Nikorasuuuu's Guide to Trash Animation
AnimeSpoiler
Everyone who knows me well probably also knows that I'm kind of known as a "connoisseur of bad anime". And that would be right! I have a thing for indulging myself with trash and I can't really explain why.
So, I decided to make a "guide" for bad anime: Pick everything, the worst mistakes made by human hands, but also what had an impact for me, and put everything in a refined selection of garbage. These would be my choices for an anime, if it where to watch something bad, something for you to laugh, or even something that would make you seethe.
This is my selection of bad anime. Feel free to choose something, and have fun (or cry too if you will, idk).
(My native language is portuguese, but I'll try to put on a good english here.)
So, I decided to make a "guide" for bad anime: Pick everything, the worst mistakes made by human hands, but also what had an impact for me, and put everything in a refined selection of garbage. These would be my choices for an anime, if it where to watch something bad, something for you to laugh, or even something that would make you seethe.
This is my selection of bad anime. Feel free to choose something, and have fun (or cry too if you will, idk).
(My native language is portuguese, but I'll try to put on a good english here.)
Movie, 1986,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:2
Creation of the great novel writer Yumemakura Baku and designed by Final Fantasy idealizer Yoshitaka Amano, Amon Saga could be an epic storytale about a fearless fighter in a quest for revenge... But that would be exaggerating a lot.
Amon Saga is funny for being almost completely action-based and having some of the worst action scenes I've ever seen. If you talk with people who watched it, they'll probably mention its ending sequence as it makes you cringe with how... amusing it is.
Amon Saga is funny for being almost completely action-based and having some of the worst action scenes I've ever seen. If you talk with people who watched it, they'll probably mention its ending sequence as it makes you cringe with how... amusing it is.
OVA, 1990,
2 eps
Me:-
Author:4
Ankoku Shinwa (or "Dark Myth" in the Manga Entertainment release) is a good option for being absolutely confusing.
Ankoku Shinwa does something that's not really common with modern anime, that's using the japanese religion and mythology and mixing it with a more suspense, action-based scenery, specially in a modern (the 90s, in this case) setting. Sadly, all of this becomes something more for showoff and less for an actual sense.
Still, it can be a good anime for people who want to search about the japanese history mythos.
Ankoku Shinwa does something that's not really common with modern anime, that's using the japanese religion and mythology and mixing it with a more suspense, action-based scenery, specially in a modern (the 90s, in this case) setting. Sadly, all of this becomes something more for showoff and less for an actual sense.
Still, it can be a good anime for people who want to search about the japanese history mythos.
TV, 2016,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:1
I'm not xenophobic, so I would say at least one anime from China or Korea should be here. And my personal choice was Bloodivores, based on the chinese webcomic "Shíkōng Qiútú" (or "Space-Time Prisoners", since you probably can't read chinese).
A vampire-themed series, Bloodivores achieves the feat of being boring even when it tries so hard to show action. The story is dumb and the animation is bad, even for its year's (2016) standards. (Which, by the way, is something that chinese studios are thankfully changing with newer anime.)
A vampire-themed series, Bloodivores achieves the feat of being boring even when it tries so hard to show action. The story is dumb and the animation is bad, even for its year's (2016) standards. (Which, by the way, is something that chinese studios are thankfully changing with newer anime.)
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:2
A strange title that had the luck of being released in the US by Arts Magic, Blue Remains gets a seat on the list for not only looking like a Playstation One game, but also because it has one of the worst consistencies for an anime of its type.
And what do I mean with "consistency"? I mean that some scenes are in 30 fps, some are in 60 fps, some are in... what, 10 fps? The fluidity is easily broken every five seconds, so this could easily give you a headache.
Recommended for masochists.
And what do I mean with "consistency"? I mean that some scenes are in 30 fps, some are in 60 fps, some are in... what, 10 fps? The fluidity is easily broken every five seconds, so this could easily give you a headache.
Recommended for masochists.
TV, 2004,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:1
Besides being awfully mid during almost the entire series, I think it's worth it to add Boukyaku no Senritsu to this list for its terrible, horrifying ending arc.
Remember what they about Darling in the FranXX? That the last arc ruined the entire anime? Well, they probably didn't watch this. Boukyaku no Senritsu will change your perception of what a truly terrifying ending arc is. (It's also a space arc, so that's a bonus for those people who think Darling is the worse.)
Remember what they about Darling in the FranXX? That the last arc ruined the entire anime? Well, they probably didn't watch this. Boukyaku no Senritsu will change your perception of what a truly terrifying ending arc is. (It's also a space arc, so that's a bonus for those people who think Darling is the worse.)
