| Popular and/or influential works from the classic era. Has little to do with quality. Saint Seiya is one of the most prominent shonen even though not popular worldwide. It's the one responsible for all the beloved(?) tropes. I don't think modern classics exist, though there can technically be imitations that are of higher quality, but ultimately not as meaningful (see all the "modern retro" indie games). A lot of new people already don't watch the best shows of 2000-2010 and same will likely happen to anime of this decade. Before someone gets mad about this and calls me old school elitist, it has nothing to do with quality. Even if every person on the planet watched Shield Hero and gave it 10/10, entertainment today is so much more contemporary and most importantly - available, that everyone would forget about it by next year as they moved on to the other stuff. It is much like the Big 3 dilemma, which was a product of the cultural environment of that time and it can't be recreated simply by having "good shows". |
| There are several definitions of the "classic work": many different criteria can be used to form a canon, which are not always compatible with one another. One definition I personally like is to say that a classic is a work which significantly modified an horizon of expectation, i.e. a work that had an influence on the vision a society had on the medium as a whole, both from a cultural and from an aesthetic standpoint; one that partly defines the medium, if you will. Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell (1995), Akira, Mobile Suit Gundam, Serial Experiments Lain, K-On!, Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies and Heidi are a few examples of anime that I think could be called classics. |
thizlasOct 26, 2019 5:12 AM
| I'm actually going to talk about what may become a modern classic, even by OP's definition. Devilman Crybaby. While I know the surge of remakes and adaptations of old manga without proper adaptations had started before Devilman Crybaby, this show proved just how lucrative it can be, which may be a great incentive for even more studios. Beyond that, it shows a strong example of where extremely graphic and sexual OVAs of the 80's and early 90's can find a new home: ONAs. While I don't think every studio is going to be able to gain funds from the almighty Netflix, it seems Science SARU and Polygon Pictures are already on their good side, so those are a couple studios to look out for. Even beyond that, if other Western streaming services decide to get into the game, that could change a lot. We can't tell what'll happen yet, since it's only been a year, but it's something to keep an eye on. |
DateYutaka said: FMmatron said: I'm rather interested to know how people define a modern classic. for tv anime most moderd classics you cannot judge sicen tv ratings are shit ofr most show in the topic of unlees yu wish to judge tv anime like oVA withc people like ot seam ot do these days withc is wrong Kinda expected that. Thanks for your take on it. |
One Piece episode 914 & 915 & 1027 were a mistake and 957 brought the salvation - FMmatron |
| To me, classic anime is an anime that has significant influence over other works, and shows/series/franchises that still hold up and can be enjoyed by later generations despite it's age. |
Okarin_Kyouma said: I don't think "classic" means "masterpiece". Classic animes are old but still have a huge impact on the community. For example, Cowboy Bebop, Akira, Tonari no Totoro, Hotaru no Haka, Ghost in the Shell, etc. Of course, Steins;Gate and Code Geass are masterpieces but they are not classic. Because a classic anime has to pass the test of time. I'd agree with this too. Its hard to put a concrete time liimit on it though. I'd say by now, we're almost a decade after the Golden Age of anime reached its end, perhaps the time has come? I think the necessity for time to pass to deem an anime as a classic is derived from having the necessary time to judge an anime's impact on the community, rather than just being some arbitrary amount of time. NGE, for example, had an immediate lasting impact on the Anime community, though I wasn't even alive at that time, I think I might have deemed it a so-called "instant" classic. Nemo_Niemand said: I don't agree with quality part. For example, Naruto and Code Geass are bad (fite me fanboys) but they still can be called classics I consider Code Geass to be a masterpiece, although I've admittedly been scared to rewatch it in fear my praise for the series will diminish (it probably will, given that I have much greater perspective). However, what I would say, is that Code Geass at its worst is still average at the very least, if there are no other merits, there was at least above average execution of a below average concept. |
AuraStormLucarioJan 25, 2019 10:06 AM
| Check out my custom anime list theme here: https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1768732 |
| If its remembered and talked about 5 years later |
wildhood said: Naruto, One Piece and Bleach are all classics. Who's the pink haired chick, shes cute. |
| Any highly regarded anime from the previous century. To me, anyway. |
wildhood said: Hinagiku Katsura from Hayate no Gotoku. Thanks, will try the anime just for her :) |
| SMH no one naming JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as a classic. JoJo brought so many new things to the anime/manga industry- it is a show that is not afraid to change protagonists, settings, art style, and even its freaking power system. When the manga was released, changing the main character from Part 1 to 2 was unheard of. The first Yandere in manga, Yukako from Part 4, was from JoJo. Many anime reference JoJo, either through imitating its art style, poses, or famous quotes. I think it is the most referenced anime in existence. JoJo is also probably the anime/manga which has spawned the most memes ("TO BE CONTINUED", "KONO DIO DA", "ZA WARUDO" etc). |
