| I asked since it's one of the tropes that I really really really really really like in anime. |
| I understand why we see "willpower" very often in anime, especially in shounen ones, and it's nice seeing characters trying to acomplish their mission/goal/whatever, but sometimes i feel weird or annoyed when "willpoer" is overused. |
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| Willpower is fine in anime as long as it's not overdone. Whether it's willpower as in self-control or volition (where a character decides on and commits to a particular course of action), it's usually interesting to see where it goes. Like for example, willing to destroy a certain evil even at the cost of oneself. But it seems too many modern shows are going for the "I AM GOING TO IMPROVE MYSELF BLA BLA BLA!!!" that is really cringey to watch. |
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Khaosman-ADVENT said: But it seems too many modern shows are going for the "I AM GOING TO IMPROVE MYSELF BLA BLA BLA!!!" that is really cringey to watch. Wait, what exactly is wrong with the theme of improving oneself? I really can't see something wrong to cringe about that. |
| I think it can be fine, but its always a little annoying since the idea that willpower alone will allow someone to improve is quite unrealistic. Especially when its overused it can become incredibly frustrating. |
| " I am okay as long as the series not abused it repeatedly or the trope it self abused constantly" LIKE EVERY FUCKING DAMN TROPE! can't wait upcoming sousei no onmyouji, my popcorn is ready. |
 "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." |
| If done well for characters such as Gon it works very well but for characters like Kirito it just seems forced and stupid. |
CapitalistGod said: Wait, what exactly is wrong with the theme of improving oneself? I really can't see something wrong to cringe about that. Nothing actually. I am talking about the manner some shows do it like those silly anime set in high schools. I just don't find it funny or amusing when a dumbass character (usually a teen boy) yells he's gonna improve himself and then fail miserably when the opportunity comes along. It's a cliche I hate. However, I do like it when the hero meets the villain or the arch-rival but they won't fight then. Instead they'll meet again someday and the hero will tell his opponent that he's going to improve and he's going to win. It's also very cliched but I like this one more. |
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ScarfedPichu said: If done well for characters such as Gon it works very well but for characters like Kirito it just seems forced and stupid. Kirito and willpower.... Heh... Touche. |
| I do like the trope, but yeah, only when it is used right... It's nice to see a character try and do his best past his limits, but I don't like the idea of someone gaining superhuman strength out of nowhere with it. Kinda like "friendship power". I guess sometimes it's awesome, because it fits so well in the anime, like in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. xD But it depends on the anime. Though, being able to on, or give that last push, despite injuries or fatigue or overwhelming odds, is pretty damn awesome to me. :3 "If he rips my arms off, I'll kick him to death. If he rips my legs off, I'll bite him to death! If he rips my head off, I'll stare him to death! And if he gouges out my eyes, I'll curse him from beyond the grave..!" Something like this ^^ Hehe |
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CapitalistGod said: ScarfedPichu said: If done well for characters such as Gon it works very well but for characters like Kirito it just seems forced and stupid. Kirito and willpower.... Heh... Touche. I kinda agree with this.. xD The Kirito willpower bomb wasn't a great way to do things... Could definitely have put something different there, like And I actually like SAO. |
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BlackCell said: Least you admitted to liking Sao most people here like to bash on it while actually enjoying it.I kinda agree with this.. xD The Kirito willpower bomb wasn't a great way to do things... Could definitely have put something different there, like And I actually like SAO. |
ScarfedPichu said: "I have nothing to do ... ok let's bash Sao"If done well for characters such as Gon it works very well but for characters like Kirito it just seems forced and stupid. |
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tragedydesu said: Stating an opinion isn't really bashing it is just what I think.ScarfedPichu said: "I have nothing to do ... ok let's bash Sao"If done well for characters such as Gon it works very well but for characters like Kirito it just seems forced and stupid. |
