Filler arcs are current in quite a lot of anime, as the unique episodes created by the animation studios had been essential to make room for the manga’s story to progress after catching as much as it. However whereas there are anime filler arcs good enough to be considered canon, there are some narratives that contribute nothing to their story, and followers desire to keep away from them fully.
Whereas there are some unhealthy quick arcs that final simply a few episodes, typically the worst are these lengthy authentic plots that appear to pull on endlessly with no clear course, damaging their sequence’ status. Moreover, the worst anime filler arcs are so questionable that they make followers surprise what the writers had in thoughts.
Yu-Gi-Oh!’s Digital World Arc (Episodes 98 -121)
The Digital World arc is without doubt one of the worst components of Yu-Gi-Oh! due to how poorly timed it was, because it broke the anime’s pacing proper in the course of the semifinals of the Battle Metropolis match. The Digital World arc options enemies with a private vendetta in opposition to Seto Kaiba, introducing Noah, who’s linked to his father, Gozaburo.
Sadly, whereas it incorporates attention-grabbing concepts just like the Deck Masters, the occasions of the Digital World arc are largely inconsequential. Noah’s persona intently resembled Seto’s, and regardless of his trauma, he did not have a big decision or affect on Kaiba’s life. Consequently, the Digital World arc appears like a torn-out web page that followers skip when rewatching the anime.
Dragon Ball Z’s The Garlic Jr. Saga (Episodes 108 – 117)
Given its egregious dependence on its prior film to know the story and the absence of characters like Goku and Vegeta, the Garlic Jr. Saga has gained a poor status. The Garlic Jr. saga feels misplaced after the battle with Frieza, because it postponed the invention of what occurred to Goku, making it really feel particularly drawn out.
The arc has optimistic features, like giving prominence to Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, and even Kami, in addition to rising the stakes by introducing Dragon Ball‘s first immortal enemy, who was additionally able to controlling Earth’s inhabitants together with his Black Water Mist. Nevertheless, its ending felt pressured because of how Garlic Jr. arrange his defeat by opening the Lifeless Zone.
One Piece’s Cunning’s Return Arc (Episodes 220 – 228)
The Lengthy Ring Lengthy Land arc marks a few of One Piece‘s most divisive episodes, as, regardless of introducing the Davy Again fights, it differs from the anime’s dynamic of combating highly effective enemies like Enel within the Skypeia arc. Due to this, many followers selected to skip the Cunning Pirates’ first look and disliked their return in a filler arc.
Cunning’s Return felt repetitive and boring, and it had unhealthy animation (with an notorious scene that includes two Zoros), and it wasn’t helped by the truth that it adopted the Ocean Dream Arc, which was one other lackluster filler. Its solely redeeming function is that the Cunning Return arc mixes canonical parts from the manga on the finish by introducing Aokiji.
Fairy Tail’s Eclipse Celestial Spirits Arc (Episodes 204 – 226)
Fairy Tail has some good filler arcs with Hiro Mashima’s approval, however the Eclipse Celestial Spirits Arc is undoubtedly one of many anime’s lowest factors. Following the critically acclaimed Grand Magic Video games, a disturbance within the Celestial Spirit World affected Lucy’s summons, inflicting them to spiral uncontrolled and endangering their lives.
The worst half wasn’t the celestial spirits’ new designs and quirky personalities, however quite the absurd battles, starting from a card recreation to a dance battle. Furthermore, it had the potential to broaden on what viewers knew about celestial spirits, however the arc ends with them dropping their recollections as if nothing had occurred, which makes it merely pointless.
Naruto: Shippuden’s Mecha-Naruto Arc (Episodes 376 – 377)
The Robotic Naruto is without doubt one of the strangest arcs seen within the anime (much more so than the episodes of the Ostrich and Mom alliance), primarily as a result of it aired in the course of the Fourth Nice Ninja Conflict. This mecha Naruto parody was created by Orochimaru, and its objective was to seize the 9-Tailed Beast, Kurama.
