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May 5, 3:59 PM
#1
Offline
Sep 2024
107
This is a result of my stupid mistake of looking at some of my recently completed animes reviews. Even worse, sometimes I have had the misfortune of reading an article or two regarding the best/worst animes of [insert criteria].

A ridiculous number of people are giving so much hate to the isekai genre and have taken to calling many of them slop isekai. This is mainly due to the fact that some series have heroes are OP, use ANY trope, use "slideshow animation," have no world building, and so on. And worse, there are more than one available! Heaven forbid that a popular theme becomes more popular. It's not like the entire high school girl theme has been run into the ground but is still most purists goto genre because of the story (yeah... sure... uh huh). Silly otakus, to put it politely, just throw around these arguments when they have nothing they can actually point to. In posts, reviews, or whatever other medium they jump straight into name calling because they maybe think they are going to hurt that fictional characters feelings or something? I'm not really sure.

Then you view their list or ask them what they enjoy if they are not on MAL... and it is straight into the purist, otaku, waifu-lover realm. Even in something like Arifureta some dude asked, "Is this a harem anime or something? I thought this was supposed to be an isekai!" Yes. It is possible to have a single series span many genres. If you look at the genres listed "Harem" is clearly there. In Season 2's ending credits it is mostly the female characters nude with thin lines covering tiny bits. To me, this shows just how much haters (again, using polite language) really put into any sort of viewing, research, or thought regarding any series. Just throw a show on at 2x speed (with SUBs of course because if you watch anime dubbed you are not a true fan) and watch it in the background on your third monitor and claim to have completed it. Be sure to talk more about the OST than the plot or anything else, please.

You all are not paid critics and your 5 page essay on why you hate My Hero Academia, which you refuse to watch past season 4 or 5 because it got too slow, has no real basis in reality. Yes, it is you opinion. Everyone has them. Even morons who just hate on anything popular and not in a tiny niche category so they can seem like a l33t. Guess what, if 5 million people including those morons are polled and about 80-90% like it, maybe you should just shut up and let others enjoy a show without your preconceived notion that because they didn't like Evangelion but enjoyed Fairy Tail, they have no right to say what is or is not good.

To wrap this up I'll finish with these analogies:

Do you play video games? If you were to be really into JRPGs... did you play more than one title? WHY!? They are all just slop JRPGs and the one that I like best is the only one that counts.

Do you read books? Have you ever read a trilogy or longer series? WHY!? The ones that come after the original are just repeats with the same theme!
May 5, 4:08 PM
#2
Offline
Jan 2025
602
I know how you feel, and it's great you've gotten this off your chest. Step back a bit, take a deep breath, and take a small break, before returning.

Also, please remember people on MAL are people too.
May 5, 4:30 PM
#3

Offline
Aug 2013
814
Dude, it's all about how isekai became the most abused by talentless authors. And it's not just another anime theme anymore, it's a social phenomenon due the size and popularity of it. It's an addiction and it's shallow just like any other addiction which becomes trivial with time but people still keep consume it by inertia due basic habit. Mentioning books and JRPGs is silly because variety of JRPGs is insane, some of them won't even look related to JRPG, or won''t look like Japanese game at all. Isekai on other hand is always the same in its core - it's about a second chance for MCs and their adaptation to new reality. Isekai killed fantasy, since fantasy implies alternative world where everything is REAL and has its own rules, not so different from sci-fi anime for example. But isekai is just your typical pseudo-reality with references to video games or to our real world in one way or another. Oversaturation leads to superficial plots, everyone tries his best to milk the same cow for years and some people asking themselves why is all milk tastes the same.
May 5, 4:59 PM
#4
Offline
Apr 2023
79
Lol, the vast majority of modern isekai (and similar "fantasy") are extremely and phenomenally monogenic/monotonous. And the fact that so many of them have been created and how long they have remained popular is a real wonder.

