Anime Introspective: ERASED and the American Serial Drama Tropes

 Most people live life on the path we set for them. Too afraid to explore any other. But once in a while people like you come along...

Guess which anime has topped the MyAnimelist charts in just a short few months?

"Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi" - The Town Where Only I Am Missing, or simply "ERASED" as the English adaptation title, is a story about Fujinuma Satoru, a young 20-something manga author who has a mysterious ability called "Revival" - returning a few moments in time before a tragedy in order to prevent its eminent occurrence. Without revealing too much, a major catastrophe causes Satoru to use Revival to the point where he is sent back 18 years in time to prevent a tragedy deeply rooted in his childhood. 

The concept in all honesty is not far from being cliche, at least in the world of anime. It is not the supernatural or over-the-top powers known to many anime which made ERASED an instant fan favorite. It is the nature of each episode, strongly intertwined and the tension / hype tools used to pull the viewer in that have made this show so popular.

Time to take a short departure from reviewing like an Otaku, and putting on my "Westerner" hat. Who here hasn't seen "Breaking Bad", "Lost" or "How to Get Away with Murder" - or any other popular "Serial dramas" that have pervaded American society of late? The premise of these shows is deeply based in reality, but a strong character takes a twist in his normal fate and becomes something more than they are - someone who drives their storyline, a thread in a multi-threaded theatrical puppet show, where everyone else's plots weave into their in a very strategic way to further the main story. 

ERASED functions in much the same way: it is highly character driven but to the point where these characters drive their own plotlines with their actions. One small example we can take is of Katagiri Airi - the part timer who works with Satoru. She is unassuming until they delve into her backstory, and she forces herself into Satoru's life and helps him out. The same goes for Kenya, Hiromi, Jun, and Kayo - they lead organically disparate lives but their plots weave with Satoru's.  

Another success formula that ERASED uses is the heavy plot twists and cliffhangers. You may think "All anime series' have cliff hangers at each episode," but ERASED uses them in a 12 episode series - and in a way which is deliberately used to increase tension instead of just make you happy / excited. Ring any bells? American Serial Dramas use the same tools. Amazingly, your fear of Walter White's last decision in BB is the same as Satoru's desperation in protecting his friends. It's not the same as the 800 episodes of Case Closed that do next to nothing to bring the viewer back into the story for the next episode.

What would the face of anime be like if all new anime focused on episode-by-episode crescendos, story tension used as a cliffhanger-y element, and crime-drama style character development? Would anime mirror Western Netflix binge-able serials or AMC's next big psychological drama?

-chansu

Side-tickling Types of Humor and the Anime World

Humor, the ability to laugh and make someone else laugh, is one of the best ways to be the best person in the room.

All over the world, with its movies, tv shows, and cartoons, laughter is in high demand because we all just want to feel good while watching TV.

Does milk really come out of your nose when you laugh???

Types of Humor by 
Character and Anime

Urahara Kisuke from the anime Bleach

English dub has some funny yet violent Urahara jokes...

Japanese dub shows Urahara as overly positive, like people who are good at Zingers!

Urahara is the only anime character I could find who executes Zingers almost as well as an American comic. Since the "zinger" is more purely American humor than actually from Japan or anime.

Zinger - A joke that follows a serious tone or awkward situation that serves to lighten the mood and make the listeners lighter and happier. These jokes can keep the flow of positive energy on the speaker and their speech.

Shinpachi Shimura from "Gintama"

Shinpachi is always using "straight-man routine" because his character is a "straight-arrow" good guy.

Straight-man routine - The blunt and forward reaction to either a solemn or outlandish topic or situation that makes the speaker assume the role of a "straight arrow" person. People relate and might laugh because of the situation's unusual weight on the speaker.

Gif version!!! (See of you can get the joke from the animation)

Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece anime

Luffy, the class-clown kind of guy who will be the Pirate King one day!

Class-clown / Star-of-the-Show - These jokes always come from a speaker who is the most popular character and they're either witty in general or are so outlandish in their critique of something else that the whole room is uplifted to the same popularity that the speaker enjoys and employs. :D

Goku from the DB, DBZ, DBGT, etc... series...

Goku from DBZ exemplifies "Class-clown / Star-of-the-Show" humor because of his outlandish reactions in the Dragon Ball world that show his easy-going optimistic personality.


Okabe of Steins ; Gate

Okabe frequently finds himself in situations where the other characters are trying to intimidate him... And he tries to be intimidating to be funny but it doesn't always work. It does make him look funny and like a good person.

Intimidator - These aren't always jokes but they are somewhat threatening in nature so that the person that they're directed to is laughed at because of their inferiority to the speaker.

Mio the main character of MM!

Mio from MM! is pretty intimidating and she's got the ability to be funny because she makes the viewers feel her rage!


