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[Nightbird]

Just when I thought the first episode was bad.

If you thought this was bad, then i 'd say you better not continue.

It will go down hill quickly and painfully shortly before the MG arc, that arc just seals the deal though.

So true. Sad thing is, i actually liked the Concept. Kinda like GTO, but with an own spin. It was pretty decent to me up until that School battle, and when the Magical Girl Arc happend it reached a low wich made the whole thing look bad.

 

[Jex]

For reference, the actual quote is:

Which is in regards to whether or not Miyazaki is a plane otaku.

 

[Nickle]

Could you not just dislike something a lot of other people like? Why is it overrated? I adore GL and I can honestly not think of any significant faults with it like most other shit I watch/read/play.

Spoiler

ROW ROW, etc

From now on I'll only like things that other people like.

Spoiler

/s

But seriously, there's nothing particularly amazing about Gurren Lagann. At first I enjoyed how quickly the mechs became bigger and bigger, but I got bored after realizing that that was all the show offered. If you take that away, it's just another generic battle shounen with a protagonist who ends up winning because he believes in himself. It's mildly entertaining, but it doesn't deserve any of the high praise it gets.

 

[Earthpainting]

A lot of my annoyances have already been brought up, but I'd like to give a special mention to Naruto-esque anime fight schools. It weirds me out how easily anime can gloss over child soldier plots, as long as they dress it up as middle or high school. The cynic in me also is all too aware that the reason why this is popular is lazy writing. It is the simplest way to add a large cast of characters being together, each with their own defined trope, without having to factor in compatibility and how they'd meet. It also means all story arcs or scenes that want to have some action can easily be written in as "a mission".

Japanese game designers love this shit too (Valkyria Chronicles, Final Fantasy VIII, Trails in the Sky,...), because all those reasons are very compatible with video game structures. Anime fight school franchises usually notify me that I can tune out the plot and the characters.

clumsy girls are so moe

Special mention goes out to this. It's bad enough that anime women often tend to be infantilised for some reason, but to even rob them of their balance irritates me to no end. Colette is the most perfect example of this, as being clumsy and apologising constantly are pretty much the extent of her "personality". The only thing that's missing here is a scummy segue into putting his underwear on display. Terrible character and terrible trope.

Hmm. A lot of different examples have already been posted so I'll go for something more broad that is probably going to be pretty contentious. As much s I hate using the phrase "anime style" I can't help it when the majority of popular anime do have a style. Not that the particular way of character animation is bad, per say, but it is overused to all hell and is actually dampening what anime as a whole can achieve.

Now what is "anime style"? Well to put it simply, it is the way characters are drawn in 90+% of popular anime. To give an example, http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs27/f/2008/142/5/e/Conglomerate_Of_Anime_shows_by_SoulOfSolaria.jpg.

Now, I can not stress enough that not all anime fits this style. To give a recent example, Princess Kaguya was incredibly popular among anime fans, and for the most part broke this style. Furthermore, there are an insane amount of anime that are less popular that do not follow the style either. It's why I hate calling anime a "style". Unfortunately, many of the remaining anime do in fact prefer to stick to what I like to call style tropes. People are drawn in a certain way, using a certain form of animation because it is what is popular. The style then affects the way the anime looks, the way dramatic and action scenes play out, the way the characters act, and a whole slew of other factors.

It has been stated that anime is the most versatile of all the different forms of animation. I'd agree with that sentiment, but I can't help it when I see the same style/tropes come on that I wan't them to diversify. It sucks that if I want something that looks and acts different in Japan I have to go into the underground scene. For anyone saying that it works like that in any medium, sure. That doesn't mean I shouldn't worry about trying to help a part of this one grow.

I'm not sure your example image does your point justice, since it displays quite a range already in both style and quality. If it's all samey to you, you should probably realise that it's coming off as people who think entire genres of music or even instruments have no range. That's not meant to be a slight against you personally, but the a lack of technical or artistic knowledge, or indifference induced biases are probably at the foundation of this. I think everyone has this in some form or another about a lot of things. For instance I think all these live action superhero movies only come in two flavours, and I don't care for either of them. Same probably goes for my anime fight academy example above. I recognise that the nuances and more overt differences are there and probably clear as day to some, but it all blends in to me like an unpleasant Akira-esque blob.

