Worst anime series of 2025 that failed to meet expectations
Some had production issues, others were plagued by terrible pacing or forgettable characters, and a few simply lacked direction altogether. Even star creators and beloved source material couldn't save these titles from spiraling into mediocrity—or worse. Below is a breakdown of the most underwhelming anime series of the season, as selected by the Anime News Network, and why they failed to live up to the expectations of fans and critics alike.
List of worst anime that are biggest disappointments of 2025 as cited by Anime News Network
7. #COMPASS2.0 ANIMATION PROJECT: A beige battle royale
Attempting to blend elements of Fate/stay night and .hack, this adaptation of a mobile 3v3 battle game felt like an uninspired mishmash of better shows. With bland visuals, unmemorable fights, and barely any world-building, #COMPASS2.0 lacked identity and engagement. Even its main characters failed to leave an impression, and the story felt like a copy-paste job with the opacity turned down. Gacha adaptations usually shine through quirky or charming characters, but this one couldn't even manage that.
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6. The Shiunji Family Children: Mixed messages and mild misery
What could have been a thoughtful exploration of familial boundaries and identity became another cookie-cutter harem with uncomfortable themes. The series attempts to tackle taboo step-sibling romance with some depth, but quickly abandons nuance in favour of tired anime tropes like awkward fanservice and forced romantic setups. Instead of making a statement, it constantly contradicts itself, creating an experience that's both boring and cringe-inducing.
5. Yandere Dark Elf: Not crazy enough to be fun
Despite its provocative title, Yandere Dark Elf lacks both the intensity and entertainment one might expect. Its supposedly obsessive protagonist is mostly tame, and the romantic dynamic never moves past mildly awkward flirting. Even the ecchi elements fall flat due to lazy animation and heavy censorship. With no real drama, no standout visuals, and no edge, the show is little more than a hollow fantasy.
4. Go! Go! Loser Ranger! Season 2: Style over substance
Season 1 offered clever satire and exciting energy, but Season 2 spirals into chaotic pacing and storytelling overload.
Plot twists are stacked too quickly for any to land meaningfully, and the production quality noticeably drops. What should have been a climactic season feels rushed and confusing, leaving fans wondering what happened to the slick, smart storytelling of the original.
3. The Beginning After The End: A misfire from the Start
Adapted from a popular web novel and webtoon, The Beginning After The End suffers from flat visuals and even flatter characters. While the production meets minimal standards, the writing is stale and overly reliant on genre clichés.
Its protagonist, meant to be a unique reincarnated king, ends up as another overpowered and underdeveloped isekai lead surrounded by lifeless side characters. Even fans of the source material found little to praise.
2. Lazarus: Wasted talent and empty promises
With names like Shinichirō Watanabe and John Wick's Chad Stahelski attached, Lazarus had sky-high expectations. But instead of a gripping sci-fi thriller, viewers got a confusing mess of disconnected plotlines, weak character writing, and music that only made the pacing feel more sluggish.
Despite excellent action choreography and visual potential, the show fails to make viewers care about any of its characters or its supposedly urgent stakes.
1. Your Forma: The Sci-fi thriller that forgot its story
Topping the list is Your Forma, a sci-fi detective drama with a compelling premise that falls apart due to one fatal flaw—it skips the first volume of its own story. Viewers unfamiliar with the light novels are thrown into a confusing world with no context or character development. While it tries to explore themes of AI and memory, it instead becomes a frustrating watch full of bland visuals, awkward pacing, and an incompetent protagonist who spends more time being rescued than solving anything.
A promising concept wasted by a bafflingly bad adaptation.
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