Awakawa Under the Bridge

This is a great example of "Intimidator" humor that makes the viewer laugh but they're not really intimidating her. (They are tough guys in "tough clothes" lol)


Sakata Gintoki
Anime:  Gintama

Gintoki's cutting and witty remarks kind of make him a "pure host" because all of the other characters in Gintama look to him for moral support. Whenever everyone else looks to you for moral support, you've got the ability to use "Host" or "Hostess" humor in the real world!

Host / Hostess - The speaker controls the room or the other characters by happily patronizing as many of them as possible at once, usually with a combination of other humor and some kind of innate, natural based charm.

Suzumiya Haruhi from "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya"

Haruhi has the "Host" or "Hostess" kind of personality that makes everyone around her either laugh out loud or really comfortable, maybe even uncomfortable!


Saito from "Welcome to the NHK"



Saito is very sarcastic and very sardonic so its really hard to tell which one he is more. That's what makes "Welcome to the NHK" popular, funny, and well-watched all over the place.

Sarcasm / Sardonism - Use of either a very forward tone in a difficult or laughable situation or the disparate comparing of two very different ideas while shedding a pretentious positive or negative light on the conversation topic to the audience. Always downplays the situation or the topic at hand.

Natsume Yuu-jincho

Nyanko-sensei, the calico cat pictured, is a sarcastic talking cat that accompanies Natsume as his familiar, kindred spirit, or even as a guardian angel (but the Japanese people would rather say "familiar" for animal or "kindred spirit" for angels).

Neko-sensei and Natsume react sarcastically to something that someone says to them. They're a great team even when Nyanko has to sock it to Natsume.



Chi's Sweet Home

Chi always has cute reactions that make me laugh!

Cute / Moe Humor - Almost forgot one, this kind of humor is about lighthearted and warmhearted laughter after seeing a cute scene, cute character flustered, or a cute person in a funny situation!

Toradora

When moe characters fight it's almost seen as funny, right??

"There you have it..."

"Shall we review the evidence?"

:D

Does anyone get the Gintama reference here? Comment or Like  if you get the reference above...

Difference Between

American Cartoons and Japanese Anime

1. Invincible superheroes vs. Training day in and day out heroes

In American cartoons:  Superheroes are practically invincible. Their powers are limitless or at least they cannot be exhausted. To be defeated, a superhero has to be caught, trapped, or totally annihilated in one shot or something.

In Japanese cartoons: Heroes have to train hard day in and day out to get strong but once they do, they are clearly portrayed as having more strength than an average human, even with the constant reminders of the such. They can be defeated, but most likely by either a baddie who's trained just as much or is practically invincible, like the kind of hero mentioned above ^

2. Senseless violence vs. Senseless flashing

In American cartoons:  Looney toons, the first contemporary cartoons had more violence than ever and the characters recovered easily. The trend, became less extreme as people realized that they could actually be hurt by the same things but there is still the sense in comedy toons that the character can recover from any weird injury.
In Japanese anime:  Japanese anime contains a lot of flashing, a trend that started in old anime but is starting to be only reserved for ecchi and hentai. But in the late 90's, early 2000's most anime had at least some scenes where a character (usually a female) might be a bit more naked than expected for a cartoon...hehe.

3. Seeing yourself in a good light vs. Showing all of your flaws!

In American cartoons:  The main character is always the best, no questions asked (usually). Usually when watching an American toon, you know that you should like the main character because they're always seen in a good light.
In Japanese cartoons: Flaws are advertised to humanize the character and gain popularity with the fans. Most Japanese anime run polls for the fans to rank their favorite characters and the more human and relatable a character, the higher they are ranked. Often the less excellent the character, the higher they rank.

4. One sided baddies vs. Multi-dimensional multi-tasking enemies

In American cartoons:  The main bad guy is always 100 percent bad or evil. They devote most of their evil plan to getting the good guys for good (i.e. forever), and often fail because they're too perfectionistic. But they are quite persistent for being all bad, right?
In Japanese cartoons: The main bad guy has lots of stuff going on, including an agenda that includes the demise of the main character, along with some other scheme for money or power. Often, the demise of the main character is a side project which is often a tragic flaw of a lot of Japanese bad guys. Side projects must be some kind of big thing in Japan...

5. Being the best vs. Doing the best things

In American cartoons:  The most liked character is also the best character. If a viewer would be asked, who is their favorite character they most always say the main character. If there is a trio, it's always the main character of the trio. Unless the show is watched by more than one person, then one person might choose another character and try to justify why they are the best even if they are just a foil (or reflective of the greatness of the main character), often to their frustration with the creators.
In Japanese cartoons:  The most liked character might not be the main character. If there is a special moment in the story where a side character does something amazing that evoked emotions, then that character might be more well-liked and considered the best by the majority of anime fans. Possibly Alphonse Elric (FMA brotherhood), Gohan (DBZ), Kagome (Inuyasha) are some examples.

