The Four Basic Anime Themes

[Tynermeister]

Ok, so after rewatching and old episode of ZP (i forget which one, DMC?), Yahtzee says all animes/JRPGs are either:

1) Ridiculously Large Swords
2) Giant Humanoid Mechs
3) Awkwards Nerds Going Around Pointedly Not Having Sex With Several Eager, Nubile, Young Women.

This certainly made me pause for thought. After thinking though, I'd like to make an addendum:

1) Ridiculous, Impossible Swordfights
2) Giant Mechs
3) A.N.G.A.P.N.H.S.W.S.E.N.Y.W.
4) The Right Hand Of Destruction.

Of course this couldn't possibly cover all series and movies, and I'm afraid I may have made them too broad without naming a category "Magic, Sparkly Shit".

Should there be sub-catagories? What have I missed? Am I talking out of my arse?
All opinions wanted.

(If you would like to complain that this thread topic has been done before, please refer to the pic below)

Spoiler

 

[Johnnyallstar]

You forgot crazy huge boobs that defy the laws of gravity.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Ghost in the Shell goes against all these themes...

 

[Tynermeister]

true that, but that seems to apply across the board . . .

[edit: I would include G.I.T.S. with the mech catagory if pushed, but yeah i thought about that. Its just too epic for just one catagory]

 

[Palademon]

You forgot crazy huge boobs that defy the laws of gravity.

And hair.
So, maybe that all features you're most likely to first notice, should defy gravity.

 

[drbarno]

you also forgot fate of the world being fought by ridiculus means. Like Yu-gi-oh for example.

 

[mireko]

K-ON!, Azumanga Daioh, Ichigo Mashimaro, Hidamari Sketch.

You completely missed the genre of 'a bunch of young women hang around and are ambiguously gay at eachother'.

EDIT: Woo, post 666! *guitar solo*

Also the genre of 'a bunch of young women hang around being unambiguously gay at eachother' (Maria-sama ga Miteru, Kashimashi, Aoi Hana, Sasameki Koto, Chatting at the Amber Teahouse, Iono-sama.. but that genre actually has a name, so nevermind)

 

[Jonluw]

Clannad doesn't really fit in with those.
Neither does Rin daughters of menmosyne.
That goes for Welcome to the NHK as well.
Death note is also exempt from those themes.
Elfen lied too.
School days very much so.
Higurashi no naku koro ni.
Azumanga daioh, k-on and Lucky star.
Bokusatsu tenshi Dokuro-chan.
Yosuga no sora.
Panty and stocking sort of.

Those are the ones I can think of that do not fit with your rules.

What do you mean by "Right hand of destruction" though?

 

[icame]

Ghost in the Shell goes against all these themes...

Damn that shows awesome...

Also, FLCL, my favorite show, does none of these. Except maybe the fight scenes...but hey, that's what I signed up for.

 

[default]

K-ON!, Azumanga Daioh, Ichigo Mashimaro, Hidamari Sketch.

You completely missed the genre of 'a bunch of young women hang around and are ambiguously gay at eachother'.

EDIT: Woo, post 666! *guitar solo*

Not to mention Lucky Star... What?! It's the only anime I have ever properly watched!! >_>

Yep, that sounds about right. And gravity defying boobs, hair and angsty drama are a given in all the categories.

They are constant.

 

[Tynermeister]

Clannad doesn't really fit in with those.
Neither does Rin daughters of menmosyne.
That goes for Welcome to the NHK as well.
Death note is also exempt from those themes.
Elfen lied too.
School days very much so.
Higurashi no naku koro ni.
Azumanga daioh, k-on and Lucky star.
Bokusatsu tenshi Dokuro-chan.
Yosuga no sora.
Panty and stocking sort of.

Those are the ones I can think of that do not fit with your rules.

What do you mean by "Right hand of destruction" though?

That was just a thought I got from Full metal alchemist, Majutsu No Index, D. Gray Man,
. . .
I guess it kind of fit in at the time.

Btw, a lot of people saying I'm wrong, but not a lot of people offering a better idea . . .

 

[twistedmic]

I think Outlaw Star averts those themes. The closest thing they get to using mechs (as far as I can remember) is the armed ships that they fly, pun intended.

 

[Jonluw]

Clannad doesn't really fit in with those.
Neither does Rin daughters of menmosyne.
That goes for Welcome to the NHK as well.
Death note is also exempt from those themes.
Elfen lied too.
School days very much so.
Higurashi no naku koro ni.
Azumanga daioh, k-on and Lucky star.
Bokusatsu tenshi Dokuro-chan.
Yosuga no sora.
Panty and stocking sort of.

Those are the ones I can think of that do not fit with your rules.

