Top 18 Cringiest Anime: Peak of Secondhand Embarrassment

• The Cringe: Everything. This show is basically a never-ending parade of poor life choices.

Every character decision is questionable, the drama is dialed up to 11, and the main guy, Kazuya, might be anime’s king of second-hand embarrassment.

You’ll cringe at his desperate simping, his constant lying, and those painfully awkward internal monologues.

The protagonist’s constant overreactions, the forced romantic tension, and the sheer emotional whiplash make this one of the most relentlessly cringey anime out there.

To make things worse, the author has been accused of self-inserting into the narrative. He imagines Chizuru (the heroine) as his own “girlfriend” and even treating Kazuya as a sort of rival.

Whether or not that’s true, it only adds another uncomfortable layer that makes the whole experience harder to stomach.

And yet, somehow, this series is wildly popular. The fact that it’s managed to reach a fifth season defies comprehension.

If nothing else, it stands as the undisputed king of “real cringe” anime.

Rent a Girlfriend info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Kanojo, Okarishimasu
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2020
• Studios: TMS Entertainment
• Genres: Comedy, Romance
• Themes: Adult Cast, Harem
• Score: 6.88 (MAL), 6.8 (IMDb)

Watch Rent a Girlfriend trailer:

• The Cringe: The whole point, and it’s brilliant.

If you’ve ever felt socially awkward in your life, WataMote will awaken those memories like a cursed artifact.

Tomoko is the embodiment of social anxiety, and the anime doesn’t hold back on showing just how badly things go for her.

Every scene hits with that painful kind of cringe you know all too well if you’ve ever embarrassed yourself in public.

It’s both hilarious and painful because you’re constantly torn between laughing and hiding behind a pillow.

And that’s the brilliance of WataMote: the cringe is deliberate. Making you cringe is the whole point, and the show executes it flawlessly.

WataMote info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2013
• Studios: SILVER LINK.
• Genres: Comedy
• Themes: Otaku Culture, School
• Score: 6.99 (MAL), 7.1 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The fun, self-aware kind.

This one’s pure, unfiltered chuuni (edgy teenager fantasy) energy.

The protagonist, Cid Kagenou, literally pretends he’s part of a grand conspiracy, only to accidentally stumble into a real grand conspiracy.

The cringe (and comedy) comes from his unwavering commitment to the bit, delivering the edgiest lines with absolute sincerity while insisting he’s just a nobody.

He monologues like a shonen hero while pretending to be a nobody, and everyone around him plays along like it’s totally normal.

You’ll laugh at the cringe, not suffer through it.

The Eminence in Shadow info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!
• Episodes: 20
• Released: Fall 2022
• Studios: Nexus
• Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
• Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation
• Score: 8.24 (MAL), 7.8 (IMDb)

Watch The Eminence in Shadow trailer:

• The Cringe: The main character, Rudeus.

The plot? Fantastic. The world-building? Top-tier. But then you have Rudeus… and oof.

His pervy tendencies are so uncomfortable at times they often overshadow the otherwise brilliant writing.

The story itself is compelling, but the main character makes it hard not to cringe your way through certain scenes.

The show tries to redeem him, but let’s be honest: some cringe can’t be undone by a redemption arc.

It’s the kind of cringe that makes you question whether you should recommend the show to friends or just say, “Trust me, it’s good, but… uh… just ignore some parts.”

To be honest, if it weren’t for the MC’s pervy behavior, this anime might rival Frieren in popularity.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
• Episodes: 11
• Released: Winter 2021
• Studios: Studio Bind
• Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Ecchi
• Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation
• Score: 8.34 (MAL), 8.2 (IMDb)

Watch Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation trailer:

• The Cringe: Fun, chaotic, and utterly unhinged.

Prison School is a testament to how far you can push ecchi comedy before it breaks.

The story takes place at a super-strict all-girls academy that has just started allowing male students. Out of hundreds of girls, only five very fortunate (or unfortunate?) guys enroll.

The situations these boys get into are so absurd and over-the-top that the cringe becomes hilarious.

The characters’ expressions alone deserve an award, and every over-the-top gag somehow manages to top the last.

It’s not for everyone, but if you’re in the right mood, it’s a riot.

Prison School info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2015
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Comedy, Ecchi
• Themes: Gag Humor, School
• Score: 7.59 (MAL), 7.5 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The title says it all.

The title alone should’ve been a red flag. This anime is about a kid who gets isekai’d with his overly doting, ridiculously overpowered mom.

And yes, the show leans into the weirdly intimate dynamic way too hard. It’s like someone pitched “family bonding” and the writer misunderstood “bonding” as… whatever.

