Being one of the most hyped series of the spring ’10 season, Angel Beats! has sparked a lot of discussion, both negative and positive. But in spite of the fact that I can recognize its flaws, why am I enjoying it more than any other currently airing seasonal show I’m watching?…
A recent article by John helped me understand the appeal of Angel Beats!, particularly in terms of the characters.
Art credited to this pixiv user
To summarize, every character in the series delivers something a typical Japanese otaku could desire – Otonashi as the fitting male protagonist, Kanade and Yuri as two different types of a “perfect girlfriend,” TK as the mysterious yet humorous enigma, Ayato, or even Hinata, as potential yaoi fodder with Otonashi, Yui as the cute tension-breaker, Shiina as a tsundere-esque with a tough attitude but a soft spot for cute things…with the show’s large cast of characters, the list goes on, but you get what I mean. We all know that having cliche characters has not stopped certain anime from becoming popular – in fact, combining them in such a way and placing them in a particular story and setting could make even the most typical archetypes greatly appealing to fans. This is especially true if they’re given sympathetic sob story pasts and are placed in very dramatic situations. For Angel Beats!, Jun Maeda’s work has done just that.
Art credited to this pixiv user
Jun Maeda is most famous for writing Visual Art’s/Key visual novel series turned anime such as Air, Kanon, and Clannad. As John explained, he has a background in the kinds of things otaku find appealing about these stories. However, Angel Beats! seems to get an additional appeal bonus because it’s actually quite different from its three predecessors. Not only is it an original anime work by Maeda, it does not possess a number of the attributes that the former three have. Two of these attributes in particular are its large male cast, which diminishes the harem feel that his works tend to have, and the fact that there’s action and fighting, especially early in the series, while the other three possess little to none.
If we combine the familiar as well as unique attributes that Angel Beats! possesses compared to other Key series, together with Jun Maeda’s talent for delivering tear-jerking drama, and adding in a cast of characters who can appease just about any otaku fetish, you have a show full of fan appeal. But Angel Beats! goes even further and throws in a number of other otaku goodies besides character archetypes and Maeda’s talent – an all-girl rock band, a high school setting, references to other anime (such as the fishing in episode 7), an RPG style plot, detail-oriented animation – these are more attributes tailored to appeal to otaku. But because Angel Beats! works off the specific desires and knowledge of its audience, I agree with omo when he says that for Angel Beats!…
“…you can’t get more of a satire than that, really. I seriously can’t think of a better example of satire in modern anime when Maeda made all his characters dead-on-arrival.”
Angel Beats! does indeed have satire too, and what omo is referring to is the fact that Maeda’s characters in previous works often end up dying tragic deaths, while in Angel Beats! they’re dead from the get go. The mystery lies in finding out how they died rather than how/if they’ll die. This, in addition to other things that John mentions, such as Kanade standing under the falling meal tickets paying homage to the “sad girls in snow” trope, or the brutal yet humorous deaths of the characters and their “resetting” after death parodying the likes of Umineko, reinforce John’s point that…
“…practically everything the show does is knowingly and manipulatively planned to achieve a desired effect.”
In this case, the effect is satire that’s gratifying to otaku.
And lastly, and I think most significantly, is the fact that, with all the above mentioned elements, Angel Beats! becomes a rather mixed bag of genres. I feel what Chronolynx said about the Haruhi series can also be related to Angel Beats!…
“[The Haruhi series] is a lot of things to a lot of people…But there is one thing it does that distinguishes it from its predecessors. I say one thing, but it’s more like several: It takes and combines multiple genres to where you couldn’t classify it if you wanted to…Haruhi combines so many you can’t really say it’s started one of its own. It simply is, for better or worse. It cannot become a new genre because it has no genre, and so it defies our expectations.”
Though I feel Angel Beats! lacks the amount of intricate content and creativity that Haruhi has, it too blends together so many different genres that it can’t really be classified into something familiar, and thus it wows us. More so than Haruhi, the majority of Angel Beats! is made up of things specifically pandering to otaku, but precisely because it has so many elements, its all-encompassing feel itself makes it special.
So to recap my post, here are all the things I’ve come up with that make Angel Beats! appealing…
– character archetypes that otaku love
– familiar Maeda/Key elements
– unfamiliar Maeda/Key elements
– some additional otaku bait
– satire that only otaku would get
– mix of many genres
It’s definitely not a series for those who like anime to be free of cliches and fan pandering. It’s made to appeal to those who specifically want their fetishes appeased or fan pandering elements to be fed to them. But perhaps this mixing of cliches, satire, and many other genres does in itself make Angel Beats! unique. I’m not sure whether the fact that I can recognize its manipulation of my tastes, but still enjoy it anyway, puts me, or Angel Beats!, in a positive or negative light.
I’ve found that I like Angel Beats! for two reasons – Maeda/Key drama and…
Art credited to this pixiv user
…Yuri!
What about you?
