AnimeSuki Forums

Archon_Wing · 2013-05-19, 14:01

Once in a while I've seen people throw around the term "death flag". I've never given much thought to it, though I imagine it relates to a bad choice in visual novels? Now I probably would recognize them in anime, though I figure that it'd be good to have them in one place. I'm much more familiar with them in western works, such as the guy that's gonna retire in 2 days. They never do.

It'd be nice to also tier the flags, such as "not having a name" "only having a first name" "splitting up" "wandering into a dark secluded place for no reason" increases chance of dying horribly by 500%. Etc.

The one I would recognize first, was being a secondary love interest in Gundam. Never do that one; it's like auto gg.

TL;DR If you were an anime character, name everything you would avoid doing and being at all costs, assuming you don't want to die. I suppose if you were in a crappy series, that would not be true, but oh well. And of course, for the sake of discussion it'd be nice to consider why it gets used.

Kirayuki · 2013-05-19, 14:16

I guess the most familar one for me is from Gundam series and to some extent several mecha shows. If I am a character in there (especially Tomino works), I will avoid any act of expressing my love to love interest or be ultra careful with my confession

, especially if you are heading into a Final Battle

.

Out of my head,

Spoiler for Example:

EDIT :

Well since my example was mentioned already, I guess I will throw out another one.

I think some characters with strong curiosity, mainly in some mystery/horror shows, is another example that I'm familiar with. Knowing too much sometimes can never be a good thing >_>

Generally, I don't really like death flag because it can take some of the surprises away from the show. But some exceptions have shown me that if done right it can make a better experience. I guess it really depends on the execution.

Dhomochevsky · 2013-05-19, 14:47

If someone has those rings under the eyes, it means they are mortally wounded and will certainly die.
This is a better indicator than any amount of bloodloss or even torn limbs.

larethian · 2013-05-19, 21:35

I would:
- never confess or accept a confession before a battle
- never talk about what I want to do after an upcoming battle
- never tell a girl I like that I have something to say to her after the battle
- avoid a girl who likes me in order not to give her a chance to tell me that she has something to say to me after the battle
- never sortie if there was even a hint of an anomaly in my unit especially when the mechanic still said 'it's minor so don't worry about it'
- never volunteer myself to fix something on the ship during a battle
- never become a close friend and/or mentor of the protagonist
- never proclaim how I'm going to beat the crap out of the enemies, or boast about my new unit, or about how powerful our fleet is
- never say cool lines like, "believe in the me who believes in you"
- never act like an asshole
- never tell my comrades that 'you are like the family that I never had before', especially if I'm not the protagonist or some kind of plot armor
- if the protagonist is trying to change his equipment during battle, never say "I'll cover you" when my thrusters are not working properly and I have zero weapons

can think of more I guess but no time to list them out now

Chiibi · 2013-05-19, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by larethian

I would:
- never confess or accept a confession before a battle
- never talk about what I want to do after an upcoming battle
- never tell a girl I like that I have something to say to her after the battle
- avoid a girl who likes me in order not to give her a chance to tell me that she has something to say to me after the battle
- never sortie if there was even a hint of an anomaly in my unit especially when the mechanic still said 'it's minor so don't worry about it'
- never volunteer myself to fix something on the ship during a battle
- never become a close friend and/or mentor of the protagonist
- never proclaim how I'm going to beat the crap out of the enemies, or boast about my new unit, or about how powerful our fleet is
- never say cool lines like, "believe in the me who believes in you"
- never act like an asshole
- never tell my comrades that 'you are like the family that I never had before', especially if I'm not the protagonist or some kind of plot armor
- if the protagonist is trying to change his equipment during battle, never say "I'll cover you" when my thrusters are not working properly and I have zero weapons

can think of more I guess but no time to list them out now

That was quite entertaining to read.

I've got one:

JUST SAY NO TO AN EPISODE DEDICATED TO YOU.
You'll die in next one, guaranteed.

Ichuki · 2013-05-19, 23:57

If someone says they are getting cold and lying down.

Hooves · 2013-05-20, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by larethian

I would:
- never confess or accept a confession before a battle
- never talk about what I want to do after an upcoming battle
- never tell a girl I like that I have something to say to her after the battle
- avoid a girl who likes me in order not to give her a chance to tell me that she has something to say to me after the battle
- never sortie if there was even a hint of an anomaly in my unit especially when the mechanic still said 'it's minor so don't worry about it'
- never volunteer myself to fix something on the ship during a battle
- never become a close friend and/or mentor of the protagonist
- never proclaim how I'm going to beat the crap out of the enemies, or boast about my new unit, or about how powerful our fleet is
- never say cool lines like, "believe in the me who believes in you"
- never act like an asshole
- never tell my comrades that 'you are like the family that I never had before', especially if I'm not the protagonist or some kind of plot armor
- if the protagonist is trying to change his equipment during battle, never say "I'll cover you" when my thrusters are not working properly and I have zero weapons

can think of more I guess but no time to list them out now

I can agree with most of these.

