Most Underrated and Overrated Anime/Manga in your opinion?

[tripperdan99]

Overrated:

Everyone knows them...

Underrated:

.hack/sign
.hack/root
Karas
Ergo Proxy

((I already voted, but couldn't resist...))

[mitsuki lover]

Melty Lancer is a really good OVA,but I don't know how many people are really aware of it since it has only 6 eps.

[Kumagoro]

Overrated:

Inuyasha
Fullmetal Alchemist
Naruto

(Not that I don't like these shows. I'm not big on shonen anime, but all of them are enjoyable series. They get hyped a lot just for being on Cartoon Network.)

Underrated:

Princess Princess
Loveless
Bottle Fairy

Bottle Fairy is only two DVDs long, and each episode is very short, but I still love it. Princess hasn't been lisceneced yet, but when it is hopefully it'll get some more attention. Loveless isn't very popular, but I love it. The fact that the domestic DVDs are subtitled only drives a lot of dub fans off.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

Overrated: Naruto, IGPX, One Piece, Scryed, Eureka 7, Samuari Champloo

Underrated: Pilot Candidate, Digimon (Yes, I said Digimon), Furuba, My Neighbors the Yamada's, Angel Tales.

[Seppuku]

Overrated Inuyasha

Underrated gto

[Seppuku]

Overrated:

Naruto
Full Metal Alchemist
DBZ

Underrated:

.hack Sign
Record of Lodoss War

Just because I say there overrated doesn't exactly mean I hate them. Actually all three of those titles I like quite a bit, but everyone around me is acting like there the greatest animes of all time. While almost no one talks about .hack or Record of Lodoss War.

yes, record of lodoss war deserves more praise.

[Myoti]

I say this again (or did I say it before...?):

Yes, the FMA anime is highly overrated. The MANGA, however, is well worth reading, and I encourage those who doubt the series to read it.

Overrated: Naruto, IGPX, One Piece, Scryed, Eureka 7, Samuari Champloo

You stated like, every anime on CN right now... >_>
(and I'm going to have a... "talk" with you on YIM about one XD )

[God's Samurai]

Saying DBGT is over rated is redundant being as most DB fans hate it anyways. But now let's see...

Over Rated:
FMA
One Peice
Samurai Champloo( good but over rated)
Naruto( I like it but it is over rated, the anime at least)
Zatch Bell

Under-rated:
Samurai Deeper Kyo
GTO
Hellsing
.hack Sign

That's about as much as I can think of.

[Myoti]

I feel like there could be some sort of pattern starting. Like if more and more people state certain series as being "underrated," I get the feeling that we'll soon be having some people viewing it as "overrated" (possibly vice versa).

[jon_jinn]

overrated:
Naruto (both manga and anime)
Bleach (both manga and anime)
DBZ
Yugioh!
Inuyasha
Fullmetal Alchemist
Samurai Champloo
Cowboy Bebop
Rurouni Kenshin (manga)
Fruits Basket (both manga and anime)

underrated:
Monster (both anime and manga)
20th Century Boys (manga)
Yu Yu Hakusho
Paranoia Agent
Hajime no Ippo (both manga and anime)

[Nate]

I feel like there could be some sort of pattern starting. Like if more and more people state certain series as being "underrated," I get the feeling that we'll soon be having some people viewing it as "overrated" (possibly vice versa).

Well, remember earlier in the thread, mitsuki lover put Inuyasha in his "Underrated" list because so many people put it in their "Overrated" lists. I think it's safe to assume that if a series that a person likes is considered overrated by many, he will assume it to be underrated. Likewise, if 15 people put say, Dragonball Z in their underrated lists, someone else could call it overrated.

Perception is a weird thing, huh?

[Myoti]

Indeed, Kae, indeed. Tis all very interesting. :/

[KhakiBlueSocks]

I say this again (or did I say it before...?):

You stated like, every anime on CN right now... >_>
(and I'm going to have a... "talk" with you on YIM about one XD )

Well that's saying something, isn't it? CN has a habit of hyping up an anime so much so to the point when the view finally sees it, it's not as good as they made it out to be. Case in point: Naruto & One Piece.

If they really wanna build up an anime's credibility, they should soft-play it like they did with Pilot Candidate or Yu Yu Hakusho (I'm talking about the original "Adult Swim" version, not the "Toonami" version--THAT version was over hyped IMHO)

I have a few more additions to my previous list:

Overrated: Trigun(Only Slightly, though), Inuyasha

Underrated: Outlaw Star (AS Version), Tenchi Muyo! (All Series except GXP--too much fanservice IMHO)

[AnubisWerewolf]

Van Von Hunter......funny manga not many people heard of it. Very underrated.

[Denimcat]

Overrated:
Fullmetal Alchemist -.-
Kino's Journey
Madlax
Fruits Basket (the manga is the best thing ever, but the anime? Not.)

Underrated:
His and Her Circumstances
Dragonball

Dragonball gets a bad rap just because of it's relation to DragonballZ. There is a pretty BIG difference. Dragonball was nothing deep or intelligent, but it was cute and fun. Certainly not the utter dreck it's made out to be.

[shojoiscool2]

overrated-
inuyasha (i like it but it isn't that great)

[Ratrace]

Overrated
Evangelion

The only other two I could have an opinion on are FMA and Wolf's Rain. FMA I missed some of and stopped watching, but it did seem to be slowly going downhill. Wolf's Rain I missed the start of and spent my time watching it catching up, but it was OK. Naruto just started, too much filler already(Toonami dub), One Piece is the 4kids version and I can tell they recked some places that could be good otherwise. I have two films to watch and should be back.