So all these complaints didn't arise in vain.
May 5, 5:03 PM
#5

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Sep 2018
5042
Every anime is bound to have negative reviews (aside from really obscure stuff) and there's nothing wrong with that, everyone's taste is different. I recommend reading negative reviews only when they're about anime you hated and you want to see them bashed.
May 5, 5:04 PM
#6

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Feb 2014
4119
Sir, this is a Wendy's.
...................
May 5, 5:26 PM
#7

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Sep 2021
75
Sure, there are always people eager to hate on the latest anime, especially when it’s popular, but forced positivity isn’t the solution either. Media giants, not just in anime and manga, want to push and sell as much content as possible with minimal effort. When we blindly accept everything we're given, it signals to them that low-effort, subpar work is good enough because it’ll be consumed anyway.

While I've been pretty detached from the anime community for some years now, making me unable to comment on the latest isekai or shounen anime, I have seen this mindset do lasting damage to the book industry, somewhat in part due to TikTok, where mediocre literature teetering on erotica is often idolized and any criticism is dismissed as “hating.” In my opinion, critiquing or hating is not as prevalent as it should be.
May 5, 5:31 PM
#8

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Apr 2025
186
you might have some points but not complaining is how we get slop like steven universe, big mouth, and rick & morty clogging up the airwaves 🥀
May 5, 5:39 PM
#9

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Jun 2019
7478
Nirinbo said:
I recommend reading negative reviews only when they're about anime you hated and you want to see them bashed.


But reading the negative reviews for anime you love and consider your core favorites can be a fascinating endeavor and very instructive. Not always and some can just be low effort and poorly thought out/barely thought out at all type spam riddled with typos and general spelling and grammar errors to the point of being unintelligible (the same as anything elsewhere on the site like on the forum or really anything people write online can be). But some are very well thought out, passionately and articulately argued for, and even impressive. So then it becomes a very interesting look into the mind of what kind of person would view this anime in nearly every respect so thoroughly and completely opposite from yourself, who has completely different impressions and interpretations of almost everything that happens and its characters say, and where their impression of what occurred or was said is aligned or entirely identical with your own, they despise it and condemn as heinous and villainous what you see as a breathtakingly beautiful life-affirming message or idea.

Sometimes those kind of diametrically opposing views can be limited to just one anime, but more often than not I find it's very rooted in the other person's worldview which will inevitably affect a lot of how they perceive and interact with (and review! - if they are a frequent reviewer whose name and reviews you take notice of) other anime. And in many cases I cannot prove, but strongly suspect it bleeds into other areas of their life and shapes a lot. Because it's not really about any one individual anime, but about the attitude and preconceptions they bring to the table. I actually find it only reinforces the affection and appreciation I feel for certain series knowing they have such militant, even intelligent and capable, determined enemies out there. Or maybe more accurately, enemies of what they try to give a voice to.

Retroactive disclaimer that I'm not saying everyone who likes or loves an anime you do or who dislikes or hates one or ones you do will indicate the whole of that other person and what type of relationship or interactions you could potentially have with them. I've come across some on here on MAL who share one or more top favorite anime with me who I've found disgustingly rude and belligerent to an almost unbelievable degree. And I've met those who we don't seem to have anything in common anime taste-wise but are very reasonable, polite, respectable people. But it does somewhat depend on the whys of why they feel a particular way toward an anime and how they phrase and approach it. That comes out a lot in reviews. Some of the uniformly negative ones just come across as incredibly closed-minded.
May 5, 5:39 PM

Offline
Oct 2023
460
I think your analogy is a little off, but what you're talking about happens and can be seen in nearly any genre that's sharply boomed in that way before. People will shit on what's popular. There are also plenty of those same shitters that may say something of great value. I honestly don't watch enough modern isekai to say much of substance in that regard, but do take some pleasure in knowing nobody can force you dislike something.
May 5, 5:41 PM
Offline
Feb 2024
135
DiznyOrdiz said:
they have no right to say what is or is not good.

