Goku, Sailor Moon, Vash the Stampede, the examples are countless. In anime, being an idiot is a shorthand way to show that a character is all-around good or at least innocent. It's prevalent enough to have its own trope: Lawful Stupid. It's not limited to anime but it is most prevalent there. Why is this? Is there a cultural or literary tradition? Is it just a fun trope to play with? The dea is definitely worth examining more in-depth.
I think most of the time it exists to add a bit of comic relief, and also allows the characters to get into more silly situations because if the character were at a genius level, they wouldn't fall for traps and stuff that could put them in unique situations. – xFezziwig8 years ago
I agree that it is essential to the comic relief of the stories, but I think it also makes an important point. Our culture places a great deal of value on intelligence, but these animes propose that intelligence is not the most important part of being a hero. You don't have to be particularly clever to triumph over difficulties. Your values (hard work, friendship, etc.) are more important. I think this is an important message. – C8lin8 years ago
I think stupidity is also a good way to show how characters are human. At some point, we all make dumb mistakes so it's natural for anime characters to show these same traits as well. – seouljustice8 years ago
I've wondered this as well. For example in Naruto, the hero is incredibly powerful and has a good heart yet he is clearly depicted as not being the brightest bulb in the room. His struggle to be accepted and to overcome his learning disabilities portray him in an underdog light. Showing us that hard work and goodness reign the day. – lion8 years ago
I think the scarier question to ask is "do a majority of viewers relate to a protagonist's lack of intelligence?" There is a clear distinction between viewers who watch anime for immersion and those who watch it for escapism. If an author or screenwriter can place a viewer/reader in a fantastical world yet fill it with characters who are just as equally clumsy or stupid or athletic or lazy then the reader can not only flee from whatever reality they want to escape from but they can also feel accepted or at least socially safe in this new world where these character exhibit the same traits as they do or a lack of. – Pushingaterd7 years ago
I'm wondering you if you could take a look at what the hisyorical hero archetype was in Japan and contrast that against anime. You could also look at what Japan values in heroes as a culture since the Western hero is meant to only possess superlatives, and also doesn't Japanese culture highly value intelligence? Perhaps not as rigidly as other Asian cultures (please correct me if I'm wrong) but this could be a reason as to why they want a break from the status quo? Again using Naruto as an example, the story is actually heavily based on traditional Japanese legends and creation myths (e.g. Kaguya as the Moon Goddess) so I'm wondering if Naruto as a character also filed under some traditional elements – Pamela Maria7 years ago
I also agree that it is more of a comic relief. It works and seems to have been working for a long time now but I think as our idea of a hero develops, the idea becomes repetitive and a bit of a turnoff. As for tradition, I'm not sure but it sounds very interesting to dive into. – Melissa7 years ago
While it also serves as comic relief, I think most protagonists who are portrayed as stupid are done so to highlight how pure of heart they are. The narrative is always emphasizing their stupidity as something good because it separates them from being conniving, a trait often depicted in anime as villainous. – brightasgold4 years ago
Dr. Stone opens onto a world where all human beings have turned into stone and the planet has reclaimed itself. Those who have had the good fortune of breaking out of their "mortal coil" set out to restore human civilization. Nature looms as an overpowering presence while characters duke out their personal beliefs and philosophies. Does Dr. Stone set a tone for conservation especially in our real world threatened by global warming? What does it inform us about society building, the importance of civilization, and the ultimate costs?
I have yet to watch Dr. Stone the anime, but was immensely interested upon seeing the trailer for the series, and read a little bit into the manga. Following in the footsteps of several other manga classics that have set the tone for environmental conservation, Dr. Stone I believe intends to achieve the same. Nature is certainly an overpowering presence in reality, but I personally feel that we speak about the looming threat of global warming from the perspective that it is us against nature when in reality global warming is anthropogenic. In that sense, I think Dr. Stone leans toward emphasizing the importance of a symbiotic course of living where we respect nature, and see ourselves as a "mortal coil" intrinsically entwined in nature rather than one separated from it. – ajaymanuel5 years ago
Dr. who? Just kidding. Interesting topic. I'd be interested to see a discussion of environmental conservation vs. "saving the planet," and what lines differentiate the two (some say there is no difference, but others I've met are pretty eager to separate conservation from preservation). – Stephanie M.5 years ago
Just how influential is dragonball on the shonen anime of today? Hunter x hunter, Fairy Tale, and Black Clover are just a few anime with components that mirror the Dragonball series. Having large casts of characters with superpowers, and different "levels" a character can progress through. Think of all the elements that make up a shonen anime, do you agree that newer shonen anime take from DB? Where would you rank the Dragonball series in terms of influence on the shonen/action genre in anime?
I think it would be useful to define some terms here. "Influential" in which ways? Which concrete similarities/differences are visible to audiences in, for example, the storyline? The characters? The setting? And what does it mean to be "influential" and why does it matter? I love Dragonball and I think it would make a very fascinating article if someone could point out how things like the character designs and fighting moves have been emulated and imitated across other series. – Eden5 years ago
This has long been a question, that usually doesn't get answered because most people don't really care. Why do a lot of anime characters not look Japanese? Is it because of diversity on screen? It would be interesting for someone to dive in to this topic. Hopefully, appropriately without any negativity or hate. I have my own theories, but I am curious to hear what other fans think.
