24 Anime With Long Titles That Don’t Really Need to Be That Long and Why They Are Long In The First Place

At times it definitely seems like anime creators were having a little competition to create an anime series with the most ridiculously long title that they can get away with. You know the ones. Those anime series where you know them by an easy shortened version of their true name mashed together 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?

Obnoxiously Long Titled Anime

What Lead to the Rise of Overly Long Anime Titles?

Long anime titles are almost exclusively the fault of light novels.

As you might expect, the anime, manga, and light novel market of Japan is pretty saturated. If you have a small amount of fame and established a reputation with fans, you can have a little more creative freedom when it comes to creating and titling your series.

However, if you are publishing your first series, you need to be eye-catching to be successful.

You need to get the attention of people who might not bother to read the description on the back cover. The thing that a customer sees first in a book shop is the spine – not the front or back cover – of your light novel.

So you need to be both eye-catching and concise in what your series is about in title alone to get those hands to pick up your book and inquire further. Even when reading light novels on the internet, a catchy, descriptive title gets clicks.

Take my purposefully overly long and satirical article title, for example. It got you here by being purposefully dumb, informative, and maybe intriguing.

That is how such long titles came around. They (usually) tell anyone just reading titles what they are getting into immediately. And naturally, 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 an original script, but is instead adapted from a light novel. Manga is starting to further fall into this too now. It used to be the art that best sold manga, but booming light novel sales is changing that industry too.

One additional side note is that while these titles are super long in English and Romanji, because Kanji can often capture whole phrases rather than just individuals words, the titles actually look pretty compact in Japanese. Thus why they can fit on book spines.

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 rarer 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 that 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 a semi-interesting isekai story that is often a less beautiful 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-inducing 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 or are suffering from that youthful disillusionment that most unfortunately have to experience.

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 back in the day, that was considered lengthy. 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. …And I hope there never will be.

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 hundreds of dirty jokes that the characters don’t get, but you, the audience, do. The anime in particular has spawned some quality screenshots, at very least.

Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka

Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?

I think this one was trying to appeal to ecchi fantasy fans. I find that odd considering the series is actually pretty tame outside of Hestia’s bounce-inducing ribbon placement. I suppose they try to get the pervs in with the title and keep them with the action.

Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Ni-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki Desu ka?

Do You Love Your Mother and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?

MILFsekai, I believe, was the term that this anime spawned. A combination of MILF and isekai, which is very apt for the series.

Iya na Kao sare nagara Opantsu Misete Moraitai

I Want You to Make a Disgusted Face and Show Me Your Underwear

This is what happens when you really have a target audience, and don’t mind anyone else knowing that.

Shuumatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii Desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii Desu ka?

WorldEnd: What Do You Do At The End of The World? Are Your Busy? Will You Save Us?

Full sentence titles we must come to accept, but we should put our foot down at full paragraph titles. It is actually a shame this series has such an obnoxious title because it is actually a truly great show.

Tatoeba Last Dungeon Mae no Mura no Shounen ga Joban no Machi de Kurasu Youna Monogatari

Suppose a Kid From The Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town?

We just using our short pitches as title now, guys. The end.

It does accurately capture what the series is about, though. Like a pitch for a light novel should, I guess.

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta...

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

Not one bit of this title hinted at her building the great bisexual harem in anime history. However, it got fans of both isekai and otome games in the door.

Shijou Saikyou no Daimaou, Murabito A ni Tensei suru

The Greatest Demon Lord is Reborn as a Typical Nobody

Demon lord reincarnation is so hot right now. First it was making one a fast-food worker, then a student, now a guy trying to hide his power.

Uchi no Ko no Tame naraba, Ore wa Moshikashitara Maou mo Taoseru kamo Shirenai.

If It Is For My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord

This accurately captures that this show is a wholesome parenting anime set in a fantasy world. However, in my opinion, it struggles to do either in a very lovable way.

Shinchou Yuusha: Kono Yuusha ga Ore Tueee Kuse ni Shinchou Sugiru

Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered But Overly Cautious

The author is making it easy to create short titles now by just adding it in with a colon.

Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu.

I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

More commonly known by its short title, Bofuri, this series title actually doesn’t do the series justice. It is cute and funny, but I imagine more than a few people gave it a pass because they didn’t know how fun watching a walking tank can be.

Choujin Koukousei-tachi wa Isekai demo Yoyuu de Ikinuku you desu!

High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World

They do, indeed. The series is all about them trying not to ruin a less advanced world with their natural talent.

Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha, Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru

The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat

This one is an interesting case where the English title is actually more obnoxious simply because of how the descriptors translate. They legitimately could have cut off a few descriptors and it would still get the point across perfectly.

Got any more ridiculously long anime series titles? Let fans know in the comments section below.

Obviously we neglected shounen special series titles for shows like Naruto, Detective Conan, and DBZ, because those titles are so long and there are so many of them, and, to be perfectly frank, I don’t care to track them down.

So if you are looking for which series has the longest title ever made, 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.