Ask John: Why Do Long Anime Have Such Simple Plots?

Question:
Why is it that most longer anime seem to have more simpistic plots than shorter ones? For example, shorter series like Evangelion, Escaflowne, and Berserk have very deep plots, but longer series like Dragonball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Card Captors have far more simple and straight forward storylines. Is there any reason you can think of for this?

Answer:
It may seem unbelievable or ironic that the most intricately plotted and often most lushly drawn anime are usually not the most successful titles released, but that is the case. But that’s not to imply that poor quality anime is frequently successful either. There are actually logical reasons why particular types of anime are as relatively successful as they are, but these reasons aren’t ones that Western fans are normally conscious of. Long running, massively successful anime series often have common characteristics including broad characterizations, drawn out stories, simple plots, and an avoidance of philosophical drama. These characteristics can be seen in anime titles including Dragonball, Sailormoon, One Piece, Detective Conan, Yu Yu Hakusho, Inuyasha, Naruto, Prince of Tennis, and many other mainstream Japanese hits. In comparison, shows like Berserk, Cowboy Bebop, RahXephon, Evangelion, Chobits, Trigun and many other more mature and complex series usually last only one season. The reason for this lies in the target audience particular types of anime are made for.

Highly successful mainstream anime titles are suitable for viewers of all ages. Families can sit together and enjoy Inuyasha or Detective Conan or One Piece. The relatively slow pace these shows maintain and their extended story arcs allow viewers who miss a week or two to dive back into the story easily without losing track of what’s going on or what’s happened. The broad, cheerful characterizations also serve to make these anime more accessible and appealing to a broader audience. Son Goku and Lufy D. Monkey are simple minded, kind hearted characters. Naruto Uzumaki is the perpetually optimistic underdog. Inuyasha is dependable and loyal. Usagi Tsukino of Sailormoon is carefree and easy going. Shinichi Kudo of Detective Conan is bright (in both the intelligent and cheerful sense of the word) and has a wry sense of irony. Notice that none of these primary characters are tortured souls, wracked with emotional conflict. The confused and angry protagonists of Cowboy Bebop and Berserk and Evangelion may be interesting for die-hard anime fans, but they’re not appealing to mainstream family viewers simply interested in temporary, unpretentious fantasy entertainment.

The fact that shows like Inuyasha and Dragonball and One Piece are approachable and straightforward, though, does not mean that they are condescending or dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. In fact, these shows are as successful as they are because they’re good enough to be appealing to a broad audience without dumbing down or pandering. Contrary to the first instinct of Westerners, in the case of popular anime, the fact that a title is popular doesn’t immediately mean that it’s too simplistic or basic or stupid to be taken seriously. Anime series that are made for the smaller core audience of hardcore otaku provide what these devoted fans want to see. Likewise, mainstream anime like Yu Yu Hakusho and Inuyasha and Sailormoon aim for a larger viewer base and offer their viewers what they’re seeking. There’s no real difference in the quality of storytelling between “otaku” shows and “mainstream” anime shows. The difference is only in style. So often times the most successful and popular anime in Japan intentionally have simple plots and characters that anyone would like to be friends with. In fact, these characteristics aren’t a weakness. They’re very carefully constructed literary elements designed to make these shows enjoyable and long lasting. There’s definitely merit to art that challenges viewers with its depth and complexity. On the other hand, it’s said that there’s also a lot of artistic talent at work in making art seem natural and not like art.