6. Telling jokes vs. Being the jokes (the Old Deal you struggle with...)

The Western Toon:  Characters have a repitoire of great jokes, and often a recurring joke that makes the viewer like the cartoon and the character. The characters have something great to say all the time and make the viewer feel like they have a lot to live for, at least in a group when someone is always stealing the attention. A punchline is key and usually punchlines that can be quoted during everyday life are numerous. This makes American cartoons surprisingly relatable, their quotability.

The Eastern Series:  Characters do things in anime that are funny, but only in relation to the other characters. It's hard to laugh AT a character in an anime, without actually laughing about something that might have actually happened in your life. Anime makes normal life events that have already happened, seem more funny when the characters do them. It must be the mystique of anime, that romanticizes everyday life.

...Tell Your Jokes!

Tokyo Ghoul: Two Paths, If/Then? Off-Beat Comparison 1

V.S.

There is a special nature to duality that draws people close. Some animals that are never punished do not love their owner as much as animals that are punished and praised in equal measure. This juxtaposition of behaviours draws the animal or pet closer.

This is the first edition of Off-Beat Comparison, where I try to make ridiculous theories about popularity in media, with Anime versus non-Japanese entertainment. Go figure, that the first installment in this series is as strange as ever!

If/Then - Broadway Musical

Okay, don't click away just yet! If/Then is a play about a woman named Elizabeth (played by Idina Menzel of Frozen fame), trying to make her way in NYC after a failed marriage and a wasted 30-some-odd years of her life. She meets her old friend Kate who urges her to live out her wildest dreams of hook-ups and bad decisions (like dating an army guy she meets in the park randomly), and she also meets her friend and former love interest Lucas who wants her to make serious changes in the city of New York. 

The most interesting part of the play is that both scenarios play out simultaneously. With reckless abandon, the play goes on shifting between two version of the protagonist, "Liz" the romantic and "Beth" the city planner , who splinter off into two separate dramas  of love, moral conflict, and the search for self...

Tokyo Ghoul - Manga/Anime

Okay, back to common ground. Tokyo Ghoul has made a splash in the otaku scene for being potentially the edgiest shounen since Baki the Grappler. In the metropolis of Tokyo, Ghouls roam the streets, feasting on human beings. They look just like humans, except for their red eyes and their powerful kagune, a predatory organ of disastrous power. Kaneki Ken, an average kid, is tricked by a Ghoul and winds up becoming half-ghoul after a surgery gone wrong. 

Some of the best human conflict happens in Tokyo Ghoul. Kaneki has to decide if he will feast on humans (once you are a Ghoul, all other food makes you want to vomit) or die, accept the Ghoul that inhabits his body or reject his new powers, and most importantly of all, he must decide whether to join the morally sane group of barista-Ghouls called Anteiku, the police force CCG which hunts Ghouls for the sake of mankind, or the radical Ghoul legion that yearns for anarchy, the Aogiri Tree. There is not a single character in the story that does not have a personal story with deep human conflict.

The Analysis

At this point the relationship is obvious: both stories tell a tale of conflicted main characters. If/Then takes the average story of mid-life crisis and spins it on its head. Tokyo Ghoul takes the shounen genre and delivers a story that no one can predict. 

But the most interesting parallel is that Tokyo Ghoul's second season has departed from the manga a bit. {Spoiler Alert} In Tokyo Ghoul Root A (the anime), Kaneki decides to join Aogiri tree, but in the manga he decides to join the CCG. This conflict in the plot itself parallels If/Then's conflicted plotline, where the same character lives in two different universes at the same time, only to, at the end, meet at (what some people would consider) a solidarity between the two. Almost like a Naruto filler that wraps up perfectly into the next canon episode...

These two stories have attracted crowds for that reason -- sticking to one story, theme, or genre is mainstream; and giving the viewers a fourth-wall point of conflict is truly gripping.

This is my first time analyzing two different types of stories! If you think the theory holds water, and want to see more Off-Beat Comparisons, stay tuned!

-chansu

Remember the first Diesel video I put up?

Do you all remember the first ever Diesel video I put up on here?

It was like that...

Well lets get a throw back!


And if you like Gundam!


Remix the future!


Encore!





This is really interesting. If you compare Cha-la with Dokken Dokken Paradise you'll find many different things. First of all the scenery moves more in Cha-la while the characters move more in Dokken. Is it an indication of the times? Also the newer opening focuses more on their emotions than the older one. Also indicative of the times? Well I thought it was really cool how Goku and Vegeta were smiling before dueling indicating how they love to fight, and the detail of Vegeta's sucker punch on Goku is classic!

But they say the past has to be repeated... So what if what we have now will look really old and corny to the people of the future???