| “Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth. But the world isn't perfect, and the law is incomplete..." -Alphonse Elric "Then and now, what I protect has never changed!" -Sakata Gintoki I'll take anything like The Pet Girl of Sakurasou. Anything as good as that. |
| Well predicted. This is a very convoluted thread. LOL The definition of what a classic is pretty blurred.... even moreso what a modern classic be. Values change over time and as can observable in the last decade, whew, it takes just about 5 years now. Seriously, even MAL in 2010 is completely different to MAL 2019. Some would say MAL was better then than now; some would beg to differ. It's hard to predict what anime would stand time. And, anime being part of the entertainment industry, it too is governed by trends. I took too long but that's all what I wanted to say. HAHA Just throwing into the Goblet here though: the original Doraemon series. |
| "Throw a blanket over it; Put a little fence around it!" |
| @HeroicIdealism Yeah, that's why I was asking for other takes. The definition I've looked up was similar to yours and doesn't really make sense, especially when many anime are hyped during the season they air, but easily forgotten a few months later. |
One Piece episode 914 & 915 & 1027 were a mistake and 957 brought the salvation - FMmatron |
HeroicIdealism said: The greatest art makes people stand back in awe. Wishing they could better themselves to reach that level, or making them think about life in a new and interesting way. Oh, so you're talking about Virtual-san wa Miteiru. I get it now. |
| I probably regret this post by now. |
Looking through the thread, there are many mentioned of the common "critically acclaimed" anime:
There are also, however, mentions of the more popular shounen anime such as Naruto though much less mention of Bleach and One Piece. There are also these so-called "modern" classics, for instance:
So, now here's another question. How does popularity affect an "anime" classic? And what happens to the hidden gems that may avoid the same attention, for example Serial Experiments Lain, Shinsekai Yori, and Mushishi? On the other side of the popularity scale are the long-running series of Pokemon and Dragon Ball. Though their impact is undeniable, does it make them classics, or does it just make societal milestones that happen to be anime? When adding all these variables, how can the precarious balance of "classic anime" criteria maintain itself? Discuss!!! |
AuraStormLucarioJan 26, 2019 12:33 PM
| Check out my custom anime list theme here: https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1768732 |
| Gankutsuou and Fate/Zero are classics. Shoujo Kakumei Utena and Versailles no Bara definitely cannot be considered classics, since they clearly belong to the modernism. |
| “Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” ― Saint Augustine |
| A classic is something that is both old and fairly famous. Akira Bubblegum Crisis Cowboy Bebop Crest of the Stars Dirty Pair Dragonball Z El Hazard Escaflowne Fist of the North Star Fushigi Yugi Galaxy Express 999 Ghost in the Shell Gunsmith Cats Initial D Irresponsible Captain Tylor Kimagure Orange Road Legend of the Galactic Heroes Lost Universe Lupin the 3rd Maison Ikkoku Martian Successor Nadesico Megazone 23 Mobile Suit Gundam Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water Neon Genesis Evangelion Ninja Scroll Outlaw Star Patlabor Perfect Blue Rose of Versailles Rurouni Kenshin Silent Mobius Slayers SDF Macross Tenchi Muyo Trigun Vampire Hunter D You're Under Arrest Yu Yu Hakusho |
| "Laws exist only for those who cannot live without clinging onto them." -Souske Aizen "Bleach"  |
JoyBoy_316 said: An anime that the community can still talk about in a good way 5 to 10 years after it has finished airing I guess I agree with you 100% Its all about the influence that those anime have on the community that makes them classic. |
David-Dwitt said: JoyBoy_316 said: An anime that the community can still talk about in a good way 5 to 10 years after it has finished airing I guess I agree with you 100% Its all about the influence that those anime have on the community that makes them classic. Thank you, i feel like this the most simple way to define one |
| A classic anime by definition would just be an anime that has been given acclaim for its quality over a long period of time. So yeah, I definitely agree that Cowboy Bebop and Neon Genesis are classics. I would even throw Dragon Ball and Jojo in there. |
| A classic is a well regarded piece. It's self-contained, it has a theme, it doesn't deviate from its meaningful theme. It's successful in purporting an emotion, it gives the viewer a convincing case for having done so. It usually doesn't have major issues with pacing, meaning, etc, characters, setting. From point A to point B you can read what is happening and what is supposed to happen. Therefore it's well written, it's inspired. A classic lasts, its quality lasts through time. There are things that are even better than classics, they're artistic studies and specific projects by artists with specific purposes: there are masterpieces and semi-masterpieces, in my opinion. I thought there were quite a few things this years with a lasting quality, there always are every year. Classic in the sense you're talking about now are animes which change anime. Those are rare and they're somewhat rare everywhere else, but artists are always inspired by innovation from other artists. What made Akira different? The budget, the innovation in animation. Neon Evangelion has a very serious narrative that was creative, inspired, individualistic. Anime doesn't really produce classics like this, it produces good work year to year. If an anime is changing anime that much, then we assume anime might've been missing something or some inspiration before. Haruhi Suzumiya began pop anime and then brought on moe. Haruhi had influence and made money and caused a sensation. Culturally it was important, but not artistically. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood was a nearly full adaptation with good budget and an interesting story through its arc, it might've affected shounen. The Frieza arc from DBZ, the Vegeta arc when he first visits Earth, those are classics. Code Geass is a hilarious anime classic. |
