Anime and Manga Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [tropes]

A recurring element across anime, manga or works in other media. Tropes cover clichés, genre conventions and other recurring plot points, character types, narration styles, …

A trope, in the general sense used here, is a feature that is found in many creative works (anime, manga, or any other media), for example a plot point, a character type, a setting, a narration style, etc. It is expected that at least some readers or viewers will recognize the trope. Some tropes have a well-identified source that other works have imitated, departed from or alluded to; others are so old that their origin has long been lost.

The website TV Tropes collects tropes (in all media, including anime and manga, despite the name). If you're looking for a list of works using a certain trope, TV Tropes is the place to look. You'll also find lists of tropes seen in a particular work.

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Who was the first tsundere character?

It's not like I like tsunderes or anything, I'm just interested in anime history okay?! I just happened to be on the site, so don't get the wrong idea! Geez, j-just tell me who the first tsundere was already, Baka! EDIT: For clarification, I'm…
Toshinou Kyouko
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Why are the shounen lead protagonists usually shown to be stupid?

One Piece's Luffy, Naruto's Naruto, Fairy Tail's Natsu, Reborn's Tsuna, Dragon Ball's Goku All of the above are shown to be simple-minded and foolish. Why is it so common to depict the lead protagonist to be so stupid?
Masked Man
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Why do lots of anime titles have ☆ in them?

☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃☆☃ Why do some shows have the star ☆ in them? I understand it makes it look cool, but it seems to be the only non-standard character that's used in titles? For example - you don't see Christmas…
Toshinou Kyouko
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Why are the seven deadly sins used so often in anime?

Pretty much as my question states itself. Why are the seven deadly sins used so often? In a lot of anime I have watched/re-watched, lately I notice either a reference to the 7 deadly sins or their use. For example, in anime like Full Metal Alchemist…
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What is the origin of mushrooms growing on a sad person's head?

I have seen in a number of series, when a person is sad, they have mushrooms growing out of their head. In Ouran High School Host Club, this happens a number of times to Tamaki when Haruhi rejects him. He often goes and sits in a corner. The below…
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Who was the first "trap character"?

A "trap character"(UrbanDictionary entry, may be NSFW) is a character who appears to be a girl until you get in close enough (plot-wise) to discover they are, in fact, a boy. The inverse trope exists as well; a "reverse trap" character is a girl who…
Cattua
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How did maids get popular in anime?

Nowadays, maids are basically a moe stereotype. Otaku characters like Sakurasou no Petto na Kanojou's Ryuunosuke Akasaka, Lucky Star's Konata Izumi, and the Genshiken gang all love maids. Even K-On's Sawako Yamanaka, who isn't an otaku, puts the…
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Why do almost all anime series have a "going to the beach" episode?

Not many anime have a dedicated episode for going to the cinema, concert, amusement park, circus, football match, camping or any other activities. But, almost all of them spare at least one of their episode for a "trip to the beach" episode. The…
hkBattousai
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How old is the snaggletooth trope?

A lot of anime contain characters with a snaggletooth - typically a fang-like tooth that is displayed on its own. I found it odd as snaggleteeth (misaligned teeth) are rarely ever shown in any other media. Here are some examples : [Lucky Star,…
Toshinou Kyouko
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Where did the mecha genre originate from in Japan?

I was wondering where mecha genre in Japan originated. It doesn't seem the same as something like the idea of a doll having a soul, which is from Japanese folk beliefs, but it could be. Is there some historical basis for giant fighting robots (or…
kuwaly
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What was the first anime to have a "please notice me senpai" moment?

This meme has been prevalent in English-speaking part of the internet, but so far no one really knows its true origins. I've searched for something similar in the Japanese sphere of the internet and I haven't really found anything either. So far as…
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What is the origin of chibi versions of characters?

In anime and manga, there are versions of characters' drawings that are called "chibi" or "super deformed". What is the history behind this, and when did drawing chibi versions of characters start?
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Do Japanese Student councils have actual power (punishing students, revoking clubs, etc)?

Several anime have an Absurdly Powerful Student Council (warning, TV Tropes link, don't get sucked in). In the most extreme versions, the student council is trying to take over the world. Even in less extreme examples, the student…
sevensevens
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Why are the faces of dead people whited-out in photographs?

I've noticed that, in a number of different anime, photographs of people who have died appear with the face whited out, generally by reflections of light. Is there a tradition behind this? Is there a cultural reason for this, or is it just laziness…
kuwaly
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What is the tradition behind having magic come from eyes?

In a number of series, magic is eye-based, where the eyes either fuel the magic or are the conduit for it. Examples of this are Fai in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and the Uchihas and Hyuugas in Naruto, as well as a few other families in Naruto. Is…
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