Animefandoms can be some of the most passionate and dedicated communities in media, but that passion can sometimes twist into a dark obsession.Some fanbases are infamous for their toxicity, engaging in endless arguments, gatekeeping, and even harassment of creators and fellow fans. While every fandom has positive aspects, some have gained a reputation for being more hostile than others. Thus, an unfortunate side effect emerges, where newcomers to the genre actively avoid well-known anime to avoid engaging with longtime fans, or worse–becoming like them.
Whether it’s excessive gatekeeping, power-scaling debates, or relentless harassment, these fandoms have gained reputations for being some of the mostexhausting to engage with. Many arguments form naturally, due to sheer size, or years of built-up rivalry between factions of differing opinion, but the discourse often devolves into indefensible name-calling and degradation. Of course, not every fan contributes to this toxicity, but it’s clear that these communities have their fair share of “squeaky wheels” looking for a fight. From longstanding series likeDragon Ballto relatively new hits such asJujutsu Kaisen, these are the anime with the most out-of-control fandoms.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titanis one of the most critically acclaimed anime of the past decade, but its fandom is also one of the most divisive. Fans constantly argue over the series’ underlying themes, withheated debates about whether it glorifies or condemns nationalism. The discourse around Eren Yeager’s character has led to intense infighting, with different factions of the fandom aggressively defending their interpretations. When the final season aired, disagreements over the adaptation’s quality andending led to harassment campaignsagainst the animation staff and creator Hajime Isayama.
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Spoilers are another major issue within the abusive relations of the fandom.Manga readers have a long history of ruining key twists for anime-only viewers, sometimes intentionally posting spoilers just to provoke reactions. Meanwhile, some fans treat manga readers as if onlyAttack on Titan’s anime matters, belittling other series and dismissing criticisms as invalid. While there are many passionate and respectful fans, the toxicity surroundingAttack on Titanis hard to ignore.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academiais a beloved modern Shōnen anime, but its fandom has become infamous for its toxic infighting. One of the biggest problems isthe extreme shipping wars, where fans aggressively attack anyone who doesn’t supporttheir favorite romantic pairings. People have allegedly gone as far as sending death threats to fellow fans, artists, and voice actors over perceived slights or developments contradicting their own headcanon. The harassment has driven some creators to distance themselves from the community entirely, which punishes congenial fans.
The final season ofMy Hero Academiapremieres in October 2025.
Beyond shipping, the fandom tends to over-hype the series and lash out at any criticism. Some will defend the anime no matter what, attacking anyone who points out pacing issues, lack of world-building, or poorfemale characterization. The toxic side of the fandom also includesthose who harass and pressure cosplayers, especially when they don’t adhere to a certain aesthetic or picture-perfect accuracy.
One Piece
One Piecehas an enormous fandom. Unfortunately, that also means it has its fair share of toxicity, assome fans are notorious for gatekeeping, looking down on newcomers, and insisting that the only way to truly enjoy the series is to read the manga. If someone dares to sayOne Pieceisn’t for them or istoo much of a commitment, they are bombarded with aggressive replies demanding they “just wait until it gets good.”
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Another problematic tendency is spoilingmajor plot twists. BecauseOne Piecehas been running for over two decades, fans who are fully caught up often forget (or don’t care) that newer viewers are still working through the story. Fans evenuse spoilers as a way to assert dominance over othersin discussions and bully their peers out of liking the series at all.
Produced by MAPPA, Based on Manga Written by Gege Akutami
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisenis a Japanese anime and manga series created by Gege Akutami. The story is set in a world where Cursed Spirits, born from negative human emotions, prey on humanity. It follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he becomes entangled in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery after swallowing a cursed talisman—Ryomen Sukuna’s finger—and becomes the host for one of the most powerful curses. Yuji joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College to learn how to combat curses while searching for the remaining fingers of Sukuna to exorcise him permanently.