Movie, 1992,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
While I wouldn't exactly consider Shoujo Tsubaki to be a "terrible anime", the movie has gained the infamy of being one. Based on the 80s manga by Suehiro Maruo, deemed one of the masters of Ero-Guro art, the 1992 adaptation produced by Hiroshi Harada is... rough, to say the least. Being a 5-year project started in 1987 and basically entirely handed by him, Midori was made in harsh conditions, and to the day, an uncut version of it was never publically or officially released.
Thanks to Cine Malta, a cut version was made avaliable in DVD with english subtitles, so fortunately, not everything is lost.
Thanks to Cine Malta, a cut version was made avaliable in DVD with english subtitles, so fortunately, not everything is lost.
OVA, 2000,
3 eps
Me:-
Author:2
While AIC did a pretty good job with the animation/character design and the OVA was released on the US, Sousei Seiki De:Vadasy may probably be best known for being the perverted, horny clone of Evangelion.
It has a trashy history, characters with... strange tastes (if you understand what I mean), and, overall and unfortunately, too little time to actually develop into something decent. But for mecha fans, it would surely be a good recommendation of mine for those who want to delve in the weird ocean of giant-robot animations.
It has a trashy history, characters with... strange tastes (if you understand what I mean), and, overall and unfortunately, too little time to actually develop into something decent. But for mecha fans, it would surely be a good recommendation of mine for those who want to delve in the weird ocean of giant-robot animations.
OVA, 2003,
2 eps
Me:-
Author:1
An infamous ecchi OVA, that to this day dominates the internet and forums with its galore of boob-jiggle-gifs.
Even when I myself am a huge ecchi and H-anime fan, Eiken is just not that good for me. And, for some people, Eiken would not just be bad, but also "disgusting". It has all kinds of crude jokes involving tits, panties, and everything nosebleed-related possible. Densuke is mostly unlikeable, the animation and character design is very inconsistent, and overall, it's just really, really bland.
At least the big-breasted girls are pretty.
Even when I myself am a huge ecchi and H-anime fan, Eiken is just not that good for me. And, for some people, Eiken would not just be bad, but also "disgusting". It has all kinds of crude jokes involving tits, panties, and everything nosebleed-related possible. Densuke is mostly unlikeable, the animation and character design is very inconsistent, and overall, it's just really, really bland.
At least the big-breasted girls are pretty.
TV, 1971,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:1
Fushigi na Melmo easily enters this list for probably being not only one of the worst works by Osamu Tezuka, but also for being absolutely depraved.
It continuously shows creepy scenes involving kids, babies, and animals. Most of the stuff that happens on it couldn't even be described here, and I won't try.
Even if he has worked with dozens and dozens of better titles, this anime's still a good recommendation for people interested in Tezuka's creations.
It continuously shows creepy scenes involving kids, babies, and animals. Most of the stuff that happens on it couldn't even be described here, and I won't try.
Even if he has worked with dozens and dozens of better titles, this anime's still a good recommendation for people interested in Tezuka's creations.
OVA, 2001,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
Some would say that Idea Factory could be called "The Godfather of Terrible Anime", due to the extense list of low-quality animations they have released until the current day. While most know the studio thanks to popular cases like Skelter+Heaven and Hametsu no Mars, I decided to include Generation of Chaos on this list in their places for some reasons - it's their longest OVA series (counting all the three parts, four episodes released from 2001 to 2003), and also the one who DRAGS the most.
Generation of Chaos was, for me, one of those OVAs that look like they start, continue, and never, never finish. Absolutely nothing interesting or useful happens, and when it happens, you'll probably be frustrated with how idiotic the anime can be.
Generation of Chaos was, for me, one of those OVAs that look like they start, continue, and never, never finish. Absolutely nothing interesting or useful happens, and when it happens, you'll probably be frustrated with how idiotic the anime can be.
OVA, 1985,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:2
From studio Sunrise legend Tomonori Kogawa, the fantasy OVA Greed, unlike Dunbine, unfortunately fell flat. Greed ended being one of the most boring and uninteresting entries of the genre I'd ever seen.
Even if some things may look good on it, that pace is quickly broken by the bad animation, bad script, bad characters... Knowing this comes from the hands of a legend, Greed just turns out to be extremely disappointing.
Even if some things may look good on it, that pace is quickly broken by the bad animation, bad script, bad characters... Knowing this comes from the hands of a legend, Greed just turns out to be extremely disappointing.
