Forum - View topicWhy doesn't the Anime characters age?
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SuperOnizuka
 Posts: 421 Location: When I look At the World- New Jersey |
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I wonder why the creators never make the characters age. Especially given if the timeline in the storyline would require months, if not years? I don't think that the characters are given "anti-aging" potions....that was cheesy...
Nevertheless, I figure that it would be entirely great to see that the characters are actually growing up, not just mentally and emotionally. An example is Naruto. The events thus far in Naruto would not have taken a couple to three months, from the Academy to the invasion of Konoha. I would think that it would be a year and a half, at least, logically, for that to actually happen. Within that time, wouldn't it be reasonable to believe that the cast would age? Given that they are 12-13 year olds, Sakura would have already hit puberty and should be getting taller. Sasuke and Naruto, themselves would have started the puberty growth and should be getting taller. I think the series would have been more interesting if the cast actually aged. |
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Daimonwrath
 Posts: 133 |
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I think its all relative to the story the writers tell. I have in fact seen quite a few anime where the characters grow to old age. However it is not always necessary to always to show this for a story's progress. Based on the plot and direction you only need to do so much.
I have noticed that many action based anime dont show growing but you will see a characters past more often from little kid all the way to the present. You even see the personalities change in a different direction more often. That much is important to maintain for all main characters and shows strength in the antagonist and protagonist. But it would be nice for naruto and a few others I could list... D.W. Last edited by Daimonwrath on Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Lupin_333
 Posts: 136 Location: Houston, TX |
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Why don't characters in American animation change clothes? I think that the creators like the way the characters look, and it's a design decision. Imagine Cowboy Bebop if Spike has stubble and a bald spot during the last episodes... it just dosen't work.
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Carol Maxwell
 Posts: 359 |
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Not to mention another area that would be growing. 
Sorry, couldn't help it, but, I do find it kind of odd that they don't age, but, I think what really matters is the story, the characters are just there to present it I guess.
That pretty much sums it all up.
A lot of anime does the same thing, such as Pokemon, Digimon, Outlaw Star, the list could go on and on and on. Most of the time it's just easier (and probably cheaper) to keep the same clothing. |
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Macross3000
Posts: 29 |
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There is a series called Full Metal Alchemist, which does, in fact, show the main characters at different ages. There are some flashbacks in between the two brothers being ages 11 and 12 and then 15 and 16 I think. There are definately some differences...and the flaskbacks seem to predominate in some of the earlier episodes. It makes me wonder if, by the end of the series, they will age the characters even more...possibly to age 18-19 or 20-21. I can already kinda see where this series might end up. There are questions already put forth that are hopefully answered by the end... |
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Godaistudios
Posts: 2075 Location: Albuquerque, NM (the land of entrapment) |
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I seriously doubt they will be aging further in the series. All the stuff from the past is just that... it's the backstory in order to understand how they came to be where they are now. It's suited as a plot device there, but since it's not really a part of the show's story development, I wouldn't hold my breath.
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Shorty22
 Posts: 504 |
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You can't say they never age, some do. Examples include;
Digimon 01/02 series (they are kinda connected as one). YuGiOh - Yugi does actually get taller. Obviously it's gradual in the series, but you can really see it if you look at the different (japanese) openings/endings of the show. Dragonball - Goku & Krillin seemed slightly taller at the first tournament than when they started their original Turtle training, plus the '3 year training' aged them quite a bit. Many series have high school students/adults as the main characters and thus they really wouldn't grow anymore and might even be in their groove, same hairstyle, clothes, etc. Of course, some series with younger characters do not age, such as Ash from Pokémon. With all the traveling, leagues and such, a couple of years had to have past and they all still look the same. But then, if he aged, perhaps the series wouldn't be interesting/popular or whatnot. It's not like we want to see some middle-aged guy in Ash's place. Sometimes it's essential to have non-aging characters. |
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ZahmiraV
 Posts: 243 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada |
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In the various Dragonball series the characters age. For example Goku was a child in Dragonball and an adult in DBZ. Also Gohan grew up in DBZ.
Another example, though not as extreme is Sailor Moon. At the begining of the series Usagi and the others are 14, but when we get to the Stars season they are 16 and in highschool. There are a few shows out there where characters age, but for the most part, it's just easier to keep them at the same age. |
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kamiboy
 Posts: 570 Location: CA |
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In case of Naruto, I think it would be next to impossible to show that the cast of children have grown a few centimetres taller since the beginning of the show. In animation every cell is created from scratch (not always true, but bear with me here) and each scene shows them from different angels and distances, so they have to be drawn accordingly. I couldn't even imagine what the artist would have to go trough to calculate the exact height of the character, on paper, in each scene based on the distance and angel of the imaginary camera.
The height of the character most likely wobbles up and down from scene to scene because each time they are drawn in a new scene the artist has to guesstimate how they would look in the frame, given the parameters of the scene. I mean seriously, animation is a pretty hopeless medium for displaying such minute details. I can, however, think of many examples of anime showing the character as many years younger in flashback. There the fact that they are younger is always made clear by the way they are drawn. Generally it is easier for the artist if some restrictions are placed in anime such as a limited wardrobe and lack of growth. It's not just in anime either, the Simpsons have been on the air for more than a decade now and the children still haven't grown and everyone is still wearing the same clothes. |
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rage-demon
 Posts: 356 Location: WA, USA |
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One of the reasons why characters never age is because if they did, some anime would have fewer options on what to do next. In otherwords, it's easier to draw yourself into a corner. Let's say they make everyone get old then suddenly the creator gets a great scenerio for the main character to get into. Unfortunately by this time in the storyline he's too old so they either have to scrap it, or they do a flashback just so they can show this great idea. But if the characters stay the same age, the choices are nearly limitless.
It's basically just for convenience on the creator's part. After all, the Simpsons never age. Heck, look at Charlie Brown, he hasn't aged a day in over 50 years. (Sure he's changed a lot, but he's always been a little kid.) |
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littlegreenwolf
 Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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I'm just going to add another anime where characters age, allthough it's not really visably:
Cardcaptor Sakura. Starts out in the 4th grade, ends around the 6th. |
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JETBLACK87
 Posts: 1073 |
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I don't know about the anime, but in the Hikaru no Go manga they character ages.
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SuperOnizuka
Posts: 421 Location: When I look At the World- New Jersey |
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Flashbacks and actual aging is different. Flashbacks can be used readily, but I think it would be more interesting seeing characters age during their present timeline.
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Craeyst Raygal
 Posts: 1383 Location: In the garage, beneath a 1970 MGB GT. |
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How about UC Gundam? We see Amuro Ray at age 15 in Mobile Suit Gundam, age 23 in Zeta, and age 29 in Char's Counterattack. For that matter, we see Char at ages 20, 27, and 33 respectively.
You'll often find that in any series where the characters' constant state of change and growth is a central theme you will find characters whose appearances change. |
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Nagisa
Moderator
 Posts: 6128 Location: Atlanta-ish, Jawjuh |
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Characters not aging doesn't just happen in anime, it happens in a lot of live action & American animation, as well (if the Simpsons actually had characters age, Bart'd be in college by now).
Not to mention it isn't really that much of a problem. As others have said, it all depends on what the story calls for, and there have been several good examples provided of anime where the characters do indeed grow through the course of events. |
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