Forum - View topicWhat angle do you prefer for sequels?
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Bango
 Posts: 1122 |
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That sequel topic plus a pic I was linked to got me thinking about the different ways sequels are done. I'd like to see other people's opinions on what favourite methods for sequels are and express my own.
So let's divide the "2nd series" cast into categories. 1) Old cast returns. No new characters. Setting stays the same. 2) Old cast returns, Some new characters but the old ones still lead. 3) Old cast returns but the leads are all new. Old cast still has a place in the story. 4) Old cast is gone or barely appears. Essentially a new show set in the old show's world. And of course there's lots more and you guys can comment on whatever you want but I'm only going to work with these for this post. I'd say my favourites are 2 or 3. I'm very fond of the whole "second generation" thing and I like having the old characters taking mentor roles, kind of like they earned a break for all the crap they put up with in season 1. Another thing is the villain. Villains are very important to me. I like it best when the new villain is new, the old villain is dead and gone, but some aspect of him or something he did causes the new villain to rise. However I'm surprisingly not fond of the new villain being the old villain's kid, especially when the first series made no mention of him even having a kid. Yeah, I know this is opposite to my liking of second generation heroes but for some reason it just doesn't work with a villain for me. Of course any type can work if it's done properly, but lets stick to personal favourites. |
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EireformContinent
 Posts: 977 Location: Łódź/Poland (The Promised Land) |
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I'd personally go for 3-4 - give new options, let the oldies rest in peace, since stories told for too long time tend to lower the bar to unacceptable levels.
During the course of the series characters have a problems to solve and obstacles that are overcame around the series finale, unless the series was planned to last several seasons (CRest of the Stars). So next season would require putting them in new situation and give them new challenges- but unfortunately creators usually go the easy way and silently replace developed charters from previous season with their dumber twins, undoing everything they have learnt, turning them into won caricatures- something like Slayers. |
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zawa113
 Posts: 7360 |
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Usually 3 or 4. I'm quite enjoying Legend of Korra and can't wait for season 2 on the 13th of September (yay!) In Korra, the old crew is gone. Per the rules of the world, the Avatar himself had to have been reincarnated, so we knew he couldn't be there naturally, but the old crew does show up in flashback to explain a bit of what happened in the past. And Katara is still there, but is now Korra's waterbending teacher and mentor.
Digimon Adventure also followed #3. Sure, TK and Kari return, but they were just the little kids in the first series, I don't feel like they really got their development until series 2 anyway. That said, I also don't mind #1, just a straight up sequel sometimes. The Avatar comics are clearly this, but they're pretty damn awesome, it's kind of a shame they didn't get direct to TV movies or something. Actually in the case of type #1, I wouldn't mind if Tohru Fujisawa did nothing but GTO spinoff manga for the rest of his life for once (even though with the amount he's done so far, I'd normally accuse someone of milking a franchise) Well I guess lots of new characters come about all the time though, so maybe it's a #2 type? It seems to me that a lot of straight up "sequels" are just additional seasons, no matter what they say. I don't really think of another season or movie to be like a whole new thing, especially not if the source material is clearly going on (like Magi is right now). It's hard for me to think of that as a separate "series", like Gintama and Gintama', I just think of that as separate seasons rather than a whole new sequel series. I like those too, as long as they're warranted. Some times in the case of #4, I don't see the need to really even put the franchise name in the title sometimes. Aren't GaoGaiGar and Betterman barely connected in some obscure way? And I think mix in Brigadoon too? (I know all the American people in those shows have the last name "White"). What exactly was the point of connecting these, except for random trivia? I've also seen it work perfectly logically well with Armor Hunter Mellowlink, which follows a new character during some of the same events that happened during VOTOMs (even explaining some VOTOM events in more detail). Chirico Cuvie, VOTOMs' main, only shows up as a random cameo. Mellowlink was there during the Kummen Jungle war, but didn't actively participate for example, I thought that was kind of cool. He wasn't in Uodoo City (arc 1) at all, I think they really only crossed paths during Kummen Jungle (arc 2). Macross Plus also deserved it's Macross name in the title, despite (for once) not mentioning the hell out of Minmei (not that I can remember at least). But it still has classic Macross love triangle, awesome air fights, and singing idols all the same. And Bryan Cranston in the English dub for good measure! I generally do not like #2, I feel like it messes up the group dynamic I had already grown to like. Adding a sixth ranger is not the same thing here. But I'm honestly having trouble thinking of an example that fits #2 either. I just don't like the idea or something. |
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yoshiyukiblade
Posts: 305 |
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I like option #2 because you can never have too much screen time for a character to fully feel fleshed out and alive. More often than not, anime characters are woefully underdeveloped and most of the time you have to make inferences on what kind of person they actually are. The inclusion of new characters may also open up different personalities and thoughts of the original character(s), which can help the overall development.
Perfect example of this is Rurouni Kenshin. Wandering Samurai Arc: Kenshin appears as a kind, quirkly, nearly invincible hero that somehow changed his tune since the last decade. Goes around saving the day like it was nothing. Legend of Kyoto Arc: "Ghosts of the past" return as "new" characters and bring out a completely suppressed side of him as well as making him appear mortal. The realization of the coming threat allows him to fully explore the reasons behind all his actions and discover the missing piece of the puzzle to fully "awaken." Also, other new minor characters can help preserve the light-hearted humor from the first season, preventing the story from getting too heavy. |
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marie-antoinette
 Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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Number 2 is my personal favourite because if I like a show, it's generally because of an attachment to the characters. I didn't mind something like Digimon Adventures 02 but I have never been able to get into Digimon Tamers because I don't care as much about the main characters as I did those from the first two seasons.
