Japanese Anime Fans Are Growing Tired Of These Tropes


The anime industry, while not as strong as it was back in 2004-2006, is still a booming. During any given week, there will be between 30 to 50 series airing (not counting reruns) on TV, generally during the late hours of night. Most series run for about 11-13 episodes (A few will go between 24-26 episodes). This means that about every three months a new batch of anime series will be released to the masses to be enjoyed, analysed, scrutinised and occasionally revered.

With so many series cycling through, there are bound to be overlaps in theme or commonly used set pieces or plot points. Like the cute mascot. Almost every series has one. Why? Because the cute mascot is a trope that works. But enormous boobs and pretty boys? People are getting sick of that crap.

Still, too much of a good thing can turn people off and in a recent online poll, when people were asked what genres of anime they were tired of seeing, many were eager to voice their opinions. Here are the top 10 genres/tropes people are tired of seeing, with brief descriptions for those unfamiliar with these particular genres (#7 and #6 were tied with the same number of votes and are thus both written as #6):

#10 Looping anime.
Stories that involve time travel or some sort of cyclical mechanic that involve people going through the same events again and again, often with the purpose of changing time.
Example: Puella Magi Madoka Magica

#9 Busty anime
Anime with overuse of a certain part of the female anatomy to garner male viewers.
Example: Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Seikon no Quasar, Freezing

#8 Average Chyuuni anime( Chyuuni is a Japanese slang term used to describe common symptoms of young teenagers, including angst, inflated self-consciousness, or general teenage hipsterism. )
Anime with a focus on aspects that are considered Chyuuni
Example: Chyuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai

#7 Club anime
Anime that centres on characters in a club (generally a non-athletic club).
Example: K-on, Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai

#6 Battle anime from Jump
Self-explanatory.
Example: One Piece, Bleach, Naruto, Dragon Ball Z

#5 Pretty boy anime
Anime geared for females where most of the major characters are depicted as handsome/dashing/sexy males.
Example: Hiiro no Kakera, K

#4 Anime based on porn games
Self-explanatory.
Example: Little Busters, Maji de Watashi ni Koishinasai

#3 Anime with big name cast but weak content
Anime featuring extremely popular voice actors but that fall flat in terms of plot and character development.
Example: Kyou Kara Maou, Shiro Kuma Café

#2 Little sister anime
Anime that focuses on an older brother-younger sister relationship that can border on incest.
Example: Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai, Onii-chan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne, Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne

#1 Harem anime
Anime with a single male protagonist and multiple females (often characterised in specific archetypes) vying for his love.
Example: Infinite Statos, Shining Hearts, Negima

Granted, not all anime fit the strict guidelines of what makes a genre a genre and some anime fit multiple categories. Some are absolute classics despite falling into categories that people are sick off. Still, these are general genres or tropes that people seem to think that they would like to see a little less of. Perhaps anime creators will take a hint and stop relying on them so much…

…Yeah right.

飽きてきたなぁ~と思うアニメのジャンル [アニメワン]


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