January 23rd, 2020
Well the beginning was great...
Anime Relations: Kotoura-san, Nisekoi, Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai, Ore wo Suki nano wa Omae dake ka yo
"Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front." - Pixar's 22 rules of story telling
I'm starting to find a number of anime that really nail their opening act and then completely crumble down afterwards, to a point where I'm beginning to think it's not a few outliers. These shows have engaging premises too, which makes their failure that much more disappointing. Why do they fail?
I'll be talking about a couple of shows: Kotoura-san, Bunny girl Senpai, Oresuki, and Nisekoi. There's more of course but I'll add them when I find them. This is a discussion of these series as a whole, not just their anime adaptations.
A lot of these shows have a great initial concept. Oresuki starts with several cliche romcom characters but gives them awareness to their state and slowly has them all turn on each other. Kotoura's life gets a fresh start but she is haunted by her past and her powers. Bunny Girl Senpai has enjoyable banter between it's main duo and a somewhat romantically tragic conflict. Nisekoi's MC is forced into a ridiculous harem.
But you'll notice that the writing declines after the first arc or two of these series completes. While the authors do have a great initial inspiration, they only have enough ideas to last a single novel and end up completing the inspiration's arc to end the first book. These authors are immediately throwing away the most compelling elements of their plot.
And I think this is because they only have that initial inspiration. They didn't think of an ending for the story too, only a beginning. It works fine for the first novel but the problem of how to end the series is kicked down the road to the next novel or chapter and the next.
This creates the lack in focus these shows see after their initial arc. The writer already concluded the best elements from the premise and now they have nowhere to aim the story. So they meander. Oresuki and Bunny Girl Senpai add a ton of new characters that aren't particularly memorable and are not involved in anything near as compelling as the first arc. Nisekoi doesn't add as many characters but it's enough to derail the plot into a ton of filler. Oresuki is probably one of the worst offenders as it turns from a parody of harem romcom into an actual harem romcom, shooting it's original goals in the foot. Kotoura gets sidetracked in a mystery case that feels unfocused and unrelated to it's original themes.
But what I think is the worst about this all is that I don't think the authors necessarily care. One binding concept through all of them is that the leading male protagonist is similar or generic; more self-insert with generic or common traits than unique character. These authors aren't necessarily setting out to create a great plot, they may just be trying to write an escapism with as passable an effort as possible. And unfortunately, the core audience is probably just fine with letting them do that.
Nisekoi is probably the best example for an author not caring or having other priorities. As TotalPlebian explains in his review for the manga, this manga was run in the Shounen Jump magazine. Shounen Jump is one of the most popular manga magazines in Japan but it is also extremely cut-throat. With each week's publication, a popularity poll is sent out to see which manga the readers enjoy most and which they don't. If a series doesn't get off the ground quick, it could be cancelled within 8 chapters. Nisekoi was obviously not cancelled but the pressure was on to both keep the prestige of continuing the series in such a magazine and to keep making money as the mangaka wasn't guaranteed to be able to produce another successful manga. So with this, the manga eventually shifts into filler. More girls are added to the MC's harem and the relationships become so complicated that I think the author is just tying knots in this rope of plot with no idea how to undo them.
There are a couple options I can think of for fixing stories like this. The first is to extend and further detail the original inspiration. Bunny Girl Senpai could give more time between it's main duo to be together, do more things, learn more about each other, etc. Oresuki could definitely have slowed a bit and had more antics. Kotoura's problems could create more obstacles for the cast to solve and her progress could have been slowed and better shown. Nisekoi could stop adding girls (even the third was more than enough) and plan who the MC is going to end up with. In general, each one should have taken their best traits and embellish and extend them.
The second is to write a real end. This one is harder since you essentially have to top the opening. Bunny Girl Senpai could have a larger arc with MC trying to (and noticeably progressing to) discover the source of the adolescence disease. Better planning could have fixed all of the these stories.
The final is to simply cut. If the story works well short, don't extend it past what works. Many times, an author rides their success and keeps writing addition after addition to the story, diluting the plot and exhausting the characters. It's better to leave a story wanting more than to completely drain it of all its worth.
tl;dr These anime didn't plan for their ending from the start, which made them flounder in the middle and then finally flop at the end. Don't be like these writers.
