Popular Anime That Fell Into Oblivion

On a popular commentary forum dedicated to otaku culture, fans found themselves immersed in a lively debate about the decline of certain anime that were once titans in the industry, but have lost relevance in conversations over time.

The question raised by one of the users generated a deep reflection on the changing dynamics of the otaku community and how interests shift towards the latest developments. "What are the anime that have completely fallen into irrelevance? I'm very interested in series that used to be giants in the industry, but now their presence in the conversation is barely a whisper. What are some anime that completely fell into irrelevance as time went on?" the user questioned.

This question triggered a series of varied responses, where participants reflected on how certain anime, which once dominated the scene and captured the audience's attention, have been gradually forgotten or relegated to the background.

Some users pointed out that the ephemeral nature of the entertainment industry can lead to even the biggest hits eventually falling into oblivion, overshadowed by new offerings and trends. Others cited market saturation and media overexposure as factors that may contribute to the decline in relevance of certain anime over time.

"Tokyo Ghoul? Granted, that's more because the final season was a mess, but still, it used to be one of the anime, right up there with SAO, Death Note, Code Geas, etc. Now people are trying their best to forget it."
"Noragami. It was big, but it evaporated, mostly because it didn't get a third season. I'd say Blue Exorcist, but it came back from the dead."
"Haruhi and Shakugan no Shana come to mind. Haruhi had a great first season, he was all over the place. People who didn't see it were really sick of seeing it on forums (yes, this was then). Shana was the quintessential tsundere. People adored her. Both series are now so irrelevant that mentioning them can elicit a "...huh?" among younger or newer fans. Haruhi still has a certain reputation, but I rarely see it mentioned on social media."
"I had forgotten that Magi existed for a whole decade until about 2 weeks ago. It used to be huge."
"Love Hina was very important 20 years ago, as it was the archetype of the ecchi harem anime in its heyday. As the genre has fallen out of favor, it has become a footnote."
"A Certain Magical Index was a hit when it was released in 2008. If you ask anime fans under the age of 25, like my sister, if they know it, probably not."
"Before Sword Art Online, Log Horizon, and all those 'caught in a game' series, there was the .hack series, in particular .hack//Sign."
"Log Horizon. It was very popular, then the creator got into a tax fraud scandal, I think, and disappeared for a LONG time. Returned... with mixed reviews and then just... disappeared."
"I don't see Ah! My Goddess. Beldandy used to be a top-notch waifu back in the day."
"Deadman Wonderland."
"Haruhi Suzumiya is nowhere near as big as it was in the mid-2000s."
"Lucky Star. A classic that seems to fall further into irrelevance with each passing day."
"Who still remembers D. Gray Man?"
"Elfen Lied and Mirai Nikki were quite notable and controversial shows when they premiered, but nowadays they are hardly talked about."
"I haven't heard the name Escaflowne since the '90s, even though I was in that big first wave."
"Yuri on Ice, outside of the news of the movie, was already falling off the map a little bit there."
"I feel like the only person who remembers Durarara!!"
"Elfen Lied was one of those anime that everyone watched back in the day and now it's barely mentioned."
"A lot of anime from the '80s disappeared. Bubblegum Crisis, Project A-ko, Venus Wars, City Hunter. They've tried to make modern versions of Appleseed, but after the latest disasters, it looks like it's done. I'm glad some of them have come back and received modern attention, like Urusei Yatsura, Saint Seiya, or Legend of the Galactic Heroes, but what I'd give for a remake of Touch."
"It's hard to say it's declined compared to a lot of the things mentioned here (because even in its heyday I don't think it got to those heights), BUT Angel Beats! I remember for a while, everyone had him somewhere in their Top 20."
"Hellsing".
"It's been a long time since I've heard of Yu Yu Hakusho, D Gray Man, Toriko or Reborn. I don't know if she was a powerhouse, but Major was fantastic and yet I never saw people talk about her."
"Yona of the Dawn. I still recommend it from time to time, but it didn't get a second season, which reduced its popularity."
"Toradora and Shizumiya's Melancholy? Die-hard fans will say otherwise."
"Full Metal Panic was a very popular series 15-20 years ago, even among those who didn't watch anime. Now it's barely mentioned."
"Lucky Stars. It pretty much the great crystallized beginning of moe culture and had a huge impact on anime culture."
"Soul Eater".
"Slayers and Record of Lodoss War were very popular in my country when they first came out... I haven't heard anyone talk about any of them since the early 2000s. Urotsukidouji was the hentai joke until the mid-2000s here as well."