What do you mean by "Right hand of destruction" though?

That was just a thought I got from Full metal alchemist, Majutsu No Index,
. . .
I guess it kind of fit in at the time.

Btw, a lot of people saying I'm wrong, but not a lot of people offering a better idea . . .

Well, if you want to put everything into categories this [http://www.suite101.com/content/the-seven-basic-plots-a58402] is good for finding out that no matter what kind of story you make, the basic premise will be absolutely unoriginal and pretty much predetermined.

 

[Axelhander]

At the risk of sounding like I'm self-advertising (which I totally am), I discuss this in my blog. Link hidden in a spoiler tag for anyone horribly offended by said self-advert.

Spoiler

http://handsomefatman.com/carlos/screenwriting-lessons-from-anime-1/

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Neither does Rin daughters of menmosyne.

Oh yes, the women in that DO have sex... just with more women... and they aren't usually THAT eager.

God I love that show.

OT: I think that those Clichés Yahtzee listed don't really count. They don't actually fit in with alot of Anime. The sex one maybe.

How about this list instead:

1. Hair that refuses to break it's shape.
2. Pretty eyes

The rest of it is just like any other TV show. Some may yell "GIRLS WITH GIANT BOOBS" but we have that in video games, certain films and TV shows so that doesn't count. The fact is, is that saying you don't like Anime is because you haven't watched the right one. It's a TV show, just animated. Not special, besides you can do ALOT more in Anime than in TV when on a budget.

Hmmm, devolved into a mini rant there. Whoops.

Calumon: Oooh! I'm in one! Can me being there be a rule?

 

[Tynermeister]

Clannad doesn't really fit in with those.
Neither does Rin daughters of menmosyne.
That goes for Welcome to the NHK as well.
Death note is also exempt from those themes.
Elfen lied too.
School days very much so.
Higurashi no naku koro ni.
Azumanga daioh, k-on and Lucky star.
Bokusatsu tenshi Dokuro-chan.
Yosuga no sora.
Panty and stocking sort of.

Those are the ones I can think of that do not fit with your rules.

What do you mean by "Right hand of destruction" though?

That was just a thought I got from Full metal alchemist, Majutsu No Index,
. . .
I guess it kind of fit in at the time.

Btw, a lot of people saying I'm wrong, but not a lot of people offering a better idea . . .

Well, if you want to put everything into categories this [http://www.suite101.com/content/the-seven-basic-plots-a58402] is good for finding out that no matter what kind of story you make, the basic premise will be absolutely unoriginal and pretty much predetermined.

Interesting . . .

I'll have to read up on this. Thanks!

 

[Mr.Mattress]

I think those aren't the 4 Basic Anime Themes. Let me re-evaluate for you:

1: Giant Mech Wars (You have that)
2: Real Life with Impossible things
3: Dystopian Societies
4: Real life situations on TV

 

[Jonluw]

Clannad doesn't really fit in with those.
Neither does Rin daughters of menmosyne.
That goes for Welcome to the NHK as well.
Death note is also exempt from those themes.
Elfen lied too.
School days very much so.
Higurashi no naku koro ni.
Azumanga daioh, k-on and Lucky star.
Bokusatsu tenshi Dokuro-chan.
Yosuga no sora.
Panty and stocking sort of.

Those are the ones I can think of that do not fit with your rules.

What do you mean by "Right hand of destruction" though?

That was just a thought I got from Full metal alchemist, Majutsu No Index,
. . .
I guess it kind of fit in at the time.

Btw, a lot of people saying I'm wrong, but not a lot of people offering a better idea . . .

Well, if you want to put everything into categories this [http://www.suite101.com/content/the-seven-basic-plots-a58402] is good for finding out that no matter what kind of story you make, the basic premise will be absolutely unoriginal and pretty much predetermined.

Interesting . . .

I'll have to read up on this. Thanks!

My pleasure. It's absolutely mind wrecking to try to think up an original story that does not conform to one of those archetypes. It would seem the human mind simply isn't capable of it.

 

[Logic 0]

What's #3) A.N.G.A.P.N.H.S.W.S.E.N.Y.W.?

You might be missing Really cute girls in anime.

 

[Tynermeister]

I think those aren't the 4 Basic Anime Themes. Let me re-evaluate for you:

1: Giant Mech Wars (You have that)
2: Real Life with Impossible things
3: Dystopian Societies
4: Real life situations on TV

That's the kind of response I was hoping for.
What exactly do you meazn by #4? /examples

What's #3) A.N.G.A.P.N.H.S.W.S.E.N.Y.W.?

You might be missing Really cute girls in anime.

It's Yahtzee's #3: Awkward nerds going around etc. etc. etc.