Marcus H. · 2013-05-20, 00:53

Just being in a Gen Urobuchi-written series is an instant death flag to many characters.

Hooves · 2013-05-20, 00:55

He's named Urobutcher for a reason.

Azuma Denton · 2013-05-20, 01:05

Never ever kiss Yoko Littner...

Dop · 2013-05-20, 06:04

This thread puts me in mind of this old comedy routine, which while it refers to old war movies does apply to quite a few anime shows equally well...

Sheba · 2013-05-20, 07:59

- Don't talk about marriage with a girlfriend to the protagonist.
- Don't say, "X days before retirement".

backbone · 2013-05-20, 09:57

How to avoid death flags? Be a typical shounen protagonist.

No matter how many times you're supposedly dead or how horrible they're, there will be always stupid miracles to bring you back to life, i swear!

Homura7 · 2013-05-20, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by backbone

How to avoid death flags? Be a typical shounen protagonist.

No matter how many times you're supposedly dead or how horrible they're, there will be always stupid miracles to bring you back to life, i swear!

Tell that to Spike Spiegel or Jonathan Joestar.

GDiddy · 2013-05-20, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by backbone

How to avoid death flags? Be a typical shounen protagonist.

No matter how many times you're supposedly dead or how horrible they're, there will be always stupid miracles to bring you back to life, i swear!

However, if you're bffs with the shonen protagionist? Yeah......you're pretty much screwed.

Xion Valkyrie · 2013-05-20, 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by K. Shiruto

Tell that to Spike Spiegel or Jonathan Joestar.

Not shounen

Anyways, death flags are stupid. You shouldn't see a death coming. It should be a total surprise, unless you're trying to be coy on purpose.

Homura7 · 2013-05-20, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xion Valkyrie

Not shounen

Last time I checked, Phantom Blood was published in Shounen Jump.

bhl88 · 2013-05-20, 15:03

I will not say: I'm not alone anymore~ I'm so happy.

Faust = if you reach the happiest point, you are already dead.

Tiro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

Never ever kiss Yoko Littner...

You Only Kiss Once.

So skip the kissing part and XXX with- *shot*

Saber Cherry · 2013-05-21, 01:10

1) Participate in a Holy Grail war.
2) Realize who the real murder is.
3) Attempt to blackmail the real murderer.
4) Tell your full name to anyone holding a black notebook.
5) Say, "Your puny X can't possibly harm my mighty Y".
6) Ally with someone who seeks ultimate power, and think he cares about you.
7) Pretend to ally with the bad guy for a long arc, fooling even your friends.
8) Serve under a stupid general. Hating him makes you a little safer, though.
9) If you serve the side of evil, show compassion (but don't switch sides).
10) Become a mentor to a younger warrior.
11) Be the first person to flee from a battle. Or cursed town. Or... anything.
12) Wear a grey or black ninja costume and be quiet and stealthy when there are other ninjas around in colorful costumes shouting their attacks.
13) Agree to a conditional surrender. You really don't want to be the person whose safety is specifically guaranteed by the surrender.
14) Give birth to a hero.
15) Appear for the first time in a flashback.
16) March out of town in formation wearing shiny, polished armor. Especially when there are people cheering.

Azuma Denton · 2013-05-21, 01:48

Never ever pilot a mass production mecha with the same colour as many others...
Your fate has been sealed the moment you entered the cockpit and launched...

2013-05-19, 14:16	Link #2
Kirayuki Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012	I guess the most familar one for me is from Gundam series and to some extent several mecha shows. If I am a character in there (especially Tomino works), I will avoid any act of expressing my love to love interest or be ultra careful with my confession , especially if you are heading into a Final Battle . Out of my head, Spoiler for Example: -Mwu x Murrue in Gundam SEED -To a certain extent Kamina or Kitan X Yoko in Gurren Lagann. EDIT : Well since my example was mentioned already, I guess I will throw out another one. I think some characters with strong curiosity, mainly in some mystery/horror shows, is another example that I'm familiar with. Knowing too much sometimes can never be a good thing >_> Generally, I don't really like death flag because it can take some of the surprises away from the show. But some exceptions have shown me that if done right it can make a better experience. I guess it really depends on the execution. Last edited by Kirayuki; 2013-05-19 at 14:37.