Not that I don’t enjoy Angel Beats, but I sometimes get the impression that the anibloggers put more effort into their posts analyzing it then the producers put into the actual show itself :S
I’m not so far gone that I can’t partake in a little Transformers 2, Avatar or Angel Beats. But I am taken a little aback at how little it takes to get us otaku going. Reading posts like this feels more to me like a study in mass marketing than a critical analysis of a genuinely good show.. I’m not at all sure what I should feel a result.
I’ll guess I’ll just be thankful that in the absence of something phenomenal or profound, at least I’ve been given something “sufficiently entertaining” like Angel Beats.
While I do enjoy Angel Beats and think that its a pretty good show, I think there are some things that I have mixed feelings about. I agree that it has a lot of appeal, but there are some things that I noticed that bothers me.
The band, Girls Dead Monster is a obvious parody of the likes of K-ON’s Houkago Tea Time, but certainty not better. I have reviewed various insert albums from Girls Dead Monster and so far, disappointment. Out of tune singing and such disappoints me to the fact that even Toyosaki Aki’s screechy vocals from GO! GO! Maniac sounds better than this. As always, the OP and ED delivered compared to other OP/ED in Key anime adaptations and such.
Certainly a lot since the comedy is even more out of place more than ever along with the drama. In the Anime adaptations of Kanon/Air/Clannad, they had some moments of comedy in some episodes and then episodes focusing on drama. Their character arcs were more organized in these adaptations than Angel Beats. I feel disoriented by the random drama and comedy placed in the show.
Another thing is that Kyoto Animation isn’t animating this obviously. There were times that I was disappointed at some of the animation from PA Works during the scene where they shown the memories of the character. The art looked really ugly and made me think what they were smoking…
Otherwise, I still enjoy it, although there are some areas I wished they improved on.
@ Topspin
“Not that I don’t enjoy Angel Beats, but I sometimes get the impression that the anibloggers put more effort into their posts analyzing it then the producers put into the actual show itself :S”
You may be right about this. I guess some of us just like putting our fandom under a microscope and trying to explain exactly why we like something. The producers of course don’t really care about why we like it – they just want us to like it.
“But I am taken a little aback at how little it takes to get us otaku going. Reading posts like this feels more to me like a study in mass marketing than a critical analysis of a genuinely good show.”
I feel that as I’ve gotten more into anime, the less fussy I am when it comes to series I’ll watch. A study of mass marketing nor an analysis of the show was my intent for this post – I just wanted to point out observations of why Angel Beats! is appealing.
@ chikority157
I agree with you about Girls Dead Monster and the Angel Beats! OP and ED. Both songs are simply beautiful.
I’m also with you on the comedy. I always felt that the comedy in the other Key series (and some other anime) was out of place – it feels disjointed to me because I don’t know if I’m supposed to look at these characters and situations as silly and cartoony or if I’m supposed to take them seriously. But for the slapstick comedy at least, I think it works a little better in Angel Beats! because the characters are already dead and so it doesn’t seem out of place for them to get beat up and then bounce back on a daily basis.
And yes, no KyoAni makes me sad. I can tell PA Works is trying their best to make the animation look as pretty as possible. Usually I’m satisfied, but at times I’m not.
Hey, if anything I’d prefer you (and other ‘bloggers) to continue talking about shows like Angel Beats. I wouldn’t be watching them at all if there wasn’t a social aspect to it.
Besides, I wasn’t trying to put words in your mouth, so sorry if it came across as such.. I’ve just felt this way having read many posts about the show and yours was the blog that ended up getting my comment :)
I do find it interesting, though, to see how people will write some shows off while finding others entertaining, when the shows aren’t really “better”, just more popular (not talking about you in particular). It’s a chicken-and-egg kinda thing.. is the show good and thus popular, or popular and thus good? If it wasn’t Maeda, and they weren’t appealing to KyoAni’s art-styles, would it get such high grades? Is it’s popularity all just an otaku fan-wank?
@ Topspin
No worries, I found absolutely nothing offensive about your comment.
I think it all just comes down to taste. People will naturally want to place anime they love on a pedestal even if, in the eyes of another fan with different tastes, that anime is not much better than one they like. That’s why I try to make a distinction between anime I like versus anime I think are good quality. For example, I’m watching Durarara!! too, and although I would probably say it’s a better show in general than Angel Beats!, the latter simply has more elements that I enjoy in anime, thus I like it better. Whether Angel Beats! is an otaku fan-wank or not, fans are liking it, and that’s really what anime is all about (to be enjoyed).
They got me with that head tilt in episode 9. Ooh, deadly.
What’s significant for me about it is that it’s already surprised me a few times, and I don’t know where it’s ultimately going. That says to me that while it may contain many cliches, it’s not itself cliched, it’s doing something new with them, (or at least something I haven’t personally witnessed before.) You can use familiar story elements as a kind of extra layer of language, and I’m hoping when it comes to an end, we’ll find out how it’s been doing some of that, rather than just throwing them in because people like them.
