*Original Anime Plot Ideas

[NekoMizu]

Come on, come all. Join in on the fun of coming up with and discussion of absurd anime ideas. "But proto, anime's done it all. But proto" No they haven't. They may have taken most of the glory, but there are some ideas that they (may have done, but not a whole anime dedicated to it) haven't done these at the very least:
Jenga!
Draughts/checkers (I'm sure many similar things have been done, but I have yet to see an anime dedicated to it)

Now the latter isn't really absurd, but I still for some reason have never seen it done. Which is sad. Jenga, though. I seriously want that.

[BrokenPromise]

A version of Danganronpa 3 that doesn't contradict the games and gives unsatisfying answers.

In all seriousness, I don't understand WTF you're talking about with checkers/Jenga being an original plot idea for an anime. Like there's no anime where the primary theme is based around those board/party games? Sounds kinda slice of life to me...

... Which is why this Jenga game would have to take place in a space opera! On a primitive planet where people use jetpacks and special tools to play the biggest version of Jenga possible! Maybe these primitive yet advanced people use Jenga as a sort of mating ritual where the best Jenga players get the finest woman, or maybe it's how they select leaders of their tribe. Maybe wars have advanced to the point where the fate of entire nations is determined by their ability to stack massive jenga blocks. This idea could really go anywhere!

[NekoMizu]

@BrokenPromise
I don't care how it's done, I just want a jenga anime. They could also make a jenga tournament for the anime. If they can make writing in a book intense, then they can make jenga intense. Maybe something like they're playing jenga for their lives or something.

[Shoryu Magami]

@BrokenPromise
Haven't seen Danganronpa 3 yet, but I was aware it contradicted the games, especially given how there now is a Danganronpa 3 game which seemingly has nothing at all to do with that anime.

@NekoMizu
On the subject of the jenga anime, I don't see why it couldn't happen; I mean, there's an anime about almost everything these days. There's martial arts anime that seem devoted to cooking, for example, and several sports-focused anime. It really could go in any direction, from a standard tournament in a slice of life setting all the way up to the characters actually being fucking jenga pieces. Of course, now you've got me wanting an anime based around people playing chess.

[BrokenPromise]

I'm watching samurai flamenco, and they need to consider making more superhero anime that don't rely entirely on magic and stuff. But where Flamenco was based on japanese superhero shows, I'd like to see some western inspired hero shows. I'd love to see some japanese animators take their best shot at creating something that felt like an 80s-90s comic book.

@NekoMizu Well obviously we need a little life or death action going on. But I think Jenga is a registered trademark isn't it? We'd need to edit the name, like how all anime characters go to "wickdonalds" to get their hamburgers from a red haired clown. I'm thinking "Jango" (Jan-Go) would be a pretty stellar way to rename it. Almost sounds bushido now. I do think it would be wasted if it was just turned into some cheezy comedy anime though. Maybe there's a few episodes with people saying things like "Jango is humans trying in futility to build a tower into the heavens." or something philosophical. Asian people are crazy about that stuff.

@Shoryu Magami I'll keep it short. The contradictions make it feel like bad fan fiction. It felt unnecessary as a whole.

The third game is called "V3" instead of "3" because it's not a direct continuation of the first two games. Supposedly Monokuma is the only returning character. Maybe Kazutaka Kodaka just needs to stick to making good games a bit longer before tackling something like anime.

[Shoryu Magami]

@BrokenPromise
While I myself tend to prefer magic over the western superhero approach (I'm really not a comic book fan), I've seen anime attempt it a few times in recent years, particularly since more of them are steering towards science fiction now. Have you ever seen Darker Than Black? I consider it a pretty decent series; it's more or less a deconstruction of the western superhero genre though, so if you want a more straight example it might take me longer to find one.

[NekoMizu]

@BrokenPromise @Shoryu Magami
Yeah whenever jenga is in an anime I've only ever seen it be called Jango, so that would definitely work. I'd prefer the tournament idea or something similar to death parade, where they are playing for their lives. Wouldn't Goku be considered a western-based superhero?

[Shoryu Magami]

@NekoMizu
Admittedly, yeah, Dragon Ball Z is closer to western superhero than a lot of other anime, which might be why I'm not particularly interested in the combat in that series (I prefer more complex and abstract concept-based magic principles, rather than just a cockfight between two guys arguing over who has the bigger package explosions).

As for the jenga idea; having it be to the death would make it more interesting, yeah, and steer more away from the slice of life dynamic.

[NekoMizu]

@Shoryu Magami
I actually really enjoy dragon ball z (minus the buu saga, that lasted waaayy too long to keep my interest)

[BrokenPromise]

@Shoryu Magami Gunna have to give darker than black a peak. I like fantasy and sci-fi equally, but anime feels over saturated with fantasy stuff. For the sake of this topic, it seems like it would be easier to be original with sci-fi.

@NekoMizu For me, Goku is the very definition of a japanese hero. I think an eastern hero's willingness to work with others, be at piece with oneself, and use spiritual powers are at odds with their western counterparts. western heroes are often loners with dark, dark secrets. Their powers often come from gadgetry, or some terrible accident. Batman prefers to work alone, and his superpower is money. Iron man prefers to work alone, and his super power is money. Hulk prefers to work alone, and his superpower is rage. Wonderwoman prefers to work alone, and has magical amazon stuff.

There are exceptions, like how ghost rider got his powers magically from Mephisto (or was that spawn?). But he is a loner and he has a very, very dark past. Batman also teams up with robin, but you can tell he doesn't really like it.