Though it solely lasted two episodes, the anime’s abrupt shift in tone induced followers emotional whiplash because the Mecha-Naruto arc aired after Kakashi and Obito’s battle, which is taken into account one of many best fights in shōnen history. Whereas many followers loved its absurdity, and the robotic even appeared in Naruto‘s video games, this arc was unwatchable for some, and rightfully so.
Naruto’s Mizuki Monitoring Mission (Episodes 142 – 147)
Naruto‘s original series has over 80 filler episodes, and whereas some provide enjoyable moments, others are nothing greater than time-wasters for viewers, particularly the Mizuki Monitoring Mission. Mizuki was a chunin and the anime’s first antagonist, who solely appeared in a single episode and manipulated Naruto into stealing the scroll of seals.
Mizuki had been imprisoned and escaped to hunt revenge on Iruka and Naruto, together with his physique being modified after utilizing medication developed by Orochimaru to reinforce his energy. Whereas Mizuki’s return had potential, linking him to Orochimaru appeared like a waste. In addition to, followers had already forgotten about Mizuki, and his tiger design did not assist both.
Bleach’s Bount Arc (Episodes 64 – 108)
Though Bleach is without doubt one of the large three shōnen anime, many followers selected to drop it for its extreme filler, with the Bount arc being particularly disliked. This arc featured an immortal vampire-like race, the Bounts, whose powers challenged even the Soul Reapers. Nevertheless, whereas the arc units up some large battles, it was closely criticized for its gradual pacing.
Whereas the Bount arc is not as unhealthy as some followers recommend, the occasions are so drawn out that the majority determined to skip it altogether. Moreover, its flaws are most evident because it takes place between the Soul Society arc and the Arrancar Saga. This widespread hatred is the rationale why the Bount arc was even excluded from Bleach: Courageous Souls.
Rurouni Kenshin’s Third Season (Episodes 63 – 95)
After adapting the unbelievable Kyoto Arc, the anime received too near the manga, in the end working out of content material. That is why, apart from the Shimabara Arc, which explores a slice of Japanese historical past showcasing Christianity and an antagonist who shares Kenshin’s signature type, there’s nothing redeeming about Rurouni Kenshin‘s third season.
Rurouni Kenshin‘s later filler arcs are unremarkable and detract from the anime’s grounded story concerning the adjustments within the Meiji period with developments that followers would quite neglect, such because the criticized Feng Shui arc. Rurouni Kenshin‘s third season tarnished the anime’s reputation, which ended up being canceled. Fortunately, Rurouni Kenshin has a remake that is faithful to the manga.
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water’s Island and Africa Arc (Episodes 23 – 34)
Impressed by the long-lasting work of Jules Verne, “20,000 Leagues Underneath the Sea”, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is an underrated anime by the legendary Evangelion director Hideaki Anno. Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water obtained vital acclaim, prompting a requirement for filler episodes to benefit from the anime’s reputation.
Anno did not work on the Island and Africa arcs, and what makes them a darkish spot in an in any other case nice anime is that the arcs have poor characterization, and the story will get slowed down in displeasing, horrifying subplots with low animation high quality. Consequently, followers are higher off skipping the filler.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’s Limitless Eight Arc (Episodes 23 – 34)
Haruhi Suzumiya’s Limitless Eight Arc is essentially the most preposterous and audacious inventive choice in anime historical past. Though it was tailored from a narrative within the mild novel, which featured the characters being caught in a time loop, the anime tremendously prolonged the arc by showcasing the identical episode seven consecutive occasions to satisfy the requested size of the season.
The episodes weren’t repeated, as each was animated individually and featured minimal variations. Nevertheless, it could have been higher to retitle it to “The Boredom and Monotony of Haruhi Suzumiya,” because it was basically the identical episode being broadcast for practically two months, trapping the viewers in a time loop with no concept of when it could finish.
The Limitless Eight arc was so notorious that it broken the anime’s reputation, and the third season was canceled. The anime would not return till years later with The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, an exquisite addition to the franchise that, sadly, failed to realize the acclaim of Haruhi Suzumiya in its prime.
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Aya Hirano
Haruhi Suzumiya