but you just said they're also entitled to an opinion
DiznyOrdiz said:
let others enjoy a show

ppl complaining aren't blocking anyone from watching whatever they want
DiznyOrdiz said:
if you watch anime dubbed you are not a true fan

but this is 100% true sorry if you're 14 and got to know anime on adult swim or something
DiznyOrdiz said:
Then you view their list or ask them what they enjoy if they are not on MAL

people have different, I on one hand know what kind of people you're talking about and I think they're npc's too, just like the ones that enjoy slop. beware of confirmation bias
DiznyOrdiz said:
Heaven forbid that a popular theme becomes more popular.

bro the average soulless isekai is so offensively bad i cannot comprehend how people like you don't develop disgust towards it
DiznyOrdiz said:
Do you play video games? If you were to be really into JRPGs... did you play more than one title? WHY!? They are all just slop JRPG

but this is true, most jrpg's are sloppy, soulless copies of each other to rip off imbeciles.
DiznyOrdiz said:
o you read books? Have you ever read a trilogy or longer series? WHY!? The ones that come after the original are just repeats with the same theme!

this is also true, a lot of sequels in books, movies and anime itself are merely milking money off successfull stories/ip's, and this is especially true for trilogies and longer stuff

99% of what you said is just pure facts, idk why you're so mad about it. did you really watch all of the MHA seasons and thought they were good? how high is your IQ? 85? did you also happily watch all of the pokemon tv seasons or something which are basically the exact same thing over and over for 30 years? lol dude
May 5, 5:43 PM

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Oct 2022
2288
Hmm.. now this is intriguing. I have to say though, as much as you criticize people for their kind of dumb opinions- and their reviews where they point out complete rubbish about a show probably 114,000 people like; you make a good point but I could just as well ask, why is it you only have 4 reviews published???

Might as well throw a few punches and explain why it is you LIKE a show you did, rather than disagree with the ones who hated it.

Go ahead and watch Magic Maker (one of those slop isekai), read my review on it, and write a counter review on why you think it's good. (If you tell me it's good though I'll assume your brain must have melted out of your nose whilst watching it)
May 5, 5:44 PM

Offline
May 2014
1507
I'm not even sure review writers lurk in the forums. So good luck finding one who will answer there - especially if it's a hater.

It's good to vent once in a while, just keep in mind they might not read this message - or even answer here.

Ah never mind... (sees two news posts)
There is only one truth in this world
かわいいは正義

Also, robots are your friends
✿❀(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.゚⋆˚✿˖°

Check our anime affinity, Senpai!
Fellow cute girl lovers FR accepted.
Watch NGNL, ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ you bastard~~desu
Yuri is life. Now, break a sweat.
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May 5, 5:53 PM
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Jul 2018
562029
Yeah some people on MAL just hate to hate. I see some lists with sub-3 scores and I have to wonder what is motivating these people. But different strokes for different folks I suppose.
May 5, 6:33 PM

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Aug 2013
1540


1. Live & let live
&
2. Variety is the spice of life
Kingdom Come Deliverance II GOTY 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is another worthy GOTY contender I tip my fedora to Sandfall Interactive, excellent debut gentlemen!

If digital buying isn't owning, then piracy isn't stealing
May 5, 6:41 PM

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Mar 2023
250
I mean I tried watching Fairy Tail with a friend - Didn't like it too much but I wont hate on him for it.

Honestly since MyAnimeList has an older demographic of users that actually engage with the site besides using it as a place to track anime they've watched, too many are stuck in like 2009 and want to go back to when your only option of watching anything was via Piracy or some other means. And if I am remembering correctly, like 2005-2014 was the peak of the "high school girl" genre or some shit (I'm prolly wrong so correct me if I am)
May 5, 6:41 PM

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Mar 2023
250
Reply to removed-user
Yeah some people on MAL just hate to hate. I see some lists with sub-3 scores and I have to wonder what is motivating these people. But different strokes for different folks I suppose.
@LoveLetterAnime There's North Korean TV listed on mal for whatever reason
May 5, 6:42 PM
Nostalgia Rules!

