No other anime (or TV show in general) that I have seen has developed characters as perfectly as Cowboy Bebop. The most amazing part is that it does it via episodic storytelling. Most episodic shows (think most crime shows like CSI), focus on one-and-done plots as filler while maybe having a subtle arc occurring in the background. Cowboy Bebop has no filler. Every one-and-done builds connections between the characters, reveals details about pasts, and develops each character until the incredible climax. What makes Cowboy Bebop so successful at this, and why have other shows struggled to do it?
I have yet to see Cowboy Bebop but I have heard many great things. I want to start it soon. Two other anime's however I believe is worthy of great character development would be Naruto and One Piece. – danderson7 years ago
The difference between Cowboy Bebop and Naruto/One Piece is that Bebop is almost entirely episodic outside of a couple core episodes and it is only 24 episodes. Naruto and One Piece have hundreds of episodes to cover the journeys of their lives whereas Bebop can't, it has to cover backstory through the episodic adventures that culminate in the series question episodes in the twenties. Naruto/One Piece can have actual filler episodes as well because of how long they air for. I think it is interesting in comparing this to shows like Law and Order, since most of the stories affect the leading cast. I do think there are other shows and films that can detail a character's arc/personality and it would be important to detail how some shows succeed and others fail in this regard. – Connor7 years ago
What is living, and what does it mean to be human? Analyze themes of existentialism through various anime series; this could include series such as Evangelion, Haibane Renmei, or Ghost in the Shell.
I think this topic could use some narrowing down. For one thing, existentialism can mean a lot of things, so maybe one should focus on a specific field within it. Second, it'd be good to pick a select few titles to examine in detail instead of discussing the topic more generally, so that the article avoids becoming scattered or meandering. Also, it would be interesting to include some thoughts regarding existentialism particularly /in anime/. Are there approaches to the topic that can't be found in other media? Does it provide any unique explorations or perspectives? Or does it perhaps cinematically/animetically execute the topic in ways that are exclusive to its audiovisual language? Essentially: what distinguishes anime's take on existentialism as a medium? – blautoothdmand7 years ago
I agree with blautoothdmand. Perhaps you should focus efforts on Ghost in the shell and the construction of the women. Philosophically you could use Simone De Beauvoir and "The second sex" and Sarte for Existential backing on what it is to be human. You could also use Donna Harraway's Cyborg Manifesto to bridge the gap between the female and her sentience. – Lousands7 years ago
I always looked at Dragonball Z as my "gateway drug" into anime. I kind of snowballed into watching Naruto, Bleach, Fairytale, and One Piece shortly after. These are the shows that were particularly influential to me, but I'm wondering if there are other shonen anime that were influential to a wider audience. I know Quinten Tarantino is a fan of anime and he incorporates some similar styles of anime into his fills. I'm thinking of Kill Bill where the film dives into the backstory of O-Ren Ishii.
It would be cool to look at how early anime inspired modern movie genres, like Akira and Ghost in the Shell inspired a lot of sci-fi and action. But what makes something "influential"? Being popular in western culture? Lots of anime has been influential in other cultures/countries that didn't necessarily make as much of an impact here. This would be a great read. – Eden6 years ago
Analyze why certain characters from certain anime appear to exist for no other reason than a shallow perception of diversity. Specifically when an african american character appears in an anime for no other reason than to show that black people exist in this particular anime.
Characters of other nationalities are used in anime to use stereotypes as comedic relief, plot devices or backgrounds. Black characters in particular imply strength, speed, servitude, hipness, gangsters, poor childhood, underdog characteristics. I don't think the Japanese care about diversity in media. – katsucats6 years ago
This is a really important topic given how anime is distributed to the rest of the world, not just Japan. I would look into the sociological basis in Japanese culture to understand how race functions there. – Nicholas Bennett6 years ago
Art reflects life, period. The Japanese are a ethnically homogenous people, who take pride in their cultures and tradition and as such have a dismal view of other ethnicities.
White skin seems to be desirable. maybe due to their defeat at the hands of the US, but even white Americans are the butt of many an unpleasant joke. But that being said, one should not incorporate diversity for diversity's sake, lest one wants to ruin the narrative. – RedFlame20006 years ago
Anime as a genre and a community has far outclassed those of any other form of cartoon media. What is it about the Japanese shows, which vary through all sorts of story genres and artstyles, that come together to create such an appealing platform for all ages? Why is it as popular as it is?
I like the premise of this, but I'd point out that there are so many forms of Anime this may be a hard topic to tackle. Maybe try to pinpoint a particular genre or style of anime and look at it's popularity, versus anime as a whole. Yes they are all Japanese animation, but it's all so diverse it may not be possible to view it as a whole. – alexpaulsen7 years ago
I think one of the most appealing things about anime is how different and fresh it feels. I know a common argument most people will bring now is that the anime industry has been milked out and all the interesting essence to it died off in anime's golden age at the late 90s and the early 2000s, but anime still does one thing that most mainstream series or movie blockbusters fail to accomplish, it has the ability to make an audience feel and understand the emotions and feelings of a character and thus comprehend the amount of weight each one of their actions will bring not only to the furtherance of the plot but towards them, their relationships with the people around them. It allows us the viewers to not just view the story, but be a part of it. That's what makes anime so damn appealing and enjoying as an advocate anime fan. – Yao7 years ago
I say the most appealing thing about anime is its unlimited freedom in structure and depiction of the story. The animation is your choice, choose the storyboards, use your imagination to your fullest advantage!
