Hi all,
I’ve put up a new poll for all of you to vote on. Basically as I was yawning through episode 41 of Eureka 7 on Cartoon Network, I got to thinking about how that show could’ve been so much better if it was less episodes. Personally, I’ve found that I like them shorter. But, that’s not to say that I don’t like sequels. Nanoha is a great example of short series that held its own through its original run and then came back with a really good sequel with an equally short run. That said, many ongoing series just get to be too much after a while. Yakitate! Japan, Keroro Gunso, Bleach, just to name a few. It’s not that I don’t like them, but I go on overload after a while with really long series.
So tell me what you think.
The easy answer is however long it takes to tell it the right way, but a lot of shows do feel stretched out. Even some 13 episode shows feel overly long. It also depends on the type of show. An epic, plot driven show should have tight storytelling, so when it stretches itself out it gets kind of annoying, because I’m like what does this have to do with anything?
Something like SuperGals on the other hand is great when it just meanders along. 26 episodes was clearly not enough for me.
Like super rats I also think it depends on what kind of show it is. I don’t mind 52 episode shows as long as they have something to bring to the table, and not just add stuff that feels completely illogical just to keep it going. Incidentally I found Eureka 7 to be just perfect as a 50 episodes show but I’m a big fanboy of it though. ;)
Yakitate is a good example of a show that should’ve been shorter, like you said, because towards the end it felt like they were rehashing the same jokes just to get more episodes. Juuni Kokki on the other hand felt way to short at its 45 episodes and I was nowhere near tired of it because it had some good background material to draw from and never felt stale.
Generally I think 26 episodes is the optimum though, because a show needs to be really good to keep my interest for longer than that so my vote goes to 24-26 episodes.
It all depends on the material and background preparation. A series that based on long running established manga or novel series can conceivably reach episode 100 without things get boring ( Ex: Monster ). A series that forgets to quit while ahead blackens its own name ( Ex: One Piece ). Of course, if a series gets immortalized, it might last forever ( Ex: Doraemon - over 2000 and still going strong ).
I normally prefer shorter series as they are easier to finish and the stories are concise but powerful (or one hopes is the case). Although there are EPIC stories like juuni kokki which ended too soon.
Here’s to hoping that juuni kokki will one day get a second season! @_@
And I’m guessing that the short 3-4 episode OVAs don’t count in your poll? =(
I’m actually the kind of viewer who tends to avoid endings unless my emotional investment in the anime dictates otherwise but as with others who’ve already commented, the number of episodes really depends on the show–how many do you need to make the ending (esp. of a series that’s beloved) palatable? Usually 26 is just about right for me but in the case of Ouran High School Host Club, that was still too short.
On the other hand, half that for Black Blood Brothers was more than satisfying enough for me. ^^
I actually don’t like to watch anime endings unless my emotional investment dictates otherwise. That sed, as others have already pointed out, the number of episodes really depends on the story itself. How many do you need to walk away satisfied? Usually 24-26 more than suffices but in the case of Ouran High School Host Club, that wasn’t enough. Ouran quit just when it was getting good.
On the other hand, half that with Black Blood Brothers was more than sufficient for me and makes me view that concluded series with affable fondness. ^^
huamulan03 aka niki
Good question. With most series, it indeed depends on the show. The best format for an anime generally is in my opinion 39 episodes. Most 26-episode series end rushed, while most 52-episode series have points that drag way too much. 39-episode series have this nicely balanced.