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Latest Topics

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Published

Anime Tropes that Repel Viewers

A look at a few anime tropes that might make the genre inaccessible for newcomers and ones give the genre the reputation of being for teens and adolescents. Are there good examples of Anime that avoid these tropes, or anime that subvert the tropes?

  • Fantastic topic because I think it opens up discussion about what preconceptions about anime newcomers often find to be true through repetition of these tropes and how they are avoided. – AdilYoosuf 6 years ago
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  • I agree with AdilYoosuf, though I have to admit to having a bias in favour of anime as a storytelling medium. I've often found that when trying to explain the reasons why I enjoyed the Haruhi Suzumiya anime series and film (subtitled not dubbed) that as soon as I mention the words 'teenager' and 'school' the shutters descend. I think one of the problems is that westerners in particular tend to have grown up watching cartoons on TV so presume anime is no different and won't give it a chance. As for good examples that subvert, or even invert, tropes then I would have to suggest Satoshi Kon's excellent series 'Paranoia Agent' and Kyoto Animation's 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya' (to name but a few) as both subvert genres and tropes whilst demanding the viewer thinks for him/herself. Anyway, you have my approval for your suggested topic. – Amyus 6 years ago
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The usage of body horror to create a sense of horror in Parasyte: The Maxim

Analyze the ways in which the 2014 anime, Parasyte: The Maxim uses body horror to elicit a feeling of terror by analyzing body horror as a genre of fiction and an art style. Delve into the artwork of Junji Ito and H. R. Giger, cataloging techniques and defining terms, all to show how Parasyte is a product of a body horror genre.

  • What about also comparing to Junji Ito's works? He is most famous for his tackling of body horror? – Beatrix Kondo 1 year ago
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Did Boruto "kill" Naruto? - The Impact of Boruto on the Narutoverse: Exploring the Evolution and Continuity

As a writer, it is important to delve into the theme of how Boruto has impacted the Narutoverse and what aspects should be explored. Here are some key points to consider:

Evolution of the Narrative: Analyze how the introduction of Boruto as a sequel series has brought new dimensions to the Narutoverse. Explore the ways in which the storyline, characters, and overall world have evolved to reflect the passage of time and the changing dynamics of the ninja world.

Character Development: Examine the growth and development of familiar characters from the Naruto series within the context of Boruto. Explore how their experiences and relationships have evolved, and the impact this has had on their individual story arcs and the overarching narrative.

Intergenerational Conflict: Investigate the conflicts and tensions that arise between the older generation of characters from Naruto and the new generation represented by Boruto. Explore the clash of ideals, values, and perspectives, and how this dynamic shapes the narrative and drives character growth.

Continuity and Legacy: Explore how Boruto maintains continuity with the Narutoverse while forging its own path. Examine the ways in which the series pays homage to its predecessor and honors the legacy of Naruto, while also introducing new elements and expanding the lore of the ninja world.

Impact on Fanbase: Analyze the reception and impact of Boruto within the Naruto fanbase. Explore how fans have responded to the new series, the strengths and weaknesses identified, and the ways in which it has contributed to the ongoing enthusiasm for the Narutoverse.

By exploring these aspects, the writer can navigate the theme of Boruto’s impact on the Narutoverse and delve into the intricacies of its narrative, character development, and fan reception. It is crucial to strike a balance between honoring the original series while allowing the new generation to carve its own path, creating a cohesive and engaging continuation of the beloved Naruto universe.

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    Anime Goes AI: The Pros and Cons of Automating the Animation Industry

    The future of anime may seem promising with the use of artificial intelligence, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Recent articles have been exploring the pros and cons of automating the animation industry. On the positive side, AI can reduce the time and cost required to create anime, while also improving the quality of the final product. However, the downside is that these tools can potentially erase people’s jobs. Many animators already fear that their jobs are at risk when AI is involved. Additionally, the lack of jobs in the field may lead to less diversity and creativity in anime productions. It’s imperative to weigh the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI in the anime industry and find ways to use this technology fairly and efficiently.

