Anime Creators Who Publicly Addressed and Apologized for Narrative Inconsistencies

The demanding world of weekly manga and anime production often leads to narrative inconsistencies that fans colloquially refer to as plot holes. While some authors choose to ignore these gaps, others take the time to address them through interviews, fan clubs, or supplemental guidebooks. These admissions provide a rare glimpse into the creative struggles of managing long-running franchises with complex world-building. From forgotten characters to chronological errors, these creators have acknowledged the imperfections in their work to maintain a relationship of transparency with their audience.

Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama frequently acknowledged his tendency to forget specific details and characters throughout the serialization of ‘Dragon Ball’. In the ‘Dragon Ball Daizenshuu’ books and various 30th-anniversary interviews, he admitted to forgetting the character Launch, leading to her sudden disappearance from the plot. He also noted inconsistencies regarding the appearance of the Super Saiyan transformations and the tails of Saiyan characters. These admissions served as an explanation for several narrative gaps that fans had identified over the years.

Hajime Isayama

Following the conclusion of the ‘Attack on Titan’ manga, Hajime Isayama expressed regret regarding the execution of the final chapters. In an interview with ‘Crunchyroll’ and other media outlets, he apologized for the way certain themes were conveyed, admitting he felt he could not properly express the climax in the manga format. He specifically addressed the dialogue and pacing that led to confusion regarding character motivations and the resolution of the plot. These reflections eventually led to minor adjustments and expansions in the final volume and the anime adaptation.

Eiichiro Oda

Eiichiro Oda utilizes the SBS question-and-answer sections in the ‘One Piece’ manga volumes to address and correct various continuity errors. He has apologized on several occasions for drawing characters with incorrect features or placing them in scenes where they should not logically be present. Oda often admits to these minor plot holes or visual mistakes by jokingly blaming his own memory or the chaotic nature of the weekly schedule. These corrections are frequently integrated into the official volume releases to maintain the series’ internal logic.

Masashi Kishimoto

Masashi Kishimoto has discussed several timeline inconsistencies that occurred during the lengthy serialization of ‘Naruto’. In various interviews and guidebook commentaries, he admitted that the ages and historical events surrounding the Great Ninja Wars did not always align perfectly across the series. He specifically apologized for the confusion regarding the timeline of the Third Shinobi World War and the backstories of the legendary Sannin. These admissions were made as he attempted to bridge the gaps in the ‘Naruto’ world-building for the ‘Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ sequel.

Ken Akamatsu

Ken Akamatsu apologized to his fans for the abrupt ending of ‘Mahou Sensei Negima!’, which left numerous plot threads and character arcs unresolved. The creator explained that the sudden conclusion was a result of a legal dispute regarding his intellectual property rights during the serialization in ‘Weekly Shonen Magazine’. This situation created significant narrative gaps that were not intended in the original plan for the series. Akamatsu eventually attempted to rectify these plot holes by creating the sequel series ‘UQ Holder!’, which serves to bridge the gaps left by its predecessor.

Hideaki Anno

Hideaki Anno has famously discussed the production difficulties that led to the abstract ending of the original ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ television series. In various interviews, he acknowledged that the final two episodes deviated significantly from the planned plot due to schedule collapses and budget constraints. This left many narrative threads regarding the Angels and the Human Instrumentality Project unresolved for years. Anno’s later work on ‘The End of Evangelion’ and the ‘Rebuild of Evangelion’ film series served as a long-term effort to address the gaps and provide the closure that the original series lacked.

Share which of these creator admissions surprised you the most in the comments.