'People these days don't like dark toned, depressing anime anymore' - Shingo Adachi said. Do you agree?
| Yeah I agree when was the last time we got one of these shows? if we do get it its like once in a blue moon. But I dont necessarily agree with the "people no longer" cause theres always gonna be fans of those but the problem is it's lacking when compared to mainstream anime |
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| There's an easily observable lack of such series as a percentage relative to the whole compared to past years and decades. Whether that is because it is in line with what the majority or even vast majority of the viewership market truly wants and the anime industry is merely respecting and honoring that desire and demand or, in contrast, if those responsible for decisionmaking at the highest levels in the industry rather believe it's what the viewership market wants, thinks themselves clairvoyant, and are trying to pre-emptively get out ahead of that demand and in turn, in fact ending up shaping audience market preferences as a result by monopolizing the landscape remains a pertinent open question. |
WatchTillTandavaSep 10, 2022 10:55 PM
| For me the shows that made the most lasting impression are the darker ones. I love darkness and violence. The problem isn't that people don't want it but that we don't get offered it much anymore. |
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| "Shingo Adachi, director of Lycoris Recoil," Ewww, I am not trusting this guy with anything. Did he meant his kindergarten character design show with over the top cheesy action to be deep social commentary or something? Like Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt did it funnier and somehow sexier. |
alshuSep 12, 2022 12:10 AM
| Depends. If it's "edgy" then I'm probably not gonna watch it. Just comes off as corny to me these days. I can't take it seriously. But if it's just an anime with more adult themes and they are handled well, then I can get behind it. |
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Dije said: In my opinion the more the anime has dark tones the more it improves (obviously it depends on the cases) in fact to me Lycoris Recoil has taken more a turn on the comic than on the psychological etc., in fact to tell the truth I do not like Lycoris Recoil at allIn a recent interview with Animate Times https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1656464389 Shingo Adachi, director of Lycoris Recoil, said that people today no longer like anime with dark and depressing tones. In fact, it seems that initially Lycoris Recoil was supposed to be a dark anime, but Shingo Adachi reinvented it by making it more lighthearted. What do you think, do you agree? |
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| I think so, it's really rare to see something truly dark anymore. Even in the horror genre, there tends to be a lot of comedy moments to break up the tension, like in Parasyte the Maxim Mostly every anime i see that's new is either super cutesy or sexual. |
| My waifu is the most wonderful waifu. Mai Valentine. We're freaking out that we're running out of time, but to do what? Should i stop and think of that? Is there something i could do to slow it down? Live in a day for once, instead of watch it sprinting by |
| Yes, he's correct. People these days love dark themes in their series, however these stories need to be exaggarated and more balanced with crazy elements. If a series is just doom and gloom they just won't pop off anymore. To Your Eternity is a great example of this. That series would have been crazy popular 15 years ago due to how it emotionally manipulates the watcher. Now, though, it arrived too late and the manga sales are basically nonexistent with nonexistent boost from the anime adaptation. |
| i mean, just from what i've seen over the years, there has been a shift in trends in anime. i'm by far from an expert but i'd say that the later/ending cap of the 90's through the 2000's had a much larger cesspool for darker, grittier, or a more "mature" tone set in anime. especially of the psychological genre that may or may not include: ergo proxy, serial experiments lain, texhnolyze, wolf's rain, ghost in the shell (+), monster, blood+, hellsing, claymore, black lagoon, boogiepop, phantom: requiem for the phantom, darker than black, and onwards are some examples. obviously, these types of anime are still coming out (probably) and is enjoyed but i do feel that the market has changed. what becomes insanely popular now or successful consistently to the general public is... different in a lot of cases. i don't care if people disagree with me, simply an amateur observation. |
| What exactly is this ‘intellectual’ trying to say… just seems like a roundabout way to confess that he might not be capable to present an anime with such tones. |
 Maybe try sleeping? |
anthrshttydy said: nostalgiaas said: Yeah I agree when was the last time we got one of these shows? if we do get it its like once in a blue moon. But I dont necessarily agree with the "people no longer" cause theres always gonna be fans of those but the problem is it's lacking when compared to mainstream anime Made in Abyss is a dark toned and depressing anime that is currently airing. I'm aware, which is why I said once in a blue moon (not very often) instead of never. |
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| The trends are just cyclical. So yeah, maybe people are not too into the darker and deppresing now . But people are going to eventually crave for that again and/or get sick of the more family friendly stuff. |
