When a show significantly affects culture and audiences, it’s natural for fans to desire to explore the world they grew to love even after the credits roll. In such a case, it’s not uncommon for an anime to get a spinoff, which lets fans experience the series from a different perspective.
From showcasing a new part of the anime's world to changing the established tone of the narrative, spinoffs can add incredible layers of nuance. However, not every spinoff expands on the original in a meaningful way. Many anime spinoffs feel unneeded and aren’t worth the time of even the most dedicated fans.
Updated on June 15th by Maria Remizova: Not every anime series, no matter how good of a story it tells, needs a continuation. Forcefully expanding an otherwise self-contained show with needless sequels, side stories, and spinoffs can be a detriment that feels like a cheap attempt to exploit fans' loyalty. This list was updated with even more anime spinoffs that add nothing of value to their franchises.
15 Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon came out ten years after its predecessor, Inuyasha, finished its run. The spinoff follows a recent trend in shonen anime of basing a sequel around the original cast’s children. Yashahime alienated old-school Inuyasha fans instantaneously.
Like most spinoffs of the same nature, Yashahime pales compared to the show it's based on, and the new generation fails to reach the heights established by their parents. Even more disappointingly, the beloved heroes from the original, like Inuyasha and Kagome, are almost completely absent from the spinoff.
14 Petit Eva: Evangelion@School
One of the strangest kinds of anime out there are slice-of-life comedy spinoffs of otherwise serious anime. Falling in that group, Petit Eva: Evangelion@School is a chibi-style ONA no Neon Genesis Evangelion fan should feel inclined to watch. Painfully unfunny and confusing, Petit Eva is a childish parody features the iconic NGE cast as regular students in Tokyo-3.
With each episode being only a couple minutes long, no joke has time to land properly, defeating the spinoff’s only purpose. In the abundance of side content within the NGE franchise, Petit Eva ranks close to last in terms of quality.
13 Fate/Apocrypha
Type-Moon’s Fate franchise has countless spinoffs, side stories, and media expansions. Unfortunately, not all its iterations are as good as the series’ most iconic entries. Based on a light novel by the same name, Fate/Apocrypha takes place in a parallel timeline from Fate/stay night.
Fate/Apocrypha also follows a Greater Grail War between two factions — the Yggdmillennia clan and the Mage's Association. For fans who find the rest of Fate confusing, Fate/Apocrypha may be straight-up incomprehensible. Dense with sporadic content and overwhelming info dumps, Apocrypha is not worthwhile unless one's a diehard Type-Moon fan.
12 Isekai Quartet
On paper, Isekai Quartet is a dream come true for any fan of the genre. The anime creates a crossover of all the heroes from KonoSuba, Re:Zero, The Saga of Tanya the Evil, and Overlord and puts them in high school together. Unfortunately, the novelty of Isekai Quartet’s concept wears off quickly.
After the excitement of seeing so many fan-favorite characters in the same setting dies down, Isekai Quartet turns into a repetitive gag comedy. Worse, it squanders its creative potential and becomes far less amusing than any of the shows it's based on.
11 Bungou Stray Dogs Wan!
Far less offensive than some chibi-style anime spinoffs out there, Bungou Stray Dogs Wan! still comes off like something the series could do without. A show that already focuses on comedy alongside drama and action doesn't need an entire spinoff series dedicated to cutesy gags.
Bungou Stray Dogs Wan! is a collection of lighthearted skits about the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia getting into humorous hijinks. Moderately entertaining for hardcore fans, Wan! fails to appeal to those who value the original for its intense plot and mature characterization.
10 Soul Eater NOT!
As the title suggests, Soul Eater NOT! is everything the series was never supposed to be. One year before the original events, the spinoff takes away all of Soul Eater’s creepy ambiance and adventurous spirit to focus on the Death Weapon Meister Academy’s less talented students.
Much less ambitious in its animation and storytelling, Soul Eater NOT! feels like a pointless side story. Even the new character trio lacks the charm and impressive development that made the original cast so lovable and special.
9 Attack On Titan: Junior High
One of the most celebrated anime series of all time, Attack on Titan is beloved for its gritty political plot, ruthless action, heartbreaking moments, and mature storyline. Its comical high school spinoff took things in the opposite direction, and fans can’t agree whether it was a good idea.
