What changes to anime would you make?

[Samael Barghest]

My brother and I were talking about anime and how this year is shaping up to be a boring year for anime. During this discussion, we started listing things we would like to see and agreed wholeheartedly on these two things:
1) Not all anime deserves a 22 minute episode. Shows like Senyuu, Tonari No Seki-kun, Onee-chan ga Kita showed that it's possible to have a really good show that only ran for 3-10 minutes. We deicided that only shows that are really plot heavy (Death Note, Monster and others like it) should get the 22 minute time limit since they actually tell a story for you to think about.
2) Shows with a large cast needs to be maintained. Take Hunter X Hunter for an example. Right now there's this huge brawl going on but you wouldn't know it due to the fact it keeps focusing on everything else but the fight. So let's say that it was to focus solely on Gon and Nefe-chan until their story was done then move on to that retarded octopus till his story was told. We would know that every event is happening at the same time despite being showed one after another and if they felt like they needed to clear it up that one event is happening after another, that can just make the narrator tell the audience since he never shuts up anyways. This would also be a better path for the audience. If you didn't care about the humanity of the Chimera Ants (which doesn't make sense to be talking about anyways. The Ants are made from humans so why wouldn't they have humanity?) you could just tune into the episode, see that's it's a octopus episode and move on to something better.

But I want to know if you could, what changes would you make to anime?

 

[Elfgore]

I strongly disagree with #1. Every anime has the right to a twenty-two minute episode. Not every show needs to have a amazing story. Sometime people just want to laugh for twenty minutes.

I really can't think of any changes I'd make. Anime isn't perfect, but I can't think of anything that I could change and in turn improve anime. Maybe require more original anime, meaning not based of manga, light novel, visual novel, etc. Might inspire some cool ideas.

 

[Fappy]

Anime is a medium, not a genre. Any kind of sweeping change won't be applicable to all anime unless you were to say something silly like, "make it live-action".

Though, if I had to apply one thing to all anime that were missing it, I'd say that they all need not-shit endings. Too many bad endings in anime T^T

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I dunno. What changes would you make to comic books? Or TV series? Or newspapers?

I wish people would stop treating anime as a genre, and just accept that one shitty shounen series does not represent all of anime (not implying that the OP here did, but it seems to be a common misjudgement).

OT: Remove the porny fan service. We've got the Internet and doujinshi for that.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Anime is a medium, not a genre.

I wish people would stop treating anime as a genre, and just accept that one shitty shounen series does not represent all of anime (not implying that the OP here did, but it seems to be a common misjudgement).

While true, you can't deny the overabundance of similarities that many anime shows have. To a point where you can't really blame people for judging it as a genre.

There's a reason Satoshi Kon's work stands out from the crowd so much, and it isn't because he was some unique visionary. He simply didn't abide by the all the tropes that are stinking up the medium.

OT: 1) I wish anime would step out of its isolation. This probably has more to do with Japan itself, but anime never seems to be too aware of the rest of the world and its goings on. To bring up Satoshi Kon again... Tokyo Godfathers deals in homelessness, and not from lack of income, but due to shame, which apparently is one of the biggest causes in Japan. It also mentions aids. These two things are subjects I have never heard mentioned in any other anime. People always say anime is so mature, but it can be remarkably closed-minded in many cases.

2) I wish anime could be made free from the constraints of merchandize. No more character designs for the sake of selling action figures, or figurines that perverts can use to stare up their skirt and marvel at their accurately sculpted panties.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

I'd remove whatever rule says that there must seemingly be either one really annoying "comic relief character" or at least one character who randomly dips into such behaviour seemingly for no reason to every character who actually is decent and serves a function.

This does not include characters who are otherwise actual characters but that occasionally have their goofy moments. That's fine. I mean characters who seem to largely serve no other purpose except being the comic relief.

I say this as I'm watching Bleach right now and in between the cool action and story I currently have to endure three random tertiary characters who seem to have served little purpose, now serve absolutely none, but that insist on sticking around and contribute nothing except loud vocalisations and painfully un-funny attempts at being funny.

Because not every situation needs that. A story about people storming what is essentially the Underworld to rescue their friend and fight an evil traitorous villain and his gang of powerful monsters is not improved by a screaming child or a guy who makes jokes about snot!

 

[Fappy]

Anime is a medium, not a genre.

I wish people would stop treating anime as a genre, and just accept that one shitty shounen series does not represent all of anime (not implying that the OP here did, but it seems to be a common misjudgement).

While true, you can't deny the overabundance of similarities that many anime shows have. To a point where you can't really blame people for judging it as a genre.