Dije said: In fact, it seems that initially Lycoris Recoil was supposed to be a dark anime, but Shingo Adachi reinvented it by making it more lighthearted. We already have a dark & depressing version of Lycoris Recoil. It’s called Gunslinger Girl https://myanimelist.net/anime/134/Gunslinger_Girl And besides Made in Abyss, Vinland Saga & Dororo weren’t that long ago. And I wouldn’t exactly call series like Attack on Titan, Overlord & Re:Zero cheerful. |
OhayotakuSep 9, 2022 10:21 PM
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| I think that adachi shingo is an idiot, he's blaming the audience for his idiocies. Dude just wants to make some quick yen and he's making this mild ecchi anime with cute chicks, then complains that people don't wanna watch dark shit, what an imbecile. Attack on Titan is very popular these days and it's dark, why can't he make something like that? well, he lacks talent and he's a pussy, he went thte easy way of making his audience horny. |
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Play2X said: Hard disagree. From the excitement around shows like Chainsaw Man, as well as currently airing Made in Abyss or still not finished Shingeki no Kyojin, I'd say fans jump on every remotely dark anime like its the next comming of Haruhi. I personally am really happy with the way Lycoris Recoil turned out, it had the perfect mix of lighthearted girls and some more serious undertones. I personally don't need dark shows, so if he thinks that way and changes stuff to suit my tastes, who am I to complain? I interpreted the statement as "anime in the style of Texhnolyze or Lain" which is a style that's pretty much dead now. Maybe this Shingo guy was thinking the same thing and doesn't consider chainsaw man to be cut from the cloth and he just didn't word it as good as he could. Or maybe he did. I didn't read the interview. |
| MEA·MENTVLA·INGENS·EST |
| Based on how uncommon they have become nowadays, it sure feels that way. Not sure if it's really a question of whether the viewers don't want that anymore, or if they just take what they get though - bright, colorful and lively anime girls en masse ;) Personally, I'm a bit torn. As I'm getting older, I definitely have a stronger preference for cute and wholesome anime that take my mind off the stress of everyday life and the state of the world, but I do mourn those "darker" anime, because they tend to be more serious and have better stories. |
| I don't completely agree with this sentiment but I can see where he is coming from. I think people still like dark stuff as mangas like Chainsaw Man, Berserk, Hunter x Hunter or Attack On Titan, all of which are incredibly dark are still getting popular. I think what people have gotten bored of is actually generic, unoriginal dark content. A lot of modern writers are using excessive violence and disturbing content as a way to hide bad writing and delude their audience into thinking that what they have written is some deep shit when it is actually just an edgy schlock. It's just that the audience has gotten smarter over the years and no longer believes that any show that deals with some heavy themes is automatically good as a show needs way more than just depressing stuff to be actually good. There is still demand for dark and depressing content, it is just that the general audience's expectations from a show have increased a lot lately and the modern audience is much more hard to please so the writers need to actually put effort in any kind of story they are writing as the generic unoriginal dark stories will not be gaining audience's attention any time soon. |
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| It's called keeping up with the trends. Ironically, the best show this season is genuinely gut-wrenching. |
| He's not wrong. Trends in entertainment come and go. That's why anime today isn't the same as it was in the 90s or 2000s. People change, societies change, values change, ideas and mentalities change, the way people see the world changes, and etc; and with that, media and entertainment changes. People who can't accept that get left behind by the industry, by the audience, by entertainment in general. |
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| What was the last time someone made a decent dark toned, depressing anime? |
HARD  Attack on Titan Chainsaw Man Made in Abyss and one of the most popular anime airing right now is somewhat dark and may have a depressing end |
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ShinkuTachi said: He's not wrong. Trends in entertainment come and go. That's why anime today isn't the same as it was in the 90s or 2000s. People change, societies change, values change, ideas and mentalities change, the way people see the world changes, and etc; and with that, media and entertainment changes. People who can't accept that get left behind by the industry, by the audience, by entertainment in general. Or, as you said, since trends come and go, if you just wait long enough and hold on to what you like, it will become popular again in due time ;) The furniture from the 70s is popular again now, and the fashion from the late 80s/early 90s. Just waiting for that kind of anime to become popular again~ |
| What we need is more cute girls doing dark things with ecchi, fanservice and a serious plot. |
   my anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun |
| We do like dark themed anime, just not the same unoriginal shit all the time. Slice of Life, Ecchi and CGDCT doesn't need to be original to be enjoyable. |
