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Why has the trend shifted from 2-cour to 1-cour anime?

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Dec 22, 2015 4:23 AM
#1

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Dec 2014
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A lot of the seasonal anime that has released in recent years consisted of only 12 episodes (1-cour), while anime in the from the previous decade were predominantly 24-26 episodes per season.
12 episodes in a lot of cases isn't enough to tell a story. Some anime which require 24 episodes are split into 2 half-seasons (Owari no Seraph).

What could be the reason for this trend shift? Or is it just my imagination.

obscureanimefan said:
I think little girls are sexy.
Dec 22, 2015 4:29 AM
#2

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Jul 2012
48259
The better question is why did they have that many two cours back in the old days when Anime is organized into seasons, four quarters of a year?
Dec 22, 2015 4:31 AM
#3

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Feb 2013
17582
smaller series = smaller risk
Dec 22, 2015 4:32 AM
#4

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Jan 2012
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Money. Anime is often hit or miss and if sales for a 1 cour show is bad then it's not nearly as big a loss if it was 2 cour. These days the animation studios do 1 cour shows to see how sales go , if they go well they make more if not then no more of that series.
Dec 22, 2015 4:42 AM
#5

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Mar 2015
47094
i think bigilvelf already show it
bigivelfhq said:
The season One Piece Debuted we got:

1999 Fall Season
1-cour -> 7 series(24%)
2-cours -> 16 series(55%)
3-cours -> 0 series(0%)
48-72 episodes, long running -> 4 series(14%)
73 or more episodes, long running -> 2 series(7%)
Total -> 14 series


This season:

2015 Fall Season
Note: Some of this is just possible, mainly the long running that don't announce that they will in fact be long running.

1-cour -> 40 series(74%)
2-cours -> 9 series(17%)
3-cours -> 0 series(0%)
48-72 episodes, long running -> 4(7%)
73 or more episodes, long running -> 1(2%)
Total -> 54 series

The number of long running series didn't changed, 6 in the past and 5 right now. What really changed is that the 2-cours became to look like the 1-cour in the past(the least preferable of the seasonal options) and the 1-cour exploded.
As you can guess
so no, it's not just your imagination.

reasons:
>less episode = less works = less money = less risk
>anime this days mainly ads for it original source.
>more anime made this days, so also more competition happened. of course industry try find a way to play save

so yes, it's part of trend.
"If taking responsibility for a mistake that cannot be undone means death, it's not that hard to die. At least, not as hard as to live on."
Dec 22, 2015 4:45 AM
#6

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Oct 2014
6950
Kuma said:
i think bigilvelf already show it
bigivelfhq said:
The season One Piece Debuted we got:

1999 Fall Season
1-cour -> 7 series(24%)
2-cours -> 16 series(55%)
3-cours -> 0 series(0%)
48-72 episodes, long running -> 4 series(14%)
73 or more episodes, long running -> 2 series(7%)
Total -> 14 series


This season:

2015 Fall Season
Note: Some of this is just possible, mainly the long running that don't announce that they will in fact be long running.

1-cour -> 40 series(74%)
2-cours -> 9 series(17%)
3-cours -> 0 series(0%)
48-72 episodes, long running -> 4(7%)
73 or more episodes, long running -> 1(2%)
Total -> 54 series

The number of long running series didn't changed, 6 in the past and 5 right now. What really changed is that the 2-cours became to look like the 1-cour in the past(the least preferable of the seasonal options) and the 1-cour exploded.
As you can guess
so no, it's not just your imagination.

reasons:
>less episode = less works = less money = less risk
>anime this days mainly ads for it original source.
>more anime made this days, so also more competition happened. of course industry try find a way to play save

so yes, it's part of trend.


Are split-cour series counted as 1-cour or as 2-cour in those statistics?

Also how is there only 1 super-long-running (73+ eps) series? There is One Piece and Naruto Shippuuden and also Fairy Tail alone, then if you count it as a whole, there is also Gintama...
Grey-ZoneDec 22, 2015 4:50 AM
Dec 22, 2015 4:48 AM
#7

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May 2008
2130
Doraemon, Nintama Rantarou, Ojarumaru, Anpanman and several other children's shows have been on the air forever.

Was there really that big of a shift? I feel like the "trend" has been 1-cour shows forever, at least in this century. Could be wrong though.
Dec 22, 2015 4:50 AM
#8

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Feb 2013
17582
>anime this days mainly ads for it original source.
anime all days mainly ads for the source...
Dec 22, 2015 4:51 AM
#9

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Oct 2014
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romagia said:
>anime this days mainly ads for it original source.
anime all days mainly ads for the source...


