2011-04-12, 21:14 | Link #3 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 42° 10' N (Latitude) 87° 33' W (Longitude)
Age: 45
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You can have the best plots in a story -- BUT -- if the characters flat out suck, then it won't matter. In fact, sucky characters tend to kill plots, because their personalities would fail to drive the plot or their sheer existence won't make sense. Often times, good character personalities "create" good plots on their own.
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2011-04-12, 21:36 | Link #4 |
tl;dr
Join Date: Jan 2009
Age: 32
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It's not really clear-cut but I'd say there's definitely a spectrum of more plot-based vs. more character-based. Ghost in the Shell is the best example I can think up of something that's more plot-based than character-based, while Minami-ke is something I'd consider more character-based than plot-based.
I've actually felt that most anime have strong characters or, even if they have a large focus on the running plot, also give the characters a lot of focus. Then again that's most likely heavily biased by the kind of shows that I tend to watch. So I guess I prefer character-driven shows.
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2011-04-12, 23:12 | Link #6 | |
Anime Cynic
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: USA
Age: 35
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MHS, on the other hand, has no plot to speak of. You're told that Haruhi's a god, Yuki's an alien, etc., and everything that happens afterwards is a result of who they are, rather than something they have to accomplish. Here, the plots only exist because of what the characters are doing. There's no direction, no conclusion to reach, nothing like that. It's totally character driven. As for the original question, I prefer a combination of the two; something in the vein of Neon Genesis Evangelion or Elfen Lied. A good, strong, tight plot needs to exist to drive the story, but the characters have to be thoroughly entwined in it.
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2011-04-13, 01:34 | Link #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
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2011-04-13, 01:58 | Link #8 | |
On a mission
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2011-04-13, 13:08 | Link #9 |
Okuyasu the Bird
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Age: 32
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As much as I like a good story with a unique premise and well-done excecution, I have to agree that if the characters aren't likeable then I wouldn't be able to tolerate it at all.
This is only if I like none of the characters though, which doesn't happen very often. Even if there's just one I like then I tend to stick it out through the whole thing.
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2011-04-13, 15:08 | Link #12 |
Knight Errant
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 35
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I find Comedies, Slice of Life and Drama tend to be Character driven, while Thrillers, Sci-fi and Action tend to be Plot driven.
Kaiji, Eden of the East or Liar game would be quite plot driven, it's characters reacting to odd circumstances. Same would go for Code Geass, or Death Note (even if the characters drive the plot). How much you're focusing on the events rather then characters emotions is what divides it. Something like Macross is more difficult to pin down as inordinate amounts of time are spent on the love triangle. Generally speaking however Anime is more character driven then plot driven, there is always someone the audience identifies with and follows, there's almost always one central character (or duo in romances). A western movie or series more frequently have fiction focusing both on ensembles or single characters. It's a cultural difference I guess. |
2011-04-13, 15:22 | Link #13 | |
=^^=
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 42° 10' N (Latitude) 87° 33' W (Longitude)
Age: 45
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Funny. Too bad, Americans did not come up with Macross because the Wild West theme very much fits in with that theme. Pioneering and settlement. That's most of America's history in the 19th century. Just one episode to the Iron Man anime pointed out this major cultural difference.
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2011-04-13, 17:18 | Link #15 |
Sorri++
Join Date: Apr 2006
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characters? the anime coming out now-a-days (it's like a bubble for anime... in other words crap is being splurged out endlessly till this bubble pops) have really shoddy/crappy characters that not only suck but even go as far as to irritate the viewer. they are very soulLESS. I can't put in any other words except soulLESS. A good example is Love Hina. none of them had souls.
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2011-04-13, 17:45 | Link #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Part of me wonders if some posters on here really understand the difference between character driven and plot driven stories. A show that has a mediocre or just plain bad cast of characters can still be considered a character driven story.
I think a good comparison to look at for this topic is a couple of Studio BONES' works, Fullmetal Alchemist and Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto. Fullmetal Alchemist is a great example of a plot driven show: the Elric Brothers go on a journey to find a way to reverse their mistake. Sure, you learn more about the Elrics and the support cast, as well as their problems and the decisions they have to make. But where the show goes is dictated by the goal the Elrics have, which makes it plot driven. Star Driver, on the other hand, is most definitely character driven. Does it have a plot? Yes, and Takuto certainly has his own goals. But when a show devotes more of its time to school life, looks into the problems and secrets of characters (including minor ones) and doesn't come back to the main character's goals until the end of the show, you know it's not plot driven. Just based on what I've watched and what are my favorites, I can safely say that I prefer plot driven stories. Being a fan of fantasy and action, I love a fast pace and things happening. If I want to learn more about a character, I'd rather they reveal it through action instead of going on extended monologue. As far as what's popular and what the majority prefer, I think demographics are the answer. Younger viewers generally like plot driven stories, whereas older ones are more into characters. Of course, this doesn't hold true to everyone, but that appears to be the tendency. |
2011-04-15, 00:44 | Link #17 |
Yuri µ'serator
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: FL, USA
Age: 36
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While I do enjoy a series with an interesting plot, it isn't a requirement in fact next to no plot can be present and I still enjoy a series. So I'd say character driven is more important to me, but character driven plots in say something like Wandering Son can be very good .
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2011-04-15, 05:24 | Link #18 |
Senior Member
Artist
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The Middle Way
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i suppose i prefer the character thing, i do enjoy monologues (my life is character driven and is almost always accompanied by my little monologues and conversations that i have with myself in my head) so i suppose it shows in my preference in anime
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2011-04-15, 05:39 | Link #19 | |
Knight Errant
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 35
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