Read on Twitter
So this will be a thread of writing advice I learned from anime.
You may be thinking "what do cartoons have to do with prose???" and if you're looking for dialogue or prose advice, this will not be it LOL.
But there's a reason anime wins over so many fans worldwide.
You may be thinking "what do cartoons have to do with prose???" and if you're looking for dialogue or prose advice, this will not be it LOL.
But there's a reason anime wins over so many fans worldwide.
If you want to write *anything* well, it's extremely helpful to see how people writing for other categories and mediums nail it.
It makes your writing more prolific, well-rounded, and original. But frankly, anime is GREAT at satisfying audiences, which is HUGE.
It makes your writing more prolific, well-rounded, and original. But frankly, anime is GREAT at satisfying audiences, which is HUGE.
So here's a thread of some of the best writing skills I've learned from animes.
1. CHARACTERS
Your characters need to stand out, and not just in terms of physical design. Even your Generic Hero Type
character should be different from every other Generic Hero Type character.
1. CHARACTERS
Your characters need to stand out, and not just in terms of physical design. Even your Generic Hero Type
character should be different from every other Generic Hero Type character.
Hero Types are hard because they have to have certain traits to drive the narrative: initiative, bravery, protectiveness of others.
So what do animes do? Always give characters at least 1 trait that is just SO EXTRA, they're sure to be memorable.
So what do animes do? Always give characters at least 1 trait that is just SO EXTRA, they're sure to be memorable.
I actually adore Gon as an example because he checks off all the Shounen Hero tropes perfectly, but he's adorably memorable because he's such an adorable himbo.
Dazai from BSD is a great example too. Everything you need in a detective, minus any self of self-preservation.
Dazai from BSD is a great example too. Everything you need in a detective, minus any self of self-preservation.
The trick here is that it's not about making your character "relatable". Nobody finds it "relatable" that Gon can smell a girl's perfume from a mile away.
It's that they're *interesting*. They have the familiar, driving beats plus something that is a MAJOR setback.
It's that they're *interesting*. They have the familiar, driving beats plus something that is a MAJOR setback.
Character flaws in anime drive the character and they're not short-lived flaws either.
Kacchan is a great example because his pride and arrogance is his undoing and BOY does it take him a long ass time to realize that.
And even after that development, he's still flawed.
Kacchan is a great example because his pride and arrogance is his undoing and BOY does it take him a long ass time to realize that.
And even after that development, he's still flawed.
So, to summarize: give your characters one or two big, earth-shattering flaws that will thwart them at every step.
They can counter and grow around these flaws, but they should never fully unlearn them. They are permanent character traits & they make them lovable!
They can counter and grow around these flaws, but they should never fully unlearn them. They are permanent character traits & they make them lovable!
2. World Building!!!
This is where anime blows Western media OUT OF THE WATER and it's pretty clear why.
Anime is not afraid to do something wild, something obscene, something that will get them made fun of at high school reunions
This is where anime blows Western media OUT OF THE WATER and it's pretty clear why.
Anime is not afraid to do something wild, something obscene, something that will get them made fun of at high school reunions
My favorite example of this is The Devil is a Part-Timer.
Y'all, literal Satan works at McDonald's. They call it MgRonald's. Their enemy is Sentucky Fried Chicken.
I literally couldn't make this shit up because I've been bound by Western coventions that limit imagination.
Y'all, literal Satan works at McDonald's. They call it MgRonald's. Their enemy is Sentucky Fried Chicken.
I literally couldn't make this shit up because I've been bound by Western coventions that limit imagination.
Y'all: a bunch of literal zombies because j-pop stars (Zombie Land Saga)
A girl dies realizes that her whole life is actually the plot of a romance video game and she's the villain (My Next Life as A Villainess)
I'm not even gonna explain That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime
A girl dies realizes that her whole life is actually the plot of a romance video game and she's the villain (My Next Life as A Villainess)
I'm not even gonna explain That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime
Anime takes risks! It asks all the "what if" questions and then when logic says "bro wtf are you doing??" It says "FUCK OFF" and explores it!