Just like Madoka, Code Geass, Valvrave and Aldnoah.Zero were.... OH WAIT!
Dec 22, 2015 4:57 AM

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Grey-Zone said:
romagia said:
anime all days mainly ads for the source...


Just like Madoka, Code Geass, Valvrave and Aldnoah.Zero were.... OH WAIT!
yes. literally every single anime ever created was an ad for the source.
Dec 22, 2015 5:00 AM

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Mar 2015
47094
Grey-Zone said:
Are split-cour series counted as 1-cour or as 2-cour in those statistics?

Also how is there only 1 super-long-running (73+ eps) series? There is One Piece and Naruto Shippuuden and also Fairy Tail alone, then if you count it as a whole, there is also Gintama...
as far as i remeber, split cours become trending (it's not really new in anime BTW) starting summer. akagami, gate,and UNT. but even like than, UNT already 25 episode. but it's already showing amount of 2 cours is indeed decreasing the one is blowing of 1-cour anime.

as for long run, first think i tough he misstyping 10, but the amount of % also confusing. i think he not counting leftover.
KumaDec 22, 2015 5:05 AM
"If taking responsibility for a mistake that cannot be undone means death, it's not that hard to die. At least, not as hard as to live on."
Dec 22, 2015 5:02 AM

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Feb 2013
17582
is rinne really split cour? there is a 6 months break between the seasons
Dec 22, 2015 5:12 AM

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Jul 2007
23708
Coldsp33d said:
A lot of the seasonal anime that has released in recent years consisted of only 12 episodes (1-cour), while anime in the from the previous decade were predominantly 24-26 episodes per season.
12 episodes in a lot of cases isn't enough to tell a story. Some anime which require 24 episodes are split into 2 half-seasons (Owari no Seraph).

What could be the reason for this trend shift? Or is it just my imagination.


The shift to one cour or split-cour shows is due to the studios adapting a western model of production, which means producing a big part of the show during the break/before airing. This allows for more thorough QC and no bullshit "make as it airs" blunders like with God Eater and Gundam Seed Destiny(this one's notoriously famous for episodes not being finished a day before airing).

Lancehot said:
Series, season, cour, confusion.

This really pisses me off about MAL community.

COUR =/= SEASON

A show airing in two cours does not mean the second cour is "second season". That's not how it works.
Dec 22, 2015 5:14 AM

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Mar 2015
47094
romagia said:
is rinne really split cour? there is a 6 months break between the seasons
oh yeah, forgot my poor memories. corrected.
romagia said:
>anime this days mainly ads for it original source.
anime all days mainly ads for the source...
i think i already discussing about this with zeyfris somewhere.

first of all, most of anime that made back days is not only for original sorce ads. they made adaptation at least at certain point that it anime it self can be called completed story. anime this days always has "read the source" ending. and anime that i talked in here of course TV series. couse what are used for original source ads in back days are short OVA. so yes, they are made for original source ads since long time ago. but not the solely purpose they are exist.
"If taking responsibility for a mistake that cannot be undone means death, it's not that hard to die. At least, not as hard as to live on."
Dec 22, 2015 5:15 AM

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Jul 2014
78
It's hard to make a 26-episode series about nothing. It's easier to make 10-12 episodes when you're going to produce another dull original sol series. If they started adapting old manga that were completed years ago (they did that recently with Kiseijuu) then they could do a bunch of 25-40 ep anime. But the business is hard and it's the slice of life lolis that sell, my dear.
Dec 22, 2015 5:16 AM

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Feb 2013
17582
Kuma said:
romagia said:
is rinne really split cour? there is a 6 months break between the seasons
oh yeah, forgot my poor memories. corrected.
romagia said:
anime all days mainly ads for the source...
i think i already discussing about this with zeyfris somewhere.

first of all, most of anime that made back days is not only for original sorce ads. they made adaptation at least at certain point that it anime it self can be called completed story. anime this days always has "read the source" ending. and anime that i talked in here of course TV series. couse what are used for original source ads in back days are short OVA. so yes, they are made for original source ads since long time ago. but not the solely purpose they are exist.
yes i was thinking of ova in particular =p
these are anime too
Dec 22, 2015 5:20 AM

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Oct 2014
6950
Kuma said:
Grey-Zone said:
Are split-cour series counted as 1-cour or as 2-cour in those statistics?

