The thing(s) about Anime.

Oddly reflective glasses, weird haircuts and near upskirt shots - Welcome to the world of Anime.

Back when I started college, I didn’t know much about Japanese Animation, but I was always interested in it. I got to watch quite a few Anime series during my time there and very few after that. But lately, there’s been this new graphic artist at work who happens to love that stuff. And, well, she asked me if I watched any.

“yes, I suppose”

And then she suggested I watch one called Claymore. Took me a while to find time to watch it, but today I just sat through the first 6 (progressively more mind-numbing) episodes, and I’ve come to this conclusion:

I don’t like Anime.

Well, that’s not entirely true, but it’s true too often for me to claim otherwise. I’m not generally a fan of lists, but I think one is in order for me to structure my bitching. Please note that this list doesn’t take into account things that are part of the media: you won’t hear me complain about fanboys, bad fansubs, effeminate male characters and absurdly large weapons.

1. Compulsive explanation syndrome

Why does every character needs to go in detail about whatever it is he’s doing. I know it’s mostly because there’s no other way of understanding what’s going on (“You can’t see me because my skin was yadda-yadda…”) but honestly, doesn’t that just show there is some bad plot structure going on? You’re not supposed to introduce anything AS IT HAPPENS because, first, it slows the action, and second, it keeps the viewer from being able of foresee any events and even prevents the writers from doing any proper foreshadowing.

2. Teens. teens teens teens. teeeeens.

Anime is mostly watched by teenagers and as such, most protagonists tend to be (exactly) fourteen. Even if the Anime in question is R-rated. I get that, I can deal with that. It’s how they bring it up that gets on my nerves. Main offender: Evangelion.

For SOME REASON, only kids age fourteen are able to pilot the robots (angels). Seriously, what the fuck. I can accept more awkward stuff, like the angels would choose their pilots, or he’s linked to someone who’s in charge and blah blah blah… but no. Fourteen.

3. Overly powerful protagonists

This is by far the main offender. No other type of storytelling (well, except anime-style video games, and perhaps some bad fantasy novels) gives their protagonists so much power. You’re never wondering if “they’ll make it”, you’re supposed to be interested by how they will totally annihilate their opponents. I guess someone might enjoy that, not really doing it for me – always thought storytelling was supposed to be about the struggles one had to suffer to reach whatever conclusion. And the whole “enemies are powerful too” thing never really works – the protagonist goes on training and comes back more powerful than ever. The problem of overpowered characters can be tracked all the way back to Dragon Ball and extends to… well it’s still going strong, but a notable case would be Hellsing and its bullshit vampire logic (nice pleonasm).

That was a shorter list than I expected, but hell, it’s enough to piss me off.

Oh, by the way, don’t bother writing me to say that the protagonist in Evangelion is linked to someone in charge, I know he is, and the fact that this adds up to the age bullshit only makes the storytelling more pathetic and forced.

~ by flyinwhee on August 20, 2008.