But I do think you need to bring in some new characters. Since Avatar has already been mentioned, I'll go with it. Season two introduces some of the best characters of the series, including my personal favourite, Azula. Now, in some ways it's more a continuation of the first season than a true sequel but I think the same could be said for a lot of "sequel" series in anime. I haven't watched Korra yet (though I just ordered the DVD) but so far, the parts of it I've looked into have been information about the original cast and what happened when they grew up. I've actually seen most of the episode that is primarily flashbacks because I have a bond with those characters. Maybe I'll have them with Korra's main cast, maybe I won't. But ultimately I'm judging it as more of a separate series than a real "sequel." |
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naninanino
 Posts: 680 |
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Yeah, 3&4. The first ones aren't even sequels, but just a second season or something like that. When anime started to air more in the 13 eps format, peoples views on what constitutes a sequel changed quite a bit. In the past many anime now would be considered just a normal 26 episode show.
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Animegomaniac
Posts: 4174 |
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1 This one has no new {reoccurring} characters at all? It would take a lot of guts to do that as part of a continuation; "Everything was so perfect the first, we don't have to change a thing!" Wait, isn't this the basis of Haruhi Suzumiya's sequels? Well, no argument from me there. Strike Witches wasn't as successful though, a new recruit, a... villain, would have been helpful. 2 Standard fare for anime sequels and business as usual for any serial series that wishes to remain a serial. Sometimes they try too hard like with the Samurai Girls sequel where they added too many new characters {ok, mostly it was the monkey that was the problem} but some new villains, a couple of new allies, a new romantic interest/complication, they're all fine in moderation. 3 Dragonball tried this one and failed epically. Leads are leads for a reason; if you can just push them aside easily then either their story was finished {so they're being used as an essential yet blatant moneygrubbing hook. Oh, hi Goku!} or they weren't that compelling to begin with. Genshiken went the "they weren't that compelling" route and I think it worked. It's tough to do without seeming to be creatively bankrupt though. "I can't think of anything new so we're back to this!" 4 Gonzo tried to do this with Last Exile:Fam the Silver Wing and I couldn't even figure out the setting anymore; Probably would have been a better series without the "Last Exile" heading. Tenchi Muyo:GXP, I admit I have a fondness for this series even if the animation can't hold up to Tenchi Universe's standards. This one you can't do without looking creatively bankrupt. "You liked A, right? A was a hit, yes? A's story finished but here's B! It's like A but it's... new! Yes, new! But still the same as old A!" |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18556 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Think you're missing one option here:
I'm specifically thinking of My-Otome, but there are other examples. |
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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This is definitely true. I tend to consider something that has a different title to be a sequel but only because I assume that the original series didn't know that there would be a second series/season/whatever. So something like Vampire Knight and Vampire Knight Guilty, which IIRC had a season between them when they originally aired. New OP and EP but really it's just a continuation of the same story. |
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Aylinn
 Posts: 1684 |
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Yeah, Natsume's Book of Friends is a good example. Technically the names of the following seasons are different and, for example, the third season is named Natsume Yūjin-Chō San and the fourth Natsume Yūjin-Chō Shi, but as far as I know san simply means three and shi means four. Anime studios often animate a part of the story and make another season only if it turns out profitable. |
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Bango
Posts: 1122 |
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I'm missing a lot more than one. That's why I made sure to say so in my opening post. Regarding the Hime/Otome stuff I remember loving both shows but strongly wishing they were unrelated. While option 4 is my absolute least favourite method I think this "option 5" is pretty close to my least favourite. In fact I'd be tempted to call it a spinoff at that point.
I always consider the questions "Is s1's story done or are they just taking a break?" and "Can the ending to s1 stand alone?" Nanoha? Yep. Dog Days? Yep. Code Geass? Nope. Valvrave? Nope. Actually, mecha series do this a lot lately. LOL. But yeah if s1 doesn't stand alone and if s2 is already coming, I consider it a late continuation rather than a sequel. Like an extended version of when a show is delayed a week due to sports events. |
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OncelostLu
 Posts: 113 |
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This makes me think of the original Tenchi series. Muyo, Tokyo, and Universe. Tokyo being the most different of the three. Though I enjoyed each installment, my favorite is Universe. The 26 episodes accomplish telling a story and wrap it up, along with the 2 movies that take place afterwards. So I guess that would make me a fan of option 1, in the sense that as long as a story is told completely, or with as few loose ends/unanswered questions, I'll probably like it. Though I recently watched the entire Familiar of Zero series, which more or less follows option 1. However, considering there were four installments, I felt there were a lot of questions or events that were never addressed, that really should have been given the length. So I suppose it depends on what I thought of the original piece. But I would say I prefer either Option 1 or Option 4. |
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Kruszer
 Posts: 7994 Location: Minnesota, USA |
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If I want to watch a sequel it's because I like the previous show and it's characters and want to see more of that, so I'd prefer options 1 & 2 personally. 3 & 4 generally end in disappointment for me (EX: Kiddy Girl_And, Last Exile: Fam the Silver Wing, Eureka Seven AO).
I also like the My-Otome approach though; Same characters but in a different setting and story. Though, it still wasn't as good as My-HIME. |
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Wrathful
 Posts: 372 |
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Number 2 and 3 but I lean more on number 2.
I like my familiarity and the character I grew to like. Has a bigger possibility to be just as good and get the same feeling like the old show. |
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