BlackCell said: I kinda agree with this.. xD The Kirito willpower bomb wasn't a great way to do things... Could definitely have put something different there, like And I actually like SAO. Kirito's willpower moments feel like asspulls to be honest, especially when in real life he lacks it a bit. In the games he can beat the game system itself, but outside the game he jumps Death Gun kid from behind and was still getting smashed until Sinon saved him. |
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Aassdddai said: BlackCell said: I kinda agree with this.. xD The Kirito willpower bomb wasn't a great way to do things... Could definitely have put something different there, like And I actually like SAO. Kirito's willpower moments feel like asspulls to be honest, especially when in real life he lacks it a bit. In the games he can beat the game system itself, but outside the game he jumps Death Gun kid from behind and was still getting smashed until Sinon saved him. The way he was characterized in the first place, he doesn't really need *willpower* moments... Imagine Mahouka (Jesus Onii-sama)) having it too... |
CapitalistGod said: Oh lord he would be even more overpowered if that was possible.Aassdddai said: Kirito's willpower moments feel like asspulls to be honest, especially when in real life he lacks it a bit. In the games he can beat the game system itself, but outside the game he jumps Death Gun kid from behind and was still getting smashed until Sinon saved him. The way he was characterized in the first place, he doesn't really need *willpower* moments... Imagine Mahouka (Jesus Onii-sama)) having it too... |
| Also, @KuuhakuDesu I take it that you haven't watched Gurren Lagann yet.... There's this character there that has baseless confidence because of extraordinary willpower and yet he became the *heart* of the show(despite not being the MC). |
| Depends how far they take it. I get bored when willpower trumphs everything else, regardless of whether it has any rights to do so or not. "If I look at the sun for long enough, the sun will explode because I will it to!" That's the kinda shit I dislike when the willpower trope is used. It's one thing to use willpower to exceed one's limits, but the extent it gets taken to is often far too extreme. |
 It's an entirely different kind of flying, altogether! It's an entirely different kind of flying. |
| I like it but there has to be limits to demonstrate that willpower alone is not always enough. Otherwise it becomes an excuse for lazy writing when it comes to power-ups etc. |
KuuhakuDesu said: CapitalistGod said: Also, @KuuhakuDesu I take it that you haven't watched Gurren Lagann yet.... There's this character there that has baseless confidence because of extraordinary willpower and yet he became the *heart* of the show(despite not being the MC). Nope, haven't watched it yet. But by what it seems, this character will annoy me so much... I will not be sure about that..... xD |
Aassdddai said: BlackCell said: I kinda agree with this.. xD The Kirito willpower bomb wasn't a great way to do things... Could definitely have put something different there, like And I actually like SAO. Kirito's willpower moments feel like asspulls to be honest, especially when in real life he lacks it a bit. In the games he can beat the game system itself, but outside the game he jumps Death Gun kid from behind and was still getting smashed until Sinon saved him. Well, during his IRL fight with Death Gun and Sinon, he was, probably, still weaker than both of them, from having spent two years in VR. And judging by Death Gun's psychological state, Death Gun had a "willpower" power-up too. Remember, crazy people get those power-ups too - it's about pushing your limits, not about being cosmically right. I still think Kirito has psychic powers that work only in VR. |
| Anime willpower is good until it turns into max level cringe. The best displayed willpower in anime is in GinTama in my opinion, I love that show. Recommended to everyone. |
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Ginkaize said: Was wondering if gintama was any good because now that it is number 1 a few people are giving it smack for different or are they just doing it to look different?Anime willpower is good until it turns into max level cringe. The best displayed willpower in anime is in GinTama in my opinion, I love that show. Recommended to everyone. |
| The best willpower seen is in Gintama. I think one of the main themes of Gintama is willpower because the strength of one's soul is a recurring motif in the show. After all, Gintama means "silver balls" "silver soul" |
| “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. |
ScarfedPichu said: It's the best anime ever (for me), watch it.Ginkaize said: Was wondering if gintama was any good because now that it is number 1 a few people are giving it smack for different or are they just doing it to look different?Anime willpower is good until it turns into max level cringe. The best displayed willpower in anime is in GinTama in my opinion, I love that show. Recommended to everyone. Some people don't like the BRILLIANT humor in GinTama and don't stick with it but it's just an amazing anime. NO ITS LIFE NOT JUST AN ANIME. So just watch it, it's serious arcs are fucking amazing too! (yes im a fanboy) |