Of course when i'm asking for a western hero drawn by japanese people, I'm not asking for the artists to strip away everything that makes anime what it is. But like... how would bat man play out if he was an anime? Would he narrate all of his attacks? Maybe he'd have an entire orphanage filled with sidekicks to back up his operation? Maybe Alfred would be replaced, or at least accompanied, by a french maid? Would Bruce Wayne's childhood trauma maybe not harden him like stone, but make him soft and fearful of losing anyone ever again?

That's what I'm looking for. A western hero accented by eastern touches.

[NekoMizu]

@BrokenPromise
I think Goku mostly resembles Superman, if any of the western superheroes. Though, I don't know much about the latter, they are quite similar if you take out the fact that one fights with help and the other does not. Or maybe Gohan is more like Superman, as he did try to hide his superpowers and all. But he's more of like a what-if superman let his work weaken him sort of deal.

[Shoryu Magami]

@NekoMizu
I find Dragon Ball Z entertaining, but its combat isn't complex and technical enough for my particular tastes. I'm really not interested in the whole "which character can overcompensate more with huge explosions and big muscle competitions" that the series seems to focus on, and that precise detail is why I view DBZ more akin to a western superhero series rather than an eastern one (Superman is actually a particularly common association, yeah); comic books like Marvel and DC tend to focus on that exact same time of cockfighting.

@BrokenPromise
Yeah, give it a look. It's definitely worth the watch, and considering the main protagonist is something of a loner it also fits some of what you've been describing now too. I've seen a lot of anime focusing more on sci-fi lately, actually, but then again there's so many anime out there that it's difficult to gauge what's the more common style.

I'm more of a magic person over sci-fi person, but I prefer my magic to be more complex, deep, intricate, and esoteric, rather than just the conventional wizards casting fireballs archetype and magical girl genre (hence why I chose to use the word magic, not fantasy, though I do enjoy fantasy in a lot of my RPGs as well to be fair). That's why I push to be very complicated and technical in my own story project, though there's some elements to it that people would probably consider sci-fi as well as fantasy, even if the former is a subversion of sorts. Plus, I think of sci-fi as fantasy anyway, since a lot of the stuff it uses is not likely to appear in reality anymore than a wizard is.

Other than what I mentioned to Neko, I agree with the whole idea that Goku embodies an eastern superhero more than a western one. It's an interesting concept you're suggesting for a western superhero done using the eastern style though. I honestly don't know where you'd classify my own project, and I don't have any immediate samples to show you. As for what you've described specifically, anime has attempted to do its own version of Batman in the past but it more or less just felt like Batman with a different style of animation; hardly the sort of thing you're looking for based on the examples you gave.

[NekoMizu]

How about Zetman? @BrokenPromise

[NuttsnBolts]

Ok, saw the mention of Danganronpa 3...

Compared to the rest of the series it was pretty horrible. The ending felt cheap, and I felt like it was a padded out story for something that could have been resolved without the needless killing. Loved some of the earlier scenes, but from about halfway it just felt like it had no substance.

[BrokenPromise]

I think Goku mostly resembles Superman, if any of the western superheroes. Though, I don't know much about the latter, they are quite similar if you take out the fact that one fights with help and the other does not. Or maybe Gohan is more like Superman, as he did try to hide his superpowers and all. But he's more of like a what-if superman let his work weaken him sort of deal.

@NekoMizu

I see your point. Both are seemingly brimming with power and need foes with super cheap abilities in order to pose much of a threat. they are also space children, get their strength from astral bodies... there's a lot more in common than I originally thought. I do not consider superman the strongest advocate for western superheroes, but dayum there are some really close similarities!

It's an interesting concept you're suggesting for a western superhero done using the eastern style though. I honestly don't know where you'd classify my own project, and I don't have any immediate samples to show you. As for what you've described specifically, anime has attempted to do its own version of Batman in the past but it more or less just felt like Batman with a different style of animation; hardly the sort of thing you're looking for based on the examples you gave.

@Shoryu Magami

The problem with japanese people is that they only screw around with their own culture. If you tell them to copy something from another culture, they flip into Asian mode and copy it as precisely as they can. Kung fury is an example of a foriener replicating american media too perfectly. A Swedish director made a movie that feels more like an american 80s movie than anything made by Americans this decade!

How about Zetman?

@NekoMizu

Never saw it. Got my work cut out for me.

Ok, saw the mention of Danganronpa 3...

Compared to the rest of the series it was pretty horrible. The ending felt cheap, and I felt like it was a padded out story for something that could have been resolved without the needless killing. Loved some of the earlier scenes, but from about halfway it just felt like it had no substance.

@NuttsnBolts

If I'm not careful, I'm going to erupt into a rant. So I'll just say I agree, and it's even worse when you played the games and learn more about all the characters.

I wanted despair, but all I got was... disappointment.

[NekoMizu]

@BrokenPromise
I mean in a way, disappointment is despair.

[Keyguyperson]

A poor girl, in order to achieve wealth and fame, chooses to engage in a sport wherein girls attempt to knock each other off of platforms with their fucking asses, because why not?

Wait no that's a real thing.

[NekoMizu]

@Keyguyperson
Seriously? Please tell me that's a joke. Then again, it does sound like it would already be a thing.

[Keyguyperson]

@Keyguyperson
Seriously? Please tell me that's a joke. Then again, it does sound like it would already be a thing.

@NekoMizu

Keijo!!!!!!!!

With exactly that many exclamation marks.

[NekoMizu]

@Keyguyperson @BrokenPromise @Shoryu Magami
What about a guy getting trapped inside another person's computer and they have to basically fight off all the viruses and such to protect the place he is now living. Not sure how I got that from looking at an outlet, but either way it has to do with electricity so I guess that works.