Anime pet peeves

[Inutena]

Inspired by this guy, I'm starting a thread here about anime pet peeves. What are some things you see in anime that really gets on your nerves? Those things that make you think, "This would be good if it weren't for the [insert peeve]."

Here are mine (a few can be applied to the manga thread I started too):

1. Airbrushing

AKA, Showing the fans the show is over budget (I'm looking at you, Visions of Escaflowne and the last episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion). Besides being annoying and completely out of step with the visual style of the series, it just looks bad. And it often happens right in the middle of the thing, which is worse! At least if I know it's airbrushed I can just skip the whole thing. But noooooooo . . .

2. Filler episodes

'Nuff said. Filler episodes can partly be blamed for #1. Instead of doing filler episodes, how about people save money by focusing on the actual storyline?

3. Dull lead characters

I can tolerate this more in a movie because it's short, and there's only so much character you can reveal. For a series, the lead character had better be the most interesting person there. If all you have for the lead character is sweet and/or funny, get back to the drawing board or find another character who has more to her than a couple of adjectives.

That's why I liked Inuyasha so much (*ducks and runs*). Every character has their normal M.O., but there are interesting contradictions and intriguing layers beneath that. Ditto Revolutionary Girl Utena.

[norco]

my pet peeve is the when lead female character is all rough and tough and can defend herself EXCEPT when there's a male toon around to save her. seems like there's a lot of anime out there like this. It doesn't stop me from watching it though.

[KiraRin]

I hate totally OTT CG effects that do just not blend with the rest of the series. See Demonbane, Bakuretsu Tenshi and Blassreiter for some prime examples of this phenomenon >.<

H.

[Inutena]

Originally Posted by norco

my pet peeve is the when lead female character is all rough and tough and can defend herself EXCEPT when there's a male toon around to save her. seems like there's a lot of anime out there like this. It doesn't stop me from watching it though.

OMG, yes!

Do you count Kagero from Ninja Scroll in that? Or is she different?

[Lemur]

I think all of my per peeves are centered around a single thing.

You see, the last 3 pages of a book are the most important. The last 5 minutes of a movie likewise. Yet somehow, in anime, good endings are rare. So my pet peeves are:

1. Reset endings- GAAAHHH!!!
2. Cliff hanger endings - Almost as bad as reset endings
3 non-endings - Must I say anything?

[valondar]

You know what's worse than filler episodes?

Clip shows. Well, I suppose they have the advantage of conserving the animation budget, but at least a filler episode intends to be a new installment.

Occasionally they can work... Serial Experiments Lain has a pretty good half-clip episode... but that's rare.

Hm. Aside from that I'd say bad music. The amount of anime with mediocre-to-bad music is rather depressing.

[Elminster]

Originally Posted by KiraRin

I hate totally OTT CG effects that do just not blend with the rest of the series. See Demonbane, Bakuretsu Tenshi and Blassreiter for some prime examples of this phenomenon >.<

H.

oh yea now that you mention it I do remember all the terribly integrated CG stuff in Burst Angel.

I also despise recap episodes as well. When I get to a recap episode I just skim through em for new content then go to the next one.

[Inutena]

Originally Posted by valondar

I'd say bad music. The amount of anime with mediocre-to-bad music is rather depressing.

*shudder*

I hate J-pop. I really do. I think I have this part of my brain that short-circuits whenever I hear it. I tend to fast-forward or skip past the intro and ending songs. Either that or run out of the room holding my ears. So I sort of blank it out of my memory.

[VivisQueen]

Originally Posted by Inutena

OMG, yes!

Do you count Kagero from Ninja Scroll in that? Or is she different?

Kagero is different. For one, she's not a tsundere (rough and tough). She's a dignified, tragic character with surprising subtleties consideirng it's a short shounen movie. She mostly holds her own. However, she does get objectified on a couple of occasions (the ususal constant threat of rape *yawn*, guys making lewd comments etc).

Basically the 'I'm tough until a guy comes along' thing is my main and only pet peeve. Nothing gets me riled up like that. Yoko from TTGL is a prime example. She does almost nothing. For all her gun totin', she rarely saves the day (unless she's saving more vulnerable humans like kids). Oh, and the stupid twatty lead from Full Metal Panic (although I have no problem with her in Fumoffu).

If you want anime without that sexist shit, definitely try ***Seirei no Moribito***, Rose of Versailles, and Daughter of Twenty Faces. Kick-ass female leads, intelligent characterisation, and excellent plotting in all three.

[Inutena]

Originally Posted by VivisQueen

Kagero is different. For one, she's not a tsundere (rough and tough). She's a dignified, tragic character with surprising subtleties consideirng it's a short shounen movie. She mostly holds her own. However, she does get objectified on a couple of occasions (the ususal constant threat of rape *yawn*, guys making lewd comments etc).

Tell me about it.

Note to future anime artists: Please stop doing this shit!

Originally Posted by VivisQueen

Basically the 'I'm tough until a guy comes along' thing is my main and only pet peeve. Nothing gets me riled up like that. Yoko from TTGL is a prime example. She does almost nothing. For all her gun totin', she rarely saves the day (unless she's saving more vulnerable humans like kids). Meh.

Precisely. I'm waiting for a truly feminist anime. I won't hold my breath, though.

Originally Posted by VivisQueen

If you want anime without that shit, definitely try Seirei no Moribito, Rose of Versailles, and Daughter of Twenty Faces. All three excellent anime to boot.

Hm. That's the second Rose of Versaille rec I've seen (the first one based off Revolutionary Girl Utena). I'll have to get my hands on it. Know somewhere I can get it on the cheap (PM me if you do)?