| So, do you prefer ongoing plots or episodic anime? Ongoing meaning that the plot covers a range of episodes and might be told in large story arcs. Example would be stuff like Bleach, FMA, Blood+, Eureka Seven, HXH, One Piece, you get the drill. Episodic anime meaning that the show is made up of separate stories that show the life of a person. Often slice of life anime take this format, and so do romantic comedies and etc. There might be an ongoing plot (such as Detective Conan), but it doesn't change the fact that each episode has its own little plot and is generally separate (you could probably watch it out of order, except for when an episode actually has character development there might be some inconsistency) And I definately prefer ongoing plots. With the exception of Kino no Tabi, I would always like the shows that have a strong, intense and/or epic plot that like... keeps me wanting to watch the next episode. The thing with me and episodic series is that I can watch one episode and probably watch the next one 2 years later for all I care. Mod Edit: Edited title for clarity. |
LunaMay 17, 2013 4:38 AM
| This is a tough one, but i would have to go with ongoing plots. I also love following a show with a strong/epic plot, but there are so few shows that are like that. Its kind of funny that i would choose ongoing since most of my favorites are episodic anime. |
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| Ongoing plot, definitely. There's a small exception though. I don't think it can be considered "episodic anime" but I really like the Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex format. For those who never watched it, Complex episodes follow the plot while Stand Alone episodes are isolated cases. I think it keeps the story interesting in case you get tired of the plot. |
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| Ideally, it should be a combination of both, although if forced to pick I'd say ongoing. The entire idea of running one coherent, planned plotline throughout a season of episodes was one of the things that originally drew me into watching anime in the first place and one of the major differences between it and American animation of the time. Episodic tends to be somewhat better at rewatch value, however. As mentioned, with only a couple of exceptions, you can sit down and watch any episode of Cowboy Bebop or Urusei Yatsura out of sequence and not worry about it, which is sort of nice. |
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| Hmm not much to say that others haven't. I would definately say ongoing plot. I like some episodic episodes, and some series can pull off the episodic idea very well. However, most of the time it has to have some good characters or good ideas otherwise I'll probably really dislike it. |
| Without a doubt, ongoing plot. The major reason I don't like episodic animes is due to the fact that, normally, the plot in each ep is weak, to say the least, compared to the others. One of the few episodic animes I consider an exception to this is Kino no Tabi, since it showed Crystal said: in each ep.a strong, intense and/or epic plot |
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| hard to say... ongoing plot for serious stuff, but i don't want 100 episodes of romance and comedy >_> and episodic for comedy only. i don't really enjoy repetitive episodes like higurashi or jigoku shoujo. |
| Insane humor = plotless Slice of life = plotless delightfull animes = plotless only thing outside that i've ever liked even though it's plotless is jigoku shoujo (and even that had a plot after a while). Though it's definately best if there is some form of plotline. No matter how small. Like in azumanga daioh, the plot is how they (especially sakaki, neko grinder :3) fare through 3 years of japanese high school. |
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| I usually like with ongoing plots but there are some episodic ones like Mushishi and xxxHoLiC that I really liked as well Also, I'm not sure how you can classify Ghost Hunt but that had an ongoing plot in an episodic way...if you know what I mean |
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| I would actually go with both, I like both. But if I had to choose, I would probably go with episodic anime. I just like watching the different stories and things like that. |
 -Seigi- |
| I like ongoing better, but some exceptions (aint bebop and champloo episodic?) are alwasy there. Mushishi for instance was great. |
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| I prefer Plotty animes. Episodic ones can be good as well, but in that case, two to three episode arcs are preferable - It tend to give the episodic plot more depth. |
| I like it when a plot covers the entire show, but I prefer short shows. So what I like best is something like Haibane Renmei - there's one story line, which is told in 13 episodes. Then it's over. But on the other hand, the ending of Haibane was so mysterious, it really kept me wanting more. |
| It all depends... I do love an ongoing plot... the problem is... is that when it's over... if they haven't settled it to my liking... then I feel disappointed. I do love episodic in comedies (i.e. Ouran, Lucky Star, etc.). I also like, maybe not episodic, but several SHORT arcs... maybe 3 - 4 episodes each (like they did in Ghost Hunt.) |
| It totally depends on the story. For some stories, plot works best, while others are better suited for episodic. And then you have shows like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, which have plots, but only for five episodes and the rest are episodic. I think that's one of the things I liked about both of those series. Sayuri said: Ongoing plot, definitely. There's a small exception though. I don't think it can be considered "episodic anime" but I really like the Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex format. For those who never watched it, Complex episodes follow the plot while Stand Alone episodes are isolated cases. I think it keeps the story interesting in case you get tired of the plot. I loved SAC, not just because of what you mentioned, but the Tachikoma episodes...they were awesome. XD Lieke said: I like it when a plot covers the entire show, but I prefer short shows. So what I like best is something like Haibane Renmei - there's one story line, which is told in 13 episodes. Then it's over. But on the other hand, the ending of Haibane was so mysterious, it really kept me wanting more. I liked HR, too. Short anime with a plot that goes throughout the show are usually pretty good. Although I'm glad they ended HR where they did. I don't really see the story being interesting past that point. |
