The Cycle Of The Anime

[CrystalBeast]

The anime is really just.. dead. I hope it'll be more different in BW but I put my money on 'no'. Anyways,

"Begins the journey, meets a rival"

"Ton of Fillers"

"Meet New Friend"

"Gets First Badge"

"Repeat 2 and 3"

"Meets Antagonist Team"

"Badge"

"Tons of Fillers"

"7 and 8"

"7 and 8.. All the way to eighth"

"Battle with antagonist"

"Last gym"

"Pokemon League, in BW there would be probably N in their crashing it"

"Ash loses again"

"Everything resets like if nothing ever happened"

"Repeat, but this time with a new layer of paint on it"


God, Anime is crap. But let's hope BW will change it all.

 

[Kenshin5]

Were you expecting more? Pokemon has not deviated much from the Game itself nor has the anime. This saga won't change it. Although there may be less fillers in this Unova Saga, but right now its filler time. If the anime is so crap though why do you persist on watching? You also forgot the part in your analysis where Ash gets stupidfied and Pikachu gets nerfed.

 

[ZeroX5]

You really shouldn't expect anything else. There are a number of problems with the show, and there's not much effort put into it most of the time. Hence why we have rehashed plots, themes, etc. I've said it before, the writers don't expect the 18-25 year olds to still be watching the show. They bring in new the new generation of 10 year olds with each released gen, and such an explain those theme's to them to inspire them. The older fans have see the same thing for 15+ years now. That includes Ash sucking, becoming high competent by the end of said saga, then getting "reset" and sucking again at the start of a new one. Same goes for Pikachu. Plot points about friendship, are done ad nauseum, etc. The thing is to us, we just get aggravated because theme's of friendship stuffed in out face are annoying, or Ash should be godly by now. However, to new kids this is the coolest thing in the world.

 

[CliveKoopa]

Here we go again with another anime bashing thread.

There is nothing wrong with the anime's format although I do wish they would make more Chronicles spin-offs and with characters what have nothing to do with Ash like the Legend of Thunder mini-movie. There is nothing wrong with "fillers" or what you call fillers. The term filler is quite a vague term anyway and means different things to different people. IMO very few episodes in the entire anime are true fillers as something of importance seems to happen in almost every episode.

If you don't like the anime, why did you waste your time making a whole thread just to bash it. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean other people don't.

 

[Nutella]

Would you like a medal for working this out? C'mon dude, it's been like this since the Dawn of Time. Again, like it has been said, the anime is designed for new fans, not the old.

 

[Kirbychu]

I've said it before, the writers don't expect the 18-25 year olds to still be watching the show. They bring in new the new generation of 10 year olds with each released gen, and such an explain those theme's to them to inspire them.

I wouldn't say that. I'm pretty sure the writers know they have an older fanbase, but they're definitely targeting the significantly larger core audience. Still, that older fanbase is probably the reason we get to see Ash use his older Pokemon during the Pokemon league and see references to old regions once in a while.

The thing that bugs me about BW is that it's pretending that nothing else ever happened. At least that's the vibe I'm getting. It makes sense though. Like you said, the writers know that only a tiny fraction of their audience has been following Ash since day one. Still, I miss those little bonuses, it just makes it feel like there's a continuity present. Even Team Rocket has completely changed. To be honest, I really haven't been following the anime lately (I'll catch up when I have more time and interest) but I've heard that Team Rocket regains their personalities... Anyways, the Battle Frontier was my favorite season because it really felt like it was what Ash's journey was building up to. We saw old friends and Pokemon alongside all the new ones! I love the Battle Pyramid episode where all of Ash's friends and Pokemon wished him luck on his battle.

 

[Zayin]

I wouldn't say that. I'm pretty sure the writers know they have an older fanbase, but they're definitely targeting the significantly larger core audience. Still, that older fanbase is probably the reason we get to see Ash use his older Pokemon during the Pokemon league and see references to old regions once in a while.