It's not that anime doesn't have conventions to take inspiration from other works. Of course it does! But it goes beyond (plus ultra!)
It's not that anime doesn't have conventions to take inspiration from other works. Of course it does! But it goes beyond (plus ultra!)
Sorry, that slogan sucks, but there's no shame here. This is anime.
So, in summary: let yourself get weird. Let yourself ask questions and let yourself explore the answers. Get carried away! Do things that seem corny!
Who cares! It's your world! You can do whatever you want!
So, in summary: let yourself get weird. Let yourself ask questions and let yourself explore the answers. Get carried away! Do things that seem corny!
Who cares! It's your world! You can do whatever you want!
Finally 3. The SOFT moments
This is HUGE because Western publishing has 1 big goal, always: higher stakes.
Everything is "raise the stakes"! More tension! Start with action! End on action! Who cares about your feelings!
Anime knows a satisfying story *stresses* the soft stuff
This is HUGE because Western publishing has 1 big goal, always: higher stakes.
Everything is "raise the stakes"! More tension! Start with action! End on action! Who cares about your feelings!
Anime knows a satisfying story *stresses* the soft stuff
*BLUE EXORCIST SPOILERS*
Listen, I LOVE a good demon story but what makes you care about these end of the world doomsday stakes are the soft moments.
Blue Exorcist is perfect for this. I cared about Rin from the moment his dad died. Why? BECAUSE IT WAS HIS FAULT.
Listen, I LOVE a good demon story but what makes you care about these end of the world doomsday stakes are the soft moments.
Blue Exorcist is perfect for this. I cared about Rin from the moment his dad died. Why? BECAUSE IT WAS HIS FAULT.
BLUE EXORCIST SPOILERS
I mean, that's kinda harsh, but essentially Rin gets into a fight with his dad and that fight makes his dad susceptible to demon possession and then he DIES.
It's GUT-WRENCHING. But it only works bc we see how much his dad loved him. That part's HUGE.
I mean, that's kinda harsh, but essentially Rin gets into a fight with his dad and that fight makes his dad susceptible to demon possession and then he DIES.
It's GUT-WRENCHING. But it only works bc we see how much his dad loved him. That part's HUGE.
It's not enough to say "this person is motivated by having lost a friend". Who is the friend??? Why do we care???
Anime gives you all the backstory. The flashbacks. The memories. Sometimes they start *gasp* before the action *gasp* so the emotional framework is there.
Anime gives you all the backstory. The flashbacks. The memories. Sometimes they start *gasp* before the action *gasp* so the emotional framework is there.
Demon Slayer is another great example. If you're going to wipe out your MC's entire family, give us ten minutes to see how cute that family is.
Or as with Kurapika in Hunter X Hunter, let that character build a new family. We need tender moments with them!
Or as with Kurapika in Hunter X Hunter, let that character build a new family. We need tender moments with them!
So, to summarize: no plot twist or action scene or stakes will land properly if we aren't first invested in the characters.
Take the time to explore the soft moments, humanize your characters, and show us what they're *fighting for*.
Take the time to explore the soft moments, humanize your characters, and show us what they're *fighting for*.
Okay, this is not even remotely all, but this is all I have the time for today so I'm gonna go watch anime
Also, I'm a multiracial Japanese American author so if you found this thread helpful, please check out my book, out May 4th from HarperCollins! https://twitter.com/EmeryLeeWho/status/1328487614165336065?s=19
Also, I'm a multiracial Japanese American author so if you found this thread helpful, please check out my book, out May 4th from HarperCollins! https://twitter.com/EmeryLeeWho/status/1328487614165336065?s=19
Okay, y'all, help me out. If I made a YouTube series where I discuss this stuff, would any of y'all watch it?