| Darker than BLACK has each mini-plot spread through two episodes and while some of them add nothing to the ongoing plot they serve to flesh out characters. Claymore is very plot driven. Every episode moves the story along. Lucky Star has very weak on-going plot, they're going to eventually graduate. The only thing that moves the plot is the passage of time. The main focus of the series is Konata's otaku antics and those people around her as well. Although there are cues to the ongoing plot in the form of Holidays, periodical events, addition of characters and weather. So while this is a slice of life comedy its all set into a time line. Bleach has an ongoing plot but like all Shounen Epics, there are fillers that can be thrown in or out without effecting the story at all. Personally, I don't mind fillers. Because of these shows and more I can't really say I like episodic or plot driven. |
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Baman said: Same for me :)I prefer Plotty animes. Episodic ones can be good as well, but in that case, two to three episode arcs are preferable - It tend to give the episodic plot more depth. |
| ongoing plot of course. but something episodic isn't too shabby either. it has its own charms. like Lucky Star, for instance. |
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| For on-going, I like FMA, Blood + & Hunter X Hunter, not One Piece or Naruto. As for episodic, I like something like Ghost Hunt or Darker Than BLACK. Not plain stuff like Lucky Star & Azumanga Daioh. I don't like long seris that much, so I guess I like episodic better. |
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| There are plenty of more episodic shows that I quite enjoy, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Mushishi being most prominent among them, but I've never seen an episodic show where I felt compelled to watch the next episode as soon as it could. With more plot-driven shows like One Piece, I can hardly stop watching until I'm completely finished or caught up. |
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| I think for the most part I prefer Plot-driven anime. To be more specific, I really enjoy it when by the very end, most of the prior episodes all end up having meaning, and it ends with the final 4 episodes being an intense climax. for anime that is completely episodic, I only think this works for comedy. a good mixture works too ^_^ (like DtB with 2-ep plots that I think will tie itself together in the end) |
| Plot, definitely. But there are some series w/episodic thrown in for a few episodes (not the entire series) which is fine. selective_yellow said: for anime that is completely episodic, I only think this works for comedy. I agree. Comedy or more light-hearted anime that isn't supposed to be serious is better off being episodic. |
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| wow, really hard to say. If you look at the anime that I rated 10, only 3 out of 7 are actually TV series. If anything this says that I actually prefer them short ^^. That doesn't really count as either because a half hr OVA can't be episodic. hehe out of the 3 TV anime I have rated 10, one is Fullmetal Alchemist, which definitively has an ongoing plot. Haruhi Suzumiya has a more episodic format. Kanon has a more blended format, where there are episode arcs that have very little to do with one another. So there's one representing each type...hehe. if you move on to my 9's, 3 of them have ongoing plots, 4 are episodic, and 3 are blended. What does this mean? I'm just evenly split ^^; |
| Ongoing plots without a doubt. That way, you have more of a chance to be witnessing a plot that can be more intricate, complex, emotional and so on, because it has much more room to develop rather than episodic ones with only span a few episodes. |
| I dont like long ongoing shows like naruto and bleach. only if they are really entertaining like one piece and prince of tennis. normally I like the shorter ones from 13-26 eps with a few for 51 eps or sometimes around 75, I loved hikaru no go for example. Sometimes lenght can kill a show. for example naruto started very good, however the chuunin exams where strechted way too long as many arcs are in naruto and bleach. One piece also streches stuff but its way less irritating as in naruto and bleach. I really love shows who end with a great plot that answers stuff but also raises questions and leaves you with your own imagination. like Haibane renmei (mentioned by lieke earlier) that show is a great show with actually not really a plot its really a slice of a life show who shows the daily life of a haibane community. the actual plot lays deep within the last episode which is in my opinion what makes this show so imens strong. It also leaves you with so many unanswered questions. for example: what are the haibane, and what is behind the great wall. those are the shows I really enjoy the most. Or stuff like Aishiteruze baby where you leave the show thinking how would they continue their lives. |
| If it's a series that is 13-26 episodes long then I want episodes that follows a plot. If it's a 51- ongoing series then I would want it to start episodic for 12 episodes then flow into plot driven episodes. |
| Plot. Though I do enjoy episodic if the tie it up at the end. As most of you have mentioned, comedy is an exception. As for side arcs (Such as exploring other character's pasts/feelings) they tend to ruin the anime unless they are actually contributing to the plot (whether in terms of character development or literal plot). |
| I think it all really boils don to how well the story's being told. What works for one series is not the best for another. Stories like Bartender and Mushishi won't benefit from the same type of story telling as Texhnolyze or Gurren Lagann. There are benefits to using an episodic structure or an overarching idea, but if those benefits aren't maximized then it doesn't matter. |
    Sam is my sweet peach |
| I like Plots,but not filler plots like the Bount Arc in Bleach (anime.) |
