Top 10 Anime That Were Taken Off the Air
Script written Jonathan Alexander
#10: “Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo” (2003-05)
This delightfully offbeat comedy both lived and died on the basis of its off-the-walls humor. That’s no exaggeration. Allegedly, Japanese parents objected to the very weirdness that made the show stand out in the first place. So, fearing it was too violent and crude, the intense pushback eventually proved too much for “Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo” to overcome. It was unceremoniously canceled halfway through its penultimate story arc, which just makes it hurt all the more since it was so close to finishing. Given how long it’s been, it doesn’t seem like “Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo’s” true ending or its published sequel will ever see a proper animated release.
#9: “After War Gundam X” (1996)
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There’s a quick and easy answer to why this show had its episode order cut: it simply wasn’t getting good ratings. Although, with how respected “After War” is among longtime fans, it clearly wasn’t a matter of quality. Instead, many theorize that the “Gundam” brand had oversaturated the market with mecha action. So, before “After War” could even get a fair shake, audiences were already burned out of the same-old, same-old. It’s still an excellent 39 episodes, but it’s a bit overshadowed by what could’ve been had it gotten its planned 49. Especially since it’s only real mistake was coming out at the wrong time.
#8: “Golden Kamuy” (2018-)
Debuting its fourth season in October of 2022, “Golden Kamuy” was slated for a continuous run of thirteen new episodes. However, just six weeks into its broadcast, the production team was hit with the sudden passing of a key staff member. Instead of proceeding without them, the show halted production altogether, and took an indefinite hiatus to mourn and reevaluate. The tragic circumstances left the fate of the remaining episodes uncertain. But, the series’ abrupt hiatus didn’t end up lasting very long. The rest of the season eventually aired in April of 2023, just a mere six months after their original planned airdate.
#7: “Interspecies Reviewers” (2020)
An anime about rating sexual succubi was never going to be kid-friendly. But, “Interspecies Reviewers” didn’t just cross the line, it erased it entirely. And censors were none too pleased. The first sign of trouble came from American company Funimation, who removed both the simulcast and the show’s English dub from their service, citing conflicts with the brand’s standards. Japanese broadcasters soon followed suit, and the lewd anime began flip-flopping across various networks just to finish airing its season. Even though all of its episodes did see the light of day, that’s not for lack of trying. In fact, nowadays, it’s hard to even find the show on streaming services anymore.
#6: “Uncle from Another World” (2022-)
He may be from another world, but Takaoka’s Uncle still had to deal with the issues from this one. So, when the global pandemic rocked the anime industry, his show wasn’t immune from the impact. The original run in the summer of 2022 faced several virus-related concerns, leading to frequent delays and, eventually, an indefinite hiatus. New episodes began to trickle out a few months later, only to be postponed once again due to behind-the-scenes issues. As of the making of this video, the thirteenth episode of the series still doesn’t have a firm release date. With all these setbacks, it’s amazing the show still came as good as it did.
#5: “86” (2021-22)
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With amazing CGI and a whole lot of epic fight scenes, there’s no denying that “86” is a great looking show. Unfortunately, as the series went on, the production struggled to consistently meet its own high bar. In particular, the second half of the season was plagued by weekly delays and even a recap episode; all in the hopes of giving the production a bit more breathing room. But, the schedule-shuffling still caught up with them, and the show was forced to delay the final two episodes of the season for another three months. At a certain point, you have to wonder if the excellent visuals were worth such a haphazard release.
#4: Toei Shows
In March of 2022, Japanese studio Toei Animation became the victims of an attempted ransomware hack. As a countermeasure, the company’s internal servers immediately shut down, bringing all their anime production to a grinding halt. Then, in what might be an industry record, Toei had to pull four completely independent shows from broadcast all at the same time. “Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai,” “Digimon Ghost Game,” “Delicious Party: Pretty Cure” and “One Piece” all aired reruns or recaps for six whole weeks before their production cycle fully recovered. Things are back to normal now, but that doesn’t make what happened any less unprecedented.
#3: “Mobile Suit Gundam” (1979-80)
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By today’s standards, this seminal mecha franchise seems too big to fail. But, it sure didn’t start out that way. The original “Gundam” was marred by low ratings and middling reviews, causing sponsors to prematurely pull the plug on the brand. Its original 52-episode order was slashed down to 43, and it could’ve been even worse if the passionate staff hadn’t negotiated for an extra four. And yet, even the severely truncated ending didn’t take away from the show’s creative merits. So, with added help from a new toy line and some very lucrative reruns, “Mobile Suit Gundam” soon turned into the mega-hit franchise we know today.
#2: “Bleach” (2004-12; 2022-)
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In 2012, Ichigo and the others were ramping for their final battle. Except, in the anime, it never came. Instead, following the conclusion of the Lost Agent arc, “Bleach” was inexplicably taken off the air. All the while, the manga was giving Ichigo’s story the sendoff it deserved. While the show’s popularity had definitely waned over the years, it seemed unlikely that “Bleach” would be canceled without at least finishing its adaptation But, that seemed to be the case - at least, for a decade. Now, “Bleach” fans can rest easy knowing the series is finally getting a proper ending in the immaculate adaptation of “Thousand Year Blood War.” And it was totally worth the wait.
#1: “Pokémon” (1997-)
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Ash’s quest to be the very best hit a pretty major snag when he and Pikachu shocked their way out of a computer. The now-infamous episode features flashing strobe lights that nearly hospitalized 700 viewers across Japan. The “Pokémon” anime was immediately put on a four-month hiatus, but the episode’s impact extended far beyond its own series. It also prompted broadcasters to write up all new regulations about visual effects in television programs. While “Pokemon” has been airing pretty regularly ever since, Porygon’s debut can’t say the same. The episode was permanently pulled from circulation, and skipped altogether in the English dub. That hasn’t done much to stop its pop-culture infamy, though.