    • This is a very interesting article and one that is hard to take a firm stance on. I can see why Corridor would want to 'democratise' animation since they require large teams and a lot of money. It would be interesting to see the variety of storytelling that would be available (though the downside to anybody being able to make their own animation is that ANYONE can make their own animation). On the flip side, you are taking jobs from professional animators. It would be fascinating to explore if there is a place for both (perhaps AI can assist in independent material, which would never otherwise be made, while animators' jobs are protected in the future). Excellent topic. – A G Macdonald 11 months ago
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    Itachi Uchiha: Villain Or Tragic Hero?

    Analyze what makes Itachi Uchiha, from Naruto, a villain or a tragic hero (based on the Greek archetype of tragic heroes).
    He was responsible for the massacre of his family, even if for noble reasons. A pacifist, a prodigy, who caused lots of pain.
    Contrary to villains, however, his motivations were pure, and he led a miserable life, maculated by his choices.
    Compare him to either Batman or a "darker" or tragic hero, as opposed to a villain or even an anti-hero.

    • Example: Due to his noble birth and good character, Macbeth is a tragic hero in the traditional sense. But his ambition — his deadly flaw — causes his demise at the play's conclusion. As he sinks farther and further into the shadows, it also drives him to commit several crimes, including murder. He embodies the archetype of the tragic hero, despite some of his characteristics falling short of perfection. – Beatrix Kondo 1 year ago
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    • Itachi Uchiha reminds me of another tragic hero, Cassius au Bellona from Red Rising. – Morgan Tracy 3 months ago
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    Published

    Gender Representation In Yu-Gi-Oh!

    Yu-Gi-Oh! is a long-running franchise encompassing anime, manga, video games, and trading card games. Between 2000 and 2019, six Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series were produced by Studio Gallop, each focusing on a different cast of characters, setting, and even genre. Although each Yu-Gi-Oh! series offers a distinct story, all six of these anime have received criticism from both fans and critics for their portrayals of female characters. All six Yu-Gi-Oh! anime are centred primarily on male characters, and the few girls and women that appear in the stories are commonly sidelined if not cast into harmful gender stereotypes. From my research, most analyses of gender representation in Yu-Gi-Oh! discuss these problems, but I think there is also scope to analyse how Yu-Gi-Oh!’s problematic depictions of female characters contrasts with its representation of male characters. Despite its marginalisation of female characters, Yu-Gi-Oh! presents a surprisingly non-toxic portrayal of masculinity, in which male characters are allowed to talk about their feelings, show friendly affection for one another, and resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. The proposed article would unpack how Yu-Gi-Oh! offers both reductive and progressive representations of gender and how these representations create contradictory messages for the audience.

    • There is also a lot to be said of the various difference between the English dub of the characters and the Japanese versions. From what I understand, characters had motivations removed by the 4kids dubbing company, so analysis through a cultural lens could be a valuable aspect to add. – Sunni Ago 1 year ago
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    • Agreed on the prior point that the dubs would remove the motivations of the characters. That's most definitely why we would end up with a character like Akiza who started out abused, fearful of her own power, and manipulated by a close confidant. She seemed like she was going to be the strong female character that Yu-gi-oh couldve had in Tea and Alexis but she just ended up being someone who worked off of love for yusei rather than moving forward for herself. – JA1 12 months ago
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    • I think gender representation in older anime reflect the time period in which they were made. For example, in Naruto, we don't see any strong female characters until 83 episodes into in the show. Until the appearance of Tsunade in that episode, there are no women portrayed as strong or independent. Even then, when Tsunade is introduced, she is drawn with exaggerated breasts. – Morgan Tracy 3 months ago
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    Money in Naruto

    Money in Naruto comes in the form of ‘Ryo’. However, it isn’t ever explicitly mentioned how money is received or created. For example, Kakashi Hatake. Previously, he was part of the ANBU Black Ops, then soon became a jonin-level, academy teacher. What kind of income did he get while he was working as an ANBU? If any? Compare him to a chunin, academy teacher like Iruka Umino. What kind of income did he get? If you compare them together, would that mean Kakashi is significantly wealthier than Iruka?