Also how is there only 1 super-long-running (73+ eps) series? There is One Piece and Naruto Shippuuden and also Fairy Tail alone, then if you count it as a whole, there is also Gintama...
as far as i remeber, split cours become trending (it's not really new in anime BTW) starting summer. akagami, gate,and UNT. but even like than, UNT already 25 episode. but it's already showing amount of 2 cours is indeed decreasing the one is blowing of 1-cour anime.

as for long run, first think i tough he misstyping 10, but the amount of % also confusing. i think he not counting leftover.


I still don't know if in THIS case split-cour was counted as being 1-cour or 2-cour though. Do you know?

And if leftovers don't count, then what are the 5 supposdly new long running shown that started in this season?
Dec 22, 2015 5:29 AM

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Mar 2015
47094
romagia said:
Kuma said:
oh yeah, forgot my poor memories. corrected.
i think i already discussing about this with zeyfris somewhere.

first of all, most of anime that made back days is not only for original sorce ads. they made adaptation at least at certain point that it anime it self can be called completed story. anime this days always has "read the source" ending. and anime that i talked in here of course TV series. couse what are used for original source ads in back days are short OVA. so yes, they are made for original source ads since long time ago. but not the solely purpose they are exist.
yes i was thinking of ova in particular =p
these are anime too
well, if we are talking about OVA, they are only have 2 possibility back then. great faithfully adaptation with no cencor and long that not strict to TV rule. or soo damn short that we can't even said they are exist. lOl.
Lancehot said:
Series, season, cour, confusion.
series, and cours always have same meanings. season meaning have changed over years.
Series: time when a certain anime airing continuesly since start until it end.
cour: is one "season" (season in here is talking that year has 4 season), usually 10-14 episode
season: here the problem. back then, season can be called how many years they aired. i still remeber gintama (first series) last year it aired called gintama season 4. and gintama (2011) is season 5 and 6.
then it changed to cour. also can be refference which series.
"If taking responsibility for a mistake that cannot be undone means death, it's not that hard to die. At least, not as hard as to live on."
Dec 22, 2015 5:32 AM

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Apr 2013
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Kuma said:
romagia said:
is rinne really split cour? there is a 6 months break between the seasons
oh yeah, forgot my poor memories. corrected.
romagia said:
anime all days mainly ads for the source...
i think i already discussing about this with zeyfris somewhere.

first of all, most of anime that made back days is not only for original sorce ads. they made adaptation at least at certain point that it anime it self can be called completed story. anime this days always has "read the source" ending. and anime that i talked in here of course TV series. couse what are used for original source ads in back days are short OVA. so yes, they are made for original source ads since long time ago. but not the solely purpose they are exist.

Yes we did, and yes, while it was already the case before, it has become more and more blatant that it's an add. Seems to me like most of them aren't really putting any effort to it anymore, an in lot of case, animation director aren't even respecting the original material and just look at the way to make it sell without caring if they butcher it or not.

That's why I'm really happy when I see directors who really try to respect the original work (kyoukaisenjou no horion (yes it's rushed but that can't be helped in that precise case), spice & wolf, rokka no yuusha... ) They're not numerous, and all of them ARE adds for the original work, but they are made by peoples who gave more importance to respect the work and please the original fans than just making things sell more.
Those kind of anime directors who can leave aside the sales and give more attention to the work really deserves more praise from the anime community. So it's nice when it works and actually sells (like kyoukaisenjou no horizon) and sad when it doesn't (like rokka). BEcause when it doesn't, it gives less and less chance to other studios and anime director to respect the work. It gives bad example. " X respected work Y and look at the result lol: no sales. Z didn't respect the work and they sold a lot so which one we should do is obvious".

It's a business after all. When you get an anime staff who really tried their best to respect the fans, the work and the watcher, it's very sad to see the anime community turn their back on them. And then afterwards, MAL community is complaining of the kind of show we're getting, and the kind of stuff getting adapted.
Well, obviously, DUH. Animation is a business, and they need to survive in it. Can't even blame them, the peoples to blame are those who are complaining (you know, those among the "anime elitists" who never buy the show they praise, for example) without helping things to change.
Dec 22, 2015 5:37 AM

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Feb 2013
17582
Grey-Zone said:
Kuma said:
as far as i remeber, split cours become trending (it's not really new in anime BTW) starting summer. akagami, gate,and UNT. but even like than, UNT already 25 episode. but it's already showing amount of 2 cours is indeed decreasing the one is blowing of 1-cour anime.

as for long run, first think i tough he misstyping 10, but the amount of % also confusing. i think he not counting leftover.


