As a seasoned gamer and anime enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the current state of anime is leaving me feeling a tad frustrated and nostalgic. I vividly remember the days when anime seasons ran for 24 episodes or more, allowing us fans to immerse ourselves fully in the world created by our favorite shows. But alas, it seems like those days are long gone and we’re left with 12-episode seasons that leave us wanting more.
The anime adaption of Yukinobu Tatsu’s eccentric manga, titled Dandadan, has taken the world by storm upon its release on Netflix. It’s been a runaway success, garnering acclaim from both viewers and critics. Social media platforms are abuzz with fans dissecting the latest episodes, designing their own cosplay versions, or recreating the now iconic opening sequence. The captivating unpredictability of Dandadan has audiences hooked, making it easy to consume multiple episodes without ever growing tired. However, we’re currently more than halfway through Season 1, which means there are only a few episodes left!
Following the unfortunate incident where his manhood was taken by the supernatural being Turbo Granny, known as Okarun, seeks aid from his new companion Momo to battle both spectral and extraterrestrial entities. Everyone’s captivated by Momo’s quest, and the budding relationship between the two main characters is a delight to watch. However, we can’t help but question why Season 1 must conclude so swiftly; Dandadan’s first season will span just 12 episodes, adhering to the most frustrating trend in contemporary anime.
Anime Used to Have 24-Episode (and Longer) Seasons
Have you ever scrolled through a streaming service like Crunchyroll or Netflix and discovered a classic immensely popular anime, only to discover that each season is well over 50 episodes long? It’s an overwhelming feeling every contemporary anime fan can relate to. If you’re eager to go back and watch One Piece or Dragonball Z, prepare for a long commitment. Ignoring their total episode counts, each Season (or arc) of One Piece is roughly 60-episodes long, while Dragonball Z isn’t even listed with seasons, as fans must chew their way through all 291 episodes without a natural breaking point.
Shows from the past had extended season durations due to two primary factors. The first, and often debated reason, is the abundance of ‘filler’ and recap episodes. For instance, out of the total 1122 episodes of “One Piece”, approximately 8% are labeled as filler by its fanbase. “Naruto” stands out even more, with about 40% (or 90 episodes) categorized as filler.
In Japan, older anime often run for extended periods due to their initial target being children, who don’t typically have seasonal changes in programming. For instance, the lengthy 291-episode run of Dragonball Z can be attributed to this factor.
Some lesser-known series, such as the sports anime “Hajime no Ippo” and the criminally overlooked “Monster,” aired over 70 episodes each. Should every new anime adhere to this pattern and offer an excessive number of episodes? Devoted fans might argue yes, but it’s unrealistic to expect so. Animators, after all, have lives beyond their work and families to return to. Even a 24-episode season is becoming less common nowadays.
Shows such as Naruto, Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, the initial season of Demon Slayer, and Assassination Classroom are sustaining the tradition of long seasons consisting of 24 or more episodes. Given that we often have to endure a waiting period of over a year and a half for a new season, it can be quite disheartening when this wait is followed by only eight or ten episodes. One might wonder why the number of episodes in newer anime has significantly decreased.
Why Modern Anime Has Fewer Episodes
Some popular new anime series such as “Hell’s Paradise” (depicted), “Kaiju No. 8”, the latest seasons of “Demon Slayer”, “Dandadan”, and “Chainsaw Man” have had their episode counts reduced. It’s important to note that no malicious entity is responsible for this reduction, but there are several factors contributing to it. These factors include production constraints, budget limitations, and the increasing complexity of animation techniques, which can make productions more time-consuming and expensive.
It’s important to acknowledge that creating anime can be quite pricey. In general, expenses are a significant factor in entertainment, and high-quality anime tends to become more expensive to produce over time. A source from Shukan Toyo Keizai (as reported by SK Anime) revealed that the cost of producing a single episode can range from $140,000 to $180,000. For a 12-episode season, this averages out to approximately $1.9 million. Keep in mind that these are just estimates. As the standard for quality rises and audience expectations follow suit, production costs inevitably rise as well. Adding to this is Japan’s economy and inflation, making anime a medium that continues to grow more expensive over time.
To put it simply, studios often release short initial seasons of anime like last year’s sensation, “Chainsaw Man,” which was only 12 episodes long, as a way to measure audience response to something new. But if a series takes off like “Chainsaw Man” did, it may lead to further development such as an upcoming feature-length film and potentially a long-term future for the franchise.
To put it simply, the majority of contemporary anime are based on well-liked comics (manga). Every show you’ve mentioned follows this pattern, making them adaptations. Consequently, the scope of each series is defined by the amount of story available for adaptation. For instance, the short seasons in Demon Slayer stem from adapting shorter sections from the original manga.
I’m crossing my fingers that ‘Dandadan’ and all the other shows listed will have extended seasons in their future, as the limited 12-episode runs just don’t seem to be enough for many fans who are eagerly anticipating more from these fresh, exciting series.
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2024-11-27 19:39