Chosen By Fate

Stratadrake · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:51 am Post subject:

It might take a bit of explaining, but I'm sure you'll already know what I'm talking about.

The pattern, the archetype, or the clich (if you will) of any anime, manga, or cartoon is pretty simple when you think about it. Bottom line, is that the main characters, the protagonists -- the ones upon whom the show centers and revolves around -- are always involved in some quest to save the known world or major portion thereof.

Why, and how, does this come about? Why does such a burden always fall upon whom it does?

Consider Inu-Yasha as a classic example. No, I haven't seen it myself, I can only go upon what others have said. It sounds like the girl Kagome is time-warped into an ancient Japanese mythological setting, befriended by InuYasha, and together they go seeking shards of some powerful jewel.

Why is it Kagome who is transported into that world? Could it not easily have been someone else?

Or take the Digimon series as another example. In the beginning of it all, there were seven kids off to summer camp, and suddenly they are mysteriously transported into the "digital world", and given a quest to restore order to it. Why them? The Digimon series eventually explains why, but sometimes you still have to wonder: what if they were not the heroes chosen? What if other characters were instead chosen to be the protagonists?

Perhaps the most ludicrous example I've heard of is that new series they're advertising on Fox called "W.i.t.c.h." -- which is in fact an anagram for the names of the five main characters. Admittedly yes, I have not seen that myself. I'm kinda disinterested by its portrayal in the commercials. "LOOK at what our initials spell!" shouts one of the protagonists to her other four comrades. Why them? Why does the burden of the series fall upon those five?

Maybe it's one of those rules, common also in RPG's, that the story always centers upon someone or somebody who will ultimately have a say in the fate of the world itself. Like RPG's, perhaps that's what gives them their fantasy quality, compared to our world where its course and direction appear set not by any one individual but by a global combination of convoluted politics and strife.

Is it too much to ask that an anime or cartoon does not involve saving the known world?

Who knows? Maybe it [b]is[/b]....
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silver_dreams · Elder Than Dirt Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 5102

Gravitation is one of the few that has nothing to do with saving anybody whatsoever. Frankly, they do more destruction to their surroundings than saving...

Kodocha as well has nothing to do with saving anyone....Yami No Matsuei really doesn't concern anyone outside the main characters....

cstdenis · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 1:20 pm Post subject:

[quote]Consider Inu-Yasha as a classic example...[/quote]
Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo from that time period.

[quote]Or take the Digimon series as another example[/quote]
As is revealed in the 8th child saga, and detailed in the first movie, it is connected to an event that took place years before the series that they were all involved in.

As for in general, there is usually SOME explaination given or in some cases just random chance.

There are also plenty that aren't like this at all. Lots of just drama series and stuff. Most shoujo anime doesn't involve any saving of the world, except in some mahou shoujo.

As an example, here is a random select of anime from my collection (I'd use a more independant source, but its more accurate If I use stuff I know)

Bold are ones that are save the world type (reasons included), Italic involve much lower stakes fighting between 2 powers.
--------

Love Hina
Onegai Teacher
[b]Geneshaft[/b] - chosen because a group of the best agents
Key, the Metal Idol
Tenamonya Voyagers
[b]Green Legend Ran[/b] - His friend is kidnapped
Pet shop of horrors
[i]Gunsmith cats[/i]
Iketeru Futari
[b]Photon the Idiot Adventures[/b] - I forget, but I belive somthing like friend is kidnapped
Haibane Renmei
Tiny snow fairy Sugar
PitaTen
Infinite Ryvius
[i]All purpose Culturial Cat Girl Nuku Nuku OAV[/i]
UFO Princess Valkyrie
[b]Puni Puni Poemi[/b] (Paridy) - No reason given, just a magic girl paridy
[b]Magic Knights Rayearth[/b] - dont know if there is a reason given, only seen a bit
[b]Final Fantasy Unlimited[/b] - Ai & Yu are Looking for their parents
Angelic Layer
Cowboy Bebop
[b]Maze OAV
Maze TV[/b] - Too complex to explain without spoilers
Kanon
Cooking Master Boy
[i]Ranma 1/2[/i]
[b]Dragon ball[/b] - ...No comment
[b]Card Captor Sakura[/b] - It was her fault
Hime-chan's ribbon
[b]Future Boy Conan[/b] - Friend kidnapped
tenchi TV
tenchi OAV
tenchi in Tokyo
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silver_dreams · Elder Than Dirt Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 5102

excuse me for sounding immature here, but

PWNED. Laughing

Lexar · Forum Stalker Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 1129

Dragon ball - ...No comment

That's not true! They have to save the world, than the world, than the world, than the universe, than the universe (and the future), than the universe and the afterlife and all dimensions! And if you count the movies they save the world maybe 8 or so times extra, and new namek too. And the afterlife in the last movie. That's a lot more than [i]just[/i] saving the world Laughing

Thirteen_Black_Roses · Has No Life Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 510

Right...and how many times did they blow up the planet while trying to save it?

It's not just a phenomenon exclusively linked to cartoons and anime. After all, what's the first thing the Fantastic Four did when they discovered their super powers? It's a cliche as old as entertainment. We shall never escape it. Take [i]Star Wars[/i] for example: young, naeive boy discovers he has special powers and goes on to save the universe. If you strip it down to the basics of the plot it's really cliche.

It would make more sense if they didn't always have the urge to make the character even more special than they already are. Like [i]Witch Hunter Robin[/i]. It was perfectly believeable within the context of the show that she had pyrokinesis, and then they went and made her a genetically engineered witch with some kind of superpowers. It wasn't enough that she was a witch, she had to be a super-witch.

