Quote:
Originally Posted by Triple_R
Deaths in Gen's works aren't like deaths in Another or Blood+. They're purposeful, they serve important roles in the story, they're not solely for shock and awe. And I think that's part of what makes Gen an effective writer. He is willing to kill characters, but only if it serves the bigger picture of the narrative as a whole. He doesn't kill characters just for the sake of killing characters.
What do other people here think?
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Well, I have to bring up that quote from one of his interviews where he mentions Raoh's, and one character from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, death as those people will most remember. Those characters have become memorable because their deaths have been meaningful and in tune with the philosophy of the series and the ideals they represent.
Deaths in Urobuchi's stories appears to serve a purpose: either it is to make a point, either it affirms something, either it is underlining something about a character and one aspect of the story, or it is simply the most logical conclusion in one situation.
Death in Urobuchi that makes a point: Mami's death, it is here to prove Homura's point: A Puella Magi's life is miserable and its end will be as miserable. (the miserable death of Mami did not stop her from becoming that model of hero of justice that Sayaka looked up to).
Death that affirms something: Lord Keynneth and Sola-Ui's deaths affirms the ends Kiritsugu is willing to go to win the war.
Death underlining something about a character and one aspect of the story: Rider's final charge underline the character of Iskandar, a bodacious and stubborn king willing to burn his life away and never look back, and more importantly he have never regretted it (which is what have earned him the respect of Gilgamesh).
Death being the most logical conclusion to one situation: Kagari was a witness that could not be let loose.
Unlike what many of his detractors have stated, deaths in Urobuchi's stories are never gratuitous or to show that Urobuchi is EVULZ, they are here because Gen is one of those writers who have accepted that sometime, you need to kill a character because it will serve the greater picture.
(important to note that he used to play Call of Cthulhu, which may have influenced the way he writes story and characters)
Gen is a very story-driven writer, characters being actors of his stories and the small cogs in his narrative. And it may be his weakness, when his characters might not be as memorable to anime fans in this decade where cults of characters are the big thing, and where a vocal portion of anime fans loudly voices their aversion to angst and characters' death (never recovered from the traumatism of Evangelion perhaps?). That he managed to make the five main girls of Madoka Magica as memorable is one of his feats for the series.