12 Anime Series With Long Titles That Don’t Really Need to Be That Long

While it seems to have calmed down a bit, for a while there a few years back it seemed like anime creators were having a little competition to create an anime series with the most ridiculously long title. You know the ones, those anime series where you know them by an easy one-word shortened version of their true name because you wouldn’t be able to recall the full Japanese title.

However, have you ever wondered why such long anime titles are so prevalent?

In reality, it is the fault of the light novels, or perhaps, light novel readers.

As you might know, anime, manga, and light novel sales are not always super strong even in Japan. If you have a small amount of fame and established a reputation with fans, you can have a little more creative freedom. However, if you are publishing your first series, you need to be eye-catching. You need to get the attention of people who might not bother to read the description on the back cover. So you need to be both eye-catching and concise in what your series is about in title alone.

That is how such long titles came around. They (usually) tell anyone just reading titles what they are getting into. Of course, if that light novel gets popular enough to be adapted into an anime series, the long title comes with it. This is why almost always any anime series with a ridiculous title is not based on a manga or an original creation, but is rather adapted from a light novel.

Now that you know the why of it all, which anime series (or rather, their light novel sources) are guilty of having the most ridiculously long names?

Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken / I Can’t Understand What My Husband is Saying

This is actually one of the rare examples of ridiculously long titles coming from manga instead of light novels. Based off a 4-koma manga, there really isn’t much of a reason for this title to be so long, but it does accurately describe the series.

Ore no Nōnai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Rabu Kome o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru / My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering With My School Romantic Comedy

This title is a little more of a hard sell, but if you gave the anime a chance, you’ll find something that is pretty hilarious. Plot-wise and character-wise it is nothing special, but this is a show you watch for the choice scenes where the choices are both horrible and it results in pure, unadulterated comedy gold.

Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sō Desu yo? / Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They?

This title barely describes the plot, which explains why this anime is often looked over. However, it does present and semi-interesting isekai story that is part Re:Zero and part No Game No Life.

Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! / No Matter How You Look At It, It is You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular

Watamote takes a completely different route than usual with its title by blaming the reader of it for the problems within. It is a sassy strategy, but one that worked. Despite the anime series occasionally being too cringe-y to watch, it does tell an excellent otaku story.

Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita / I Couldn’t Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job

This is popular among anime fans because the title is so damn intriguing. Many anime fans like to imagine themselves a hero, but everyone does need to grow up and go get a job eventually. This series isn’t exactly that, but the title is alluring enough to invite people in.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai / We Still Don’t Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day

For most fans, all you need to say is “Anohana” and they will know what you mean, but it actually has a much longer title than people often know. Its English translation actually does well to convey the melancholy that hangs about the entire series. It is the perfect eye grab for those not interested in comedy, but rather tragedy.

Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai / My Little Sister Can’t Possibly Be This Cute

You can probably imagine why this light novel flew off the shelves. It was released during a good time when the imouto craze was just starting to get crazy.

Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru / My Youth Love Comedy Was Wrong, As I Expected

Light novels are meant for a younger crowd, and everyone wants to have that youthful school romance. Of course, things often don’t go in such an idyllic way. This was naturally an allure to all those who didn’t get the youthful dalliances that they wanted.

Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru / Caught in the Battlefield Between My Girlfriend and My Childhood Friend

This is another anime series that most people don’t know has a super long title. Most anime fans know it as Oreshura, but the title is actually more complex. However, it is also extremely descriptive, and fairly alluring for those that like some fun romance themes.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! / Give Blessing to This Wonderful World!

KonoSuba’s full title is somewhat short compared to other long anime titles, but still quite long as titles go. However, it is not particularly descriptive, but luckily word of mouth likely made KonoSuba soar in popularity among isekai light novel fans.

Ore ga Ojousama Gakkou ni “Shomin Sample” Toshite Gets Sareta Ken / The Story in Which I was Kidnapped by a Young Lady’s School to be a “Sample of the Common People”

This one long sentence that makes up the title is…Pretty much what Shomin Sample is about. It does manage to leave out some of the finer details on why in particular the main character is chosen, but a more descriptive long title there never was.

Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai / A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist

Another genius title because you just know that it sets up for hundreds of dirty jokes that the characters don’t get, but you do. The anime in particular has spawned some quality screenshots, at very least.

Got any more ridiculously long anime series titles? Let us know. Obviously we neglected shounen special series titles for shows like Naruto, Detective Conan, and DBZ, because those title s are so long and there are so many of them. So if you are looking for which series has the longest title, it is probably hidden in one of those. Unfortunately, the topic on which anime series has the longest title is still up to much debate.