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Jun 2008
11138
I think like with any form of media you have to have a nice center balance on how you view it. Too much positivity can annoy others, but then hating just for the sake of hating is not good either.
May 5, 8:10 PM

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Jul 2021
3072
So you're just venting about how other people are venting about how other people like and dislike anime..?
May 5, 8:24 PM

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Oct 2017
4745
DiznyOrdiz said:
Silly otakus, to put it politely, just throw around these arguments when they have nothing they can actually point to.
I mean I will just point at good written Western fantasy. I don't like a lot of isekai because it's poorly written high fantasy/low fantasy stories, usually in European fantasy settings, that are done better elsewhere. Even works I do like such as Re Zero, it's more the character writing than the world that captures me.

DiznyOrdiz said:
Heaven forbid that a popular theme becomes more popular. It's not like the entire high school girl theme has been run into the ground but is still most purists goto genre because of the story (yeah... sure... uh huh).
I mean yeah, moe shows can have good writing such as Girls Last Tour. Also no one said it's bad when certain genres/themes dominate it's just personally I don't think anime does this genre well (it's not isekai either it's just Western high/low fantasy in general). Mecha/sci fi for instance was very popular and dominated the anime industry for decades. The average sci fi/mecha anime though is leagues better than your average isekai. I think anime does sci fi really well and comparable to other forms of media, it does not do high fantasy well though. Contemporary fantasy is a lot better, so I would rather see more of that or a return to sci fi.

DiznyOrdiz said:
You all are not paid critics and your 5 page essay on why you hate My Hero Academia, which you refuse to watch past season 4 or 5 because it got too slow, has no real basis in reality.
There is no "reality" it's art. People have different emotional reactions. Some people just write cause they like to write, it's a form of venting which you currently are engaging in, and hey I do too. Reviews are informative and I do occasionally like checking out both very positive and negative reviews on shows, and they can be informative. I appreciate people that put thought into it, even if I don't end up agreeing with their points.

Anyway I think you are just upset people don't like your favourite genre a lot of your points aren't logical.

DiznyOrdiz said:
Do you read books? Have you ever read a trilogy or longer series? WHY!? The ones that come after the original are just repeats with the same theme
You need to read more stories then, there are definitely works that change up a lot book to book. I mean Dune is popular due to the film, there is a pretty big one lol. I mean you can take an incredibility mainstream movie franchise like Star Wars and every single one of those films is different.

I also don't get how this supports your point. While I get that generic gets thrown around a lot, the problem with isekai isn't that they are "generic" they are just poorly written. That is why works like Frieren, which aren't super innovative either get tons of praise.
DiznyOrdiz said:
Do you play video games? If you were to be really into JRPGs... did you play more than one title? WHY!? They are all just slop JRPGs and the one that I like best is the only one that counts.
Even this point doesn't work, Pokemon and Fire Emblem are both JRPGs and don't play similarly at all, and their stories are different.
BilboBaggins365May 5, 8:29 PM
May 5, 8:45 PM
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Feb 2023
78
Reply to SuperAdventure
Hmm.. now this is intriguing. I have to say though, as much as you criticize people for their kind of dumb opinions- and their reviews where they point out complete rubbish about a show probably 114,000 people like; you make a good point but I could just as well ask, why is it you only have 4 reviews published???

Might as well throw a few punches and explain why it is you LIKE a show you did, rather than disagree with the ones who hated it.

Go ahead and watch Magic Maker (one of those slop isekai), read my review on it, and write a counter review on why you think it's good. (If you tell me it's good though I'll assume your brain must have melted out of your nose whilst watching it)
@SuperAdventure lol I also wrote wrote a bad review about magic maker. The show was so bad in my opinion.
May 5, 8:51 PM
Offline
Feb 2023
78
This is the second time this week there's been a post about someone complaining about what someone wrote on the internet.