Can't escape from the 'chosen person(s) saving the world,' but maybe we could have a show where the people saving the world [i]don't[/i] discover previously unknown superpowers at a vital point in the plot?

Really, if it didn't center on a small group of people, who would watch? There's got to be a main character or people won't be interested.

Raymei · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:02 am Post subject:

Real quick:
W.i.t.c.h. is not an anime (it's either French or German, forget which)
and from what i saw (tried looking up some info on it a couple months ago) I think they're following in their moms' footsteps or something, not sure.

But there are tones of animes that don't focus on saving the world; and if they do (if that's the genre) it'd be pretty boring to focus on characters that are just living day-by-day while some epic battles going on.
[i]And here we see Ichiro plowing the feild. Blissfully unaware the if the super cannon goes off the entire universe will be destroyed!!!![/i]

Usually they explain why.
Like with all the points Denis pointed out
Either someone/something to protect/save, or they have to fix the mess they made, or simply o.o if you have the power to do something when there's something wrong....you do it.

Fayore · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 6195

I remember this idea being addressed in the game Chrono Cross, at the ending, if you used the Chrono Cross element to finish the game. I don't remember what it said very well - maybe I'll play it again to find out.

...In the Gundam series, nobody is really saving the world. It's just two different sides with two different perspectives on how things should be done - so no-one is the "good guy" or the "bad guy".

Anyway. My opinion:

Even [b]if[/b] other characters were chosen to be the protagonist(s) in any given anime or game, you could easily say the same thing about them. People will always wonder what would happen if different choices are made (yet another theme in Chrono Cross); what things would be different. Everytime a choice is made, be it "this person" or "that person" to be the protagonist, every other reality that could have been created is demolished. And people will always wonder what the other realities could have been. And really, that is, at its most basic, what you're wondering about, right? (that's what I take it as, at any rate)

Why couldn't it be someone else other than Kagome that was chosen? Well, if another person was, you'd be wondering why [i]that[/i] person was chosen, and not another character. Really, there's no answer to this sort of thing. People will just have to bear with the reality that has been created.
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Stratadrake · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 11:53 am Post subject:

Thanks for the note Raymei. You guys know how I bad am when it comes to anime....
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Meredianna · Has No Life Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 526

[quote="Raymei (Raymei Ana Laramii Klise"] Real quick:
W.i.t.c.h. is not an anime (it's either French or German, forget which)
and from what i saw (tried looking up some info on it a couple months ago) I think they're following in their moms' footsteps or something, not sure.

[/quote]
Its from Disney Surprised

, w.i.t.c.h was first in italy , and about five girls with extraordinary powers theirs mission is to protect the world from the evil forces of metaworld, to succeed the girls have magical powers that can control the forces of nature: air, water, fire and earth. the main charecters are, Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, Hay lin, (W.I.T.C.H) and now is reprinted around many countries in the world Oo, The japanese one looks a bit different than the other ones, it has a bit of a anime style to it.

Inu-Yasha-fan · Very bored Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 218

I think the reason they have it as a quest is because of their history. It is rich with stories and legends. Our history has little legend and focus on real life events. (George Washinton, murders, area 51, etc.) It also might have to do with their lives. They live in small apartments and very compact cities. They want to leave, and explore. Most animes take place in large areas. (in wolf's rain, the scene changes constantly, as in many other animes) That is my thought.
Oh, and Dragon Ball Z, the original was to look for the dragon balls

shinto_grrl · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:44 pm Post subject:

First, God chooses who dies first. Then your parent do a little something. You are born. You die in 2 seconds, along with fate. Fate entered my body and told me to tell you you would die in 2 seconds. I die again. And the world smiles.
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silver_dreams · Elder Than Dirt Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 5102

...please don't spam.

Fayore · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 6195

What was that? It didn't make any sense to me in any context. :/
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silver_dreams · Elder Than Dirt Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 5102

just of of he stupid wanna-be 'goth' n00bs

Fayore · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 6195

Eehh. I couldn't even read it, much less get anything out of it - even something like that.

...

W.i.t.c.h...?

I hate those kinds of cartoons. :/ The only one I liked was Cybersix, which was an "anime" done in Japan. It just doesn't look like most anime because they decided to keep the art style of the comic.
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cstdenis · Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 3:33 am Post subject:

Cybersix I belive was actually a Canada Japanese co-production.
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Fayore · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 6195

Maybe. That, I'm not too sure about. I just know that it was done mainly by Japanesee people, from a comic of Augustinian origin.

...

Dude, I sure hope I spelled that one right. o.o;
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Fayore · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 6195

Lol.

The link says, "A GatoxHazel illustration!?"

The rest of it says, "Has there ever been an illustration so obvious in Saiyuuki until now?"

Yay, Saiyuuki. o.o;

Couldn't help it; I adore that picture and what the person said amused me terribly. =P

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Kaede-chan · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:32 am Post subject:

I myself like the W.I.T.C.H comic, though not the cartoon, I don't like the style (or the voices...) But anyway, it sounds like you have only been watching particular shonen anime. I mean, take Azumanga Daioh! All one really needs to save is one's [i]sanity[/i] in that anime! And Fruits Basket! Sure, Tohru is trying to save the Sohmas and break their curse, but she took it upon herself, nobody told her to. In fact, characters keep telling her to stop! Not every anime is a godsent quest. Even in Inuyasha, (which, I admit, I have only read of,) Kagome fell down a well to get to Inuyasha's dimention-thing, and not too many people fall down wells. Also, it's sorta her fault the jewel is in shards, that must be the reason she's tagging along.

Perhaps we are all thinking too hard into this. A quest to save the world makes for an exiting, entertaining plot, that's why it is used so much. But, admittedly, it doesn't need to be used. Slice-of-life stories are fun, too.
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