TV, 2002,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:1
Leiji Matsumoto left a huge legacy, and that's something you can't disagree. Even when he's known for being the creator of great series like Yamato, Captain Herlock and Ginga Tetsudou 999, Matsumoto wasn't perfect, and Gun Frontier is probably the best example possible for that, as it may very well be one of his worst animations.
Based on a short manga started in 1972, Gun Frontier is frustratingly bad. The comedy always relies on the same types of jokes (which usually include naked women), and the anime's conclusion made me absolutely enraged for its cowardice. There are few, very few redeeming things on Gun Frontier.
Based on a short manga started in 1972, Gun Frontier is frustratingly bad. The comedy always relies on the same types of jokes (which usually include naked women), and the anime's conclusion made me absolutely enraged for its cowardice. There are few, very few redeeming things on Gun Frontier.
Movie, 2011,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:2
Junji Ito is not only known for his endless stream of horror mangas and one-shots, but also for their terrible adaptations. And from all of them, Gyo is the absolute worst.
Besides having a plot that differs considerably from the manga (while the manga focuses on Tadashi, the movie focuses on Kaori instead), the movie has almost no redeemable quality and is disservice for fans of Ito's works. It features bad animation and CG, uninteresting and irritating characters, and scenes that make no sense at all.
Besides having a plot that differs considerably from the manga (while the manga focuses on Tadashi, the movie focuses on Kaori instead), the movie has almost no redeemable quality and is disservice for fans of Ito's works. It features bad animation and CG, uninteresting and irritating characters, and scenes that make no sense at all.
TV, 2006,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:4
I would feel guilty if I did not include Hanoka on this list, as it's not only a terrible "anime", but also one I honestly kinda like!
And I say "anime", because Hanoka is well-known for two things:
1. Being entirely made with Adobe Flash.
2. Looking like ass.
Thankfully, it's short (less than one hour, if not counting the openings) and isn't too hard to find on the internet. And if you like it, you can also check some other animations made by Aruji Morino, the creator of Hanoka, in his official Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Morinono99
And I say "anime", because Hanoka is well-known for two things:
1. Being entirely made with Adobe Flash.
2. Looking like ass.
Thankfully, it's short (less than one hour, if not counting the openings) and isn't too hard to find on the internet. And if you like it, you can also check some other animations made by Aruji Morino, the creator of Hanoka, in his official Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Morinono99
OVA, 1997,
3 eps
Me:-
Author:1
Yuuji Moriyama's Jungle de Ikou is similar to Eiken in many ways - it being a comedy completely focused on its ecchi it's probably the main one. I think Jungle de Ikou was much better than Eiken, but it's still remembered as a controverse and offensive OVA for many people, due to its racial and sex jokes.
Both Eiken and Jungle de Ikou were released on the US market in DVD and Bluray format by Media Blasters (which I hate, by the way).
Both Eiken and Jungle de Ikou were released on the US market in DVD and Bluray format by Media Blasters (which I hate, by the way).
OVA, 1992,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
Kennel Tokorozawa is not terrible. It's terrifying.
Besides having a hateful comedy and being full of zoo jokes, its home video releases (or at least the VHS version, I don't know if this was released in any other format) include one of the creepiest, bizarrest behind-the-scenes commentary ever made. It's something that needs to bee seen to be believed.
Besides having a hateful comedy and being full of zoo jokes, its home video releases (or at least the VHS version, I don't know if this was released in any other format) include one of the creepiest, bizarrest behind-the-scenes commentary ever made. It's something that needs to bee seen to be believed.
OVA, 1987,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
From studio Animate Film, Kindan no Mokushiroku: Crystal Triangle deserves a place here for having one of the most absurd plot escalations I've ever seen.
Try to imagine. You start with an explorer fighting against strangers, then you have the possible key to the message of God, then the CIA and the KGB comes in, then you introduce guns and aliens, then you introduce God as a literal LARVAL... (I promise, all of this happens on the 100-minute slot and i'm not even joking.)
For the best experience, watch the movie in Japanese. The american and russian characters were dubbed by japanese people, so you can expect a lot of "Engrish" to come.
Try to imagine. You start with an explorer fighting against strangers, then you have the possible key to the message of God, then the CIA and the KGB comes in, then you introduce guns and aliens, then you introduce God as a literal LARVAL... (I promise, all of this happens on the 100-minute slot and i'm not even joking.)
For the best experience, watch the movie in Japanese. The american and russian characters were dubbed by japanese people, so you can expect a lot of "Engrish" to come.
TV, 2011,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:10
My favorite anime of all time will get a place here, as some people still think that Manyuu Hikenchou should be avoided.
