Anime has been around for centuries, and it has evolved over that time. Specific trends come and go in the anime world, and sometimes it can be fun to look back at what has changed over the last 5 years. Here are some of the prominent trends in anime since 2012!
6 Trends in Anime over the last 6 years – Alenz
1. Anime films
Anime films are the newest addition to the anime culture, and they are here to stay. Anime films take the best of anime – fantastic action scenes, deep characters, moving stories, intense drama – and condense them into 2 or 3 hours (or sometimes more!). It entails that there is no filler material; everything has meaning, although it might not be evident at first. People who love anime films also love anime because they get fantastic value for their money! Quite a few anime films, both good and bad, have emerged in the last five years. Some examples are “Evangelion 3.0”, “Iron-Blooded Orphans,” “Macross F Returns,” and “King of Thorn.” Anime films have gained tremendous popularity throughout the world. They are being released in cinemas and being shown alongside Hollywood films in some countries.
2. CGI animation
CGI animation has become increasingly widespread in the world of anime. This form of energy is more expensive than traditional 2D, but that’s because it gives creators a lot more freedom to use special effects, 3D movement, or other things that are very difficult if not impossible to create with traditional 2D animation alone. The use of CGI has been limited in the past, but now it’s being used more and more. The reason that production companies have begun using CGI for their animation is pretty simple: The technology needed to do so has been developed dramatically over the last few years from a technical and economic standpoint. CGI is significantly cheaper to use than 2D, and the gap between them has widened even further with time.
3. Short series anime
This anime genre has become very popular since 2012. It’s generally anime that is either 12 or 13 episodes, but some can go as short as 3 or 4 episodes. This trend in anime has made it easier for people to find new shows, and it also makes anime more accessible to those who don’t have the time to watch long series. Short series anime is most attractive for the compelling storyline and animation because of the creativity put into such a series. They have a compelling storyline or plot – it’s primarily present in mystery and detective-themed anime. Plot twists are typically unexpected changes to the story’s property, and they’re usually used as a way to keep watchers interested and engaged.
4. Variety in anime art
Different art styles are now more common in anime, which has increased the diversity of the genre! Anime can look very different from one another nowadays, but it adds to watching anime. Animation is no longer a limiting factor for many watchers, so they are much more willing to experiment with their watch shows! The overpowered main character with a twistAnimation is much more detailed than it used to be, which has increased the entertainment level significantly. Much better animation styles are now present in anime, making watching them so exciting! This trend enabled much anime to become extremely popular worldwide – famous enough for people who don’t watch anime often to try out one or two by downloading it from u1337x.org season after season till they can stop.
5. Flawed characters
The flawed main character is known for its stereotypes of the ‘underdog who beats all odds’ trope and the Overpowered main character. Many anime have main characters suddenly given extreme powers, which they use to defeat the enemy. It has been done so much that it’s not even remotely original anymore, but people have started to love these characters for their own sake. Even though the trope has become overused, people still adore that sort of protagonist! But now, The main character in the anime is no longer an overpowered hero with no weaknesses – they are often flawed and sometimes even pitiful. This kind of character communicates much more realistic traits to watchers, which makes them more accessible for them to relate to. An example of this type of character would be Vash in Trigun.
6. Strong female leads
Anime with strong female leads has been around for a long time, but never before has the genre exploded like it did in 2012. Many animes have pushed for this trend within themselves, but Sword Art Online is one of the most popular ones to do so. While the anime mainly focuses on swords, magic is also used heavily in the fight to survive. There’s also a lot of romance and comedy, but the show puts these as secondary points behind the action and adventure that drives the plot. There are so many anime with female leads who don’t need any man to help them save the world. You can find these characters in shounen and shoujo animes alike: Korra from “Legend of Korra”; Homura from “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”; Usagi from “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.”
Conclusion
In the past, most animes had a solid plot line which dictated the show. However, throughout the last few years, there has been a rise in the number of very popular anime that are more fluid, with less of an overarching plot. Make sure you are on the lookout for these trends the next time you watch anime.