AnimeSuki Forums

Velsy · 2010-05-03, 16:15

They use it in movies tooo..

*ahem* Borne Idenity ? etc etc

Ballad · 2010-05-03, 16:45

Weird, the only anime I've ever watched where it was a big part would be Elfen Lied. Then again I haven't watched much anime.

Spectacular_Insanity · 2010-05-04, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velsy

They use it in movies tooo..

*ahem* Borne Idenity ? etc etc

Yes, well, that was one of the times it was used exceptionally well, in my opinion. Part of the reason the movies were so riveting was that you (the viewer) didn't know what was really going on half the time.

roriconfan · 2010-05-04, 12:48

I don't know how much you liked Shutter Island (2010 movie with Brad Pitt Leonardo Dicaprio) but the explanation at the end was too long and it felt like an ass pull.

On the other hand Ink (psychedelic/mystery movie) played quite nicely with the trope.

ZeroForever · 2010-05-04, 16:24

Shutter Island - that was Leonardo Dicaprio... not Brad Pitt.. and it was damn obvious (at least to me... after like 10 mins that it was going to end like it did, only other end could be that he was sane but that wasn't likely.)

It's can be done well (eden of the east) but situations like to aru index are times it felt like a crappy plot device. so honestly it depends on it's presented.

kitten320 · 2010-06-26, 06:37

Duno, I adore memory loss moments. always get me hyped. Of course some do it worse than others but still interesting in my opinion.

ZeroForever
So was he really just a patient? Because I got lost there...

Triple_R · 2010-06-26, 07:28

Amnesia is fairly common in fiction because it can:

1) Lead to memorable "Luke, I am your father!" plot twists ( hypothetical example - man loses his memory, becomes a great and powerful antagonist, ends up fighting against his own daughter who's the main protagonist, and neither are aware of their relation... until the man gets his memory back in one of the very last episodes).

2) Allow you to temporarily reveal a secret to characters that need to have it revealed to them for plot purposes, but then restore the secrecy for future plot purposes (Men In Black is famous for this)

3) Lead to good comedy moments (guy suffering from amnesia does something that he would never have done if he had his memories, and this later results in him facepalming Kyon-style about it).

So amnesia can be an useful plot device for writer's aiming for memorable plot twists, who need to temporarily let certain characters in on secrets, or who are aiming for good comedy moments. In some cases, it can also add an interesting wrinkle to the start of a story.

I will say that I generally don't like it when the main protagonist of a work gets amnesia part way through the story. But like others here, I have less of an issue with it if the main protagonist (or another central character) has amnesia from the very beginning of a story, and that's a core element of the plot.

Amnesia is probably a tad overused because it's such a quick and easy and convenient and well-known plot device. It's kind of like how writers use time travel in stories. It opens up quick and easily accessible plot and character development routes for writers; routes that might otherwise be difficult if not impossible to achieve.

roriconfan · 2010-06-26, 07:34

Angel Beats and Durarara had amnesia too. Durarara used it as motivation for the biker girl to DO something. Parlty excused yet still overused. Angel Beats on the other hand... messed up. The lead could still have his memories and nothing would change plot wise.

kitten320 · 2010-06-26, 08:02

If he had his memories, he wouldn't be in that world in the first place. So a LOT of things would change.

roriconfan · 2010-06-26, 09:26

^ How's so?

kitten320 · 2010-06-26, 11:17

Don't you think it's a dumb question? Do I really have to explain about how show would be different if main character wasn't in it?

Spoiler for Angel Beats in more deph:

Samurai dono · 2010-06-26, 15:38

I can't believe Bourne Identity was used as an example of a badly executed ANYTHING

GuidoHunter_Toki · 2010-06-26, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velsy

They use it in movies tooo..

*ahem* Borne Idenity ? etc etc

Except it was used well in that movie trilogy (at least in my opinion). It helped intensify the movies and moved the plot in a very well structured way; First movie (Who am I?), second movie (What did I do?), and last movie (How do I escape what I am/what I've done?).

Reckoner · 2010-06-26, 18:52

Any trope can be used badly or well. I don't think it's particularly overused, but it can definitely be one of the worst tropes if done badly.

Bourne trilogy is an example of it being used well.

On the other hand, we get something like Toaru majutsu no index that uses it as if almost for the lolz only.

It usually tends to come off badly if placed in the middle/end of the story. But in the end, it's usually the details around the amnesia that will make or break the story.

Miyumi-chan · 2010-08-28, 16:59

The amnesia routine is so overused now. I read things with it. Whenever I see someone in a show with amnesia, it depends on how well it's used. Like in Sukisyo, when Sora fell out of the window and couldn't remember Sunao, it fit the plot where-as in Vampire Knight, is there really a reason Yuki forgot her parents? Of course I haven't gotten far so I don't really know. They forget everything and can't even try to remember a thing...but as I said, in some cases, it's cool ^^ I do kinda like it.