There's a reason Satoshi Kon's work stands out from the crowd so much, and it isn't because he was some unique visionary. He simply didn't abide by the all the tropes that are stinking up the medium.

OT: 1) I wish anime would step out of its isolation. This probably has more to do with Japan itself, but anime never seems to be too aware of the rest of the world and its goings on. To bring up Satoshi Kon again... Tokyo Godfathers deals in homelessness, and not from lack of income, but due to shame, which apparently is one of the biggest causes in Japan. It also mentions aids. These two things are subjects I have never heard mentioned in any other anime. People always say anime is so mature, but it can be remarkably closed-minded in many cases.

2) I wish anime could be made free from the constraints of merchandize. No more character designs for the sake of selling action figures, or figurines that perverts can use to stare up their skirt and marvel at their accurately sculpted panties.

I guess this discussion works when talking about the majority of highly marketed anime, sure. I agree with both of your points, though I would say that many other countries are also guilty of #1. In the states, our popular media is usually super far up its own star-spangled ass. Hollywood is constantly reminding the world that the US is the center of everything and that only American heroes can save the day.

 

[The Wykydtron]

I dunno. What changes would you make to comic books? Or TV series? Or newspapers?

I wish people would stop treating anime as a genre, and just accept that one shitty shounen series does not represent all of anime (not implying that the OP here did, but it seems to be a common misjudgement).

OT: Remove the porny fan service. We've got the Internet and doujinshi for that.

Except when the fanservice is a natural part of the plot. Everyone needs to watch Kill la Kill right now, it's very educational. They did it again. We'll make a parody of a genre then by the end of Episode 24 it's now the best entry for that specific genre. Oops.

Highschool of the Dead, the most obvious example of needless fanservice is pretty funny if you take it as an unserious parody thing. I recommend the English dub for it actually, the original voices took it somewhat seriously whereas the English dub took it right down comedy central. The first line is the main character screaming "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING OOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN?!"

OT: I wish there were more straight up mystery animes, I loved Higurashi back in the day. I just wish Umineko's anime port wasn't so awful, the manga makes up for it though. Unless Banquet takes a turn for the worse that is but the quality of the first 4 books are consistently excellent.

Hyouka was an odd one though, it was a group of students solving the most trival "cases" you have ever seen and it should have been the most boring thing ever but it was really compelling somehow. I'm no expert in film at all but the camerawork was excellent along with the animation.

Also yeah less crappy endings would be nice. I've been fortunate with my current watchings though, they've all had good ones. I've even been told that Sword Art Online ends decently which I was shocked to learn let me tell you. I'm stuck on Episode 20 because obviously Kirito is just going to own his way to victory because it's the infallible Kirito, the saviour of all and I just can't muster the energy to watch it.

Still the small touches continue to be really good. The way they did the quick Kendo sparring match in Ep 16 was really good, a real showing of how badly withdrawal is after two years in an MMO

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I dunno. What changes would you make to comic books? Or TV series? Or newspapers?

I wish people would stop treating anime as a genre, and just accept that one shitty shounen series does not represent all of anime (not implying that the OP here did, but it seems to be a common misjudgement).

OT: Remove the porny fan service. We've got the Internet and doujinshi for that.

Except when the fanservice is a natural part of the plot. Everyone needs to watch Kill la Kill right now, it's very educational. They did it again. We'll make a parody of a genre then by the end of Episode 24 it's now the best entry for that specific genre. Oops.

Highschool of the Dead, the most obvious example of needless fanservice is pretty funny if you take it as an unserious parody thing. I recommend the English dub for it actually, the original voices took it somewhat seriously whereas the English dub took it right down comedy central. The first line is the main character screaming "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING OOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN?!"

Well yes, but when you're doing what is usually called "fanservice" for story first, it's hardly made to please fans first anymore, is it? Not that it stops existing for... whatever it is fanservice is made to evoke, but when fanservice stops being extraneous and starts having a point, IMO it becomes something else. Call it porny direction or something.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

I'd make a Gurren Lagann/Kill La Kill crossover OVA. Simon has like... reality warping powers, IT COULD HAPPEN

 

[ReservoirAngel]

One change I'd love to see: More anime made of Ouran High School Host Club.

I don't even care if anyone judges me, that show was awesome but there was way too little of it.

 

[Scarim Coral]

One thing- stop making a recap episode unless A. It for a long series (particually Shonen show or 50+ episodes) or B. the recap episode is done differently than just retelling the whole series so far.