～ ☆ to the people who look up the stars and wish ☆ ～ ～ ☆ to the stars who listen and the dreams that are answered ☆ ～ |
| i like ongoing plots generally if it is below 26 episodes, when it goes over that, it generally looses its quality |
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| My favorite shows are usually concise (around 13-26 episodes) and ongoing. I enjoy this set up. The fact that it is ongoing ensures a build up to a powerful ending, and the length keeps things from getting stale. It's a different story with comedies though. I just want to pick up an episode and laugh my ass off. |
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| I would have to go with both,because I think it depends on the type of anime your watching such as, and action anime should be plot driven so that you get the most out of the story and most comedies are better if they are episodic. |
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| Story is the most important thing. As long as it's got some sort of beginning, middle and end I can deal with it, but the closer it cleaves to advancing a plot that continues through every episode from beginning to end, without egregious filler/side stories, the better I like it. Correspondingly, I hate stuff like Naruto, Prince of Tennis, Pokemon and so on that never seems to end. Comedies can be exceptions, but even Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star have a beginning and an end, defined by the three years at school (I'm assuming that for Lucky Star, of course, but it seems like it will to me); time passes, affects the characters and sees them change. |
| I'm used with story and it's better . In an episode nothing can be explained properly and when it's a story you have something to wait to continue but episodic are just only for fun . But I guess it really depends on the anime . Like Ouran High School Host Club , which is episodic and is very funny . I don't know if it would better with a story but it's fine as it is . But more darker animes like Death Note are better with a story to step on because there the story makes all the atmosphere . Episodic are more for comedy animes I believe ... |
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| Kind of like the episodic content but i like it when they have a mini plot that last several episodes. Some of the episodic content don't keep up the excitement each ep and i get bored when they don't... just me though |
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| I like a long ongoing plot with episodic sub-plots. Like Darker than Black. |
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| I would go for plot only for fighting kind of anime and I don't mind episodic too like Muteki Kanban Musume, xxxHolic etc. |
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Faust721 said: This is a tough one, but i would have to go with ongoing plots. I also love following a show with a strong/epic plot, but there are so few shows that are like that. Its kind of funny that i would choose ongoing since most of my favorites are episodic anime. totally agree with you. ^^ |
 "Buy the ticket, take the ride." R.I.P. Hunter S. Thompson |
| For me, it depends on the characters and their development. I care more about characters than plot. An anime can have the best, most original plot in the world, for all I care if the characters are crap, I won't watch it. Most of the time I guess I like series with ongoing plot. Recently, however, I'm starting to enjoy episodic series more. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Darker than Black, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, to some extent Samurai Champloo. They're all on my favoites list and lack a definite plot. But I can't stand Jikoku Shoujo. It's one thing to be episodic, but it's a whole different issue to use the same animation rehashed over and over again. |
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BakaOnna said: But I can't stand Jikoku Shoujo. It's one thing to be episodic, but it's a whole different issue to use the same animation rehashed over and over again. Ya, I mean it may be good animation but geezus... HOWEVER Futakamori must've noticed that and changed quite a bit, Futakamori is quite a different show then season 1. |
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| If there is no ongoing plot what is the point, at least that is the way that I think. Its like I am wasting my time if there is no real purpose. I like when they mix the two though that usually has a nice feel as long as when they get to the end they have enough time left to tell the end right not just push a mediocre one on us. |
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| I like Anime with a good plot unless it does not need one like random comedy type shows. Other than that there needs to be a good plot or else whats the point. |
animemark35 said: If there is no ongoing plot what is the point, at least that is the way that I think. . That's what i believe too. Unless it's a comedy anime but even those have to have some sort of end. Which is why i'm giving up kaibutso ouji if the next episode is still aweful. Was expecting some sort of story since it's not funny, badly animated and music is terrible. It needs to have something going for it. A strong plot can make a very big difference even if the anime is only short. Which was evident (sp) in Voices of a distant star. |
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| Ongoing plot, without a doubt. I normaly can't stand episodic animes at all unless they are really good. |
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| I was wondering if the majority of the people like anime with a new story for every episode, or a story that lasts for more than an episode or 2? an example of episodic: Ghost Hunt or Mushishi (as i've heard) arc anime: Hunter x Hunter i think the majority of anime i have seen are arcs. so yeah. :) |
| Slice of life episodic and plotty *insert genre here* anime are waaaaay too different to be compared. If I had to choose one though, it'd be episodic. |
| I thought this seemed familiar - http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=593515&show=0 I'm fine with either, they're different but both are capable of being complete shit or being a masterpiece. |
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