Anime is often criticized for its limiting reliance on genre tropes and cliches, most of which lazily migrate from series to series. Yet, tropes in fiction are unavoidable, as the term simply refers to popular and easily recognizable plot elements, themes, or storytelling devices. Utilization of common tropes is a shortcut to creating an impactful story. In masterful creative hands, tropes can become a powerful tool for expectation subversion, nuanced characterization, and even annihilation of narrative boundaries.
Tropes don’t have to be associated with dull writing, even if they inevitably become that way in imitative fiction. Some tropes are actually plot elements audiences want to see more of in their favorite stories. Commonly used and disappointingly underrepresented, these amazing anime tropes should be incorporated into more series.
10 Hero & Villain Team-Up
Anime prides itself on creating compelling villains who often resonate with the audiences even more than the heroes. Many iconic anime rivals are simply two sides of the same coin, chasing similar goals through opposite approaches. However, when a menace threatens to harm something both antagonists and protagonists hold dear, it results in a satisfying team-up between heroes and villains.
From the Port Mafia and the Armed Detective Agency regularly putting their differences aside to save Yokohama in Bungou Stray Dogs to Marley and Paradis soldiers fighting the Rumbling together in Attack on Titan, this cathartic trope never disappoints.
9 Accidental Hero
Long gone are the days when the chosen one was the hero archetype everyone loved to see. Nowadays, more and more anime realize that a protagonist who never intended to save the world but was forced to act like a hero by circumstances is much more relatable and emotionally charged.
Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen never intended to get involved with Curses and Sorcerers – he was just unfortunate enough to eat Sukuna’s finger in a dire situation. And the titular protagonist of The Irresponsible Captain Tylor is too unobservant and carefree to even realize his actions are actually heroic.
8 Unhappy Ending
Everyone loves their favorite stories to end with a good old-fashioned happily-ever-after. Yet, it’s refreshing to see anime stray from the happy end formula and experiment with darker themes and unexpectedly tragic finales. The most iconic bittersweet conclusion in anime comes from Cowboy Bebop, which infamously ends with Spike’s death.
Modern anime experiments with tragic themes even more willingly, and fans are surprisingly eager to see their favorite characters suffer. While the first part of Chainsaw Man climaxes with Denji’s triumph, the excruciating losses he suffered right until the end make the finale sorrowful.
7 Strategic Battles
While it’s fun to watch in awe as battle shonen protagonists relentlessly exchange punches with no thought or reason behind them, tactical battles will always be more entertaining than mindless combat. Space operas and mecha are often built around the parties wrestling for strategic advantage and engaging in tense mind games.
Yet, sci-fi classics like Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Code Geass aren’t the only shows where brains always win against brawn. More conventional shonen series like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure pride themselves on clever, cunning approach to battle, as each character tries to exploit their opponent’s weaknesses.
6 Friendly Rivalry
Nothing humanizes a bad guy quite as effectively as a friendly relationship with their heroic rival. Frenemies often share the most earnest and complex bonds in anime, which makes them a fan-favorite character trope. One Piece’s Sanji and Zoro bicker all the time but still have each others’ back when the situation gets dire.
Yet, not all affectionate rivalries lean closer to the friendly side of things. L and Light from Death Note might’ve understood one another better than anyone else. Yet, in the end, Light’s ambitions still make him kill his friendly rival, ending their relationship with a tragedy.
5 Tournament Arcs
Despite being a staple of anime for a long time, tournament arcs haven’t lost any of their appeal. This trope is likely to never become outdated, as no other plot builds up anticipation and excitement like a well-executed tournament arc. Some genres, like sports anime, are structured like one lengthy tournament showdown, which explains their popularity and mass appeal.
The Dark Tournament from Yu Yu Hakusho will always be the golden standard of this kind of plot in anime. However, newer series, like My Hero Academia with its U.A. Sports Festival arc, prove that this trope can still fire up fans.
4 Silent Showdowns
Heroes and villains exchanging questions and diving into their tragic backstories in the middle of a tense fight are joked about constantly in the anime community. Not only does this redundant trope break the showdown’s tension, but it also prolongs the fight scenes beyond a reasonable number of episodes.
Thankfully, the opposite trope, while rare, also exists in anime – silent, intense battles that focus on the characters’ movements and subtle emotions instead of their words. Samurai anime like Katanagatari and Sword of the Stranger are especially good at conveying the weight of the encounter without the need for dialogue.
3 Morally Gray Protagonists
A good-natured hero might be an easy protagonist to root for, but a main character whose actions are more morally ambiguous will always be more interesting to follow. From anti-heroes to villain protagonists, anime loves the trope of main characters with gray morals.
It’s up to the viewers to decide if Guts’ bloodlust and uncontrollable violent urges make him the villain or hero of the Berserk world. Hei from Darker than Black is a professional killer who rarely stops to think about his actions, yet, some see his noble deeds as more indicative of his nature than the crimes he commits.
2 Genre Deconstruction
Most anime genres and tropes follow very specific conventional structures. Yet, the most interesting exemplars of each genre take these established notions apart, subverting their meaning by sabotaging the viewers’ expectations. Anime is especially fond of deconstructing magical girl shojo, a genre typically associated with lighthearted, predictable stories.
Beginning with Revolutionary Girl Utena and Princess Tutu, both dark and violent plays on shojo and romance tropes, the trend culminated with Puella Magi Madoka Magica, a horror take on the magical girl power fantasy. Genre deconstructions are an effective way to uncover new meanings in otherwise stale narratives.
1 Found Family
There’s hardly a trope more wholesome and comforting than a family of choice. Sometimes, the closest bonds aren’t determined by blood but are forged through similar ideals and unconditional support between people who gradually grow to rely on each other. Gintama’s iconic trio, Kagura, Shinpachi, and Gintoki, all lost loved relatives only to find a new home in their eccentric crew.
The Straw Hat Pirates of One Piece might all be chasing individual dreams, but they would never bring them joy unless they can share them with their found family. Families of choice in anime are unconventional and flawed but infinitely loving.
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