Good example of B is Kill La Kill (super fast recap), Nadesico (it was a recap but it was seen from that parody anime of theirs) and even Avatar The LASt Airbender (I know it's not anime) did a good recap which was interpreteas a play!

 

[The Wykydtron]

I dunno. What changes would you make to comic books? Or TV series? Or newspapers?

I wish people would stop treating anime as a genre, and just accept that one shitty shounen series does not represent all of anime (not implying that the OP here did, but it seems to be a common misjudgement).

OT: Remove the porny fan service. We've got the Internet and doujinshi for that.

Except when the fanservice is a natural part of the plot. Everyone needs to watch Kill la Kill right now, it's very educational. They did it again. We'll make a parody of a genre then by the end of Episode 24 it's now the best entry for that specific genre. Oops.

Highschool of the Dead, the most obvious example of needless fanservice is pretty funny if you take it as an unserious parody thing. I recommend the English dub for it actually, the original voices took it somewhat seriously whereas the English dub took it right down comedy central. The first line is the main character screaming "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING OOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN?!"

Well yes, but when you're doing what is usually called "fanservice" for story first, it's hardly made to please fans first anymore, is it? Not that it stops existing for... whatever it is fanservice is made to evoke, but when fanservice stops being extraneous and starts having a point, IMO it becomes something else. Call it porny direction or something.

You haven't seen Kill la Kill yet have you? Honestly it has completely changed my view on everything fanservice related. Saying that it not being made to please fans anymore is a bit flawed because what would usually be called needless fanservice is flawlessly interwoven into the rules of the universe ala Gurren Lagann. So far as to say that, spoilers reserved, Kill la Kill would simply stop working entirely if the skimpy outfits were removed.

Also how is having something improving the story not pleasing fans? Your logic is sort of not very well presented.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

snip

What I was getting at was that when fanservice (in the sense I first described it) isn't made just for its own sake anymore, and starts having an actual role and part in the story, it becomes something else in my mind.

Sorry if I'm hard to get. Maybe I'll need to watch more fanservice-y shows. I don't watch that much anime to begin with, and if there's something that makes me want to instantly run away screaming, it's excessive and/or blatantly obvious fanservice.

Spoiler: ie. something like this

I DON'T THINK YOU BUTT IS COVERING ENOUGH OF THAT PANEL! WHY DON'T YOU STICK IT OUT MORE!!!!

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Here are a few things I would change:

1) Stop making a series that is only twelve episodes long. This drives me nuts. It is rarely enough time to get the story flushed out and engaging. Outlaw Star, Shakugan no Shana, and Crest of the Stars all had plus twenty episodes and they worked out fine, but twelve or thirteen seems to be the new favorite amount. I know that many times these turn out to be 'seasons,' but that leads into another problem I have.

2) If you're going to make seasons, make the freaking seasons! I don't know what it is about anime--maybe because it's cartoons or something--but it takes the FOREVER to release a new season in most cases. Still waiting on Strike Witches, Sekirei, and Heaven's Lost Property for their supposed new seasons, and it's a lot time. At least Railgun got a new season, but now I have to wait until the English version is released. At least Naruto manages to constantly release a new box set every two months, but that leads to a ton of filler, which can be bad in its own way.

3) If you are going to make an anime based off of a manga, then follow the manga. I know of several mangas that I've read/reading that got an anime that butchered the manga, but the biggest one is Negima. That anime could have been amazing, but they ran into the same problem that so many other shows do: they caught up to the manga and, not wanting to wait or do filler (like Naruto), they went off and did their own thing, completely destroying the series. So, how do you fix this? I would think the answer can be found in my second statement. Once you catch up to the manga, take a break. Let the manga get ahead for a bit. Take a few months off, and then release a new season. But don't take years to do it

 

[FPLOON]

Eh... I can't necessary agree with all of my choices to the T, but:

1. It's OKAY to have your anime run more than 22 minutes at a time, excluding the opening, ending, and "preview" spot... especially if you want to REALLY justify your 12-13 episode limit...

2. Here's an idea: WAIT until all of the light novels/manga #s of a series comes out before you want to turn it into an actual anime series... (Of course, this "excludes" Shonens... but, you get what I'm saying...) The last thing I want to do is having something "end" on an inconclusive note because not all of the volumes of the original source material came out yet...

3. AVOID filler... Seriously, if your series is 24-26 episodes and it contains filler episodes, then you do realized that you didn't have to make sure you made that episode quota by any means necessary, right?

4. Uh... I had a few other things, but they're not really aimed at anime, as the medium itself, so... Yeah...

Other than that, I got nothing else to say on the manner... Then again, I'm American, so it's not like I have any say in the manner, anyway...