This anime is weird, to say the least. But I'm sure you'll love Chifusa and the comedy here. It accomplishes very well all it wants with the ecchi and it's always very funny, for bad or for good.
This anime is weird, to say the least. But I'm sure you'll love Chifusa and the comedy here. It accomplishes very well all it wants with the ecchi and it's always very funny, for bad or for good.
TV, 2002,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:1
Before Devilman, there was Maou Dante. Unfortunately, the 2002 adaptation is not even close neither to the Devilman standards nor to the original manga standards.
Lots of Go Nagai's works received poor adaptations, but Dante gets to be mentioned here as it stands out for having a terrible animation, bad conclusion, unlikable characters, and crappy use of CGI. In the end, it may be one of the worst things that ever came from Nagai's hands.
Lots of Go Nagai's works received poor adaptations, but Dante gets to be mentioned here as it stands out for having a terrible animation, bad conclusion, unlikable characters, and crappy use of CGI. In the end, it may be one of the worst things that ever came from Nagai's hands.
OVA, 1985,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
A classic when it comes to trash anime. Though its sequel, Twinkle Nora Rock Me, is more famous thanks to its dullness and stupidity, I thought I should mention the first Nora OVA instead.
While it looks a bit better than Twinkle Nora, I feel like this OVA is worse than it, because it misses completely the comic factor Twinkle Nora (unwantedly) had. What I mean with that is that Nora is unfunny, the other characters are unfunny... This is supposed to be a scifi comedy, but there's only scifi here and no comedy at all.
While it looks a bit better than Twinkle Nora, I feel like this OVA is worse than it, because it misses completely the comic factor Twinkle Nora (unwantedly) had. What I mean with that is that Nora is unfunny, the other characters are unfunny... This is supposed to be a scifi comedy, but there's only scifi here and no comedy at all.
OVA, 1996,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:2
An earlier work by Monogatari and Madoka Magica director Akiyuki Shinbo, I'd like to mention Ojousama Sousamou, or Debutante Detective Corps in the ADV version, as I actually own its original VHS tape!
It's nothing compared to his other works, and mostly, is just that type bad 90s OVA that you never seem to find out where it comes from.
It's nothing compared to his other works, and mostly, is just that type bad 90s OVA that you never seem to find out where it comes from.
OVA, 1987,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
Another personal suggestion of mine, Pants no Ana enters the list for having made me absolutely infuriated.
It's not as bad as some other anime mentioned here, but the infinite amount of bad jokes and fecal humour will make you absolutely frustrated. This isn't perverted, it's just sadistic.
It's not as bad as some other anime mentioned here, but the infinite amount of bad jokes and fecal humour will make you absolutely frustrated. This isn't perverted, it's just sadistic.
OVA, 1996,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
Just like Generation of Chaos, Production I.G.'s Panzer Dragoon is a disservice for anyone who played the game or at least knows at an actual anime is. However, things get worse here when you remember that SEGA's Panzer Dragoon is a much more beloved franchise.
It's thankfully short, having less than 30 minutes, but the early usage of CGI will make this a chore to watch. Funnily enough, this was released on the US, both in VHS by ADV and in a bootleg DVD.
It's thankfully short, having less than 30 minutes, but the early usage of CGI will make this a chore to watch. Funnily enough, this was released on the US, both in VHS by ADV and in a bootleg DVD.
OVA, 1986,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:2
Roots Search may be a pretty hated scifi OVA, but just like Hell Target, I think it deserves some respect and should be watched by fans of the genre.
While I don't personally think the OVA is that bad, some scenes and acting can be quite cringe-worthy sometimes. But I like the alien concept of "reads-your-mind-then-kills-you" and I think it could be an interesting watch.
While I don't personally think the OVA is that bad, some scenes and acting can be quite cringe-worthy sometimes. But I like the alien concept of "reads-your-mind-then-kills-you" and I think it could be an interesting watch.
TV, 2008,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:3
If you want to watch something longer, Rosario+Vampire would be a great option. I was completely devastated when I've seen what Gonzo had done with the manga on the anime.
What's the problem? The problem is that the manga, by Akihisa Ikeda, is awesome. And Gonzo's 2008 adaptation failed completely to transform that into an animation. At least half of the anime's completely original (which no, it's not good), and even worse, its second season, Capu2, goes even further with that, creating terrible fillers with the worst jokes possible.
What's the problem? The problem is that the manga, by Akihisa Ikeda, is awesome. And Gonzo's 2008 adaptation failed completely to transform that into an animation. At least half of the anime's completely original (which no, it's not good), and even worse, its second season, Capu2, goes even further with that, creating terrible fillers with the worst jokes possible.