The next attraction would be an anime's narrative and symbolism as well as realism portrayed. – KojiroSasaki5 years ago
Identify and critique instances of fat shaming in various stories that are present across the different categories of anime, manga, and comic books. How/why is fat shaming in these genres harmful? How can the situation be improved?
I'd say an interesting example of "fat" character being represented well in manga is "Cho-cho" from the Boruto series. She's a plus-size girl with pure and unshakable confidence in herself, her body, and her lifestyle. Even when people comment on her weight rudely, she either brushes it off or takes pride in it. That said, it isn't the best representation as she sometimes seen just non-stop eating and that is sometimes the butt of a joke, but her character and personality are a huge part of her weight and body size and it's pretty rare to see plus-size characters not be complete jokes and to actually have a personality behind the fact that they eat a lot. – Dimitri7 years ago
We really need more and more fat rep in literature and film. There are real people in this world and they need to be represented. Women especially could use some role models that aren't stick thin. – Jamie7 years ago
A really important topic. The cultural reasons as to why fat-shaming may be particularly evident in anime and manga would be interesting to explore. It would also be good to address how the representation and treatment of fat characters differs between genders. – Indigo7 years ago
Oh my gosh, I was thinking about this a few days ago as a potential topic, but I'm not at all familiar with anime, so I was thinking in terms of literature. Would you consider adding literature to the discussion? For instance, you may notice that a lot of J.K. Rowling's antagonists are fat, or described with flat, toad-like, or squished features. More damning evidence: Dudley Dursley didn't become sympathetic until after he lost weight. Neville Longbottom didn't become heroic until he dropped the poundage, either. – Stephanie M.7 years ago
I feel like bigger franchises that appeal to all audiences should step up to plate on this one. Disney has yet to have a fat princess (unless you're under the delusion that Moana was fat) and even in Once Upon a Time they altered the physiwue of Ursula, an originally plus sized villain. Dreamworks has been better, adding heavier-set characters such as Shrek (and later Fiona), Po from Kung Fu Panda, and Fishlegs from How to Train Your Dragon, though the only (permanent) human there was Fishlegs and he wasn't as much of a major character in comparison. Additionally, half the battle is the addition of these characters, the other half is portrayal. Showing a fat character that has the stereotypes that go along with their size is like having a female protagonist that only achieves happiness when their knight in shining armor appears. A larger character must not be defined by their size, but rather by their personality like any other character would be. – alchemicalArchmage7 years ago
Every anime fan has heard of, or even watched, 'Naruto', 'Bleach' and 'One Piece'. Till this day it remains in our hearts as the major mainstream animes of the 1990s – 2000s. With the end of Naruto and Bleach, and the continuation of One Piece, it makes us wonder what made these three animes so popular and why/if the series have 'fallen'.
While interesting, this is a topic that's already been done. Super Eyepatch Wolf for instance covers the struggles of both Bleach (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACq7tgjHdGA) and Naruto (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74REUpOg2B4). Many video essays on the appeal and popularity of One Piece have also been done. If someone were to pick this topic, I suggest approaching it from a broader angle... using the Big 3 as case studies for how certain animes become popular. Is it their appropriation of existing historical icons/myths/legends? Is it their ability to adapt the original manga (if any) in an accurate and/or respectful manner? The binary between anime and manga should probably be considered, too. – Starfire7 years ago
why the anime is interesting because the story can not be guessed and full of surprises – andikamulyana7 years ago
If someone ever though the Endless Eight were bad, use this list to show them the most despicable time loop shenanigans ever shown in anime. Did the time loop have some obvious logical fallacies that make people wince? Did the reasoning for time travel come straight from left field — or have no reason at all? Was the time loop so convoluted that it made Homestuck look like nothing? Explain what made these time loops bad for the show as a whole, and contributed negatively to the experience of the show.
An interesting topic suggestion and you get my vote. I'm perhaps one of the few who actually appreciated 'Endless Eight' as it has hidden depths and contributes greatly towards the development of a certain humanoid interface, but I can see why some disliked it. There is an inherent problem with all time-loop tales - the logical fallacies you've mentioned, but perhaps the point is to encourage the viewer to consider how he or she would handle the same predicament. – Amyus7 years ago
I don't know many examples of this but there is one, done very effectively, that I know of. It might be interesting in discussing Masaaki Yuasa's Tatami Galaxy since the entirety of the show is built around the time loop aspect. A lot of people even consider it one of the best anime series ever. Maybe people don't hear about the bad ones very often but the controversy behind "Endless Eight" has always been interesting. Some people love it while others hate it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it has to be more objective, the pros and cons of this plot device. Again, some people actually enjoyed the time loop in Haruhi Suzumiya. – Connor7 years ago
