Pokemon or Pochahontas

W h i c h   d o   y o u   p r e f e r?

Tropes Turned Real

For popular anime/tv tropes that need some realistic pzazz

"I can do anything, better than you"

Ergggh, Gary wanted Bulbasaur!!! ...but didn't get one.

Such a trope, invites the watcher to put themselves in the shoes of an extremely jealous rival or enemy. And, that means you're always in the middle of a bad argument with a immature hyper childlike person...


"I can't do anything right"

Not Nagisa, ...Tomoya

When the main character bemoans and wails over an imagined lack of ability or reality that they are the best. They sure said it correctly. Then again, it's pretty sad when they doubt themselves in the midst of worse characters.


"Back to back, the 100 to 2 fight"

Seen in various shounen anime like Rurouni Kenshin and Yu Yu Hakusho. Also, seen in school age kids at recess and also around bedtime when its time to turn off the lights. Go to sleep kid...


"Normal, average friendly royal elite"

Genkai isn't really elite, but she is super strong and nice once she knows Yusuke...

Seen in various types of anime... Where the most popular, most elite, most upper class persona is actually a friendly person. ...Where you see friends, they see friends too!

That's all, now get off my porch you darn' kids!

2nd Prime Time: Hero --> ULtd.

2 n d   P r i m e   T i m e

H e r o   U n - l i m i t e d!

What's your idea of a hero? Most people think of Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, The Living Flash, Spiderman, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Rogue, Storm and the list goes on and on. In American culture, these are the best of the best. They fight the bad guys, and win. They "kick ass and take names", as they say in North America. They're the unlimited heroes of comics.

Through communication with aliens, the mangaka in Japan have created a newer kind of hero, a better one. Referring to the early process of creating animation where Looney Toons was the standard cartoon. After that, around the time of Toonami, anime took over in pop culture and the fires of anime are still churning for bad guys to go right into. Though this is just the humble opinion of a random RPG loving otaku. That new hero, that burns baddies slowly is actually, maybe a weaker hero compared to the superheroes of the west, right?

They are the limited heroes. That, or Comic-con doesn't need NYAF to keep their attendance records (or do they?). The limited heroes are the shounen heroes of manga. They come from humble beginnings and are made fun of daily, before they actually become heroes. Even after that, they're always self-conscious about who they're fighting and why...

Short answer:  Because they were made fun of.

Long answer:  Because they are the limited hero which actually means that they're NOT heroes.

That's summed up best by Monkey D. Luffy: "Heroes have to share the meat..."

And began with Goku, Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, Yusuke Yurameshi. They all don't want to share the meat... Especially Inuyasha (gomenasai) (^^;)

Being that they're not heroes, makes them limited heroes. That's why they don't always have the "great power" that vanquishes all enemies no matter how strong or terrorfying. That's because they're gonna have to fight over dinner, over a hotpot or yakiniku preferably (It's Japan...). They need friends, unlike Superman in his Arctic Fortress of Might where he longs for friends (though that would make anyone very good... or evil).

When they're on their way to the top, they fall down. The stronger ones, get back up only to fall again and again. See they're only as strong as their mangaka (hehe). In explanation, they're always either getting into it with villains or actively seeking villains to make congruent to goodness (kick their butt). We should all know that, especially since most of us are always getting into it. The limited hero is cooler than because they would save you or me, given the choice. And the limited hero would probably get older while doing it, as opposed to being immortal like Superman or Batman.

The question is:  

Are you a limited or a unlimited hero? 

Are you an Otaku for life?

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!

Kimochi that You won't Let Go!

Eren will be haunted by his feelings whether or not he wins!

Maybe you've heard this phrase in a Jpop song before...

"Hanasa-nai" (Romanization)
"Won't let go" (Translation)

We all have feelings that we just won't let go no matter what. Let's keep this blog post short and to the point. Those feelings are sometimes inexpressible and intangible. It's our otaku fandom and aspiration to be more like the main characters of an anime that allows us to keep trying to find those feelings and use them to make happier. It's basically your duty now that you're an Otaku!

 Like in Bakuman, Mashiro seems like he's always working tirelessly to make a successful anime and marry his crush. But it goes deeper than that because Mashiro is so in love with anime and manga that he's never fazed by hard work and his more skilled rival. In fact, Mashiro's kimochi is so strong that he probably wouldn't have it any other way than work tirelessly because he makes it FUN!

Takagi isn't pictured but Takagi's kimochi lies more in the expressing of his story in manga form. Takagi's kimochi and feelings are in every story. Just like our feelings are in everything we do! Ganbare! Try to have stronger good feelings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naruto and Sakura?

 Naruto's crush on Sakura is another example. He can't express his love for her because he knows she loves Sasuke. ...and as a future Hokage, Naruto can't stand to live in a world where a comrade would desert the leaf village. Naruto's unexpressible kimochi can only be resolved once he convinces Sasuke to return to Leaf village. But Sakura is onto him and notices that his kimochi is stronger than any normal person. 

Maybe she actually begins to like him for his tsuyoi kimochi!

It's a girl's world!

 Don't forget the girls of anime! A lot of girls just want to fall in love with their crush. All the girls in Toradora have unexpressible kimochi that they won't let go even if each other has the same feelings. This happens in real life a lot. Don't give up girls! One day your crush will like you back and choose you over your friends!

No matter what, your feelings are yours

Your Kimochi that You won't Let Go!

So don't let go of them no matter what! 

Otaku life!