Tell Me A Good Japanese Anime...

ConfuzorConfuzor Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2412Awaiting Authorization
That was cancelled while in progress.









Non-existent, no?


Maybe its impossible to find out, because the only series that most of us will ever find outside of Japan will either come from DVDs, or from downloaded Internet episodes that were made by people who knew they would be worth watching. I will admit to not possessing a large background in anime, but most seem to complete their 13 or 26 episode quote without a hitch. I've never heard of a series that was 'cancelled', certainly not one that was left half-completed from its intended quota - the only thing that I can think of coming close to this situation are cases where there is a dispute between the the production crew making the anime VS the author of the manga series from which the anime was based upon, (from hearsay, this is the reason no further episodes of Hellsing are being made; same principle I believe as to why no futher episodes of Beserk are being made).

Consider the following:

Big Guy and Rusty
Futurama
Family Guy
Sam and Max
The Tick
Invader Zim

All western animation pieces, all excellent in my humble opinion. But the most striking factor encompassing all of them:

<b>Canceled.</b>

I understand that animations in the cartoon category generally don't have a overlying story to follow, but even so, they end up ceasing before they come to any satisfactory conclusion. Case in point, <a href='http://www.buzzyworld.com/zim/episodes/' target='_blank'>Invader Zim</a> - pay keen attention to the number of episodes planned!

The factor that kills the western cartoons listed above? Budget problems.

I have never heard of a Japanese animated series ever ceasing from financial woes, yet it seems like so many western animated series have been felled by this factor, and I can't understand why. Were the ratings for these cartoons honestly that bad? Are the fans I see that wish to see these series resurrected such a miniscule minority? Have low ratings ever killed any promising animes in Japan?

One issue a friend pointed out to me that when it comes to costs, Japan's animation production companies can churn out high-quality episodes with a much lower budget, in comparison in western animation companies; with reason being that the salary for Japanese animators being much lower.


I know a lot of this information is rather half-baked, so I'd appreciate any affirmable information on cancelled animes (or why some series aren't being continued in spite of a large response for more episodes), in contrast to why so many western animations are cancelled, as well as the budget differences between eastern and western animation.

Comments

  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    To be honest most of the eastern ones tend towards having a story =P

    Look at the Tick and invader zim and whatnot. Sure they're fantastic but they're 'one-offs' or 'independants' if you like. Aside from maybe the pilot episode and any 'pivotal' eps you can watch the rest without seeing any of others and not really find yourself out of the loop. They're all very stand-alone without having much effect on the following episodes. Like Turtles, Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy, etc.

    Jumping into the vast majority of jp animes halfway through the series is akin to trying to jump into babylon 5 halfway through or maybe even farscape. You'll just be a bit lost and perhaps put off because you feel like you've walked in on the story without seeing the first half =3

    Not to say that all western series are jump-ins or all eastern are story sequences but it seems to be the general jist of things. Admittedly things like Firefly got cancelled too but I think that was just bad luck more than anything ^^;

    There's probably quite a few cancelled animes though. No idea how it compares in % of overall to western ones though... be kinda interesting to see some solid numbers or something =D
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Confuzor+Sep 4 2004, 02:22 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Confuzor @ Sep 4 2004, 02:22 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I will admit to not possessing a large background in anime, but most seem to complete their 13 or 26 episode quote without a hitch. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Because anime only runs a season or two, some go more. Western Cartoons usually keep running until they're cancelled, hardly any of them ending, hence why they usually have a ton of episodes.
  • camO_ocamO_o Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28028Members
    edited September 2004
    i'm not entirely sure this counts, but Evangelion's ending was as sudden as it because the creators hit their budget.

    (that was of course, later rectified by the movies)
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    ooooh... I like liku's one =3

    Kinda reminds me of some saying or whatever... "all the best stories end" ^^
  • ZigZig ...I am Captain Planet&#33; Join Date: 2002-10-23 Member: 1576Members
    excuse me, GI Joe was a kickass story and it was still an episode-focused western-style series XP
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    One great show that was cancelled and I loved, was non-other than Swat Kats, and I believe Pirates of the Dark Water was cancelled too. All the great shows are cancelled.
  • airyKairyK Join Date: 2002-12-19 Member: 11126Members
    one of my favorite series <a href='http://www.animeinfo.org/featured/ranma/ranmastory.html' target='_blank'>Ranma 1/2</a> was cut short because of ratings. it never received a proper ending. so thats one and i heard that His and Her Circumstances was also cut short, but im not too sure about that one.
  • SoulSkorpionSoulSkorpion Join Date: 2002-04-12 Member: 423Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Confuzor+Sep 4 2004, 05:22 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Confuzor @ Sep 4 2004, 05:22 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> That was cancelled while in progress.