A really good topic to discuss and would be great if you could find some interviewers with creators to include as I am sure this question will have been asked of them at different stages. Perhaps even look at comparisons to others that do depict diversity also. – SaraiMW5 years ago
My understanding is that it's not so much that anime characters "don't look Japanese" per se, as that they have muted racial features in general. The audience members are then supposed to project their own race and background onto the characters. To a Japanese audience member, the character will likely still look Japanese--but to a Westerner, they'll look Western because that's what they're most used to seeing if race is ambiguous. – Debs5 years ago
I think part of the charm with anime is the different art styles and the variety of different characters we are exposed to. The unique and vibrant styles of each individual character is what sets anime apart from other TV shows. It's also fun to see people portray anime in real life, with cosplays and digital art. – chelseaatmaja5 years ago
It is worth tracing a path from the works of Katsushika Hokusai - Hokusai manga (1814). Then looking at the influence of Disney on Tezuka Osamu. This helps to see how the characters have come to look westernised while retaining a unique Japanese aesthetic. – Chris Carter5 years ago
It's great to see any characters design. However it choose who is the beat – GlennMandagi5 years ago
Within video games, we've met a whole host of monsters/villains, whether they are an individual consumed by a need for wealth, a mythical beast with an attitude, or a good guy turned bad. For this topic, one could come up with a list of monsters/villains that really made them think. Maybe it was a villain who actually had a point about his motivations to destroy a corporation, or a monster that was so vile and disgusting that we couldn't fathom how they came into existence.
This article would likely focus on the morality and ethics of villains, as well as concepts to do with storytelling, backstory, and motivation.
I think this is a very interesting topic! Though I do not think it needs to be limited to video games if someone wanted to grab it. Whether its video games, literature, television, or film, there is plenty of fuel for this topic across all genres. – Sean Gadus6 years ago
Tokyo Ghoul is an anime which has managed to generate a cult following among anime fans having two successful seasons leaving audiences begging for more. Tokyo Ghoul has a rather unique subject matter concerning the nature of violence though it also can viewed as somewhat of an allegory of society itself with the interspecies war between humans and ghouls demonstrating the violence caused by segregation. More of an attribute to the anime's success however, would be its stunningly unique cinematic. The anime itself has no shame depicting violence in its rawest form yet does so with meaning and not just for shock value. Each an every violent exchange builds upon the overall moral of the story and also contributes to the development of each character- a prime example of this would be the 2 episode torture sequence where the antagonist modelled after western horror icon 'Jason Vorhees', grotesquely disfigured the vulnerable half human, half ghoul protagonist Ken Kaneki. This display was one of the most demented yet disturbingly well thought out scenes which makes the horror franchise 'SAW' look like a romantic comedy. The scene masterfully depicted the psychology behind the antagonist and his worldview on how the weak are overrun based on their lack of ability. This display is a very sufficient argument as to why violence can sometimes be necessary within media as it is an excellent instrument in storytelling. How much more effective would this iconic scene have been without the gruesome visuals and bone grinding SFX?
Should ghoul be written with a capital G? Is it because it is the name of a race in this anime? – Ceroca7 years ago
I feel that the violence is also partly due to the fact it is marketed as a Seinen so it's targeting adolescents and young adults. But the violent panels in the manga usually have very rough lines with plenty of monologues to depict the inner struggles of the characters. And this is one of the reasons why fans felt the anime didn't do justice to the series.
– Hann7 years ago
Love the question at the end--would the story be as effective if heavily censored for violence? Might be worth looking up a few other series that were censored when translated into anime or live action adaptations, and suffered for it, just for the sake of the comparison. – Eden6 years ago
Analyse the growth and transformation of the anime industry in North America alongside the increasing accessibility of anime streaming. From disjointed episodes uploaded to YouTube in parts, to illegal fan-subbing websites, to today's officially licensed streaming sites like Crunchyroll and Netflix, how and where fans watch anime has drastically changed. Examine the ways this has impacted anime's popularity (and vice-versa) as well as the viewer experience. How has it affected shows that are not licensed to streaming services? What happens when a service fails (see: Amazon's Anime Strike)?
Anime streaming has been a contentious topic for a long time because in the early days, most if not all of it was illegal. Since watching the streaming videos was easier than buying the licensed product, the anime studios both in Japan and the US lost tons of money, and some people in the anime industry have even given whole panels at cons explaining about the perils of streaming. A lot of the policies of legal streaming sites like Crunchyroll--as well as the new technique of simuldubbing--were developed to deter illegal streaming or make it less profitable. – Debs5 years ago
Thanks @Debs! That makes a lot of sense. If you have any recommended sources that talk about this, let me know. I wonder if I can find any sources that talk about why some illegal sites have remained, despite the prevalence of legal streaming? – Eden5 years ago
Attack on Titan seems to be heavily influenced by German culture and philosophy. Are there any real correlations to this? Do any other anime shows portray philosophical theories and are they doing it as a service or a disservice?
I am not a very big anime fan, but Neon Genesis Evangelion has definitely been influenced by philosophical theories, especially by Kierkegaard. It was also an outlet for the psychological battles of creator Hideaki Anno. – tanaod7 years ago
great topic! while it may be difficult to actually statistically correlate these occurrences, i think it's certainly true that many anime display influences from certain philosophical theories or debates. Naruto, for example, mirrors the tensions in philosophical discourse of the search for a true "Universal," which you can see displayed in the ethos of certain characters and their goals. – ees7 years ago
Well, there's a lot of interplay between anime and philosophy. Fullmetal Alchemist deals with Plato's Allegory of The Cave , while Attack on Titan deals with Scmitt's The Political.Naruto definitely has elements of Buddhist thought.
– RedFlame20006 years ago