You know what? It'd be awesome if they made a parallel season having slightly more mature themes targeting older fans. Nothing much, but a maturity level along the lines of most anime series. The anime is super cute and relaxing, but it's redundant as hell too. Including new themes could break the cycle a bit.

 

[Lily]

I would absolutely love a more mature, serious version of the anime. As it stands, I personally think it's garbage. Absolute garbage.

I still love the first few seasons though, has a special place in my heart. I've given up keeping up with the show a long time ago. Don't think it's ever going to change, as they keep churning out more new things that make no sense to me.

 

[Baconkillszombies]

I still enjoy the anime to some extent, the small changes and new pokemon make it bearable. That said, I tend to get into it in short spurts and flip it off after week 3 and watch something else. Still, I can't help but enjoy the refinement of the norms and see some more methodical fights towards the mid-saga.

That said, I stop watching for 6 months and check back in every now and then. :P

 

[DBZ fan]

Reason is because pokemon anime is being written for small kids between 7 and 12 being writers target audience they try to attract not caring much for older fans.
Though i wouldn't say how every new region is rehash of older one.We get to see Ash development as trainer(last time he managed to get top 4 compared to previous regions)and his training and battling style are considerably different compared to his rookie days.Problem is that this steps forward come out in slow and dragged out way with occasional bone of bigger progress being made happening in rare and few between occasions(like when he won Battle Frontier).

I also agree about writers being aware of older audience.On forums like this you can find alot of people who are over 12 or in their early or late twenties still watching this show and only internet fandom alone has thousands of older fans still sticking with show.Some watched it from start while some come and go occasionally having intererest but quitting with it for various reasons.

However i have to say it does bug me lack of references to older regions and older characters being treated like they don't exist.
More of it wouldn't hurt.

Girls being replaced so often being only halfway developed,and lot of potential Ash older pokemon had being wasted is a minus in my book too.

 

[Nutella]

If you don't like the anime, why did you waste your time making a whole thread just to bash it.

You answered your own question, pal. Some people like ranting~

You know what? It'd be awesome if they made a parallel season having slightly more mature themes targeting older fans. Nothing much, but a maturity level along the lines of most anime series.

I agree. They shouldn't ice-out a particular demographic of the fandom; they should be seeing the potential of making even the occasional game or movie for older fans. I'm sure Nintendo has enough money to do so. Of course, that would be massive service on their part, and to them it would be "motiveless," seeing as us oldies are typically devoted enough to buy the games (and maybe the DVDs) regardless of the crap they churn out. They're taking cruel advantage of loyalty, bro!

Pokemon, Mario, Metroid, Legend of Zelda and Kirby... all are fantastic series, but are Nintendo's greatest evidence of the their love affair with recycling. Again, why spend time mulling over something new and interesting; risking fandom backlash (which is scarier than Gengar for any creator, especially when $$$ is involved), when the same, time-tested, safe stuff makes money and sales?

You know what? To me, the fact that the Pokemon anime repeats itself more than repetition itself isn't the worst issue- just the fact that most of the characters are boring, annoying, or both. Pokemon is naturally geared towards blatant repetition. Simplistically, battles have two outcomes- win or lose. Since we're only deeply exploring the journey of one trainer, really, there's not a lot of room for innovation. Sometimes they troll viewers with a draw, idk. Sometimes they pretend that Ash's buddies are as important.

Kids, at the end of the day, want a battle. Older kids want depth, character development, continuity, nods to previous generations... Which is easier? A random battle or spending more time on all of those other marketably risky, time-consuming mumbo-jumbo?

In a perfect world, there would be Pokemon as it is now and Pokemon geared towards the older, maturing fans. Developmental fillers. Deeper sidequests. Sadly, it won't ever happen. It's easier to make a formula that pleases everyon enough, rather than making two to make everyone very happy. Damn Nintendo, being all about money~ it's a business, after all. LOL, and another series is just way too much effort on their part, however much I want it to happen!