Ask John: Why Does Serious Anime Include Comic Relief?

Question:
I love the serious parts of anime/manga, but could never get over the silly faces and sweat and gushing noses that appeared once in a while. I understand those things are part of anime/manga, but I felt they broke the stories and characters in two (for example the “serious warrior” and the “pushover” in Kenshin). I have waited for my favorite shows to keep all the other elements that make them great while doing away with the more light-hearted, childish elements. I become really involved in the stories, and feel that these elements take away from what the story could be. Am I alone in thinking this, or are there other fans that love shounen but can’t stand sweatdrops/bloody noses/out-of-place panty shots, etc.?

Answer:
I apologize for re-stating what I’ve said so many times before, but once again I find it relevant to reiterate that anime is made for Japanese viewers, so it contains characteristics that appeal to Japanese viewers. The majority of Japanese anime fans prefer lighthearted, funny anime. For every consistently heavy and somber anime series like Berserk, Hellsing, Saikano, Basilisk, or Fafner there will be a half dozen cheerier, more playful anime like DearS, Girls Bravo, Onmyou Taisenki, Hachikuro, Ichigo 100%, etc.

There are enough fans in Japan that appreciate moody or constantly dramatic anime to support the production of shows like Monster, Kurau ~Phantom Memory~, Speed Grapher, Gantz, Gankutsuou, Gunslinger Girl, and Aquarion, but these shows rarely become big mainstream Japanese hits, and even less frequently get extended beyond 26 episode TV seasons, if they even recieve that many episodes. Much more frequently, as you’ve pointed out, Japanese creators and animators compromise by addressing shows to both audiences. Programs like Bleach, Trinity Blood, Sunabozu, Bakuretsu Tenshi, Rozen Maiden, and Scrapped Princess are serious, dramatic shows that ease their tension with humorous asides and comical gags.

Anime, after all, is intended to be entertainment. Anime strives to avoid being condescending or insultingly stupid, but also often tries to avoid being too heavy or daunting. I don’t know for certain, but I suspect that Japanese viewers are more likely to continue watching shows that are easy to watch, opposed to constantly serious programs that require a significant emotional and intellectual commitment. Serious, dramatic shows can be psychologically draining to watch. Lighter shows, or dramatic shows that ease their relentless tension with humor, can be more appealing to many viewers because they’re easier to casually enjoy.