| According to me, Steins;Gate will become a classic as the years go by. It's got a great story, amazing characters and will probably remain relevant for a very long time because of its premise. Plus, it looks fantastic. As for shows that can already be considered classics, I think time is an important factor. What's the cutoff date for a classic? How old must a show be for it to be considered something that's stood firm against the test of time? Because both Death Note and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann are more than a decade old, and I think both have done a great job at still remaining relevant despite how old they are. |
CrossbonesJan 27, 2019 7:59 AM
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| Something that stood the test of time, so yeah it needs to be a few years old, and is able to remain relevant and influential during that time. Stuff like Evangelion, Full Metal Alchemist, Dragon Ball, Haruhi and K-on would be good examples. |
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| I would say a show that either had a big influence on the medium/genre, or the fandom. |
Harrybroder said: Hi everyone! I am a beginner in anime and manga, so I need your pieces of advice. I have read a lot of useful information on wikipedia.com, but I think that I do need the information from experienced fans of anime and manga. Thanks in advance) If you really think imma click dat link, you're dead wrong. Try harder next time :) |
| I don't know if this was mentioned yet but Astro Boy would definitely be a classic. Moreso in the sights of impact. |
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| Evangelion, Revolutionary Girl Utena... Death Note, Haruhi, Angel Beats Cowboy Bebop Ghost in the Shell, Akira Ouran High School Host Club Sailor Moon YuYu Hakusho I guess I would define a classic as a show that can withstand time and be looked back on fondly. I was very young when a lot of these shows came out, and yet, whether I've watched then or not, I've heard great things about them, still, in 2019. That's why a lot of shitty shows aren't classics. Nobody talks about then fondly, and therefore, new fans don't hear about them, lacking what makes a classic a classic. That's kind of what I think |
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Milomite said: I don't know if this was mentioned yet but Astro Boy would definitely be a classic. Moreso in the sights of impact. I’ve been waiting for someone to mention Astro Boy. Question is, is it really a classic? It’s certainly a cultural milestone, it’s the only anime that I know of that was released in the whole 60s decade (other Han Dororo, which I only know of due to its remake 50 years later). Is it still being talked about by fans? I’ve never really heard of people being “fans” of Astro Boy. And I honestly don’t know anything about the quality of Astro Boy, all I know is that it was the first tv anime. |
| Check out my custom anime list theme here: https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1768732 |
| A classic is something that will be remembered for its quality/originality, something that inspired and inspires many other creations. A few examples of classic anime are: Akira, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Death Note, etc... |
| People often confuse Old anime with Classic Anime. Here is the difference (For me). Old Anime: - 10+ Years old. - Mediocre. Didn't make much impact. - Score Under 7.5X Classic Anime: - 10+ Years old. - Made a Big Impact in the industry (Be it in japan or in it become mainstream in the west.) - A lot of people have it in their faves - Scores above 8.XX |
| Signature removed. Please follow the signature rules, as defined in the Site & Forum Guidelines. |
| A classic anime is an anime that is so good that people can say it's good without even watching it. |
| I consider an anime a classic if it's not "forgotten" after a long period of time. Doesn't matter how many people can remember it, as long as you can recall it, it's a classic. |
 |
| A classic is an anime of trans-generational awesomeness. Two classics: -Original Gundam. Absolutely huge for the mecha genre. -Astro Boy. Don't think I even need to explain this one. |
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AuraStormLucario said: Milomite said: I don't know if this was mentioned yet but Astro Boy would definitely be a classic. Moreso in the sights of impact. I’ve been waiting for someone to mention Astro Boy. Question is, is it really a classic? It’s certainly a cultural milestone, it’s the only anime that I know of that was released in the whole 60s decade (other Han Dororo, which I only know of due to its remake 50 years later). Is it still being talked about by fans? I’ve never really heard of people being “fans” of Astro Boy. And I honestly don’t know anything about the quality of Astro Boy, all I know is that it was the first tv anime. I mean, I watched it as a child, same with Pokemon. It was definitely popular, and it still has been continued until some years ago. For example, it had a movie in 2009, so it wasn't just the original series that was a cultural milestone because it continued due to its popularity. Though yes, today it's beginning to become shut away since it's been awhile since any new Astro Boy releases. |
|
| A classic is something that can be considered timeless, it can be enjoyed by anyone at anytime. It has to have impact, and it can't be something that just came out either. If it is going to have lasting impact and be considered timeless, it needs to age, you have to be able to come back to it after X amount of years and say "yeah, this hasn't aged a bit". |
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