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Ginkaize said: Ok thanks for the details i will get ready to binge it soon :)ScarfedPichu said: It's the best anime ever (for me), watch it.Was wondering if gintama was any good because now that it is number 1 a few people are giving it smack for different or are they just doing it to look different? Some people don't like the BRILLIANT humor in GinTama and don't stick with it but it's just an amazing anime. NO ITS LIFE NOT JUST AN ANIME. So just watch it, it's serious arcs are fucking amazing too! (yes im a fanboy) |
ScarfedPichu said: YES watch the greatness! (I feel like I accomplished something)Ginkaize said: Ok thanks for the details i will get ready to binge it soon :)It's the best anime ever (for me), watch it. Some people don't like the BRILLIANT humor in GinTama and don't stick with it but it's just an amazing anime. NO ITS LIFE NOT JUST AN ANIME. So just watch it, it's serious arcs are fucking amazing too! (yes im a fanboy) Get ready for the teachings of GinTama! |
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Ginkaize said: Will do man :) word count problems..ScarfedPichu said: YES watch the greatness! (I feel like I accomplished something)Ok thanks for the details i will get ready to binge it soon :) Get ready for the teachings of GinTama! |
flannan said: Aassdddai said: Kirito's willpower moments feel like asspulls to be honest, especially when in real life he lacks it a bit. In the games he can beat the game system itself, but outside the game he jumps Death Gun kid from behind and was still getting smashed until Sinon saved him. Well, during his IRL fight with Death Gun and Sinon, he was, probably, still weaker than both of them, from having spent two years in VR. And judging by Death Gun's psychological state, Death Gun had a "willpower" power-up too. Remember, crazy people get those power-ups too - it's about pushing your limits, not about being cosmically right. I still think Kirito has psychic powers that work only in VR. Nah, he had enough time to recover. He was already almost recovered in Fairy Dance to duel Suguha in kendo, and Phantom Bullet is almost a year after that I think. So he must be really weak without his swords, Suguha would probably smash Death Gun kid (who wasn't really portrayed as strong). OT: Rip from something I used from another thread, but it applies here. |
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| Has no one mentioned the oppai willpower from highschool dxd? Cos that's some good shit XD |
♦ PROFILE ♦ ANIME LIST ♦  |
B4nny said: Has no one mentioned the oppai willpower from highschool dxd? Cos that's some good shit XD Omg don't remind me of that final episode in s2 , ugh too late .. That was one stupid rage so stupid it made me laugh |
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| How does it work? Everyone has willpower but in different amounts. What makes it interesting is how we reach that willpower. The psychological differences between the weak-willed or the strong-willed are what's interesting. It's not enough to show me the character has willpower. That's easy. Show me what it's like to have willpower. |
| WEAPONS - My blog, for reviews of music, anime, books, and other things |
| If it's established by the world's mechanics that "hey, the harder you wish for something, the more power you'll have", I see no problem with it. It follows the laws the author has set up. It's perfectly fine. However, when it's used as a powerup method in a universe where it should not have any effect, I find it asspully. If you can survive a lethal attack through the power of friendship, despite there being no in-universe literal power of friendship, that's an example of when I've got a problem. |
| So long the author doesn't abuse this to create asspulls after asspulls, I like it quite a bit. |
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| Annoying. Im going to use willpower to become super strong in like a year and beat up all these other guys who've been doing it for 10 and who are in their physical primes while Im only 16 and hit puberty yesterday. So annoying, I get it you want to strive to be stronger thats fine but in the world of anime its so damn annoying when an obviously better opponent gets taken out do to "will power" instead of actual skill. |
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| GRRR my willpower is so strong it keeps me alive! I died but i am still here, this is how much my willpower is strong. |
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BlackCell said: I kinda agree with this.. xD The Kirito willpower bomb wasn't a great way to do things... Could definitely have put something different there, like And I actually like SAO. I just reread that scene in my copy of vol.1 and it's not much different from what you said in your "spoiler". |