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

Firstly, I wish more anime would realize the concept of subtlety, particularly when it comes to horror anime. I don't read a lot of manga, but when I do it's usually to get something I can't already get with anime, like horror. Anime does horror very poorly, in my opinion. Most horror anime tend to be loud and over-the-top, with too much screaming/yelling, sometimes repeating the same words over and over again (Higurashi), relying on too much blood and gore, using unsubtle music, and a whole lot of "SWOOSH!" and jump cuts. Now, these anime can still be enjoyable, but sometimes being quiet and subtle is the better choice.

Secondly, I wish a lot more anime had a sense of humor about themselves. Too much anime take themselves too seriously, which I guess can also be a good thing as it allows for some interesting stories you don't get in the West, but there are some anime that would've been better if they approached it in a more humorous way. It's part of why I love Studio Trigger. We need more anime with Inferno Cop levels of not giving a shit.

Finally, stop making 12 episode long commercials for mangas, and never do anything more with it. If you're gonna do an anime adaptation, have some faith in it and make a fucking adaptation. I'm also sick of boring, anticlimactic to-be-continued ending these kinds of adaptations seem to have. If you're never gonna make a second season, make an anime original ending. I'd rather have a bad original ending than no ending at all.

 

[Fsyco]

You know how cigarette packs have giant warnings, and in some places they have those really gross pictures of what smoking can cause? I'd add something like that. All the boxes/covers would have to have at least 1/3 of the space dedicated to a warning that says anime causes blindness or something, and every episode would have a 5 minute video done in the style of 50s PSAs where they explain how otakus are part of a worldwide conspiracy. That way all my friends would stop trying to get me into it.

In all seriousness, any changes I'd want to make would just be the result of cultural differences. IE, I'd like to see less stereotypes of foreigners of all kinds and less misogyny, but Japan is more lenient on those issues. Remember the changes they made to Samus in Other M? Those were made to appeal to the Japanese gamers, and actually weren't made by Team Ninja, but Yoshio Sakomoto. Also less broody heroes with stupid hair(*cough*FinalFantasy*cough), but again, that's what Japanese gamers seem to like. It was kind of cool seeing an American bad guy in Yakuza 3, though.

Also, I'd like to have some kind of rule where people in hentai aren't either super-reluctant virgins or extremely evil sadists. But again, that just seems to be a cultural thing that I don't 'get', where sex is evil and good people have to be tempted into it.

 

[Fsyco]

]Firstly, I wish more anime would realize the concept of subtlety, particularly when it comes to horror anime. I don't read a lot of manga, but when I do it's usually to get something I can't already get with anime, like horror. Anime does horror very poorly, in my opinion. Most horror anime tend to be loud and over-the-top, with too much screaming/yelling, sometimes repeating the same words over and over again (Higurashi), relying on too much blood and gore, using unsubtle music, and a whole lot of "SWOOSH!" and jump cuts. Now, these anime can still be enjoyable, but sometimes being quiet and subtle is the better choice.

Anime does horror badly because things that look scary in real life don't look quite so scary and weird in the anime art style. My girlfriend talked me into watching the Ghost Stories dub, which was a horror anime that was received so poorly that the dubbing team basically turned into an abridged series. After watching a few episodes, it was obvious why: any actual monsters or scary things didn't look that weird or 'off' because of the art style. In real life (or live action footage anyway), a piano playing itself is creepy and surreal. In an anime, it just looks silly. So either the medium doesn't lend itself to horror, or nobody's figured out how to do horror with it yet.

 

[Agayek]

I say this as I'm watching Bleach right now and in between the cool action and story I currently have to endure three random tertiary characters who seem to have served little purpose, now serve absolutely none, but that insist on sticking around and contribute nothing except loud vocalisations and painfully un-funny attempts at being funny.

There's your problem.

Bleach is a fantastic story and, up until it jumps the shark with the whole Xcution bullshit, goddamn amazing... but only in manga. The anime is just flat out retarded, once it gets past the Soul Society arc. It gets padded out endlessly with overly complicated and, to put it bluntly, terrible filler that absolutely destroys the pacing, characters, narrative themes, and even the freaking plot. It's frankly embarrassing how badly the guys behind the anime fucked up when it came to translating one of the best shounen manga out there into an anime.

Course, then the manga had to go full retard and tack on an extra 2-3 arcs on the end that ruined the damn near perfect ending they'd already come up with, so I'm not sure it's entirely their fault (just mostly).