Wars, human trafficking, selling kidneys, starvation, pandemics, children without water.

No those aren't important "hey mum someone wrote something on the internet I don't agree with, this has to be stopped"

Mom replies "What son? Someone had an opinion different form yours over a cartoon, how old are you now, maybe you should see a doctor"

Current state of internet.
May 5, 9:12 PM

Offline
Jul 2024
4283
some fans seem determined to find fault in everything, no matter how good a series is.complaint culture remain an inseparable part of anime discussions.
I wish anime studios just start trolling by deliberately adding elements fans always complain about, just to watch the debates explode in comments on social media.
May 5, 9:23 PM

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Sep 2013
454
Complaining about complaints sounds pointless.
May 6, 12:52 AM

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Sep 2018
5042
Reply to WatchTillTandava
Nirinbo said:
I recommend reading negative reviews only when they're about anime you hated and you want to see them bashed.


But reading the negative reviews for anime you love and consider your core favorites can be a fascinating endeavor and very instructive. Not always and some can just be low effort and poorly thought out/barely thought out at all type spam riddled with typos and general spelling and grammar errors to the point of being unintelligible (the same as anything elsewhere on the site like on the forum or really anything people write online can be). But some are very well thought out, passionately and articulately argued for, and even impressive. So then it becomes a very interesting look into the mind of what kind of person would view this anime in nearly every respect so thoroughly and completely opposite from yourself, who has completely different impressions and interpretations of almost everything that happens and its characters say, and where their impression of what occurred or was said is aligned or entirely identical with your own, they despise it and condemn as heinous and villainous what you see as a breathtakingly beautiful life-affirming message or idea.

Sometimes those kind of diametrically opposing views can be limited to just one anime, but more often than not I find it's very rooted in the other person's worldview which will inevitably affect a lot of how they perceive and interact with (and review! - if they are a frequent reviewer whose name and reviews you take notice of) other anime. And in many cases I cannot prove, but strongly suspect it bleeds into other areas of their life and shapes a lot. Because it's not really about any one individual anime, but about the attitude and preconceptions they bring to the table. I actually find it only reinforces the affection and appreciation I feel for certain series knowing they have such militant, even intelligent and capable, determined enemies out there. Or maybe more accurately, enemies of what they try to give a voice to.

Retroactive disclaimer that I'm not saying everyone who likes or loves an anime you do or who dislikes or hates one or ones you do will indicate the whole of that other person and what type of relationship or interactions you could potentially have with them. I've come across some on here on MAL who share one or more top favorite anime with me who I've found disgustingly rude and belligerent to an almost unbelievable degree. And I've met those who we don't seem to have anything in common anime taste-wise but are very reasonable, polite, respectable people. But it does somewhat depend on the whys of why they feel a particular way toward an anime and how they phrase and approach it. That comes out a lot in reviews. Some of the uniformly negative ones just come across as incredibly closed-minded.
@WatchTillTandava makes sense, but I never felt the need to read negative reviews about my favorites: I know that everyone's taste is different and if you're eloquent enough you can convincingly support any argument and its contrary.

Aside from anime I hate, I also read negative reviews about anime I liked when I want to better understand why I didn't like them more; well-written reviews are useful in this case even if my opinion about the anime is much more positive.
May 6, 4:22 AM

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Apr 2025
60
Reply to zoomerReviewer
you might have some points but not complaining is how we get slop like steven universe, big mouth, and rick & morty clogging up the airwaves 🥀
@zoomerReviewer 😂 like the companies care or know about what a vocal minority on an anime forum(or discussion forum in general) is yapping about. But okay, lol
May 6, 5:19 AM

Offline
Sep 2016
17516
If you complain about complainers, you ironically become a complainer yourself.

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