[Solid Ronin]

I'll say it again.

Under-rated:

Giant Robo

[Azier the Swordsman]

Overated: Azumanga Daioh.

Underrated: Generator Gawl.

[jon_jinn]

overrated:
Naruto (both manga and anime)
Bleach (both manga and anime)
DBZ
Yugioh!
Inuyasha
Fullmetal Alchemist
Samurai Champloo
Cowboy Bebop
Rurouni Kenshin (manga)
Fruits Basket (both manga and anime)

underrated:
Monster (both anime and manga)
20th Century Boys (manga)
Yu Yu Hakusho
Paranoia Agent
Hajime no Ippo (both manga and anime)

Might i also add Master Keaton and Getbackers (both manga and anime) in the underrated section.

[WrestlingOtaku]

Overrated:

Naruto
Full Metal Alchemist
DBZ

Underrated:

.hack Sign
Record of Lodoss War

Just because I say there overrated doesn't exactly mean I hate them. Actually all three of those titles I like quite a bit, but everyone around me is acting like there the greatest animes of all time. While almost no one talks about .hack or Record of Lodoss War.

Need to add to mine.

Underrated:

Read or Die
One Piece (manga)

[jayquam]

overated
1.DBZ
2.Inuyasha

underated
1.Astroboy (2003 vesion)
-I noticed a lot of comig down on and giving bad review to the 2003 vesion just because they were exspecting the origanal.

[Zeke]

Overated:
Inuyasha (its just too much like DBZ in plot and stuff)
Evangelion (how ever you spell it)

Underated:
Naruto Manga
Yakitate Japan!

[Blitzkrieg1701]

OVERRATED:

Inu-Yasha: I know, I know, this topic has bashed the poor show into the ground already, just lemme finish. I do concider myself a fan of the show and I'm not that affected by over-exposure, fangirl adulation, or over-long story arcs. However, I personally haven't heard many people acknowledge that the writing is sometimes shaky, the pacing of individual episodes is often shot to heck (a problem in the manga as well), and the show relies far too much on bland photoshop effects.

Naruto: Pretty much the same comments as above. I love the characters and actually like that it's popular. Alas, the show is lacking in the animation department and the excess of flashbacks/monologues/cliffhangers screws up the pacing something terrible.

Evangelion: Oh look! One more dead horse to flog! I get grasp philosophical aspects just fine, but the story flies WAY out of control and I personally can't muster up any sympathy for the characters (which often makes or breaks an anime for me)

Ghost in the Shell: There's no way to dispute it's historical and cultural importance (you know there's no way The Matrix would have happened without it), and I actually like Stand Alone Complex quite a bit, but the movie is just a disapointment. Sure, it looks great, but it's so sloooooooooooow! It takes forever for anything to happen, and when something does, it's a let down because of the obsciene wait. To make matters worse, the opressive "let's be moody and philosophical" atmosphere makes it seem even longer than it is.

Voices of a Distant Star: I can appreciate the one-man-army aspect of the production, but as a movie it's just too half-baked and unresolved.

Gundam SEED: This had been frustrating to me for some time because I really want to like Gundam SEED. War in space with giant robots is just cool, after all. Alas, I can't connect with any of the angsty characters and the sterile animation just sucks the energy out of the fights. Oh, and the perenial Gundam habit of rewritting the same story doesn't help either. Too bad.

Trigun: Another one I tried to like but just couldn't. I have trouble connecting with the cast again, but I think my main probelm here is the reliance on that PAINFULLY dumb cliché of an action-heavy show centered around a pacifist protagonist.

Rurouni Kenshin: See above (though the over-use of shonen style storytelling doesn't help either)

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: A number of people hold that this is Miyazaki's magnum opus, but I was really disapointed by it. As often happens when Miyazaki has a point to make, the plot is way to heavy handed and the characters lack depth. I'll always prefer his more whimsical efforts.

UNDERRATED:

Digimon: Yes, I am biased towards one of my all-time favorites, but even speaking objectively Digimon deserves praise. No, it's not perfect. The expectations of a "kids show" sometimes box it in, and I admit that 02 just plain spun out of control. Still, the level of originality and creativity in this supposedly merchandizing-driven anime regularly puts the likes of Pokemon to shame. When you add the fact that the show mantains that level of creativity while starting from scratch (almost) every season, Digimon only becomes more remarkable. And such great characters to boot!

Steamboy: No, it's not the groundbreaking masterpiece that many were waiting for. Yes, it's rather shallow. But you know what? Steamboy is a terrificaly fun adventure yarn AND and honest-to-goodness born for the big screen spectacle. The industry is still severely neglecting both in favor of overblown melodrama and TV based franchizes, which makes Steamboy's very existence remarkable. And, aside from that, it's not BAD by any means.

Whisper of the Heart: Maybe I just don't hang around the right people, but I've recieved the distinct impression that this Studio Ghibli flim is being overlooked by the anime community. If so, it's a shame because Whisper of the Heart is one of the best of the "other" films Ghibli has released (Grave of the Fireflies is probably better, but it's recieved plenty of rave reviews). The fact that Yoshifumi Kondō's died without directing another film is a profound tragedy.


...I feel bad that the first list is so much longer than the second. (I can think of a number of other anime I like that most people just haven't heard of, but that's more a case of "non-rated" than "underrated," right?)