RELATED: Awesome Super Mario References In Anime
Most Anime enthusiasts, however, are well aware of how ridiculous the names of their favorite shows can become, causing more bewilderment and bemusement than clarification. Anyone looking to find out the true meaning behind some of the more absurd Anime titles, and which were misnamed in error need only read on.
10 Just Keep Swimming, Banana Fish
Believe it or not, Banana Fish is actually about the gangs of New York, where Aslan Jade Callenreese, aka Ash Lynx, has followed in his mentor’s footsteps to become a clan leader himself. Ash’s guardian happens to be the head mafia and doesn’t seem to take kindly to his protege’s new troop. Dino Golzine sends his men after the youngster, who, along with Eiji Okumura, does his best to survive.
Banana Fish refers to the term Ash’s brother constantly mentions, which sends the boy off on a path to unravel its true meaning. As it turns out, the phrase is accredited to a powerful brainwashing drug, used more for chemical warfare than a recreational stimulant, which Dino finds to be very advantageous.
9 Bleach - Like the Detergent?
As one of the most popular Anime of all time, Bleach does not give anything away from its title. This Shonen storyline revolves around the afterlife, as Kurosaki Ichigo helps the Shinigami to maintain the flow of souls through Seireitei. Battling against hollows, Espada, and Quincy forces, the Gotei 13 brandish their powerful Zanpakuto as they attempt to restore the balance of energy between the realms.
RELATED: Bleach: Why the Story Ended so Abruptly
Some die-hard fans are still uncertain as to what Bleachhints at. According to the Bleach Manga, however, the term apparently refers to the subsequent orange color that comes from bleaching black hair. This suggests that the protagonist, Ichigo, is actually a bottle-blonde; who apparently has time to keep up a strict hair regime.
8 Oh no! Not, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
It is now the year 3001.5, and the Margarita Empire has taken control, allowing Czar Baldy Bald IV to spread his authoritarianism across the globe. Causing hair loss throughout the nation, Czar seems to be unstoppable, until Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo and his team of (erm…) heroes arrive.
His Herculean physique boasts a beautiful bold, blonde afro; however, all of Bobobo-Bo’s power lies within his nose hairs. True, this title refers directly to the main protagonist, but it does nothing to convey the plot of the Anime, other than hinting at its hilarious storyline. Never mind misleading, this one is tough just to pronounce!
7 Plastic Memories, Erased From Existence
Giftia are revolutionary new models of androids that are capable of feeling and expressing human emotions, but with a catch. Every nine years or so, their hardware is mysteriously reset, turning their loved ones into strangers and bringing forth violent tendencies. As a member of the Terminal Service, Tsukasa Mizugaki is responsible for gathering the Giftia and deactivating them before their time is up, but ends up falling for a Giftia named Isla in the process.
The title Plastic Memories is a very vague description of this tragic love story. Metaphorically speaking, plastic could refer to the Giftia themselves, being inorganic materials constructed by man. Their memories are easily corrupted and susceptible to breaking, much like cheap, plastic items one would buy at a store.
6 Clannad: The Irish Folk Band
Clannad is a cute school-themed Anime that follows the life of Tomoya Okazaki, the rebel without a cause. Typically, this bad boy finds himself surrounded by beautiful girls, the shy Nagisa Furukawa being the first one to approach him. Eventually, these two loners find themselves blessed with a whole group of loyal friends who support each other as they navigate their way through high school.
RELATED: Clannad’s Ending, Explained
This romance Anime was mistakenly titled Clannad, following a mistranslation of a band name! Jun Maeda was under the impression that the term meant ‘family’, however, he was gravely misinformed. Clannad is short for ‘Clann As Dobhar’, which refers to a specific Irish bloodline…Oops!
5 xxxHOLiC: Viewer Discretion Advised?
Kimihiro Watanuki has the convenient aptitude for spiritual perception, granting him powerful visions of ghostly entities. Desperate to remove his curse, Kimihiro strikes a deal with the witch, Ichihara Yuko, and begins working at her store in order to pay off his debt.
“HOLiC” sends out strong substance dependency vibes, whereas a triple X certainly suggests something erotic; but sexual elements are not prominent in the storyline. Some fans accuse this supernatural Anime’s title of being clickbait, an attempt to increase viewership. The ‘xxx’, however, does not refer to the letter, but rather suggests that one should fill in the blank, opening the opportunities to explore various addictions inflicted upon these characters.
4 FLCL: Pronounced as ‘Fooly Cooly’
FLCL tells the story of a young Naota Nandaba, whose life up until now has been pretty bland. A loud, excentric, pink-haired Haruko Haruhara arrives out of nowhere, with a Vespa beneath her and a vintage guitar in hand (seemingly only instrumental as a weapon). After a dramatic introduction where Naota gets his lights knocked out, it appears that the bass guitar caused an “N.O.” portal during its collision with the unsuspecting Naota’s skull. Colossal robots begin to materialize from the portal, bent on the destruction of the universe.
In Japanese, FLCL is pronounced as Furikuri, however, the creators allegedly wanted to poke some fun at their own accent with the English translation, resulting in Fooly Cooly. According to Urban Dictionary, this term actually has another meaning, though it’s whether the creators knew this when naming the show.
3 DRRRR… Durarara!!
The young Mikado Ryuugamine has lived a reserved life, removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, but that all changes when an old buddy invites him to Tokyo. However, things are not as expected, as his new home is overrun with supernatural activity. The legendary Black Rider makes an appearance, and, along with Izaya Orihara and the Dollars, they cause havoc wherever they go.
When questioned about Durarara’s title, creator Ryohgo Narita admitted that he “…just randomly gave a name,” with no deeper meaning attached. As the Anime progressed, however, the story that they are going with is that it represents the sound of a motor engine, like Black Rider’s bike. DRRRRRRR!!!
2 Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?
This fantasy Anime falls short with regards to meeting expectations. Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon? implies a certain element of raunchy (or at least romantic) content. However, hopeful fans were left disappointed on this front.
RELATED: New Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 Teaser Released
The story does, however, involve dungeons, as it is based on an adventurer, Bell Cranel, who is on a quest to find fame and fortune as he maneuvers through the labyrinth of tunnels beneath Orario. With a strong Dungeon-crawl impression, Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?is less focused on flirting and more concerned with finding treasures and slaying monsters.
1 I Want To Eat Your Pancreas, How Gross!
No, this Anime is not a cannibalistic horror, in fact, it couldn’t be farther removed from the gory genre. Sakura Yamauchi has a limited lifespan, shortened by her pancreatic cancer, and has kept her poor health a close secret. For some reason, however, she opens up to Haruki Shiga, a withdrawn bookworm with little trust for people, and slowly the pair fall head over heels for each other.
There is an old Japanese legend that intrigues Sakura, which states that the consumption of a part of a loved one’s body, could heal the corresponding appendage within their own anatomy. Aah! Now the title makes sense!
MORE: Anime That Subvert The Manic Pixie Dream Girl Trope
