characters. LikeClannad, the visual novel style of storytelling can make for a few sections that drag a bit longer than most would like. However,the anime kicks it into high gear around the 10-episode mark and never looks back, making the wait well worth it. Sometimes, an anime can benefit by leaving its viewers in suspense, and a slow build often makes the payoff that much greater later on, so long as the audience sticks around.
