Shenmue The Animation
Before getting into this list, a shout-out needs to be given to Shenmue the Animation. The adaptation of the popular video games series looks absolutely beautiful and is poised to adopt its source material with great finesse.
Of course, only time will tell before this anime does justice to Ryo’s journey of getting revenge. Given how poor the reception to the third Shenmue game was, fans can only hope for this anime to redeem this glorious series in some way.
14 Ex-Arm
Out of all the Crunchyroll Originals that have come out, Ex-Arm is easily the worst of the lot. The show is full to the brim with uninteresting characters, a forgettable story, and passable sound design at best.
However, it would be impossible to talk about the bad aspects of Ex-Arm without mentioning its absolutely horrendous animation, which needs to be seen to be believed. It seems that studios still have a lot to learn from the disaster that was the latest Berserk adaptation, which served as a lesson on what bad CGI can do to take away from the amazing source material.
13 Gibiate
Another anime that suffers from horrendous animation is Gibiate. This anime and Ex-Arm should be avoided like the plague due to their horrid animation quality, which is easily the biggest flaw of this show.
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Of course, the fact that the story, characters, and music is also subpar should be pointed out as well. All in all, Gibiate is an anime that no self-respecting anime fan should waste their time on. It’s simply not worth it!
12 FreakAngels
Unlike most of the other anime on this list, FreakAngels is actually an adaptation of a webcomic created by western artists. The show focuses on the lives of two psychics who try and survive in post-apocalyptic London.
It’s a great premise and a riveting story, but the anime adaptation definitely doesn’t do justice to its source material. The show spans nine episodes and is an absolute mess, which is a shame since the webcomic itself is pretty excellent and thought-provoking.
11 Blade Runner: Black Lotus
The idea of an anime centered in the Blade Runner universe sounds incredibly exciting. This particular show serves as a prequel to Blade Runner 2049 but fails to justify the hype.
The show is an absolute mess and completely squanders all its potential with horrid voice acting and flat animation. It’s a shame since there definitely was the formula for a great show in Blade Runner: Black Lotus that is never realized.
10 High Guardian Spice
After a two-year delay, High Guardian Spice finally made its debut to a rather mixed reception. While the anime was pretty lighthearted and interesting, a simple premise and odd pacing brought the quality of the show down a peg.
That being said, the LGBTQ+ representation in the show was a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, this also led to the series being unfairly review-bombed as well.
9 Noblesse
All the cards were set in place for Noblesse to become one of the greatest manhwa anime of all time. However, Crunchyroll royally dropped the ball on this adaptation, leading to a messy show with weird pacing and excluded plot points as well.
People who want to get into the story of Noblesse should just check out the webtoon itself. Trying to watch the anime makes for a half-baked viewing experience due to this adaptation squandering most of what made this series so special in the first place.
8 In/Spectre
For what it’s worth, there’s a ton of potential present in In/Spectre, with the premise and characters being quite interesting to peruse at first glance. However, what ultimately leads to the series being largely forgettable is the overly long and uninteresting dialogue.
The writing of In/Spectre’s anime adaptation is easily the worst part of the overall experience, which becomes even more egregious when people find out that the majority of this show is just people talking. This leads to scenes that feel downright painful to get through at times and suck away any fun that people might be enjoying while watching In/Spectre.
7 Onyx Equinox
Onyx Equinox is easily one of the most unique Crunchyroll Originals on this list. Unlike the other anime adaptations on this list, Onyx Equinox is an anime-inspired Western animated series that is clearly aimed at adult audiences.
One need only check out the copious amounts of gore, nudity, and swearing in this show to understand what this series is trying to aim for. While the story and dialogues may be somewhat jarring to get through the first time around, people who stick with Onyx Equinox will definitely enjoy its unique take on Mesoamerican culture and mythology.
6 So I’m A Spider, So What?
Isekai anime has become the latest trend, with numerous shows coming out that make the most of this genre. So, at a glance, one might understandably write off So I’m A Spider, So What? as nothing more than a show that’s riding the isekai hype train.
However, people who give this show a chance will realize that So I’m A Spider, So What? is one of the better isekai shows around. Any fan of this genre owes it to themselves to give So I’m A Spider, So What? a shot. They certainly won’t be disappointed!
5 Dr. Ramune: Mysterious Disease Specialist
One of the most underappreciated shows on this list, more people should check out Dr. Ramune: Mysterious Disease Specialist. This series might have a smaller scope than some of the other shows on this list but still features enough entertainment and charm to get anyone hooked on this show.
The wholesome nature of this anime is one of the major reasons why people should check this show out. Any person who wants to feel a show that makes them feel warm and fuzzy all over should definitely check out Dr. Ramune: Mysterious Disease Specialist.
4 The God Of High School
There are several excellent manhwa that have received the adaptations they deserve as a result of the Crunchyroll Originals initiative. The God of High School is one such amazing show that has received the adaptation it rightfully deserves.
However, there are some people who have issues with this adaptation, mainly for messing around with the established story of the webtoon. These issues might be too much for some people to bear, but people who decide to look past these creative liberties will find themselves enjoying a unique and memorable show regardless.
3 Fena: Pirate Princess
The first thing that most people would notice in Fena: Pirate Princess is just how gorgeous everything looks. Clearly, a lot of work has been put into the animation in this series, which is easily its biggest highlight.
That being said, the show is far from perfect. Convoluted storytelling, poor pacing, and an over-reliance on the ‘damsel in distress’ trope takes the quality of this series down a notch.
2 Tower Of God
Just like The God of High School, Tower of God is another excellent manhwa that finally received the anime adaptation it rightfully deserved. However, the same issues that plague The God of High School affect this series as well.
The animation and direction of this show might be great… but it’s simply way too short for the source material it’s trying to adapt. Both these manhwa adaptations should’ve been double their lengths so that they could adapt their respective webtoons faithfully without having to cut any corners.
1 TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You
Given the high-profile anime adaptations that have appeared as a result of Crunchyroll Originals, it’s surprising that a relatively unknown series like TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You has come out on top. However, any person who’s seen the show can understand why this spot is well-deserved.
The simple yet riveting story of TONIKAWA is further propelled by an intensely likable cast of characters and a brilliant soundtrack that perfectly captures the wholesome mood of this series. Any fan of great rom-coms should definitely give TONIKAWA a shot — they definitely won’t be disappointed!
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