2013-05-20, 00:53	Link #8
Marcus H. Princess or Plunderer? Join Date: May 2009 Location: the Philippines	Just being in a Gen Urobuchi-written series is an instant death flag to many characters. __________________ Continuing: White Sand Aquatope (6/24) and Vanitas S2 (0/12), The Vampire Dies in No Time S2 and Bofuri S2 (3/12). 2021: Restaurant to Another World S2 (3/12), takt Op. Destiny (1/12) and Taisho Maiden Fairy Tale (1/12). 2022: Yuusha Yamemasu (1/12), Kaguya-sama S3, Mob Psycho 100 III (Oct06), Bleach: 1000 Year Blood War (2/13) and Chainsaw Man (6/12). Spring 2023: Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch! (4/12), Skip to Loafer, Tonikaku Kawaii S2 (1/12), Otonari ni Ginga (5/12) and Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia (3/13). Contact me on Wikia and MyAnimeList. Anime List Status ~ Watching: 33. Completed: 468. Plan to watch: 39.

2013-05-20, 06:04	Link #11
Dop Mmmm.... Join Date: Sep 2006	This thread puts me in mind of this old comedy routine, which while it refers to old war movies does apply to quite a few anime shows equally well... <p>No iframe support, please <a href="http://youtu.be/iHGYdOQhu2g">watch on YouTube</a>.</p>

2013-05-21, 01:10	Link #19
Saber Cherry Marionette Join Date: Jan 2007 Age: 24	1) Participate in a Holy Grail war. 2) Realize who the real murder is. 3) Attempt to blackmail the real murderer. 4) Tell your full name to anyone holding a black notebook. 5) Say, "Your puny X can't possibly harm my mighty Y". 6) Ally with someone who seeks ultimate power, and think he cares about you. 7) Pretend to ally with the bad guy for a long arc, fooling even your friends. 8) Serve under a stupid general. Hating him makes you a little safer, though. 9) If you serve the side of evil, show compassion (but don't switch sides). 10) Become a mentor to a younger warrior. 11) Be the first person to flee from a battle. Or cursed town. Or... anything. 12) Wear a grey or black ninja costume and be quiet and stealthy when there are other ninjas around in colorful costumes shouting their attacks. 13) Agree to a conditional surrender. You really don't want to be the person whose safety is specifically guaranteed by the surrender. 14) Give birth to a hero. 15) Appear for the first time in a flashback. 16) March out of town in formation wearing shiny, polished armor. Especially when there are people cheering. __________________ Nipaa~ Last edited by Saber Cherry; 2013-05-21 at 01:23.

2013-05-19, 14:47	Link #3
Dhomochevsky temporary safeguard Join Date: May 2004 Location: Germany	If someone has those rings under the eyes, it means they are mortally wounded and will certainly die. This is a better indicator than any amount of bloodloss or even torn limbs.

2013-05-19, 21:35	Link #4
larethian Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010	I would: - never confess or accept a confession before a battle - never talk about what I want to do after an upcoming battle - never tell a girl I like that I have something to say to her after the battle - avoid a girl who likes me in order not to give her a chance to tell me that she has something to say to me after the battle - never sortie if there was even a hint of an anomaly in my unit especially when the mechanic still said 'it's minor so don't worry about it' - never volunteer myself to fix something on the ship during a battle - never become a close friend and/or mentor of the protagonist - never proclaim how I'm going to beat the crap out of the enemies, or boast about my new unit, or about how powerful our fleet is - never say cool lines like, "believe in the me who believes in you" - never act like an asshole - never tell my comrades that 'you are like the family that I never had before', especially if I'm not the protagonist or some kind of plot armor - if the protagonist is trying to change his equipment during battle, never say "I'll cover you" when my thrusters are not working properly and I have zero weapons can think of more I guess but no time to list them out now

2013-05-19, 23:57	Link #6
Ichuki ┌(^o^)┘モリ!┌(^o^)┘モリ! Join Date: Sep 2010	If someone says they are getting cold and lying down.

2013-05-20, 01:05	Link #10
Azuma Denton ~AD~ Join Date: Oct 2006	Never ever kiss Yoko Littner...

2013-05-20, 07:59	Link #12
Sheba RUN, YOU FOOLS! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Formerly Iwakawa base and Chaldea. Now Teyvat, the Astral Express & the Outpost Age: 44	- Don't talk about marriage with a girlfriend to the protagonist. - Don't say, "X days before retirement".

2013-05-20, 09:57	Link #13
backbone Banned Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: East Asia Age: 32	How to avoid death flags? Be a typical shounen protagonist. No matter how many times you're supposedly dead or how horrible they're, there will be always stupid miracles to bring you back to life, i swear!

2013-05-21, 01:48	Link #20
Azuma Denton ~AD~ Join Date: Oct 2006	Never ever pilot a mass production mecha with the same colour as many others... Your fate has been sealed the moment you entered the cockpit and launched...