It's no secret among anime fans that recent years have brought with them a boom in the popularity and influence of this medium worldwide. Long gone are the times of these amazing shows and movies being a niche hobby that audiences outside of Japan could hardly get access to. Anime is enjoying a prosperous and memorable era, with fans all around the globe and some of the best series in history being released over the past few decades.

While there is no denying how much the industry has grown and improved over time, this thriving era of Japanese animation is far from being perfect. Several issues still plague not only the shows that audiences tune into every day, but the lives of those working hard to bring enjoyment to the masses. The dark side of modern anime needs to be addressed to make this incredible medium more accessible and enjoyable for everyone involved.

10 Awful Working Conditions

Over the last couple of years, news and reports about the inhumane conditions in which the anime industry workers are forced to fulfill their obligations have been a hot topic among fans. More than once have audiences heard of the long, restless hours animators were forced to work in order to complete the upcoming season of a show.

The biggest and most popular studios in the industry have also been called out by other artists working with them, such as voice actors, who have been not only denied proper contracts and workers' rights, but are now also threatened by the use of AI technology. This results in incredibly detailed and memorable shows, but at the cost of the health and happiness of those working behind the stage to make it possible.

9 Overabundance of Isekai Anime

After its boom during the 2010s, the Isekai genre has become one of, if not the most dominant forces in the anime industry. While there are many reasons why this concept is so popular, as it satisfies fans’ fantasies of joining one of the fantastical stories they grew up with, the massive volume of shows revolving around this idea has become overwhelming.

For the last couple of years, there has been no season that has not featured at least one anime of the Isekai genre. As a result, many of the new series that revolve their stories around these tropes feel unoriginal and tedious. Lamentably, the genre keeps generating interest among fans, meaning it will likely be a long time before the era of Isekai anime comes to an end.

8 Overpowered Protagonists Are a Dime a Dozen

One of the most appealing traits of an anime protagonist in the past was their conviction and determination to never give up, no matter the obstacles littered in their way. Many of the most beloved and recognizable heroes in the industry reached their power level by working hard, inspiring entire generations of viewers to keep fighting for their dreams.

Modern anime has seemed to have mostly abandoned these concepts, opting instead to introduce heroes whose powers and special abilities can easily defeat any opponent. Although the appeal of an unbeatable hero whose skills far surpass those of his opponents is quite alluring, playing with audiences’ power fantasies, the ever-growing list of main characters who fit this mold can become tiresome to some.

7 Adaptations Dominate the Market

When reading a manga, one of fans’ biggest desires is to see the best moments of the story one day be brought to life in the form of an anime. As such, there is no shock in the fact that adaptations of popular stories tend to dominate the market. This has been the reason behind the creation of some of the most cherished anime ever, but it has also caused a much larger issue.

Original stories are becoming rarer with each new year, being completely overshadowed by the appeal of seeing a popular manga being adapted. This does not mean that completely original shows of high quality are non-existent, but they are a minority when compared with the hundreds of adaptations that are released each year.

6 Problematic Tropes Have Yet to be Addressed

Ever since the dawn of anime, certain tropes and character archetypes have been heavily criticized by fans for how uncomfortable or unnecessary they are for the plot. Whether they refer to the incorrigible pervert who cannot stop harassing women or the Tsundere love interest who confuses violence for affection, these themes can be found in almost any major release.

Anime as a medium has evolved drastically from what it used to be during its origins, but it has never done away with these ideas. This is a shame, as these tropes can not only make following a series feel awkward for audiences, such as the shows with overwhelming amounts of fan service, but they can also push away newcomers who do not understand why they were added.

5 Cinematic Animation Carries Many Lacking Stories

Though not as important for a series to be successful as a captivating plot, animation is one of the pillars of anime. Even when a show has one of the most interesting stories, if it is not visually appealing, there is a higher chance that it will fail. It is because of this that several of the most beautifully animated series in history have become so beloved among the community.

Lamentably, this phenomenon has resulted in a worrying trend, as more and more shows focus on stunning art pieces over innovative plots. One of the biggest examples of this is the world-famous Demon Slayer series, which has often been criticized for hiding an otherwise cliché trope with backgrounds and animation that enchant viewers.

4 Stories Are Purposefully Drawn Out

One of the many reasons why anime of the past keeps being relevant when talking about the true masterpieces of the medium is because of their concise and self-contained plots. Shows like Dragon Ball preferred to separate its story into digestible arcs that more often than not had little to do with the following adventure.

While several modern shows follow this pattern, there is a plethora of others that develop the overarching plot over several seasons. This results in most modern shows ending with a cliffhanger that hints at what is to come in the future. Worse of all is the continuously growing list of anime that are cancelled before being able to tell a full story, leaving fans beyond disappointed.

3 Streaming Services Are a Must To Enjoy New Anime

A bit over a decade ago, watching anime was significantly more difficult than it is today; this was one of the reasons why the medium remained a niche hobby until fairly recently. Only a select few shows were chosen to be aired outside of Japan, and even then the timing and need to pay for cable kept many fans from enjoying their favorite series. Streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix fixed this issue by making anime more easily available than ever.

Lamentably, new issues have been born due to this digital transition, with monetary reasons now being the main reason why many fans cannot follow modern anime. Each streaming platform requires a monthly payment to use, a condition that can be difficult or downright impossible for fans with a lower income. The fact that accessing anime is now almost impossible without these services only makes this that much more irritating for some.

2 Seasons Are Oversaturated

Each new year brings along a long list of new and thrilling shows for fans to enjoy across its 365 days. This is a direct result of the massive increase in demand that has been seen during the last few years, as companies do not want to lose the revenue that comes with the release of a new show. This should be, in theory, a wish come true for audiences, as there seems to now be a non-stop flow of new series to follow.

What is often disregarded is the overabundance of anime that has caused the market to feel overwhelmed for many. Fans cannot keep up with all the new releases, making them either ignore several to focus on what they know they will enjoy, or pile up pending titles that they never get around to enjoying.

1 Female Characters Are Often Disregarded

Despite this issue being slowly addressed over the last few years, there is no denying that women tend not to be the main focus of the anime industry. Outside of genres such as Shojo anime or Josei anime, which are made specifically with a female audience in mind, there is a glaring lack of representation for this demographic across the medium.

Their roles in most stories have also remained the same over the years, being depicted as love interests, healers, or inherently weaker than their male counterparts. While this same criticism can be made about several other forms of representation, such as the lack of queer or POC characters, it is a shock that such a large audience as women are still being pushed aside by the industry.