Lol, I definitely agree that anibloggers are overanalyzing Angel Beats as well. Maeda is a brilliant melodrama writer, but by-and-most, AB is a relatively straightforward series where themes are only lightly tapped upon. We’re given sympathy, humor, some nice action, plenty of drama, and several touches of plot intrigue, of course we’d like it.
@ 2DT
Heh, I don’t think I remember that part in particular but I’ll take your word for it XD I liked the series right from the first episode where it thrust us into this unique, wild scenario along with Otonashi. Then in episode 2 where we learned about Yuri’s past, I was hooked. Maeda/Key drama just slays me.
@ Logopolis
I also have no idea how the series will ultimately end, so yes, the unpredictable factor is not cliche at least. What you mentioned is kind of like what I discussed in a previous post about originality in anime – even if a show has fan-pandering elements we’ve seen many times before, if it can execute those elements in a refreshing way, that could make it something special.
@ Aorii
Good points, Angel Beats! does give us a little bit of everything in a straightforward way without focusing too much on any one theme (though I think the drama theme is the most emphasized, being a work by Maeda and all). Put it all together with everything else I mentioned in the post, and yes, fans will definitely like it =)
I really don’t think we’re looking too deep into it. I know I’m holding back!
The thing about satire, regardless if only otaku gets it, is that it is a criticism. A core element about otaku anime is that it forms a two-way discourse between the viewer and the show itself or its creator (as if they’re, say, pandering to them, because the creator was once an otaku or wants to appeal to the otaku). Considering who’s at the helm of Angel Beats, all of that should go without saying!
But at the same time, if you are not invested in what the satire criticizes, you probably won’t find it interesting. And I think that’s why a lot of people are mired with merely the fact that there are references to whatever or caters to xyz things. They are not going to care for something merely for what it is.
“It’s definitely not a series for those who like anime to be free of cliches and fan pandering.”
I am one of the people that can’t stand cliche-ness but found that I can tolerate Angel Beats! just fine. I still need to think of a reason why do I like this show so much. Maybe one of your reason can be applied here but I’m not too sure. I guess I just have to wait till it is over to find out.
@ omo
I guess for Angle Beats! and other satire, if you’re invested in what it criticizes – in other words, you know what its references are, it can be refreshing and gratifying…but that also limits its universal appeal to those outside the material its criticizing.
@ kluxorious
Like Logopolis said, I think the way Angel Beats! mixes its cliches ends up with a result that’s actually kind of unique. Although I’m thoroughly enjoying it, it’s one of those series where I can’t really rate/review it until I’ve seen the whole thing.
Angel Beats! indeed has literally everything anyone could ask for. It ranges from massive blood loss to cute things. It covers all areas.
Personally, I love the progression of the plot. It has twists, but they aren’t really surprising twists so much as they are changes in the direction of the anime that create more and more interest. This show is never not awesome.
@ Glo
Well said! I can’t wait to see how it ends (though I know I’m hoping in vain for a second season).
I started watching Angel Beats! about a week ago after getting bored of the mountains of studying I had to do. I wasn’t expecting anything, just a cliche, uninteresting otaku-focused show. Might I say, I was very wrong. The humor in Angel Beats! is great but not overdone, the characters are intriguing and endearing. They have backstories that don’t hesitate to show how brutal and tragic life is. My favorites so far are Iwasawa, Naoi, and Otonashi, after seeing episode 9. Usually I find male main characters like him with would-be harems irritating, but he has such a sad, realistic, futile story that it gives him a new perspective. Angel Beats! has its share of flaws, yes, but other people have pointed plenty of them out.
What really got me was the musicality of the show. I love the opening and ending. Girls Dead Monster is one of my favorite parts of Angel Beats!. (It was really sad that Iwasawa lasted such a short time, though.) Not only that, but does the BGM seem particularly brilliant to anyone else? It always seems perfectly timed and matched with the situation.
All in all, Angel Beats! is completely relaxing, interesting, and emotionally involving. Just what I need after a long day of exams! Heading off to watch Ep. 10 now. ^_^
@ Akikura
Awesome! I hope you continue to enjoy it =)
I like being “pandered” to if it’s done right.
I don’t worry too much about originality if the “combinations” are unique and if the
story is treated right/handled well. Angel beats may/may not have been done “right”
for whatever reason, but the resulting strangeness of the series kept me interested. The last episode certainly made me want to rewatch it.
My “take” on the series here:
jaysteevee.blogspot.com/2010/10/not-haruhi-clone.html
Angel Beats,Hm Where Can I Start. It Was Amazing. First Of All It Made Meh Cry,I Love A Anime Show Where It Hits Meh Right In The Heart.If Nothing Less ,I Loved The Comedy Perfect Mix With It All. Would Of Loved TO See More Romance And Alot More Detials When They All Left. -.- That was The Part I Didn’t Like If Any1 Would Like To Discuss With Meh With Anime Yu Can Contact Meh At punkygirl1234@hotmail.com Would So Luv TO Find An Nother Anime Lover Like Meh ^w^