I'm starting to find a number of anime that really nail their opening act and then completely crumble down afterwards, to a point where I'm beginning to think it's not a few outliers. These shows have engaging premises too, which makes their failure that much more disappointing. Why do they fail?
I'll be talking about a couple of shows: Kotoura-san, Bunny girl Senpai, Oresuki, and Nisekoi. There's more of course but I'll add them when I find them. This is a discussion of these series as a whole, not just their anime adaptations.
A lot of these shows have a great initial concept. Oresuki starts with several cliche romcom characters but gives them awareness to their state and slowly has them all turn on each other. Kotoura's life gets a fresh start but she is haunted by her past and her powers. Bunny Girl Senpai has enjoyable banter between it's main duo and a somewhat romantically tragic conflict. Nisekoi's MC is forced into a ridiculous harem.
But you'll notice that the writing declines after the first arc or two of these series completes. While the authors do have a great initial inspiration, they only have enough ideas to last a single novel and end up completing the inspiration's arc to end the first book. These authors are immediately throwing away the most compelling elements of their plot.
And I think this is because they only have that initial inspiration. They didn't think of an ending for the story too, only a beginning. It works fine for the first novel but the problem of how to end the series is kicked down the road to the next novel or chapter and the next.
This creates the lack in focus these shows see after their initial arc. The writer already concluded the best elements from the premise and now they have nowhere to aim the story. So they meander. Oresuki and Bunny Girl Senpai add a ton of new characters that aren't particularly memorable and are not involved in anything near as compelling as the first arc. Nisekoi doesn't add as many characters but it's enough to derail the plot into a ton of filler. Oresuki is probably one of the worst offenders as it turns from a parody of harem romcom into an actual harem romcom, shooting it's original goals in the foot. Kotoura gets sidetracked in a mystery case that feels unfocused and unrelated to it's original themes.
But what I think is the worst about this all is that I don't think the authors necessarily care. One binding concept through all of them is that the leading male protagonist is similar or generic; more self-insert with generic or common traits than unique character. These authors aren't necessarily setting out to create a great plot, they may just be trying to write an escapism with as passable an effort as possible. And unfortunately, the core audience is probably just fine with letting them do that.
Nisekoi is probably the best example for an author not caring or having other priorities. As TotalPlebian explains in his review for the manga, this manga was run in the Shounen Jump magazine. Shounen Jump is one of the most popular manga magazines in Japan but it is also extremely cut-throat. With each week's publication, a popularity poll is sent out to see which manga the readers enjoy most and which they don't. If a series doesn't get off the ground quick, it could be cancelled within 8 chapters. Nisekoi was obviously not cancelled but the pressure was on to both keep the prestige of continuing the series in such a magazine and to keep making money as the mangaka wasn't guaranteed to be able to produce another successful manga. So with this, the manga eventually shifts into filler. More girls are added to the MC's harem and the relationships become so complicated that I think the author is just tying knots in this rope of plot with no idea how to undo them.
There are a couple options I can think of for fixing stories like this. The first is to extend and further detail the original inspiration. Bunny Girl Senpai could give more time between it's main duo to be together, do more things, learn more about each other, etc. Oresuki could definitely have slowed a bit and had more antics. Kotoura's problems could create more obstacles for the cast to solve and her progress could have been slowed and better shown. Nisekoi could stop adding girls (even the third was more than enough) and plan who the MC is going to end up with. In general, each one should have taken their best traits and embellish and extend them.
The second is to write a real end. This one is harder since you essentially have to top the opening. Bunny Girl Senpai could have a larger arc with MC trying to (and noticeably progressing to) discover the source of the adolescence disease. Better planning could have fixed all of the these stories.
The final is to simply cut. If the story works well short, don't extend it past what works. Many times, an author rides their success and keeps writing addition after addition to the story, diluting the plot and exhausting the characters. It's better to leave a story wanting more than to completely drain it of all its worth.
tl;dr These anime didn't plan for their ending from the start, which made them flounder in the middle and then finally flop at the end. Don't be like these writers.
Posted by ptrharmonic | Jan 23, 2020 11:43 PM | 0 comments
May 16th, 2019
Garbage RomCom Slice of Life Tier List
Anime Relations: Ouran Koukou Host Club, Toradora!, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!, Kotoura-san, Servant x Service, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, Denki-gai no Honya-san, Blend S, Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai, Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen, Ore wo Suki nano wa Omae dake ka yo, Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san
Well somebody has to sort through this garbage
Cool, got that done. I'll be in the comments if you want to argue discuss with me.