    • Not trying to bash this topic, but I genuinely do not know how interesting of an article this will be, as the series does not focus on money that much. So, there is really not much to say. (I think there might be some filler episodes that address wealth, but they're filler so whether they match/can be considered canon is actually debatable.) We only get a few brief explanations about ninja's pay. I would have to do some digging to confirm, but I do recall that orphans get their needs taken care of by the village (at least in the hidden leaf. Other villages have differing policies.) until they are old enough to earn money for themselves. So, this is how Naruto and Sasuke are being taken care of before they become genin. During the early chapters/episodes when Naruto is getting his early mission it is stated that ninja's tend to get paid upon completion of a mission. A portion of that pay goes to the village and that is how the village and ninja's make money. Where never told how that money is split, but it is made clear that the village is very similar to a private military company. With the Hokage and elders acting as contractors, and the ninja's acting like mercenaries. The pay is based off the difficulty of the mission. (I recalling this being stated just before the Zabuza arc starts. Naruto is complaining about how their getting lame missions like chasing a cat, and wants something more difficult to prove himself.) Other than that I do not recall much else being said about the pay. I do know every village also has a Daimyo (Lord of the country) so they could be getting pay from them as well, but once again to my knowledge nothing is stated. – Blackcat130 1 year ago
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    • To add to that, how does Naruto sustain himself? He's lived by himself since he was a child, does he receive an allowance from the Hokage? – EvanLizardiSimo 1 year ago
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    • Studying the economics of an anime world sounds like an interesting topic! Maybe you could extend this beyond Naruto as well, and compare a couple of other shonen anime in which money isn't the central focus. – Sangnat 1 year ago
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    • This is one of the thing I really don't like about Naruto. Despite being such a long run it never even scratched the economics side of the world building. One of the untouched side by Kishimoto. On the other hand HxH did it really well while explaining the world building. Now they should do it in Boruto(since Naruto is the Hokege) but I don't think they are doing it. – tasin 11 months ago
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    What makes an anime/manga popular? How does it get into the mainstream?

    With so many different anime and manga available in the world, there are bound to be many that grow in popularity much more than others. For instance, series like Demon Slayer/Kimetsu no Yaiba absolutely blew up in popularity in late 2019. Other series like One Piece and Naruto have stayed relevant ever since they began in the late 1990s, and it seems just about everyone knows what Attack on Titan is even if they never watched/read anime/manga. But what is it that makes these series so popular? The characters, themes, accessibility, plot, or something else completely?

    • A degree of familiarity within innovation and a high-quality storyline tend to be the two main variables. – J.D. Jankowski 3 years ago
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    • I feel like it'd be good to note that all of the ones you've mentioned here are generally classed as shonen (marketed at young/teen boys), and I believe they all (or most) were originally featured in the very popular Shonen Jump magazine in Japan. I'd imagine that having such a big audience as teen boys, and coming from such an established publisher, would help the ones you've mentioned. – AnnieEM 2 years ago
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    • It will be very important do differentiate between what makes a manga popular in the Japan, the west, and globally. – LukePatitsas 2 years ago
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    • The anime/manga could be recommended by someone and then it could get reviews if the person likes it. – Khrista 1 year ago
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    • With regards to manga popularity, there's something to be said about a successful anime adaptation skyrocketing it to mainstream notoriety; particularly in the west, the average person who doesn't consider themselves an animanga fan has still likely seen a handful of anime episodes at some point, but is far less likely to have read manga casually. Subsequently, there's a definite trend in shonen and seinen manga getting full-length, multi-season anime adaptations; for shoujo and josei series, if they are adapted into anime series at all, they often are left incomplete after only 1-2 seasons, which prevents them from becoming household names or becoming truly mainstream (notable exceptions would be Fruits Basket and Sailor Moon, which were fully animated). A series like Naruto stays relevant even today in part due to sequel material like Shippuden and Boruto. One Piece is still currently running and has had nearly 1000 manga chapters to build such an active fanbase and sense of recognition. Many series that don't run that long, and therefore don't have such continued advertising, never have much of a chance to break into the mainstream. – Zoe L 1 year ago
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