| If any anime was written by G.R.R Martin, you'd know willpower means shit. |
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| I don't mind it, since sometimes it can teach a good message to the watcher/reader and can create awesome moments. However, when it's used too much in an story, can be really bad. |
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DoubleMangekyo said: BlackCell said: I kinda agree with this.. xD The Kirito willpower bomb wasn't a great way to do things... Could definitely have put something different there, like And I actually like SAO. I just reread that scene in my copy of vol.1 and it's not much different from what you said in your "spoiler". I actually haven't read the novel, so it's interesting to hear about it from that side :) I definitely would have preferred something like that. I hated that he literally saw "You are Dead" and even shattered, and then suddenly popped up again like a messiah who performs miracles (which the anime kinda wanted to portray him as). I would have preferred if the anime kinda stuck to the rules that it set for itself. And those goes for many animes, definitely not just SAO. |
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j0x said: its entertaining but very very very unrealistic since in the real world willpower is limited resource according to psychologists association http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower.aspx What psychologists call "willpower" in this article is quite different from willpower as exhibited by fighting anime protagonists. Fighting anime protagonists use something like "second wind". A number of sources claim there is some "third" bunch of reserves beyond second wind that can be accessed when things get dire, enabling people to accomplish extraordinary feats of strength, speed and endurance. |
j0x said: flannan said: What psychologists call "willpower" in this article is quite different from willpower as exhibited by fighting anime protagonists. Fighting anime protagonists use something like "second wind". A number of sources claim there is some "third" bunch of reserves beyond second wind that can be accessed when things get dire, enabling people to accomplish extraordinary feats of strength, speed and endurance. isnt that just adrenaline rush? adrenaline is not unlimited too I'm not well versed in these things, but it is one possible explanation. Of course, it's not unlimited. I don't think willpower in any anime was truly unlimited. Mind you, some anime characters don't display just willpower - they display awakening of supernatural powers (such as suddenly becoming able to teleport) or non-human origins (such as suddenly transforming into a giant god-beast and ripping enemy mecha with one's bare hands). With sufficiently overpowered powers or origins, there is truly no limit. Yes, a few anime characters' true powers were indeed near-omnipotence and godhood. |
| It sucks hard, will won't give you any abrupt power, it just increases your potential and passion on acquiring power. |
Vita_Aeterna said: If any anime was written by G.R.R Martin, you'd know willpower means shit. I'd rather have that than his lack of ability to write a story. KaoruMatsuoka said: If it's established by the world's mechanics that "hey, the harder you wish for something, the more power you'll have", I see no problem with it. It follows the laws the author has set up. It's perfectly fine. However, when it's used as a powerup method in a universe where it should not have any effect, I find it asspully. If you can survive a lethal attack through the power of friendship, despite there being no in-universe literal power of friendship, that's an example of when I've got a problem. Sounds like a silly mechanic to me. How do we know that character X tries harder? It sounds like the show needs to give us numbers and stats now. |
| WEAPONS - My blog, for reviews of music, anime, books, and other things |
TheBrainintheJar said: Vita_Aeterna said: If any anime was written by G.R.R Martin, you'd know willpower means shit. I'd rather have that than his lack of ability to write a story. KaoruMatsuoka said: If it's established by the world's mechanics that "hey, the harder you wish for something, the more power you'll have", I see no problem with it. It follows the laws the author has set up. It's perfectly fine. However, when it's used as a powerup method in a universe where it should not have any effect, I find it asspully. If you can survive a lethal attack through the power of friendship, despite there being no in-universe literal power of friendship, that's an example of when I've got a problem. Sounds like a silly mechanic to me. How do we know that character X tries harder? It sounds like the show needs to give us numbers and stats now. I hope you're joking, because I may have lost some brain cells reading that sentence. |
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