Anime has a reputation for being diverse, covering everything from deep philosophical stories to over-the-top action and heartfelt romance. But sometimes, an anime comes along that defies all logic, leaving viewers questioning how it even got made. Whether due to absurd premises, bizarre animation, or sheer unpredictability, these shows feel downright cursed.

However, there are some anime series that push the boundaries of weirdness to the extreme. From unsettling animation choices to nonsensical plots, there are anime that can make even the most die-hard fans wonder what the creators were thinking.

10 The Tatami Galaxy

Anime Series by Madhouse; Based on the Novel by Tomihiko Morimi

This anime takes viewers on a whirlwind ride through time loops, surreal visuals, and rapid-fire dialogue that is almost impossible to keep up with. The story follows a nameless college student trying to make the perfect university life, only to relive different versions of it over and over again. Every episode throws him into a new reality, all equally strange and frustrating.

What makes The Tatami Galaxy feel cursed is its chaotic pacing and overwhelming visual style. The animation morphs constantly, characters talk at lightning speed, and the protagonist never seems to escape his endless cycle. It is brilliant but exhausting, like an existential crisis animated at double speed.

9 Poyopoyo

Anime Series by DAX Production; Based on the Manga by Rū Tatsuki

At first glance, Poyopoyo seems like a cute slice-of-life anime about a round cat. But the longer it continues, the more unsettling it becomes. Poyo, the cat, never changes expression, never blinks, and has an almost supernatural presence. His cryptic actions range from harmless to outright menacing, leaving his owner and the audience wondering what he really is.

The show’s humor relies on Poyo’s unnatural roundness and eerie intelligence, making it feel like a feline version of Garfield if Garfield were a shapeless, eldritch horror. It is cute, yes, but also undeniably cursed.

8 Nichijou - My Ordinary Life

Anime Series by Kyoto Animation; Based on the Manga by Keiichi Arawi

Nichijou is one of the strangest anime comedies ever made, not because it has a bizarre premise, but because of how wildly exaggerated every mundane moment becomes. One second, a character is petting a cat, the next, she is being launched into the sky by an explosion of pure chaos. The series thrives on absurdity, with scenes like a principal suplexing a deer or a girl firing a gun during a test.

There is no real logic to Nichijou, which is what makes it feel cursed. It operates on dream logic, where anything can happen, and nothing has consequences. It is hilariously fun but also unsettling in how completely detached it is from reality.

7 Thermae Romae

Anime Series by DLE; Based on the Manga by Mari Yamazaki

A Roman bathhouse architect accidentally time-traveling to modern Japan through bathtubs is the kind of plot that sounds like a joke. Yet, Thermae Romae takes this concept and runs with it in a surprisingly educational series. Lucius, the protagonist, continuously gets transported to Japan, where he learns modern bathhouse techniques before returning to ancient Rome to revolutionize hygiene.

The animation is bizarre, with stiff, outdated character designs that make the whole thing feel like an unfinished fever dream. The sheer absurdity of an ancient Roman man marveling at plastic bath toys and hot tubs makes this anime one of the most unintentionally cursed experiences out there.

6 Gakuen Handsome

Anime Series by Team YokkyuFuman; Based on the Game by Tohoku Penet

Take a bad yaoi anime and multiply its ridiculousness by ten, and there is Gakuen Handsome. This parody series features male characters with chins so sharp they could cut glass and a plot so nonsensical it barely holds together. The story follows a new student at an all-boys school filled with exaggerated tropes, melodrama, and absurd romance.

What makes Gakuen Handsome so cursed is its intentionally awful animation and voice acting, which makes every line feel like it was recorded as a joke. It is the anime equivalent of a terrible fan fiction brought to life, and that’s precisely why it is unforgettable.

5 Popee the Performer

Anime Series by Ryuji Masuda; Original Series

This nightmarish 3D anime follows Popee, a sadistic clown, and his mute wolf companion, Kedamono. The series is essentially slapstick comedy taken to disturbing extremes, with Popee frequently injuring, maiming, or outright trying to kill Kedamono in increasingly surreal ways. The animation style only adds to the horror, making everything look unsettling.

With eerie music, grotesque facial expressions, and an unpredictable plot, Popee the Performer feels like something out of a lost VHS tape meant to traumatize children. It is disturbing, nonsensical, and utterly cursed in every way possible.

4 Detroit Metal City

Anime Series by Studio 4°C; Based on the Manga by Kiminori Wakasugi

Imagine if the lead singer of a death metal band was actually a timid guy who just wanted to play Swedish pop music. That is Detroit Metal City in a nutshell. Soichi Negishi, the protagonist, accidentally becomes the frontman of a band known for its extreme, offensive lyrics and over-the-top persona. While on stage, he transforms into the demonic alter ego Johannes Kra II, despite hating everything about it.

The contrast between Soichi’s meek real-life personality and his insane stage antics creates one of anime’s most absurd and cursed comedic setups. Watching him struggle to balance both lives is both hilarious and strangely tragic.

3 Inferno Cop

Anime Series by Trigger; Original Series

Made on an animation budget that was extremely low, Inferno Cop is an anime that consists mostly of still images and voiceovers. The show follows a flaming skeleton cop who delivers justice in the most ridiculous, nonsensical ways possible, facing villains with motives so absurd they barely make sense.​​​​​​​

The show’s charm (and curse) comes from how deliberately terrible it is. The crude visuals, random plot twists, and lack of any real animation make it feel like an inside joke that somehow got greenlit as an actual anime. It is like watching a PowerPoint presentation gone horribly wrong.

2 Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo

Anime Series by Toei Animation; Based on the Manga by Yoshio Sawai

If Nichijou is a fever dream, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is a full-blown hallucination. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo features a protagonist who fights villains using his nose hair and travels with a group of equally nonsensical characters. The plot is incomprehensible, with battles that defy any form of logic or storytelling convention.

Every episode of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo feels like it was written on the spot by someone who had never watched anime before but had only heard rumors about it. The sheer unpredictability of its humor and its unending absurdity make it one of the most cursed anime experiences of all time.

1 Ghost Stories

Anime Series by Pierrot; Based on the Novel by Tōru Tsunemitsu (English Dub)

Originally a generic horror anime, Ghost Stories became infamous when its English dub team was given free rein to rewrite the script however they wanted. The result was a completely unhinged, improv-heavy dub where characters break the fourth wall, make crude jokes, and mock the original storyline in the most absurd ways imaginable.

This dub turned a forgettable anime into a legendary cursed masterpiece. It is impossible for viewers to watch it without feeling like they have stumbled into an alternate reality where voice actors lost all sense of professionalism. It is so bad that it loops back around to being brilliant.