The Most Controversial Anime Topics That Make Fans Emotional

Controversial anime topics will never go away.

In a way, it’s needed because the conversation helps to blow up an anime’s following and popularity.

I say that in spite of the negativity that can comes with it (as far as toxic anime communities and arguments).

As more and more anime become:

Mainstream
Successful
Classics
Influential

These controversial anime topics will only resurface, rise to the surface, and draw more attention to the anime community.

Here’s some topics that tend to have that kind of intense reaction… Outside of the community or otherwise.

1. Dragon Ball Z Vs Naruto

Dragon Ball Z Vs Naruto. Which is anime is the better one? Whatever your thought was just now, it doesn’t change the point being made here.

Dragon Ball Z and the franchise is the GODFATHER of Shonen. It wasn’t first, but it was the one to blow it up and help push the anime industry in a major way.

It’s a classic and is still going (with arguably better new seasons than Naruto).

Naruto is also iconic and has tons of emotional value with its characters, stories, and how its written.

This is why the debate between DBZ and Naruto is so intense. And why it’s always bound to make the fandoms fight to the death.

2. Saitama Vs Goku

Saitama s Goku is another controversial anime topic. Even more so than the first mentioned in this post.

There’s always jokes being made about what Saitama would do to Goku, and how “weak” Goku is in comparison.

At least that’s how its framed in a snarky way.

There’s good arguments (and bad) on both sides. And until something official happens, the back and forth won’t stop.

Both characters (and series) are just too popular for their own good.

3. Deku as a protagonist

DEKU, or Izuku Midoriya has become a relevant Shonen protagonist in the community. A character MOST can’t ignore.

Even the haters and critics can’t deny his presence and influence.

He started out as the cry baby who was bullied by his once best friend growing up. The same bully who made Deku believe he was a loser.

After meeting his own hero and being given the chance to become the hero he desired, Deku has risen and grown ever since.

5 seasons in and people are still trying to downplay his success, while others are praising it.

This controversial anime topic won’t be dying down anytime soon.

Relevant: 20+ Of The Greatest Shounen Anime You Need To Watch

4. Female fan service

Female Fanservice (or fan-service) is one of the most commonly criticized topics in the anime industry. In fact it’s criticized by anyone and everyone who aren’t even part of the industry.

The most common arguments are:

It’s sexist.
It’s misogynist.
It’s objectification.
It’s toxic.

And every other weaponized word used by the internet to draw attention.

If it’s sexist, it wouldn’t celebrate and even put women on a pedestal to certain degrees.

If it’s misogynist, that would mean every female character would be portrayed in the most negative way possible to showcase men’s hatred.

As far as objectification, anime characters are objectified by design. So that argument is out the window since they’re fictional designs.

The reality is female fan service is neither negative or positive, it’s whatever the viewer decides it is (outside of extremes).

This topic will continue to cause controversy because of this, but I can’t say this will last for too much longer.

Relevant: The TRUTH About Anime Objectification That Nobody Talks About

5. Subaru Natsuki as a protagonist

Subaru Natsuki always gets criticized for being a so called:

Pussy
Wimp
Coward

And a character who’s irritating, annoying, weak, and complains or cries too much.

This speaks to the lack of empathy the viewers of this series have shown.

Think about it.

Subaru is traumatized more times than we can count.
He’s put through hellish situations no normal teenager would experience.
He’s broken and reconstructed like a piece of metal, multiple times.

And yet he manages to somehow get through the bullsh*t and become stronger as a result.

The average person would do more than just kill themselves if they experienced even one drop of Subaru’s pain.

People downplay his character and it’s a common thing in the anime community. Most can’t see how all these facts actually makes him one of the most realistic and relatable characters.

Maybe that’s why fans tend to be apprehensive towards him.

6. Sakura from Naruto

Sakura Haruno is another character that stirs the emotions and gets people talking. More so than almost any anime character.

This is even after more than a decade since Naruto released.

Sakura, the pink haired protagonist is one of the 3 main characters from Naruto. But she’s written in ways that make you scratch your head at times.

This is the reason why Sakura is called:

Useless
Pathetic
Annoying
Worthless
The worst anime character

And so many more labels than I can think to mention.

In fact Sakura is an internet meme at this point in the anime community. And she’s mentioned even when it’s not relevant.

Is there truth to the criticism and hate? To an extent, yes, depending.

Either way, those who defend Sakura and those who HATE her guts get emotional whenever she’s brought up in conversation.

Relevant: 34+ Times Sakura Haruno Was Useful In Naruto’s Plot!

7. Fairy Tail as an anime series

Fairy Tail as an anime series is still:

debated
argued
criticized
judged
downplayed

And treated like a shameless Shonen series that doesn’t deserve any credit in the slightest.

The power of friendship, the fan service… these 2 things are probably the most criticized as far as Fairy Tail’s “quality”.

Similar to the Sakura argument, there is a hint of truth but just like the argument with fan service in general, it’s not 100%.

The reason is because of Fairy Tail’s many qualities that overshadow its flaws.

How it gets you emotionally invested in the characters.
How memorable the characters are (even by name).
The adventure aspect, magic, the world building….

This is one man’s opinion, but the overall point is Fairy Tail is complex. And that’s why the anime’s quality is a controversial topic with a lot of in-fighting.