The Hits and Misses of Anime Tropes
There's nothing that makes us want to roll our eyes more than when anime series overuse and recycle the same tropes. Whether it's the classic running late with toast in mouth, or the random shouting of attack names, some themes should really be axed. It's a good thing Japanese animations continue to redefine themselves over and over, because now we're treated to variety. Here are the 10 worst—and best—anime tropes.
1. Shouting Out Attack Names
If you've watched any anime in the action/adventure genre, you've probably seen characters shouting out seemingly random attack names when they're, well, attacking. Or wielding a weapon. This trope is so commonly used that you'll even see it come up in the sports genre.
2. Protagonist Always Wins
Everyone knows that the protagonist has plot armor, but some series make it a little too obvious. They could be facing a dire situation where defeat is pretty much guaranteed, and they'll still come out unscathed—and crowned the winner.
3. Running with Toast in Mouth
If you've watched any shoujo anime—series that target an audience of young girls or women—you'll likely have seen this very overused scene: the main lead running with toast in her mouth because she's late for class. It's usually followed up by her bumping into the male lead.
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4. Filler Episodes
While filler episodes are sometimes inevitable, given that ongoing manga series can take a while to develop, avid fans still aren't fond of having to see random episodes that are neither canon nor go anywhere. Plus, when dozens of these are grouped together, it can be hard to remember what the original plot even was.
5. Self-Insert Protagonists
Self-insert protagonists are characters who barely have a personality, and they're really only there for the viewer to imagine themselves in their place. You'll see this trope in both shoujo and shounen (geared toward young boys or men) series, and it can be boring to the average fan if you're not interested in generic main leads.
6. Training Montage
In most shounen series, you'll come across a training montage, where the main character (or characters) is put through intense preparation to learn or perfect a new skill. In reality, many skills take years to perfect, but in anime time, protagonists usually have it down unrealistically quick.
7. High School Setting
Many anime series feature a cast of teen characters in high school. While there are other series with older characters, it's no surprise that the protagonist—and those around them—are often young. Anime fans are often younger, after all, so teen characters give them a more relatable feel.
8. Secret Power Gets Unlocked Right Before Defeat
Another overused trope you'll see in many shounen series is when the protagonist unlocks some secret power they never knew they had right before defeat. Remember the other trope we mentioned, where plot armor almost always guarantees the protagonist wins? Yup. That's why this trope also exists.
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9. Tragic Backstory
No matter what genre you watch, many anime series feature a protagonist with an extremely tragic backstory, often involving the death of one or two parents or loved ones. While this angst is supposed to make the viewer want to root for them, it's been so overused that it doesn't evoke the right kind of emotion in fans anymore.
10. Flashbacks Before an Important Moment
Never mind the random gaining of a new skill just before defeat—the battle will probably be interrupted by a million inner monologues and deeply emotional flashbacks before the fight ends. While these aren't always pointless, they can be annoying if too many are grouped together in one go.
So, we've noted down the worst, most overused anime tropes—but what about better ones we want to see more of? Let's jump into that next.
1. Isekai or Alternate Universe
Okay, okay—technically, isekai (where characters are transported to a different world or universe, often one that involves a fantasy or game-like setting) is an overdone trope. But this trope also usually paves the way for extremely interesting stories, characters, and what-ifs.
2. A Banger Opening
Sure, maybe you're used to skipping the intro every time you click the next episode. But the reason why good openings deserve a proper watch-through isn't because of their catchy tunes—it's also because they typically include mini spoilers, scenes pulled from the series that you'll only recognize later on. Sometimes, you might even be able to predict how the series will go just by playing the opening sequence.
3. The Power of Friendship
You've heard the saying "two heads are better than one," so what's more powerful than the strength of friendship? Whether it's fighting alongside their best pals or protecting the people they cherish, heroes are stronger when they're fueled by love and friendship. It's no wonder why it's such a popular anime trope, and one of the best.
4. Found Family
Perhaps even more heartwarming is the found family trope. This is when characters form a connection in unlikely ways, despite not being related by blood. This trope might seem similar to the power of friendship, given that both focus on the unbreakable bonds between the characters.
5. Strong Female Characters
Who wants to watch anime after anime with weak damsels in distress? Boring. Instead, we want strong female characters who have cool designs, gear, and fight alongside everyone else. We want women to be the stars of the show, who resist the trend of always needing to be saved and are instead the ones doing the saving.
6. Cool Transformations
Okay, some transformations can run a tad long, and no one wants to watch an outfit change that takes half of the episode. However, some transformations are worth it, if only because the sequences are just cool to look at.
7. Hero & Villain Team Up
While most series divide heroes from villains so distinctly you could never think to root for the dark side, other series might actually pave opportunities for both sides to team up. This allows for better character development—and might just make you see the villains in a different light.
8. Redemption Arc
Even better than having heroes and villains team up? Seeing the villains turn a new leaf and actually become good. It's even better when you see this change slowly, and you start to understand their story, perspective, and growth.
9. Tournament Arc
Many shounen series also include a tournament arc, which often consists of the characters engaging in nonstop battles or—if you're watching sports anime—matches. And if you like action, this trope is great, because instead of being spoon-fed mundane exposition, you're constantly treated to epic showdowns.
10. Bittersweet or Unhappy Endings
Many anime series might fit their protagonists with plot armor, but sometimes, you'll get hit with the unthinkable: a tragic ending. Maybe the main lead doesn't survive, or maybe they never reach the goal they intended to reach. Whatever it is, while this trope can be refreshing (in the fact that it's more realistic), it's also bittersweet.
