Some narrative twists have left anime fans speechless for the wrong reasons. Although some anime have shocked viewers with some of the best twists in fiction, like Attack on Titan and One Piece, there are some mysteries and plot developments that viewers have successfully predicted several episodes before.
While some of anime’s worst narrative decisions are often disastrous messes disconnected from the main plot, there are bad plot twists that viewers could deduce at a glance, sapping the excitement of unraveling the story. These anime failed to deliver on their plot twists, preventing them from being fondly remembered and disappointing fans.
Akito Soma is a Female in Fruits Basket (2019)
Sōma Akito staring darkly into the camera on Fruits Basket
Akito Soma’s plot twist was a contrasting experience for readers of the manga and those who first watched Fruits Basket’s reboot. Akito was a woman forced to take on a male role as the head of the Soma family. Although many speculated that this wasn’t the author’s original intention, as Akito had a masculine character design in Fruits Basket’s manga.
Furthermore, before Akito’s reveal, he was played by a male voice actor in Fruits Basket’s 2001 anime. However, her gender wasn’t well-hidden in the anime reboot. Adding to Akito’s possessiveness over male zodiac signs, she was performed by a female voice actress. This made Akito’s gender obvious to most fans, who were unaware it was supposed to be a twist.
John Walker’s Identity in ID: Invaded
Akihito Narihisago (IdInvaded)
Although ID: Invaded is a great anime with pretty graphics and shocking scenes, its main plot twist fell short. In ID: Invaded, the main villain was clear to many viewers from the second episode, which seems strange for a detective anime that continuously threw several plot twists at the audience.
The mastermind behind the murders, John Walker, had inside information. So even though the anime introduced a couple of characters as bait, viewers couldn’t help but feel disappointed in the final reveal. However, the thought-out process in which ID: Invaded’s characters deduce the villain and catch him kept the anime interesting until the end.
Obito Uchiha was Tobi in Naruto
There are many things fans didn’t foresee in Naruto’s story, but the plot twist that Obito Uchiha was disguised as the member of Akatsuki, Tobi, wasn’t one of them. Given the name, the hair, the Sharingan ability similar to Kakashi’s, and the limited scope for speculation, the only reason fans doubted Obito was Tobi was because it seemed too obvious.
Although Naruto’s author attempted to mislead fans by making it seem like Tobi was Madara, this red herring didn’t work. Furthermore, while Obito’s return was in line with the story and subsequently added incredible moments to the anime, the plot twist suffered in its execution, as evidenced by fan criticism of Obito’s reasons for starting the war.
Makoto’s Fate Was Too Much in School Days
Kotonoha and Sekai from School Days side by side.
School Days is infamously remembered for its ending, where the protagonist is brutally murdered by one of his love interests and his head is severed by the other. Although Makoto was responsible for fooling around and cheating in School Days, since the other characters in the anime weren’t that great either, it becomes pretty obvious that things wouldn’t end well.
School Days shows the characters spiraling out of control, hinting at their true nature a few times, making the crimes of passion predictable for fans familiar with bad endings in visual novels and the yandere archetype. However, School Days’ ending was still too ridiculous and a desperate attempt for the anime to be a subversive harem.
Norman’s Change in The Promised Neverland
Norman in The Promised Neverland Season 2
As one of the protagonists of The Promised Neverland, many fans hoped Norman wouldn’t die and would return to the story, as happens in other shōnen anime. Norman wasn’t fed to the demons but was instead sent to a special facility where his body was experimented on. But while changing after a trauma is natural, Norman’s personality completely changed.
Norman becomes a ruthless leader who doesn’t mind orchestrating a genocide to protect his family. While this radical change wasn’t well received by fans, the worst part is how Norman reverts to his old self without further explanation, solely due to Emma’s influence. This plot twist became another prime example of The Promised Neverland’s downfall.
The Traitor in My Hero Academia
Yuga Aoyama smiling confidently in My Hero Academia
The identity of the traitor was a long-standing mystery in My Hero Academia. However, this plotline seemed to have been forgotten by the author, as it wasn’t addressed until the final arc of the manga. The only clue that the traitor’s plot still held any significance was the enigmatic cheese message that Yuga Aoyama left for Izuku.
Therefore, even when the anime attempted to briefly shift viewers’ attention to Hagakure, fans already expected Aoyama to be the traitor. Even though Aoyama’s reasoning was properly established, and he played a role in setting up the Final War, the traitor plot twist didn’t add much weight to My Hero Academia’s anime.
The Final Wish In Juni Taisen: Zodiac War
Juni Taisen Zodiac War anime
Juni Taisen: Zodiac War generated a lot of excitement before its release for being a battle royale anime written by the same author as Monogatari. But despite its high-quality and dynamic fight choreography, the deaths became predictable after being spoiled by the series itself. While the plot felt rushed, the worst thing about Juni Taisen is undoubtedly its ending.
Even with its limited character development, the winner of the battle royale was expected by fans after considering the story of the Chinese Zodiac’s great race. However, it was the wish the winner made that sparked backlash among viewers, as it rendered meaningless the events of the battle royale and, by extension, Juni Taisen’s anime.
The Nature of the Village in Mayoiga: The Lost Village
The-Lost-Village-Anime-Key-Visual
In Mayoiga, a group of people board a bus to the utopian village of Nanakimura. But although the village appears to have been abandoned, mysterious monsters called nanaki appear. Yet, the fact that the characters were seeking to escape their everyday lives makes it easy to deduce that the nanaki are a reflection of each person’s traumas and inner demons.
This twist made Mayoiga turn into an unintentionally hilarious mess. Despite Mayoiga’s potential to be a good psychological thriller, the anime seemed more like a comedy. Mayoiga is known as one of the worst anime of all time due to its nonsensical plot, lack of character development, silly dialogues, and plot inconsistencies.
The Serial Killer in Erased
Satoru and Sachiko Fujinuma walk together on a street, Satoru suspicious-looking and Sachiko blank-faced, in Erased.
Although Erased is recognized for its unique plot that combines time regression with a murder mystery, the serial killer’s identity was disappointing for many fans. While the anime hints at the killer’s identity from the opening, losing its element of surprise, as there were virtually no other suspects and the story gave away too many clues.
Therefore, many viewers were able to deduce Erased’s culprit from the start. Additionally, the way the killer reveals himself to the protagonist and his motivations for his murders were also not convincing enough to make up for the lack of a compelling mystery. While these are flaws present in the manga, the anime becomes worse due to its rushed ending.
Black Zetsu’s Revelation in Naruto
Naruto Madara being killed to release Kaguya
Zetsu’s existence was always a mystery in Naruto, as, unlike other Akatsuki members, nothing was known about him. While this was a sign that he was hiding something and Naruto’s creator intended for the character to take the spotlight at some point in the Fourth Great Ninja War, Black Zetsu’s betraying Madara was Naruto’s most poorly executed plot twist.
Black Zetsu suddenly backstabbed Madara when he was at the peak of his power, enraging fans. Furthermore, the fact that Black Zetsu chose not to control Madara’s body proves that the twist was a decision to eliminate the Uchiha due to his excessive power, as well as a way to lay the groundwork for the new Otsutsuki’s lore.