Attack On Titan: Junior High is an exaggerated chibi parody of the post-apocalyptic action drama. To make lighthearted fun of the original’s seriousness, the spinoff goes too over-the-top with its jokes, making it feel pointless.
8 Koro Sensei Quest!
A popular format for anime spinoffs is reframing the original series in a cuter, more lighthearted style. Koro Sensei Quest! retells the story of Assassination Classroom in a chibi fantasy setting.
The spinoff doesn’t add much to the original, taking away the more dramatic elements from Assassination Classroom and portraying the rest as a parody. While fun as a complimentary addition to Assassination Classroom, Koro Sensei Quest! doesn’t have enough content to stand out as a needed continuation of the source material, which already contained plenty of comedy.
7 Sailor Moon Crystal
The ‘90s Sailor Moon craze got countless adolescent viewers into the magical girl genre. The warm nostalgia associated with the series still plays an important part in the lives of old-school fans.
Sailor Moon Crystal — a revamped, stylish retelling of the original that follows the manga much closer — should’ve been a no-brainer success. Unfortunately, Crystal didn’t capture the magic of the original despite sticking to the source material — failing to appeal to both old and new fans.
6 Saint Seiya: Omega
One of the most influential fantasy franchises in anime, Saint Seiya, went through multiple revival phases over the course of its long history. Many versions of the show received mixed reviews, even from the series’ most diehard fans.
However, the negative consensus on the 2012 spinoff Saint Seiya: Omega is almost universal. The new generation of Saint Seiya warriors is a forgettable bunch. Additionally, their adventures are a poor representation of the original’s merits, undermining the legacy of this classic sci-fi franchise.
5 Burn The Witch
Despite drawing no immediate parallels to the hit shonen icon Bleach, Tite Kubo's Burn The Witch is a Bleach spinoff that takes place in the same universe. The visually pleasing action-adventure flick follows two witches from a fictional version of London on their quest to protect civilians from dragons.
Fans looking to revisit their Bleach nostalgia wouldn’t find much to gravitate toward in Burn The Witch. At the same time, contemporary fantasy enthusiasts would be disappointed with the movie’s dull characters and shallow worldbuilding.
4 Angel Links
The sci-fi universe of Outlaw Star is vast and multifaceted, which gives the creators some incredible opportunities for imaginative spinoff series. Disappointingly, Angel Links does nothing with the potential it might’ve had.
Unlike its exciting, action-packed predecessor, Angel Links is a slow, poorly paced voyage through space. Throughout the anime, the titular pirate-fighting group — who were minor players in the original Outlaw Star anime — embark on disjointed expeditions. Lacking the structural eloquence and charm of the original, Angel Links falls flat.
3 Mobile Suit Gundam-San
The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise was the powerhouse of the mecha genre for decades, regarded with prestige as one of the most realistic, captivating space operas in anime. The mature militaristic storylines of classic Gundam shows are completely absent from its comedic chibi spinoff, Mobile Suit Gundam-san.
While the idea of morphing the franchise into short-form parody skits could’ve worked, Mobile Suit Gundam-san didn’t put much thought into its jokes. The result is a predictable, shallow, crude comedy flick that doesn't make anyone laugh.
2 Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma☆Illya
Dedicated fans of Type-Moon icons like Fate/stay night, Fate/Zero, and Garden of Sinners expect the franchise to present serious, atmospheric battle spectacles that made the series famous in the first place. These expectations leave many confused with the bizarre Fate tie-in, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya.
Those wanting a classic Fate storyline from this comical mahou shojo flick should definitely stay away from Prisma☆Illya. However, more open-minded fans who appreciate deconstructive magical girl media might find it shockingly enjoyable.
1 Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
A beloved shonen franchise that got an entire generation of fans into the genre, Naruto had a long run that fans would prefer to go forever. Unfortunately, the solution to the series’ inevitable conclusion was a miss even with Naruto’s most dedicated admirers.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations introduces the audience to the kids of everyone’s favorite ninjas — who attempt to fill in the shoes left behind by their parents. As expected, this fruitless attempt to copy Naruto's success by using a new cast didn’t pay off.