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Why are characters in romance anime always so damn stupid?!

How does trying to kill yourself ever make you cool? From the beginning of the final sequence, I knew that an easy way to get spoiler[Asa to use her power was to threaten to suicide], but I was also telling myself that if the story goes that way, I'm gonna hate it. I find the thought of suicide to be a weakness, if someone has to commit suicide to accomplish anything, then that person has basically succumbed to the idea of him/herself being unable to do anything else.

Stupidman007 wrote:

How does trying to kill yourself ever make you cool? From the beginning of the final sequence, I knew that an easy way to get spoiler[Asa to use her power was to threaten to suicide], but I was also telling myself that if the story goes that way, I'm gonna hate it. I find the thought of suicide to be a weakness, if someone has to commit suicide to accomplish anything, then that person has basically succumbed to the idea of him/herself being unable to do anything else.

He was sure that she would save her and since the only way to save her life was to get her to use her magic then it was more of an act of bravery than suicide since he wasn't depressed but instead willing to sacrifice his life for the one he loved.

Seriously, I'm watching KGNE at the moment, and like in all soaps and so on, every problem comes up from people not talking to each other. I want to just go in there and slap some sense into people.

The female characters are often pretty damn pathetic as well... I suppose that is a different issue of how women are portrayed in anime as well, but I find it infuriating that they are so subservient and timid.

It is an effective anime and all with involving character developments, but all they ever seem to do is sit about in awkward silences not saying what needs to be said. After the effectiveness of episodes 1 and 2, they have just been seriously wimpy and annoying. It seems to be insipid women and indecisive useless men and the problems generated by them...

Also, the other 'novelty' characters in it (I guess to lighten the mood,) like the nurses and the waitresses, are just stupid and shallow as well.

I guess I can't really say how I would react to a spoiler[ love triangle between a girl just come out of a coma and her best friend...] But still, it's irritating me no end.

This is what is also appealing about 'soap' style stories though - the fact that they get you riled up and involved, so I guess it is better to be irritated by the characters and their situations than disinterested...

To omar235 and Animefreak6969, I think we simply have a difference in beliefs and judgements, because I didn't find that sequence realistic nor believable. Anyway, I don't want to turn this discussion to an argument about Shuffle!.

Stupidman007 wrote:

To omar235 and Animefreak6969, I think we simply have a difference in beliefs and judgements, because I didn't find that sequence realistic nor believable. Anyway, I don't want to turn this discussion to an argument about Shuffle!.

No argument I just wanted to explain the position...if you don't see it that way its fine. But think about this if your loved one had a problem like the one Asa had and you had no time to form a plan and you knew that she would save you wouldn't you do that. I mean she was being so stubborn about not using her magic. Really its not a suicide, for the same reason jumping in front of a bullet or jumping on a grenade is not a suicide. He was just doing it to save her not because he was going Emo on us.

Basically, as a guy, I want the male lead to represent us as someone who's cool and worth something. An indecisive guy is well, just annoying to look at.

Except, if you're watching shounen romance or H-Game adaptations, you're completely barking up the wrong tree if you're looking for respectable male figures. And it's the anime's fault--let's face it, these kinds of romances are aimed at awkward Japanese teenaged boys and/or awkward Japanese 20something otaku, and their intention is to create male leads that the target audience can identify with. They don't want to create a male lead that will evoke a "This guy is so much better with women than I'll ever be, I'm gonna go cry in the corner and watch something else" response, which would be bad for business.

Except, if you're watching shounen romance or H-Game adaptations, you're completely barking up the wrong tree if you're looking for respectable male figures. And it's the anime's fault--let's face it, these kinds of romances are aimed at awkward Japanese teenaged boys and/or awkward Japanese 20something otaku, and their intention is to create male leads that the target audience can identify with. They don't want to create a male lead that will evoke a "This guy is so much better with women than I'll ever be, I'm gonna go cry in the corner and watch something else" response, which would be bad for business.

I've always said that if you want respectable male leads, you've got to turn to shoujo anime

Oh c'mon you just don't like seing relationships going wrong or ending bad? I guess thats why you're not into Harem or Romance titles then. But that also means you can't really judge one because you're basically against it.

Animefreak6969 wrote:

Oh c'mon you just don't like seing relationships going wrong or ending bad? I guess thats why you're not into Harem or Romance titles then. But that also means you can't really judge one because you're basically against it.

lol, best I can do is give my opinion. You know, it's not too hard to make a Harem or Romance title that actually have relationships go right. But then again, it might not be so interesting would it?

let's face it, these kinds of romances are aimed at awkward Japanese teenaged boys and/or awkward Japanese 20something otaku, and their intention is to create male leads that the target audience can identify with. They don't want to create a male lead that will evoke a "This guy is so much better with women than I'll ever be, I'm gonna go cry in the corner and watch something else" response, which would be bad for business.

It's easy to armchair-quarterback anime romances and say, "Well, I would've done this and that differently, this guy's a wuss," but these characters are supposed to be flawed and not 100% realistic.

One title I would suggest to everyone is Voices of a Distant Star. It's only a half hour long, but better than most of the other anime I have seen.

Kelly wrote:
One title I would suggest to everyone is Voices of a Distant Star. It's only a half hour long, but better than most of the other anime I have seen.


Fixed.

And I have to disagree that Kimagure Orange Road is sooo head-and-shoulders above modern-day "overrated" anime like KgNE. It's a classic, I've seen it, I liked it, but there's more "progress" in 2 episodes of KgNE than in 48 episodes, 8 OVAs, and 1.75 movies of KOR.

At least KgNE attempts to keep the audience guessing which girl he'll go with until the last episode.