| we - and by we, i mean the whole world - are currently living in dark-toned, depressing times. people generally turn to fiction for escapism, after all. |
| It might be the case since the hyped seasonal shows this past months has been mostly lighthearted. I still want some edgy, dark, depressing anime with some insane monologues that will make me lose my sanity and will stain my soul and give me a decade long trauma. But I guess GL and some waifu baits works too |
| Lycoris Recoil doesn't need to be "darker" to speak to a higher quality. Moreover, entirely too many people's conception of "dark" and "darkness" seems to be extremely superficial and puerile. There is a great deal more to many series, reservoirs of thought and feeling, beyond the immediately obvious one can glean in five seconds and that is flaunted on the surface. TheBlockernator said: I think so, it's really rare to see something truly dark anymore. Even in the horror genre, there tends to be a lot of comedy moments to break up the tension, like in Parasyte the Maxim Mostly every anime i see that's new is either super cutesy or sexual. I would say that Kiseijuu isn't really a good example of this since it is as much a drama, action, and Sci-Fi as it is a horror. Furthermore, even much of non-anime horror media has a great deal of banter, moments of levity and comedic relief, dark humor, and campiness woven into it. Laughing in the face of the grotesque and homicidal bleakness or in-between instances of confrontation with it as a tonal reprieve is a longtime horror staple. |
WatchTillTandavaSep 10, 2022 10:57 PM
| With the lack of depressing anime, obviously there'd have to be some form of lack of interest. I still think a lot of people do enjoy darker anime though, me included ofc :), just not enough to be all that noticed |
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| Since covid, dark toned and depressing show fans are widespread is almost all medium. Infant that tone is more mainstream tone compared to 2010s I assume he is comparing with 80s or something when only niche closed population watched anime. Then it's true because they are just minority of viewers in general. Edit - after reading the interview given in the link, i realise op has twist the words to his narrative. First of all the interview is with asaura (show's writer), not with Shingo Adachi. Asaura is mentioning that show intial premise and protagonists were different and shingo adachi changed more light hearted due to something along the line with gun violence unappealling in worldwide view or something. For the context, we are actually talking about Ben-to mangaka. How dark do u think he will get? Op is a crap of nonsense |
AdampkSep 10, 2022 11:25 PM
  Click for a anime mashup! Still not gone bandwagon u, keep crying. Here u are welcome to CRINGE at my EXISTENCE |
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| With how the world is turning into a circus, I do not blame such sentiments. I agree with what he said tbh. |
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| Well I don't mind those kind of anime but there is that one anime which I don't wanna reveal but I think it just existed to disturb my mind lol! It doesn't even have an a wholesome ending, it kinda pissed me off. It gives me a sense of hype and enjoyment to me when they resolve a problem. And those anime which don't have a good ending too when it is dark toned or depressing, piss me off. I just hate them. So I kinda agree. |
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| Ok, so I re-read the whole interview again, and nowhere in this interview did Shingo Adachi ever say or was reported to have said that "nobody likes dark anime". OP literally pulled shit out of his ass and stuffed it in Adachi's mouth, and everyone who took OP at face value or are clowning on Adachi for his "words" is a clown themselves. Fucking embarrassing. |
ParataxicalisSep 10, 2022 11:37 PM
Parataxicalis said: Ok, so I re-read the whole interview again, and nowhere in this interview did Shingo Adachi ever say or was reported to have said that "nobody likes dark anime". OP literally pulled shit out of his ass and stuffed it in Adachi's mouth, and everyone who took OP at face value or are clowning on Adachi for his "words" is a clown themselves. Fucking embarrassing. dude, calm down and look at this, you may need this  |
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anthrshttydy said: Assuming everyone is a snowflake who is too afraid of a reality check and wants to live in a fantasy world of Willy Wonka... having to venture out into this Godawful world on a daily basis, - in the necessity of making ends-meet alone- is surely all the "Reality Check" most people can stomach, i would think... |
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Cultured_Snowie said: Parataxicalis said: Ok, so I re-read the whole interview again, and nowhere in this interview did Shingo Adachi ever say or was reported to have said that "nobody likes dark anime". OP literally pulled shit out of his ass and stuffed it in Adachi's mouth, and everyone who took OP at face value or are clowning on Adachi for his "words" is a clown themselves. Fucking embarrassing. dude, calm down and look at this, you may need this Don't think I need to hear that from someone who thinks sexualizing anime girls is ok... (which you never said, but I'm sure you'll be fine with me making that claim about you). |
ParataxicalisSep 11, 2022 9:24 AM
| True... Too much depression since wuhan virus leaked.. people just want anime with happier settings to get away and forget the reality.. |
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