View Poll Results: Do you like the amnesia trope?
I hate it	8	14.81%
So-so	6	11.11%
I like it	3	5.56%
I don't care	9	16.67%
It depends on... (state reason)	20	37.04%
rori, cut the BS polls already	8	14.81%
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

2010-05-03, 16:15	Link #21
Velsy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008	They use it in movies tooo.. ahem Borne Idenity ? etc etc __________________ Donated by Om Nerabdator

2010-05-03, 16:45	Link #22
Ballad robots & skateboards Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NS, Canada Age: 29	Weird, the only anime I've ever watched where it was a big part would be Elfen Lied. Then again I haven't watched much anime. __________________

2010-05-04, 12:48	Link #24
roriconfan Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Thessaloniki - Greece	I don't know how much you liked Shutter Island (2010 movie with Brad Pitt Leonardo Dicaprio) but the explanation at the end was too long and it felt like an ass pull. On the other hand Ink (psychedelic/mystery movie) played quite nicely with the trope. Last edited by roriconfan; 2010-05-04 at 16:34.

2010-05-04, 16:24	Link #25
ZeroForever Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: all and none	Shutter Island - that was Leonardo Dicaprio... not Brad Pitt.. and it was damn obvious (at least to me... after like 10 mins that it was going to end like it did, only other end could be that he was sane but that wasn't likely.) It's can be done well (eden of the east) but situations like to aru index are times it felt like a crappy plot device. so honestly it depends on it's presented. __________________ the anti-thesis of myself

2010-06-26, 06:37	Link #26
kitten320 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007	Duno, I adore memory loss moments. always get me hyped. Of course some do it worse than others but still interesting in my opinion. ZeroForever So was he really just a patient? Because I got lost there... __________________ My anime list

2010-06-26, 07:28	Link #27
Triple_R Senior Member Author Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Age: 42	Amnesia is fairly common in fiction because it can: 1) Lead to memorable "Luke, I am your father!" plot twists ( hypothetical example - man loses his memory, becomes a great and powerful antagonist, ends up fighting against his own daughter who's the main protagonist, and neither are aware of their relation... until the man gets his memory back in one of the very last episodes). 2) Allow you to temporarily reveal a secret to characters that need to have it revealed to them for plot purposes, but then restore the secrecy for future plot purposes (Men In Black is famous for this) 3) Lead to good comedy moments (guy suffering from amnesia does something that he would never have done if he had his memories, and this later results in him facepalming Kyon-style about it). So amnesia can be an useful plot device for writer's aiming for memorable plot twists, who need to temporarily let certain characters in on secrets, or who are aiming for good comedy moments. In some cases, it can also add an interesting wrinkle to the start of a story. I will say that I generally don't like it when the main protagonist of a work gets amnesia part way through the story. But like others here, I have less of an issue with it if the main protagonist (or another central character) has amnesia from the very beginning of a story, and that's a core element of the plot. Amnesia is probably a tad overused because it's such a quick and easy and convenient and well-known plot device. It's kind of like how writers use time travel in stories. It opens up quick and easily accessible plot and character development routes for writers; routes that might otherwise be difficult if not impossible to achieve. __________________

2010-06-26, 07:34	Link #28
roriconfan Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Thessaloniki - Greece	Angel Beats and Durarara had amnesia too. Durarara used it as motivation for the biker girl to DO something. Parlty excused yet still overused. Angel Beats on the other hand... messed up. The lead could still have his memories and nothing would change plot wise.

2010-06-26, 08:02	Link #29
kitten320 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007	If he had his memories, he wouldn't be in that world in the first place. So a LOT of things would change. __________________ My anime list

2010-06-26, 09:26	Link #30
roriconfan Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Thessaloniki - Greece	^ How's so?

2010-06-26, 11:17	Link #31
kitten320 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007	Don't you think it's a dumb question? Do I really have to explain about how show would be different if main character wasn't in it? Spoiler for Angel Beats in more deph: Firstly no one would probably be-friend Kanade and those two might have never met. Secondly all of the souls would be stuck there since there is no one who would help them to move on. And the reason as to why he wouldn't be in that world from the begining is because in comparison to all others he had over come his regret back when he was still alive. There was no reason for him to be in this world. But because of memory lose he had wondered there by mistake. He himslef had explained it in the last episode. __________________ My anime list

2010-06-26, 15:38	Link #32
Samurai dono Anti-Manga Squad Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Anti-manga Corps Headquarters - Assassination Division Age: 40	I can't believe Bourne Identity was used as an example of a badly executed ANYTHING

2010-08-28, 16:59	Link #35
Miyumi-chan Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Alabama	The amnesia routine is so overused now. I read things with it. Whenever I see someone in a show with amnesia, it depends on how well it's used. Like in Sukisyo, when Sora fell out of the window and couldn't remember Sunao, it fit the plot where-as in Vampire Knight, is there really a reason Yuki forgot her parents? Of course I haven't gotten far so I don't really know. They forget everything and can't even try to remember a thing...but as I said, in some cases, it's cool ^^ I do kinda like it.