We are often quick to discard anime that look bad, thus missing out on some actually amazing shows. Art style is a very divisive part of the animation medium, as it may mend or break the credibility, even if the full product is amazing.
So we have decided to create this list, shedding light on some of the anime out there that sacrifice appealing looks for experimentation, but are actually amazing.
Amazing Anime That Look Bad
Ping Pong The Animation
When we think of an anime that initially looks bad, or let’s say weird, and turns off a lot of people, then PingPong is definitely the one that comes to mind first. Which is unfortunate because it is actually an amazing show.
Adapted from the manga written by the legendary Taiyo Matsumoto, Ping Pong The Animation follows the story of a bunch of high school table tennis players. If anime about sports is your thing, then this show should be right up your alley.
Thankfully, the animation was directed by an equally talented artist, Masaaki Yuasa, who is known for some great anime. Ping Pong The Animation did garner some niche but decent fan following before the anime showed up, leading to a live-action film adaptation.
The Tatami Galaxy
We mentioned Masaaki Yuasa previously, who is an incredible animation director. He is someone who specializes in unconventional anime art styles, which is unfortunately not for mainstream anime fans.
Most people would just discard his shows, calling the art style ‘bad’, which is again very unfortunate. The Tatami Galaxy is another show just like that; it is adapted from the novel written by Tomihiko Morimi.
The show follows the tale of a university student and how he perceives his daily life, and how things can be different in his everyday life. The show slowly slips into psychological themes, almost inspired by Franz Kafka’s amazing work, Metamorphosis.
Devilman Crybaby
The Masaaki Yuasa ball has to keep rolling because this man was involved with a lot of amazing shows with unique art styles. This particular one may have bad art style according to some, but it is also one of his most popular works.
Devilman is one of the darkest works of anime/manga fiction created by Go Nagai. Masaaki Yuasa got the opportunity to take a jab at adapting this show with his own interpretations. So Devilman Crybaby was released in 2018, a modern adaptation of the classic, which blew everyone’s minds.
A particularly incredible trivia about this show is that by this time, Masaaki Yuasa had established his own studio, Science Saru. Devilman Crybaby is one of his first works from this studio that kicked it into mainstream prominence.
Mob Psycho 100
Mob Psycho 100 does look very Masaaki Yuasa-coded visually, but not everything with a weird art style is always made by him. This one is a show that is animated by Studio Bones, which is a legendary animation studio in its own right.
The ‘bad’ art style of Mob Psycho 100 is lent to it by the original creator of the course material, ONE. Many may recognize that name because it is also the same person who is behind the incredibly popular One Punch Man.
Except One Punch Man was later adapted into a full-on manga series by Yusuke Murata, which lent to its new art style. Meanwhile, Mob Psycho 100 stayed true to the adaptation of ONE’s original work.
Higurashi When They Cry
People often yearn for anime art styles to go back to how defined physical features used to be in shows from the 80s and 90s. This all changed when modern anime brought in ‘moe’ art style, which is generally considered appealing to a large part of the fandom, except few.
Higurashi When They Cry from 2006 by Studio Deen is a victim of this art style, which may be considered bad and overwrought in the medium. But don’t let that keep you away from an amazing adaptation of one of the best psychological horror Visual Novels ever written.
Originally written by Ryukishi07 and his team, 07th Expansion, who are specifically known for this type of visual novel. Adaptation of such works doesn’t always go right, but in 2006, director Chiaki Kon was successful in pulling it off.
Baki
We should mention beforehand that we are particularly talking about the Baki anime from recent years licensed by Netflix. There are several anime adaptations of this incredible work of fiction created originally by Keisuke Itagaki.
Baki is a show that is all about incredibly strong martial artists who often showcase weird and irrational antiques. This is accentuated by the art style, which exaggerates human anatomy and muscle definition, thus making it look bad at first glance to many.
But if that keeps you from experiencing the show, then you will be missing out on an amazing action anime. Baki thrives on its exaggerations, blending humor and incredibly dramatic situations, making it one of the most fun martial arts anime ever.
One Piece
The title for one of the most divisive art styles in all of anime history has to be awarded to One Piece. It is considered by many to have a really bad art style, even though it is one of the most popular shows of all time.
One Piece is amazing; it tells the story of a world that is filled with pirates opposing tyranny and authority. The anime has gone on to inspire real-world political events, and it is now being adapted into a successful live-action show.
Pop Team Epic
Gag anime and manga are notorious for having very debatable art styles. The bad character designs are almost a necessity for some to accentuate the humor. Such is also the case with Pop Team Epic.
We cannot imagine this anime without its goofy character designs and the ability to morph and switch up styles for parody and other humorous situations. Of course, all the credits should be attributed to the creator, Bkub Okawa. Which animator, Kamikaze Douga, picked up and elevated to newer heights.
The Flowers of Evil
Rotoscopy is an art style in the sphere of visual effects and animation that utilizes the technique of tracing over live-action footage. This may result in varying outcomes depending on the approach.
Sometimes it fits the vibe, while at other times it looks plain bad with uncanny valley designs. Unfortunately, this was the case with the Flowers of Evil adaptation, which is sad because it is an amazing piece of fiction if you are into literature and media that delve into psychological horror.
The Flowers of Evil is originally a manga written by Shuzo Oshimi, who is known for really dark stories in the medium. If you can look past the mismatched art style of the show from the source material, then you will be in for a ride.
Detroit Metal City
It’s not the animator’s fault if the source material already had questionable bad art style. But once again, it’s always the humor that lends to the overall justification of such a choice in character design.
Take Detroit Metal City, for example; at first glance, it looks like a very ugly and unappealing piece of work in both the source material and the anime. But that is exactly what elevates this show, which parodies the heavy metal culture.
Beyond all of that, Detroit Metal City is an amazing anime about an individual who wants to be a country musician, but fate has chosen if for something even more brutal.