Despite being a relatively new anime,Jujutsu Kaisenhas already built one of the most passionate fandoms in anime. One of the biggest issues is the community’sintense shipping discourse, which often turns into harassment. Fans have been known toattack each other over their preferred ships–like Gojo and Geto, or Yuji and Megumi–turning what should be a fun discussion into a deathmatch. This has also led to harassment of artists who draw fan art that some parts of the fandom disapprove of. Most unfortunately, the bulk of their reasoning drills down to homophobia.
Additionally, the fandom has developed abad habit of over-hypingcharacters and arcs to the point where any criticism is met with hostility. Some fans insist thatJujutsu Kaisenis the greatest anime of all time and will aggressively shut down anyone who disagrees. The toxicity has also spilled into debates about animation quality, with fans either blindly defending the series orruthlessly attacking its animators when production issues arise.
Naruto
TheNarutofandom has been around for decades now, andwith that longevity comes a lot of toxicity. One of the biggest sources of conflict is the never-ending power-scaling debates, with fans constantly arguing overwho the strongest character is. Some fans take this so seriously that they attack others for having different opinions, leading to endless online bickering. Since many grew up watching the series, there’s also a lot of hostility toward anyone who critiques the series, with die-hard fans dismissing valid criticisms as hate.
The transition fromNarutotoBorutohas only added to the toxicity. Many olderfans refuse to acknowledgeBorutoas a worthy successor, whileBorutofans often retaliate by claiming it surpassesNaruto, which is “slow and dated.” This has created a deep divide in the fandom, withboth sides attacking each other instead of simply enjoying their preferred seriesor learning to appreciate the other.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ballhas one of the most dedicated fanbases in anime history, but it’s also one of the most exhausting.Power-scaling debatesare a staple of the fandom, with endless arguments overwhether Goku could beat characters from other franchises. Some fans take these debates way too seriously, leading to aggressive fights that often spill over into other anime communities.
The fandom also has a reputation for being dismissive of newer anime, often acting as ifDragon Ball’s longevity is equivalent to its quality.
Whenever a newDragon Ballmovie or series is announced, fans flood social media with unrealistic expectations, only to lash out when their demands aren’t met. The fandom also has a reputation for being dismissive of newer anime, often acting as ifDragon Ball’s longevity is equivalent to its quality. The toxic side of the fandom can make itdifficult for newcomers to casually voice opinionswithout being overwhelmed by arguments and hostility.
Hunter X Hunter
Despite being a critically acclaimed anime,Hunter x Hunterhas developed a toxic side to its fandom. One of the biggest issues is the perceived superiority complex that some fans have, oftenbelittling other Shōnen anime likeNarutoandOne Pieceas “simple” by comparison. This leads to unnecessary conflicts with other anime communities, making discussions aboutHunter x Huntermore serious, and combative, than they need to be.
Another common problem is theconstant bashing of the different anime adaptations. Some fans insist that the 2011 version is the only way to experienceHunter x Hunter, while others prefer the 1999 series' slower pacing and more traditional storytelling. Squabbles about the superior version of the anime aside, the most egregious behavior of the fandom comes from those who feel entitled to make demands about Togashi’s work and attack him online for manga delays and missed engagements due to health issues.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Cast
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who use alchemy in a quest to restore their bodies after a failed transmutation. The series explores themes of sacrifice, the consequences of ambition, and the quest for truth in a richly developed world.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis widely regarded as one of thegreatest anime of all time. The unfortunate side effect of that quality isa fandom that is incredibly elitist. Many fans insist thatBrotherhoodis superior to the 2003Fullmetal Alchemistanime and will aggressively argue with anyone who disagrees or prefers the latter. This dismissive attitude has led to unnecessary hostility, making it difficult for fans of both adaptations to coexist peacefully.
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Another major issue is the fandom’s obsession withBrotherhood’s ranking on MyAnimeList. Whenever anotheranimecomes close to dethroning it as the top-rated series, some fans engage in review-bombing campaigns to maintain its number-one spot. This behavior has led to the reputation ofFullmetal Alchemistfans becoming the kind of authoritarians the series warns against.