 

[Lord Panda]

I also HATE it when a male character, usually the main character, goes on and on in some cheesy way about how much he wants to protect a female character. Even if the female is perfectly competent, or a better fighter than the male, the male character is overprotective. Is that supposed to be charming?

You're describing that little turd that follows Claire around in Claymore.

 

[A Huge Battleship]

lol
https://www.youtube.com/user/ohohojousama/videos

I just watched every video on this channel and I think it broke me.

Spoiler

ohohohoho

 

[Chunky]

From now on I'll only like things that other people like.

Spoiler

/s

But seriously, there's nothing particularly amazing about Gurren Lagann. At first I enjoyed how quickly the mechs became bigger and bigger, but I got bored after realizing that that was all the show offered. If you take that away, it's just another generic battle shounen with a protagonist who ends up winning because he believes in himself. It's mildly entertaining, but it doesn't deserve any of the high praise it gets.

To me, GL is all about how it executes those "generic" themes aka its fuckawesome style.
It's the energy that sells it!

 

[Xe4]

I'm not sure your example image does your point justice, since it displays quite a range already in both style and quality. If it's all samey to you, you should probably realise that it's coming off as people who think entire genres of music or even instruments have no range.

Exactly, genre's. Anime is part of a medium, so I wish the popular stuff would exemplify that. I'm not saying it's all the same to me, I'm saying it's all very similar, which it is. Many of the same animation techniques are used, with similar types of hair, skin and movements. The style is a trope in and of itself. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimeReality?from=Main.AnimeStyle

Don't get me wrong either, I constantly argue against "anime style", because the phrase bugs me. There is so mach range within anime, but even I admit that as far as designs go, the range diminishes exponentially as you head towards the more and more popular stuff.

That's not meant to be a slight against you personally, but the a lack of technical or artistic knowledge, or indifference induced biases are probably at the foundation of this. I think everyone has this in some form or another about a lot of things.

Not really, I watch an insane amount of animation, and am extremely knowledgeable in the medium. That's not me bragging, but my viewpoint is not coming from ignorance. In terms of tone and plot, yes anime are often extremely varied, but style and animation wise, not so much, at least when you're talking about the popular stuff.

Nearly all popular anime is drawn on paper (or made to look like it is) with semi realistic style. Most popular anime features people with larger eyes and unique hair. There are other defining traits, but I'm not going to get into them at the moment. It's been this way because of the enormous influences from anime in the 60's and the influence of Disney on Japanese animation.

Don't believe me? Take any popular anime character from the last ten or even twenty years, crop out their surroundings, and have someone look at them and guess whether they are from an anime or not. I guarantee you they will instantly be able to tell, regardless of whether they've seen much anime, or know the show in question. That is what I mean. There are so many different ways to draw characters, and its a damn shame that popular anime tends to stick with one particular way.

 

[Kinyou]

You're describing that little turd that follows Claire around in Claymore.

Man, that guy... Kid characters generally tend to be annoying

 

[CadetMahoney]

Watching kids navel gaze for 26 episodes because they can't decide if they want to try dating.

roff

 

[Boss Doggie]

Personally I think cliches now are seen as novel before and stuff that are novel now are cliches before. Something about coming full circles I suppose.

With that said I wish more shows adopt the "tsundere wins" shit.

From now on I'll only like things that other people like.

Spoiler

/s

But seriously, there's nothing particularly amazing about Gurren Lagann. At first I enjoyed how quickly the mechs became bigger and bigger, but I got bored after realizing that that was all the show offered. If you take that away, it's just another generic battle shounen with a protagonist who ends up winning because he believes in himself. It's mildly entertaining, but it doesn't deserve any of the high praise it gets.

I always see it as TTGL as something like "people who aren't into mecha thinking it's great". I mean sure there are people who like mecha that loved it, but generally the idea seems to go from that viewpoint. With that said, rather than being a "gateway" to the genre somehow it created people who rather than view other mecha simply spout "it's the best thing ever".

Personally I think it's mediocre and spouts the bad stuff super robots apparently have.

To me, GL is all about how it executes those "generic" themes aka its fuckawesome style.
It's the energy that sells it!

