13 Anime That Are Completely Average, But Which You’ll Love Anyway

A couple of weeks ago, we asked you to name a series that you love, but isn’t an especially good series, nor especially terrible. It’s just there, one in an endless landscape of anime. And because it’s caught in that vast middle, your choice may be lost to time, a series that is rarely discussed anymore as so many new anime become easily accessible each season. But that doesn’t mean it’s not valuable to you—and if given a chance, that series might become a favorite for someone else.

You responded to our question and gave us plenty of series to consider. Here are just a few of your answers to that question: What’s a completely average anime that you love?

1. Fairy Tail

These might be fighting words, but I think Micah hit the nail on the head: Fairy Tail is average, but incredibly lovable.

2. Wasteful Days of High School Girls

I have a feeling that I would love this series, too!

3. My Bride is Mermaid

A lot of times it’s those “first anime” that we treasure, even if we find out later that they aren’t the highest quality productions.

4. Nagi no Asakura

Our man Josh couldn’t agree more with Victor’s assessment.

5. Hand Maid May

An old school selection, tweeted out by the translator of the Tenchi Muyo light novel translations!

6. Azumanga Daioh

I have to disagree here…I think Azumanga Daioh is way, way WAY above average. Am I alone in this assessment?!

7. Just Because

Definitely a series that you can fall in love with.

8. Steel Angel Kurumi

Justin, I think a whole lot of otaku would say the exact same.

Finally, our man Jeskai gives us five recommendations after asking us to provide a better definition of average. So here they are, with quantitative data!

9-13: If Her Flag Breaks, Happiness!, Seven Senses of the Reunion, Cinderella Nine, Tamayomi

We received other answers as well through our other platforms. Thanks especially to those who replied on our original post and through Facebook! I especially encourage you check out some of the great responses we received through the latter by clicking below.

Thanks to all who responded, and to everyone, I hope enjoy watching these anime that are perhaps not-so-average after all!

Featured illustration by 大家 (reprinted w/permission).

Twwk
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10 thoughts on “13 Anime That Are Completely Average, But Which You’ll Love Anyway”

  1. Azumanga Daioh is God Tier animé and manga though, even if it technically a slice-of-life tale. But then so is Nichijou and there’s no way you’d call that show “ordinary”.

    And Just Because? I really feel that failed to fulfil its potential so I guess it is average but that’s just because it fell short of greatness in its execution – unlike Nagi no Asukara which sort of ran out of ideas I felt. Mind you the theme tune for that show was just beautiful – I still listen to it often.

  2. Azumanga Daioh is amazing stuff. I remember loving the heck out of the anime when I first watched it. Couldn’t wait to get the DVDs when they were released. And when the manga was licensed in a single omnibus volume, I snapped that up immediately.

  3. Azumanga Daioh is THE slice of life comedy anime. I absolutely love it. I can get why it wouldn’t be some people’s cup of tea, but it certainly isn’t average in my book.

    Also, I love Fairy Tail. I get people’s criticisms of it, to some extent, but I love the characters and the relationships, the strong focus on friendship and comradery. It’s not exactly breaking new ground, but I’ve come to really enjoy it.

  4. As a kid, I enjoyed Sonic X, though that series hasn’t aged well ever since seeing the subbed version in the 10+ years that have passed since 4Kids dissolved. That is the epitome average anime – decent plot and the characterization was spot on, but it was lacking in music and depth.

    For me I would have put Hinamatsuri in the above list too. It’s rather slice of life, but strong moral lessons and incredible character arcs made it one of the most impactful anime I’ve ever seen since I first saw it back in 2018.

    1. Thanks for sharing! Man do miss 4Kids, pretty much the epitome of putting out anime that may lack depth in all ways (it’s 4 kids after all) but still had a lot of heart.

      But I might disagree with Hinamatsuri. That’s a pretty well regarded series!

      1. No worries! 😃

        And oh – I just reread your definition of average. I was thinking average as in because it’s not the first show a lot of fans think of when they think of anime this decade, hence why I firs thought Hinamatsuri. Oops!

        Now that I think about it, maybe Digimon Adventure 02 fits the definition better. The series was infamous for its plot holes, bland new Digidestined, and especially the ending. It’s practically the Digimon series that “we don’t wanna talk about” but yet I enjoyed it for its music and probably because I’m biased towards anything coming from the summer of 2016 (that’s when I watched it, it remains to this day one of the most hype summers I’ve had).

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