Despite Anakin Skywalker's initial commitment to the Jedi Order and his strong powers with the Force, he was never made a Jedi Master in Star Wars. The title of Jedi Master in franchise lore is one of the highest honor within the Jedi Order's ranking system. Among some of the most notable Jedi Masters included Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda. Rey was the most recent major character to reach the rank of Jedi Master after she fully embraced the surname of Skywalker in honor of her mentors, Luke and Leia. Like Rey, Anakin received unorthodox Jedi training, so why didn't he reach the same title?
Anakin's Jedi journey began in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace when Qui-Gon Jinn found the Force-sensitive boy on Tatooine. Convinced Anakin was the "Chosen One," Qui-Gon requested permission to train the boy, but the Jedi High Council was against the idea. Following Qui-Gon's death, Anakin was granted the status of Padawan under Obi-Wan. Under the Jedi Order's protocols, Force-sensitive beings are usually recruited and trained at much younger ages under the rank of younglings. They then graduate to the level of Padawan before becoming Jedi Knights once the Jedi Trials are passed. Traditionally, Jedi Knights have the opportunity to gain the rank of Master once they successfully train a Padawan, according to recent additions to Star Wars canon.
One of the biggest factors that prevented Anakin from becoming a Jedi Master was the distrust stemming from his superiors, particularly Mace Windu. During the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Anakin wasn't shown to train a Padawan, but there was no doubt he was skilled in the Force. Jedi Masters made up the Jedi High Council, and they were well aware of Anakin's potential. That said, the Masters took issue with his emotions ever since Qui-Gon attempted to train him as a nine-year-old. Recruits were taught the Jedi Code from the start of the youngling level, but Anakin never experienced those teachings. Yoda was concerned about Anakin's fear and raw power when he began training, and those worries continued during the young man's time as a Jedi Knight in the prequels. Anakin was viewed as a hero for his actions in Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but he still harbored impulsiveness and issues controlling his emotions, two elements that went against the Jedi Code.
There Was Too Much Distrust Between Anakin & The Jedi High Council
Anakin didn't pine for the rank of Jedi Master until Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Tensions were already running high between Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi High Council. Palpatine then made the unprecedented move to appoint Anakin as his representative on the Council. The Jedi Masters were against the idea, refusing to promote Anakin to their rank. They viewed the Chancellor's actions as a way to meddle in the Jedi affairs, but they tried to turn the tables by making Anakin a spy to get insight into Palpatine's motivations. By making Anakin a Jedi Master while he was under the influence of Palpatine was a risky move in the eyes of the Council. Though it wouldn't have mattered much, considering Palpatine was Darth Sidious, and he went on to pull Anakin to the dark side.
One could argue that Anakin's rejection as a Jedi Master propelled his transformation into Darth Vader. Around that time, he began distrusting the Jedi Order while his allegiance to Palpatine and the Sith grew. That said, his fall to the dark side was likely inevitable, as predicted by some of the members of the Jedi High Council from the beginning. With Anakin's journey training Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars, he seemed to grow the argument as to why he deserved the title of Jedi Master, seeing as the Padawan's exit from the Jedi Order wasn't his fault. In the end, the distrust and impetuousness surrounding Anakin outweighed the good he accomplished during his journey as a Jedi in Star Wars.