I dunno, it feels... synthetic? You know, the energy and hype feels unsubstantial or lacking in depth.

 

[ShemhazaiX]

Teenage main characters. I can barely watch most anime because it's so saturated with teenagers saving the world, and as a 24 year old it's no longer something that appeals to me. Thats not to say that I don't make exceptions for good stuff (for example FMA though that's also full of adult protagonists as well) but it does mean that the anime has to be exceptional for me to actually give it the time of day. Its a shame that adult leads are such a rarity. It helps me appreciate stuff like Ghost in the Shell and Outlaw Star so much more.

 

[CadetMahoney]

I clicked on the right one bottom row to see how many I could get through without feeling bad and had to stop the vid mid way and it was only 5 seconds.

 

[Plywood]

-Posturing
-Harems
-Tripping, lots of tripping during important moments
-Unfunny comedy bits
-And 9 out of 10 kid characters

 

[Caj814]

People die when they are killed but even if they do die doesn't mean they were killed.

 

[Air]

The two that irk me the most:

'What kind of Hell is this"

and the need to kill a deity.

 

[zelas]

High/middle school anything needs to go away. Just being in that setting alone means you're about to be assaulted with at least 50 god awful tropes

 

[Tizoc]

I'd like it if animes just STOPPED having characters describe what just happened in a previous scene; we SAW what happened, no need to describe and tell the viewer.

 

[mcz117chief]

Nosebleeds, probably the worst cliche in anime and manga of all time.

 

[Dio]

Japanese game designers love this shit too (Valkyria Chronicles, Final Fantasy VIII, Trails in the Sky,...), because all those reasons are very compatible with video game structures. Anime fight school franchises usually notify me that I can tune out the plot and the characters.

Wait, what? The one they visit in Trails is a normal school, last time I checked. Unless you're referring to Sen, which is not 'Trails in the Sky'.

 

[Turin Turambar]

I always thought this was pretty hilarious, as far as character designs go:

First time I see this.

I lol'ed.

 

[daniels]

You're describing that little turd that follows Claire around in Claymore.

I love that you dont hear anything about this baby in the later half of the anime

 

[Easy_D]

I adjust my glasses every time I meticulously explain that I have an advantage and that there is no way you can defeat me.

 

[Cosmozone]

Pffuuuaa after drinking a beer...

Haha, nice find. So different to the usual tropes, yet so completely "Huh?" inducing.

I can live with most tropes and also like some, but what I really don't like is when a longer running series starts off with a little mini-adventure that doesn't fit in the later pacing. This is done to test the waters so the manga can be canceled easily if necessary. But it totally messes with story structure at the beginning. Who wants a grandiose story that starts up with insignificant crap?

 

[Jackpot]

Saying the person's name again and again in different tones DOES NOT COUNT AS DIALOGUE.

The arranged marriage trope. Boring conflict generator and you immediately lose all respect for the person seriously considering entering into it.

The constant nervous gibbering, usually in response to a romantic overture. Closely followed with the "relationship" that only involves the occasional hug or holding hands. Normally the first kiss is the climax (and ending) of the whole series. Would like to see an anime actually handle a relationship instead of just the beginning of one.

 

[PAULINK]

every anime that are not harem or slice of life are terrible.

 

[Myths]

More dialogue than anything else but...

X: Drops meaningful line about Y
Y: "Says "X's" name...

I just want to plug my ears and tape my eyes down for good.

 

[Frank Serpico]

.

Is this a doctored gif? I've seen the documentary and I don't remember this quote

 

[alfredofroylan]

Is this a doctored gif? I've seen the documentary and I don't remember this quote

The actual quote is a couple of messages above

 

[rpmurphy]

7 pages and I'm rather surprised no one mentioned it yet, but the one line of dialogue that is probably the most awful (and way too common in shounen anime) is:

「それは俺のセリフだ ！」 / "That's my line!"

Please don't do that.

 

[GifGafIsTheBestGaf]

weak ass maiden heart loser boy MC
clumsy cliche is annoying too

edit:

I always thought this was pretty hilarious, as far as character designs go:

lmao so true

 

[GifGafIsTheBestGaf]

sorry double post

 

[MMarston]

Is this a doctored gif? I've seen the documentary and I don't remember this quote

It's fake, but he does specifically diss Otakus at one point.

