Some ground rules:
-- Please DON'T just post "I voted for *insert anime here*". You can use the poll for that, unless the anime isn't listed. Give some form of reasoning via a sentence or two, at least. Otherwise, a mod will eventually close the thread.
-- I am only listing one anime per franchise. Code Geass and GitS have some less-than-good OVAs but they are more in prequel / remake territory anyway.
-- Let me know about any sequels that should be added to the poll.
-- I tried to keep the poll in alphabetical order but got LOTS of suggestions. I thought I'd be able to delete them later to tidy the poll but it seems I can't. Sorry for how long/messy it is.
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Anime sequels have increasingly become the bane of my existence. Darker than BLACK S2's complete abandonment of what made S1 work prompted me to make the thread.
There is another thread for worst sequel in existence, but that thread had no poll and hasn't been posted in for a month. I want a more focused discussion made interesting by the poll stats. I don't think I have missed any of the obvious sequels but let me know if I have. Also: Advent Children doesn't have an anime prequel, but given it's the continuation of one of the most loved JRPGs of all-time, I added it.
Just in case anyone becomes e-enraged over seeing a series they like listed, most titles are here because the rating averages are considerably lower than the original. Or, in other words, are listed using objective reasoning rather than my own subjectivity. Some listed I haven't even watched but know about because of their infamy. It's VERY unusual on MAL for a sequel to be rated lower given most that dislike a series quit before the sequel--leaving only those that are going to rate high. So, at worst, the rating is usually the same as the prequel. Gintama's rankings in the top anime list highlight this the best. Basically, the animation studios / writers have to outright betray their established fanbase.
Code Geass R2 is the most obvious exception here, but I felt I had to list it given it's the anime sequel that disappointed me the most, personally. I think its MAL average is more due to it ending strongly and offering a conclusion than anything else, where as S1 ended on a cliffhanger. If it was rated based solely on the first 3/4's alone, I can't see how it could possibly be regarded above what came before. It just rebooted everything, repeated what came before with added absurdity, fanservice overload and was basically a cash-in until it actually continued from where S1 left off properly.
I think Naruto is another one with a higher average, but again, it disappointed me so much I had to list it. I waited years for it, only to get 0.5-1 chapter per ep pacing and an artlol budget. Yahari's inclusion might also raise an eyebrow but the studio/direction/everything changed and I view that as a betrayal given it was the less melodramatic drama-heavy prequel that sold me on the series.
FYI, the lowest rated sequel with the biggest point difference is Nadia's movie. Something like a two point gap. It had none of the original staff work on it (iirc) and is considered so bad most pretend it doesn't even exist. It had nothing to do with the TV series bar the characters and was an outright insult to anyone that liked Nadia.
Most newer anime fans will know all about Aldnoah S2 trying to go political and becoming a trainwreck; Psycho Pass 2 having a new writer and the series only going over old ground in the most painfully stupid manner and, ofc, Darker than BLACK turning into Pinker than PINK. In recent years in particular, anime has gone to great lengths to convince me original anime should never be continued. Eden of the East's random-nothing-pointless movies are another example.
Some people might be unaware of other, old titles: the Galaxy Express 999 sequel that is actually a farcical remake dressed up as a sequel, with a Darth Vadar twist. Gantz's second season going completely anime-only and having the cast kill each other rather than aliens / not showing some of the best parts of the manga. Irresponsible Captain Tylor getting the Yahari treatment with the staff changing along with the tone and it just being a worse, less entertaining show that conflicted with the characterisation in the prequel; ending unfinished as a final insult. Gunbuster 2 earned Gainax a considerable amount of hatred from some for going more otaku-moe and abandoning their roots. Ghost in the Shell 2 is best described as philosophical quote exchanging than an actual movie.
As for my vote, I'm torn: Nadia is objectively the worst but Code Geass R2 the most disappointing given I went into one with expectations and not the other. Nadia is a whole 'nother level of disappointing, though, so that gets my vote. |