Xebek\’s Blog

Ok, recently I was asked a question about why a majority of the anime I was looking forward to in the coming season and coming year even were eroge game anime. I hadn’t really thought about it it, nor had I noticed that I had picked a large sum of those kind of anime, so it got me thinking…

When people thing of ero game adaptations, they think of harem. If it’s adapted from that kind of game then the anime MUST be all about several girls just trying to jump a guy. Well that’s simply not true. For the most part a majority of the anime can be considered harem though, it is about several girls and one guy. However that does in no way mean that all the anime is about are the several girls trying to jump the guy. In many cases, that’s not true at all. Feelings don’t develop between anyone for a while, and its not that everyone loves one guy right off the bat, it’s that after character development and plot. Although the harem genre may carry with it a lot of the mistakes and reputation of the less then outstanding former harem shows, the genre does not go hand in hand with the quality of the show, as there are several things within the genre that can define the show.

The one thing that ero game anime focus on a lot is character development. They don’t deal with plot all that much because it is a normal surrounding, generally the setting of school. However because it doesn’t have to focus on saving the world or whatnot it really gives it one of the main reasons that I love them so much. I’m not saying that I love every anime like this, and not that every anime has a lot of character development, but for the most part that is what they “try” to focus on and it can really be quite interesting and worthwhile when they get it right. They show not just the main character changing, but also the several girls who are involved. They show their personalities changing and reacting to the relationships they are involved in. This does usually pertain to feelings that the girl has for the guy, but that isn’t the sole focus of the show. Just because Girl A will end up with the guy in the end doesn’t mean that B though D or whatever get no involvement. It is even sometimes the case that those other girls get a much more interesting story by themselves because of the drama in either not getting the guy or just their situation. It is usually obvious whom the guy ends up with, but that doesn’t mean that the other characters just get abandoned.

Ero game anime are in no way perfect. They have their flaws, continuing clichés, and several plot/character developments that are predictable. And sure there are many more other anime out there that are very unique, however a majority isn’t, which does not make it bad. Just because it’s a “School Romance”, “Mecha”, or “Action” anime doesn’t mean it is just like all the others. Zegapain and Gundam are nothing alike, yet they are both mecha. Even with things not as on the opposite end of the spectrum such as that are unique in their own way. Ero game anime may have similar settings but what makes them apart is the characters and the eventual plot dealing with the characters. Two particular anime may have a school setting, a main guy who isn’t necessarily spineless, but in a situation where he is just a nice guy who is likable. There may be a childhood friend, older girl, and then a couple with unique hobbies or backgrounds. However even with two anime with those same BROAD specs, they can be different. Hell, that’s life. Everyone’s life and relationship with those who are around them ARE NOT the same. And ero game anime generally follow the theme of life. So just like those anime may have those similar specs, just like life may have similar specs of two people who go to school, have a crush on some girl and some friends, their lives will not be the same. It’s the same for the anime, they are different, they may be very similar but I don’t think you can dismiss it because of its source material and genre. It may not be different in the best way, maybe not more then other kinds, but they are not all instantly bad because of a damn genre. Genres do not make an anime, the characters and plot do.

I don’t know, perhaps I’m just odd in that I tend to look forward to them or watch them. I don’t like every anime of this kind at all, but I generally seem to want to watch it just because its interesting to see something more focused on the characters then anything else, whether it turns out to be good or bad. When a gem that is unique but still keeps the things that cause me to like or look forward to this kind, all the better. I can’t wait till True Tears comes out, and I even know nothing about it basically, just that its an ero game adaption school setting anime, which for now is enough for me.

Xeby-chan, signing off.