 

[Frank Serpico]

The actual quote is a couple of messages above

Ok, that's what I remembered

 

[Eidan]

A pet peeve of mine was always the "badass" character talking with their arms crossed and eyes closed. Typically leaning against a wall.

No one talks with their eyes closed.

 

[Theonik]

Also I agree that high-school and adolescence have been run into the fucking ground. Like, its a bit cliche these days to say you love the works of Satoshi Kon or whatever, but there's a reason so much of his stuff is still the pinnacle of anime for me: he genuinely fucking explored the lives of adult characters

To the average Japanese person their life might as well be over after highschool so the appeal for adult drama is low.

I just watched every video on this channel and I think it broke me.

Spoiler

ohohohoho

Welcome.

 

[Astral]

A pet peeve of mine was always the "badass" character talking with their arms crossed and eyes closed. Typically leaning against a wall.

No one talks with their eyes closed.

Smiling with your eyes closed is also weird. I've never seen anyone do that ever unless they were laughing really hard.

 

[woopWOOP]

Main cast having crazy hairdo's with the colour being anything on the colour spectrum, while minor/background characters have regular hair somewhere between light-brown and black. Really takes me out of it when I see a platoon of soldiers where they all look like normal people, except that one in the different suit with goofy ass white hair (yes, Gundam, talking about you). Either have everyone walk around with normal, human hair or go crazy with the background characters too.

Foreigners being stuck with blue eyes blond hair's odd too.

 

[Meffer]

Characters waking up with sleep paralysis.

We're talking about tropes in anime. Not GAF.

 

[Theonik]

We're talking about tropes in anime. Not GAF.

GAF is pretty anime.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

Crazy face:



Eyes turn big, mouth grows inhumanly wide. People think this shit looks cool. I'm convinced weeaboos that fit into that group are the reason people think Jeff the Killer is cool.

I blame Hellsing and Vampire Hunter D

 

[Tuck]

I'd like it if animes just STOPPED having characters describe what just happened in a previous scene; we SAW what happened, no need to describe and tell the viewer.

Yeah exposition is a major problem in a lot of anime. Its crazy.

 

[MGrant]

Attack on Titan falls victim to a lot of these tropes but I have to give it major kudos for subverting the "Power of Friendship!" trope when Eren reluctantly allows his friends to fight in his place, because his power is too dangerous to let out (another trope).

Spoiler

They all get brutally murdered by the female Titan. And he has to live with the guilt of not sticking to his guns.

As for what is wrong with anime, pretty much everything in this show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4DsQ33_87E

Try taking a shot every time there's a panty/cleavage shot. You'll be shitfaced about 2 minutes in.

 

[Boss Doggie]

Yeah exposition is a major problem in a lot of anime. Its crazy.

I guess it depends on the title. Some ran for so long that I guess there's a need to give exposition.

 

[Tizoc]

I guess it depends on the title. Some ran for so long that I guess there's a need to give exposition.

Did you watch the latest episode of JoJo Part 3?

Spoiler

Iggy described what happened to him every time Pet Shop's Stand attacked him.

That's the kind of exposition that I don't like; we SAW what happened why are you describing exactly what we SAW happen?

 

[Boss Doggie]

Did you watch the latest episode of JoJo Part 3?

Spoiler

Iggy described what happened to him every time Pet Shop's Stand attacked him.

That's the kind of exposition that I don't like; we SAW what happened why are you describing exactly what we SAW happen?

oh that, yeah it's mildly annoying

I guess stuff like that works in manga but doesn't in anime

 

[KHlover]

I blame Hellsing and Vampire Hunter D

To be fair: It looks pretty good when Alucard does it and has in-universe justification. Other anime...not so much.

 

[Jex]

The arranged marriage trope. Boring conflict generator and you immediately lose all respect for the person seriously considering entering into it.

Wait, you're describing something that actually in Japan as a trope because you don't like it?

 

[Theonik]

Wait, you're describing something that actually in Japan as a trope because you don't like it?

To be fair everything can be a trope. Even you can be a trope.

 

[Ray Down]

To be fair everything can be a trope. Even you can be a trope.