Filthy Casual for Life

Tropes. You can’t have literature without them. Same goes with anime and any visual media.

What is a trope? Simply put, it is a common or overused theme, plot device, or character type.

There are definitely tropes that I enjoy in anime, and some not so much.

Shouting attack names. I love it when characters yell their ridiculously long attack names or spell chants. I always laugh and wonder whether it is really necessary for a character to do so. However, I have decided that some scenes would not flow correctly if it weren’t for the attack name shoutout.

The infamous beach episode. It wouldn’t be an anime without the quintessential beach episode. Chalk this one up to a trope I don’t enjoy. They often don’t add any value to the series other than to see everyone enjoying a day at the beach. BOOORING.

The charismatic villain. I love me a charismatic villain. There is something so attractive about a good villain to me. Examples are Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter and Muzan from Demon Slayer. There is something so evil and tasty about them!

The ridiculously powerful student council. Add this one to the “I could do without” list. Maybe something is lost in translation, but student councils here in the States are often powerless. Typically, students only join them to get that accolade to put on their college applications.

Isekai. Isekai is technically a genre, but the genre has a formula that can be argued as a trope. I love a good isekai.

Fan service. I am generally not a fan of fan service. Often, it adds nothing to the plot. However, if done tastefully, I don’t mind it.

The ridiculously overpowered main character perk. I love it, I love it, I love it! It’s absolutely bonkers, but I love it. I enjoy a main character pummeling anything it comes across. It makes for good action.

The pervert. I think the pervert trope needs to die. It isn’t funny to me. Unfortunately, one of my favorite anime, Mushoku Tensei, has a pervert for the main character. It was pretty hard for me to stomach the pervert portions of the anime.

What are some anime tropes you do or do not like?