The fanservice is painfully awkward, the premise feels like a parody that went too far, and the whole thing leaves you questioning who exactly asked for this.

Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Ni-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki desu ka?
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2019
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 5.54 (MAL), 5.2 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The author’s kinks?

The premise is literally a guy turns into a dog and gets adopted by a cute classmate who… uh… really likes dogs. Like, too much.

What could be played for quirky comedy quickly veers into fetish territory. The result isn’t really funny or charming, it’s just awkward and kind of gross.

Hard pass unless you’re studying “how to make people uncomfortable 101.” This is real cringe territory, not the fun kind.

My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Inu ni Nattara Suki na Hito ni Hirowareta.
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2023
• Studios: Quad
• Genres: Comedy, Ecchi
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 5.04 (MAL), 4.3 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: Mostly, it’s Mineta.

It’s one of the most popular shounen anime, but we’ve got to talk about Mineta. His so-called “comic relief” perviness isn’t funny, it’s straight-up cringe.

And he’s not the only culprit. Every now and then, the series slips into overly forced, sentimental moments that feel awkward rather than emotional.

Let’s not forget that Mirio’s ass scene either, it feels strange and unnecessary.

Between the awkward humor and occasional melodramatic outbursts, the show sometimes leans into cringe instead of charm.

Luckily, the highs outweigh the lows, but those lows are unforgettable (for all the wrong reasons).

My Hero Academia info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Boku no Hero Academia
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Spring 2016
• Studios: Bones
• Genres: Action
• Themes: School, Super Power
• Score: 7.83 (MAL), 8.2 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The tonal whiplash.

On paper, it’s a zombie survival horror. In execution, it’s zombies + nonstop fanservice that doesn’t match the tone.

One minute, you’re watching a genuinely tense zombie survival story. The next, a character’s chest is jiggling in slow motion with physics-defying detail.

And of course, there’s the infamous “bullet-dodging boobas” moment. It’s funny as a meme, but in the middle of a full watch-through, it’s nothing but absurd.

The ecchi is so overdone and poorly timed that it derails the horror, turning the show into a confusing, cringe-inducing experience.

A product of its time, but one that’s tough to watch without wincing.

Highschool of the Dead info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2010
• Studios: Madhouse
• Genres: Action, Horror, Suspense, Ecchi
• Themes: Gore, Survival
• Score: 7.06 (MAL), 7.1 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The whole point, and it’s adorable.

We’ve all known that one kid who acted like they had “special powers” in middle school. And maybe, that kid is us.

This show is a heartfelt exploration of “chuunibyou” (8th grader syndrome), where characters roleplay as dark sorcerers or magical girls.

The cringe is front and center as Rikka utters embarrassing spells in public, but it’s a fun, empathetic cringe that celebrates the awkwardness of growing up.

It’s cringey, but it’s wholesome cringe. The kind of cringe that makes you smile because you remember being a dorky teenager who thought drawing on your arm gave you powers.

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2012
• Studios: Kyoto Animation
• Genres: Comedy, Romance
• Themes: School
• Score: 7.70 (MAL), 7.4 (IMDb)

Watch Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! trailer:

• The Cringe: Kirito’s edgy one-liners, and typical cliches.

SAO is legendary, but not always for the right reasons.

Take season one, for example. When Kirito dramatically declares himself a “Beater,” the scene is peak fun-cringe: delivered with complete seriousness, yet unintentionally hilarious.

But SAO also leans hard into the real cringe. From forced and awkward moments like the infamous tentacle and ‘assault’ scenes, the show often trips over its own writing.

Kirito’s overpowered, ‘good at everything’ characterization doesn’t help. And these awkward moments don’t just happen once, they pop up again and again.

Even in later seasons, there are odd choices (like Kirito literally being AFK for long stretches) that fans can’t help but laugh at.

Still, for all its missteps, SAO has its highs. If you can skip the rough patches, it’s easy to see why the series remains so popular.

Sword Art Online info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 25
• Released: Summer 2012
• Studios: A-1 Pictures
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, Video Game
• Score: 7.22 (MAL), 7.5 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: Betrayed-to-OP cliche overload.

Hajime gets tossed into a pit, powers up, and comes back ridiculously overpowered. And suddenly, every woman in the fantasy world wants him. Classic.

The show leans on betrayal trauma for an edgy backstory, then piles on harem logic with zero actual chemistry.

What makes it worse is how Hajime goes from trusting no one to suddenly nodding along with everything the girls say.

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Summer 2019
• Studios: asread., White Fox
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Themes: Harem, Isekai
• Score: 6.72 (MAL), 7.0 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The fabulous, over-the-top charm.

JoJo is intentionally weird, and that’s why people love it.