I still don't know if in THIS case split-cour was counted as being 1-cour or 2-cour though. Do you know?

And if leftovers don't count, then what are the 5 supposdly new long running shown that started in this season?
we can't be sure, since they don't confirm total episode count this early on, but there is Pokemon XY&Z

and here are other possible contenders:
Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama
Brave Beats
Shin Atashin'chi
Cardfight!! Vanguard G
Itoshi no Muco
Doushitemo Eto ni Hairitai
Kyoufu! Zombie Neko
Neko no Dayan
Dec 22, 2015 5:39 AM

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Mar 2015
47094
Grey-Zone said:
Kuma said:
as far as i remeber, split cours become trending (it's not really new in anime BTW) starting summer. akagami, gate,and UNT. but even like than, UNT already 25 episode. but it's already showing amount of 2 cours is indeed decreasing the one is blowing of 1-cour anime.

as for long run, first think i tough he misstyping 10, but the amount of % also confusing. i think he not counting leftover.
I still don't know if in THIS case split-cour was counted as being 1-cour or 2-cour though. Do you know?

And if leftovers don't count, then what are the 5 supposdly new long running shown that started in this season?
it's supposed to be 1 cour because they has separated entry according to mal, thus has their own page. it's not change much, really.(only 2 series)

also in the first place, he already stated that
Some of this is just possible, mainly the long running that don't announce that they will in fact be long running..
he only counting what he know. will be long running latter just like when WT first anounced to be 50 episode. but later still aired until now.
"If taking responsibility for a mistake that cannot be undone means death, it's not that hard to die. At least, not as hard as to live on."
Dec 22, 2015 6:07 AM

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Because more shows are being released each year, more shows means lesser slots available.
Dec 22, 2015 6:09 AM
Dec 22, 2015 7:40 AM

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"Because the Anime industry is slowing dying" is the simple answer.
Dec 22, 2015 7:50 AM

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Xyalan said:
That's a good thing, I prefer one cour.
Also tired of hearing "12 episodes isn't enough to tell a story." In case you haven't noticed, that's 4 1/2 hours of runtime, twice the length of a long movie. I suppose people want all the side characters to be developed. They're called side characters for a reason....It's the MCs I care about.


You are implying that side characters are not important when, in actuality, they are important. Perhaps not as much as the main characters, but they still form an integral part of any story. The best comparison example I can give is Barakamon and Gugure! Kokkuri-san. Both are fairly similar, but one gave attention to it's supporting cast while the other discarded it. Guess which one is more loved?
Dec 22, 2015 7:57 AM

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BlueKite said:
Because more shows are being released each year, more shows means lesser slots available.

That actually makes sense.
Dec 22, 2015 7:58 AM

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3024
It's cheaper
Dec 22, 2015 8:23 AM
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May 2009
12618
Its not that 12 episodes are bad.
Its just sometimes 12 episodes doesn't feel enough.
I mean sometimes it would be nice to have a slice of life comedy that is a 24 episode season. instead of 12 and than having to wait a few years for the next season to be released.
Dec 22, 2015 8:28 AM

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516
BlueKite said:
Because more shows are being released each year,more shows means lesser slots available.

This.

Xyalan said:
That's a good thing, I prefer one cour.
Also tired of hearing "12 episodes isn't enough to tell a story." In case you haven't noticed, that's 4 1/2 hours of runtime, twice the length of a long movie. I suppose people want all the side characters to be developed. They're called side characters for a reason....It's the MCs I care about.

I agree that 4 hours is enough time to tell a good story. imo, the problem is that the anime industry doesnt adapt stories that fit into 4 hours. There are so many manga/LN that are completed stories and are 3-4 volumes long. Those would make great non-rushed 12eps series with an ending. But the industry is completely against adapting any finished source material. (although I think they could make profit from finished source material if they market it well enough) Instead they cram 7 volumes into 12 episodes or they adapt 3 volumes of ongoing material.because the manga/LN is still ongoing,we will never see a proper ending in the 12 eps adaptation of the first volumes.
So in the end,the reason why we get incomplete series is NOT the 12 eps limit,but the fact that anime advertises ongoing source material.
Dec 22, 2015 8:32 AM

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PantsuPillow said:
Money. Anime is often hit or miss and if sales for a 1 cour show is bad then it's not nearly as big a loss if it was 2 cour. These days the animation studios do 1 cour shows to see how sales go , if they go well they make more if not then no more of that series.
This is essentially it. It's about preemptively cutting any potential losses.
I'm also filled with pure-hearted ulterior motives.

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