Forum - View topicQuestion about episode length.
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bonerack
 Posts: 2 |
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I know this will be a stupid question but I'm still pretty new to the anime thing. Sorry if this has been asked before as well...
I wanted to know why the people who make them decide to make an anime 12 episodes when it should have been more like 15-20 to have everything explained & wrapped up? I say 12 because I just finished watching one called "Kämpfer"(just using it as an example) and it left me wondering and a little confused. I doubt I'll rush out and buy the complete manga volumes to see what happens because frankly I don't care enough to but still. It's happened a few too many times where I get into one and then a few episodes before they finish, I wonder to myself, how are they going to finish this off, why did they introduce a new character(s) towards the end and so on and so forth, and then they never make a second season. Like, why even bother making the anime if they are just going to do that? It frustrates me & I would like to know the reasoning behind that if someone knows. Is anyone else like me? |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18431 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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There's a very simple explanation: Japanese TV seasons start anew on a quarterly basis, so a single season-length series which starts on the first week of a new season will be 13 episodes long, while a series which starts on the second week (or has to skip a week for some reason) will be 12 episodes long. There are exceptions to this which can bring single-season series as high as 14 episodes or down to as few as 10, but those are rare. Typically if a single-season series goes more than 13 eps then its final eps are straight-to-DVD releases. (Example: Baccano!)
That's why longer-run series with set lengths are almost always in the 24-26 episode or 50-52 episode range, too. |
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Mr. Gruntsworthy
 Posts: 122 Location: ON, Canada |
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What he said.
Also, a lot of endings are left like that as they can be engineered in two directions--as an 'open ending' where you're supposed to fill in the blanks (which I disagree with; I watch anime for them to tell me the story--if i wanted to access my own creativity i'd start writing a story or penning a comic) OR so that canonically it's easier to start the second season if it's green-lit (as they aren't always). |
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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The number of episodes never bothered me as I figured the 12/13 was based on a schedule, unlike our once 26 episode releases for TV.
What bugs me more are the shaved minutes now found in anime. Once around 26-28 minutes, most are now over by 20-22, a loss of 6 minutes. Yes, I understand it's due to increased ad time for television, but it still sucks. What the hell's going to happen as the internet age continues? Will a series be 7 minutes long with 23 minutes of ad time? Goodness, this is repulsive. I should also point out I'm not oblivious the same crap's found on our TV shows as well. I absolutely love how cable stations we pay for can take a 90 minute movie and throw it into a 3 hour block. 
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18431 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Um, how far back are you going to claim this? I just checked my one of my Gatchaman DVDs, and even then the episodes clocked in at around 25:40, including the intro, closer, and Next Episode preview. Total episode lengths of between about 22:40 and about 24:40 have been the norm for TV series since at least the mid-'80s. |
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Ktimene's Lover
 Posts: 2242 Location: Glendale, AZ (Proudly living in the desert) |
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Even in American live action shows, one season can be 12-14 episodes. Also, by making certain series this length, the animators can go to other shows of similar lenght. It cab be even convenient for licensing purposes because the shorter the show is, the quicker companies get it licensed to other countries. Chaos;Head was 27 minutes a piece for it's 4 episodes. If it 23-24 minutes a piece, those combined remaining minutes could have mad it 13-14 episodes.
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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I don't pay particular attention to times, but just happened to notice while watching Lucky Star, the episode timer didn't even hit 22:00. Comparing this to Lost Universe, which ended in the 24 minute cycle. Openings still remain consistent, varying only by seconds. Oddly enough, while watching Full Metal Panic, the two seasons end within a minute of each other. I believe TSR is actually longer, though this could be due to the reduced number of episodes. I'm curious now, so I'll be paying attention more. Though, I wish I hadn't noticed it. Things like this are something I'd rather be blissfully ignorant about. |
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eyeresist
 Posts: 995 Location: a 320x240 resolution igloo (Sydney) |
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One reason shows can seem abruptly cut off is bad writing. Another is when a run is cut short due to low ratings, and they have to wind things up quickly (this happened with Tokyo Underground, but that's one of those rare occasions where you DON'T feel left hanging, as they managed to wind up pretty much all the threads; still felt a bit rushed, though).
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zgripţuroicǎ
 Posts: 140 Location: Newburgh, NY |
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A lot of it is either because it was intentional and they are using the anime to try and generate sales for the manga, or because they thought there would be a second season. Writers will leave the ending open so they don't have to make a hokey excuse to write a second season, but if the show flops, that second season won't come around.
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