- SS: Toradora
A lot of what makes Toradora good is how it avoids the pitfalls of it's peers. Some shows have exponentially extending plot as the author extends it for money. A lot of shows lose steam and ideas in the middle and fix it through extra characters or other thrown wrenches into the plot's problem. And then a lot of them either leave the ending open for a sequel that will never happen or completely screw it up through poor planning.
Toradora doesn't do any of that. It has a beginning, middle, and end. The ending was planned out early on and the rest of the show works towards it. Maybe this shouldn't be that amazing since this is basic writing pitfalls 101 but a great deal of shows can't help but jump into.
- S:Ouran High School Host Club, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Servant X Service
Ouran and Nozaki-kun share similarities in atmosphere but differ slightly from Kaguya-san which has more shounen action elements in it. They are all very over the top shows with great characters and execution.
While SxS is a slice of life, nearly every scene carries some weight or meaning to the plot, making for a show that is as relaxed as it is focused. The characters are great and most see satisfying growth throughout the show. However, it has one of the most rushed anime endings you have ever seen.
- A: Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, "Love, Chunibyou, and Other Delusions"
Takagi-san has an adorable main duo although the slow pacing in the beginning episodes make some scenes cringy or difficult to watch, a problem that seems to have been introduced with the adaptation as the manga is way more palatable. Season two is leaps and bounds better so I would encourage trying a few episodes of season 2 and then starting again at season 1. Chunibyou is more centered around moe than other shows on this list but it's got some decent character development. Season 2 is a disappointing sequel though, watch at your own risk.
- B: Decent, might recommend to some
- Bunny Girl Senpai, Blend S
Bunny Girl Senpai has that LN curse where the first three episodes/book is great and the rest is mediocre at best (read my whole thing about that here). So the first three episodes have great atmosphere and great chemistry between the leads and I'd recommend you just ignore the rest. I feel both BGS and Takagi-san could have benefited from a more developed lead male character, sometimes they feel a bit bland and it makes them more self-insert and less enjoyable by those who can't relate. Blend S might be a show about a restaurant but it is a little bland (haha). It has a lot of fun moments though.
- C: Not great but I'd rewatch if I was in the mood or recommend to a certain people
- Denki-gai no Honya-san, Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san,
Blend S and Denki-gai are two shows about working in a cafe and manga store respectively. Certainly entertaining but not as lasting. Senko-san is cute and fun but some of the fan service gets a bit much in my opinion.
- D: Pretty bad, might rewatch if feeling masochistic
- Eromanga Sensei, Nisekoi
While I do like slice-of-life, I find ecchi anime to be pretty boring. Go watch "JonTron watches Eromanga Sensei" on YouTube and you will now remember as much as I do from the show. You'll remember the shocking moments but nothing in-between. I really wanted to rate Nisekoi higher but the series develops huge problems in the middle and then craters the ending. Very disappointing.
- E: Real bad, would never watch again
- Kotoura-san, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Mai, Oresuki
Both Kotoura-san and Oresuki have great openngs. Kotoura's dark undertones of the first arc showed potential but it eventually ditches that and loses focus. Oresuki goes from a nearly inspired harem romcom parody to an actual harem romcom (the next 9 episodes drags down the fantastic score the first three would earn). Miss Kobayashi did not engage me at all in the first two episodes which was a bit weird since I thought I'd like it after watching Senko-san.
- GarbageShadow realm: "Please never remind me of these"
- Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation, I Can't Understand What My Husband is Saying.
This isn't the only anime with cringe but it doesn't redeem itself in any other way. Runs on fanservice logic most of the time to the neglect of the rest of the plot elements. ICUWMHIS is really boring. I forgot to include it after I watched it and now I can't remember anything about it, other than I stopped watching it.
- Honorary mentions: Not necessarily anime but kinda belong here
Taishou Otome Otogibanashi is cute, pretty much anything by Yamamoto Souichiro
Cool, got that done. I'll be in the comments if you want to argue discuss with me.
Posted by ptrharmonic | May 16, 2019 8:40 PM | 0 comments