    Non-existent, no? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Actually, it's because, as far as I know, the way anime is aired doesn't work the same way western TV does. Afaik, when they make a TV series, they make a full series worth. That's why anime storylines are typically broader in scope than western shows - rather than having to keep making up episodes as they go along, not having contiguous content built up in case the show flops, they have the breathing space to make something more complex.

    Although, come to think of it, that doesn't mean a show wouldn't get axed <i>anyway</i>...
  • torquetorque Join Date: 2003-08-20 Member: 20035Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    Series in Japan typically aren't cancelled because of the budgeting - usually they're sponsored by one or two major companies (not sure if this is typical with American cartoons), and seasons are generally 26 episodes (though I'm told 13-episode seasons are becoming more and more prevalent), so it's all planned for in advance, particularly when based on a manga - they plan to do the entire arc within those 26 episodes.

    That said, I recall some series/movies being cut for length due to budgetting, like Blood: The Last Vampire (which I think actually only runs about half an hour ^^<!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->. I don't think Eva was cut short - the movies were the director's way of rectifying the horrible fan response to the last two episodes, since the series was making MAD bank in Japan off of merchandising during it's run. Could be wrong on that though.

    As far as animator salary - pay a close eye to the credits in anime. A huge chunk of the animation is actually done by Koreans. ^^ Same for some American TV shows like the Simpsons.
  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    blood was actualy 45 mins (hehe <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
    Should have been the first ep in a series (great movie, just way to friken short)

    And there are actualy alot of series that are cut short, thus getting the 'rushed and way to compacted ending' that is unfortunatly common.

    Another one that was flat out cancled before the end was BigO, it tanked in Japan after the first season, if I remember correctly, it was mainly due to cartoon network pressuring for the second season (as it did VERY well in the US) that got it made.

    yah, there are a few out there that just don't have good endings b/c of this practice.
  • InfinitumInfinitum Anime Encyclopedia Join Date: 2002-08-08 Member: 1111Members, Constellation
    Too my direct knowledge, the following series were cut short.

    Groove Adventure Rave.

    That's just about it.
    I believe he gets either the... 2nd or 3rd jewel thingy and then it just cuts out. 51 episodes as well, just outside a 2 full season series. It's quite the popular manga, if I recall correctly it stands at around... 24... volumes.
    Wasn't too bad either. A fairly mediocre entry to the genre, but never the less enjoyable.

    I believe it was true Gainax started to run out of funding for Evangelion nearing the end of the series, though I'm not entirely sure if that's a correct statement.
    I seem to recall one of the English voice actors mention something along those lines during the director's commentry for End of Evangelion. Where they went back and 'reshot' eps 25 & 26 under the names Air & My Purest Heart for you.
    The Girlfriend of Steel manga apparently contains an alternate, alternate ending (If you exclude the events of the original eps 25&26, as well as End of Evangelion) to the series, so lord knows how that wrapped up.

    Ranma 1/2 indeed never recieved the proper manga ending, though there is always the possibility that a new OVA/movie/series will come in and wrap things up. Due to the fact that the series is so open ended it could easily be done. (Currently stands at 7 seasons [161 eps], 2 movies and 1 OVA [11 eps])

    Kare Kano completed a full season and was not cut short. The director had a young batch of animators for the series, so he wanted to experiment with a lot of different animation styles. Hence the infamous Paper episode.
  • KitkiKitki Join Date: 2004-04-04 Member: 27722Members
    Family Guy is to return in May 2005 wit 50 episodes for season 4.

    Escaflowne, and X are some pretty good ones
  • HibameHibame Join Date: 2003-11-16 Member: 22974Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Golden Boy was pretty funny, but it was canceled after only like 5 episodes and had a 6th that was thrown together in a poor manner.
  • PithlitPithlit Join Date: 2003-05-07 Member: 16120Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    You should watch "Dragon Drive" its pretty funny ^^

    I don´t think its availiable in english, but in japanese with enlish subtitles
  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    Not a 'series' as such but 'R.G. Veda' by clamp is an unfinished work. It was a rather snazzy fantasy OAV but they only did the first one that I know of. After that? ~shrug~

    Shame because it ended with a rather interesting lead on =o
  • docchimpydocchimpy Join Date: 2003-07-19 Member: 18266Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Liku+Sep 4 2004, 04:46 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Liku @ Sep 4 2004, 04:46 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Pirates of the Dark Water was cancelled too. All the great shows are cancelled. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    PIRATES OF DARK WATER OWNED ME.

    Sweiously though, I REALLY liked that show (still catch the odd rerun on Boomerang(channel for old cartoons)). They never finished it? Or did they just rush the ending?
  • RaVeRaVe Join Date: 2003-06-20 Member: 17538Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Infinitum+Sep 4 2004, 08:47 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Infinitum @ Sep 4 2004, 08:47 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Groove Adventure Rave. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

    Last I remembered though, he had like....4 or 5 stones. Can't remember too well. But he had what I think is the 4th sword....really bad memory XD

    Was a memorable anime....<!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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