TV, 2001,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Another Idea Factory anime. While not even close to being as bad as Generation of Chaos, it's one of my choices for this selection for being an interesting case of badly-aged 3DCG animation. I would say it's another curious entry on the mecha genre, and I'd recommend it for its fans.
OVA, 1989,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
The first OVA officialy directed by Koichi Ohata in 1989, and released along with some pretty famous titles (like Genocyber and the here mentioned M.D. Geist and Judge) in the US.
In my opinion, while keeping a lot of similarities, differently from M.D. Geist, Seijuuki Cyguard was a much more fun experience. Story wise, the anime is as smart as a concrete sledge, but all of the action and rocking soundtrack turn this into a very entertaining watch.
In my opinion, while keeping a lot of similarities, differently from M.D. Geist, Seijuuki Cyguard was a much more fun experience. Story wise, the anime is as smart as a concrete sledge, but all of the action and rocking soundtrack turn this into a very entertaining watch.
OVA, 1990,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
Shuranosuke Zanmaken should be mentioned here for being a somewhat unknown original work of an actually great director, which was Osamu Dezaki.
However, even when it was handed by the great duo of Dezaki-Sugino, the OVA shows itself to be just another bland ninja anime (which is curious, since the US associate this with Ninja Scroll, even if it was released three years after Sword for Truth).
A good recommendation for people interested in the career of one of the greatest directors to ever exist on the anime industry.
However, even when it was handed by the great duo of Dezaki-Sugino, the OVA shows itself to be just another bland ninja anime (which is curious, since the US associate this with Ninja Scroll, even if it was released three years after Sword for Truth).
A good recommendation for people interested in the career of one of the greatest directors to ever exist on the anime industry.
OVA, 1991,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:1
Another OVA that's well-known in the US for being terrible, Soujuu Senshi Psychic Wars is not just bad, but will probably make you sleep.
The scenes barely make sense, they can't connect to each other correctly, nothing truly interesting happens until the very end... It is surely one of the most boring anime I've ever watched.
The scenes barely make sense, they can't connect to each other correctly, nothing truly interesting happens until the very end... It is surely one of the most boring anime I've ever watched.
OVA, 1986,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:5
Famous in the US (and somewhat known on my country too, due to its brief time being broadcasted on TV here), Soukihei M.D. Geist was known for a long time as "one of the worst OVAs ever made", thanks to its extreme amounts of violence and multiple scenes with cheap and reused animation.
However, M.D. Geist is still a must-watch for many reasons, as it's the first direction job of Koichi Ohata (uncredited here), of Gunbuster fame, and also because it includes Hironobu Kageyama singing for the soundtrack, in his early career. Soukihei M.D. Geist is definitely worth of your time.
However, M.D. Geist is still a must-watch for many reasons, as it's the first direction job of Koichi Ohata (uncredited here), of Gunbuster fame, and also because it includes Hironobu Kageyama singing for the soundtrack, in his early career. Soukihei M.D. Geist is definitely worth of your time.
OVA, 1990,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
I felt compelled to mention Vampire Sensou here for some reasons. Its artwork (both for the novel and the OVA) was made by the now late Noriyoshi Ohrai, famous for his Star Wars and Godzilla posters, its author (Kiyoshi Kasai) is somewhat famous on Japan, and, well... Most people think it sucks.
I disagree. Of course, the OVA had little to no time at all to adapt all of the novel's story - that would basically impossible. But what it does with bits from the beginning of the books can be pretty interesting. Junichi Hayama worked on this, too!
I disagree. Of course, the OVA had little to no time at all to adapt all of the novel's story - that would basically impossible. But what it does with bits from the beginning of the books can be pretty interesting. Junichi Hayama worked on this, too!
OVA, 1991,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:2
Judge was a curious case where I was caught by surprise, because funnily enough, the OVA has one of my favorite cover arts from its time. And believe me, this cover really misleads people!
While the OVA doesn't necessarily look bad, the story is foolish, and where it goes to is even worse. Which is unfortunate, because as far as I know, Fujihiko Hosono is actually a good author, and most of his stuff looks pretty good. A good choice for those who like silly battles and bad horror scenes.
While the OVA doesn't necessarily look bad, the story is foolish, and where it goes to is even worse. Which is unfortunate, because as far as I know, Fujihiko Hosono is actually a good author, and most of his stuff looks pretty good. A good choice for those who like silly battles and bad horror scenes.