From the flamboyant poses to the outrageous fashion and the dramatic yelling of attack names, everything about it screams glorious cringe.

But it’s all delivered with such unapologetic flair that the awkwardness transforms into sheer charisma.

For newcomers, it can feel hilariously cringey at first, but that’s the whole point. JoJo thrives on being unapologetically weird.

Depending on your taste, JoJo is either peak “fun cringe” entertainment or an endless parade of “what did I just watch?” Either way, it’s unforgettable.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken
• Episodes: 26
• Released: Fall 2012
• Studios: David Production
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Supernatural
• Themes: Historical, Vampire
• Score: 7.87 (MAL), 8.5 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The messy, dramatic cringe.

Domestic Girlfriend thrives on bad decisions, messy relationships, and enough drama to fuel a decade’s worth of reality TV

This anime tries to sell melodrama as depth, but most scenes just leave you yelling at your screen: “Just talk to each other!”

The characters repeat the same mistakes, relationships shift direction every episode, and the whole thing oozes manufactured angst.

And that’s without even addressing the questionable premise: a tangled web of forbidden love, teacher-student relationships, and love triangles that only get messier as the story goes on.

It’s the kind of addictive, train-wreck cringe you can’t help but binge. Well, at the very least, the opening theme is a banger.

Domestic Girlfriend info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Domestic na Kanojo
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2019
• Studios: Diomedéa
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, School
• Score: 6.63 (MAL), 6.8 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: A ruined adaptation that becomes edgy nonsense.

The anime butchered the light novel’s nuanced inner monologues, reducing the cool, calculating Ayanokoji into a bland, cryptic figure.

What should’ve been a psychological thriller about social stratification turns into Ayanokoji smirking in shadows while monologuing about how everyone’s just a pawn.

Complex characters are flattened into clichés, while genuine strategy gets drowned out by fan service and melodrama.

The show tries hard to be dark and mysterious, but too often the “edgy” delivery lands closer to a teenager’s diary about how they’re different from everyone else.

That said, it’s still entertaining anime. But it leans into forced cringe more than it should, at least for light novel reader.

Classroom of the Elite info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2017
• Studios: Lerche
• Genres: Drama, Suspense
• Themes: Psychological, School
• Score: 7.84 (MAL), 7.7 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: All the characters, literally.

If anime had a warning label, School Days would be Exhibit A.

This anime is a slow-motion car crash of a harem romance. Makoto’s sheer audacity and lack of redeeming qualities make every episode painful to watch.

The relationships are messy, the drama is toxic, and the main character is so unlikeable that you almost cheer when the ending (no spoilers, but… wow) rolls around.

School Days is the perfect storm: bad choices, cringe-worthy drama, and a mess you can’t look away from.

School Days info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2007
• Studios: TNK
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Harem, School
• Score: 5.51 (MAL), 5.9 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: Takemichi’s uselessness.

Time travel gang wars? Great premise. Takemichi, the MC? …Not so great.

Takemichi’s whole thing is crying, getting beaten up, and time-leaping to fix things… only to cry and get beaten up again.

He means well, but watching him stumble through gang politics gets old fast. It’s frustrating and unintentionally funny at times. For a time-travel story, it’s amazing how little progress he actually makes.

The real cringe isn’t in the story’s drama, it’s in his lack of agency. Everyone treats him as either dead weight or a miracle savior, with nothing in between.

Honestly, this guy doesn’t need another time-leap. He needs therapy.

Tokyo Revengers info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 24
• Released: Spring 2021
• Studios: LIDENFILMS
• Genres: Action, Drama
• Themes: Delinquents, Time Travel
• Score: 7.84 (MAL), 7.7 (IMDb)

• The Cringe: The painfully accurate social awkwardness.

This anime wants to tackle social awkwardness and self-improvement, but the interactions often feel stiff and unnatural.

What should be an inspiring “level up in life” story ends up more like a series with checklist of awkward interactions.

Tomozaki’s self-improvement journey has heart, but the execution lands somewhere between motivational and second-hand embarrassment.

Half the time you’re cheering for his progress. The other half, you’re cringing so hard you want him to just stop talking.

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2021
• Studios: Project No.9
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: School
• Score: 7.11 (MAL), 6.9 (IMDb)

The End of the Awkward Road

Cringe anime is a spectrum. On one end, you’ve got fun cringe, where the ridiculousness is half the charm.

On the other, you’ve got real cringe, where the discomfort makes you want to eject from your chair and even pause the anime.

Either way, cringe is part of what makes anime such a wild and unforgettable medium. Whether you’re laughing, groaning, or screaming into a pillow, it’s never boring.

And remember, you’re not the only one. Somewhere out there, another fan is wincing through the same scene, and probably loving it just as much.